We often get questions on handbrakes. Some of our customers aren’t sure when or how to use them. We thought it would be a good idea to do a Q&A on the top 10 questions asked related to the handbrake. Importantly, on some cars the “handbrake” is actually a foot pedal. It’s also called an emergency brake or parking brake.
You hop into the car, ready to head out and notice a new light shining brightly on your dashboard, the tire pressure indicator light. Being conscientious and concerned about safety, you stop at the nearest gas station, ensure all your tires are filled to the right pressure and hop back into the car — only to notice that that tire pressure light is still on.
Our all-time most popular blog post is all about shaking. It is titled: “Is Your Car Shaking? 3 Common Problems that Cause Cars to Vibrate“, and it’s had almost a quarter of a million page views. Or, to put it in the words of Jerry Lee Lewis, there is “…a whole lot of shakin’ going on.”
As April showers head our way, here are a few things to consider.
Know what season it is? Pothole season.
We see quite a few Mini Coopers with direct injection engines that have carbon build-up on the intake valves. While direct injection engines do offer enhanced fuel performance and cleaner emissions, these engines are more likely to have an issue with carbon build up on the intake valves.
With the cold temperatures we have been having lately, a lot of people worry that they will wake up in the morning, and their car won’t start. The good news is that automotive technology has come a long way, and cars are a lot more reliable. We used to have cars lined up for battery service on cold days when the temperatures dropped to the single digits, but that’s just not the case anymore.
In general a fluctuating idle is not a serious problem; however, if it is accompanied by the check engine light coming on or the engine stalling that is more cause for concern.
Recently a customer’s battery died the day after she picked up her car. She was convinced we had caused her battery to die. She told us her boyfriend knew about cars and told her, “I suspect they cooked [overcharged] the battery.”
So many times we’ll hear words related to our cars and not even understand what they are. An automotive service adviser may tell a customer, “We need to change the differential oil,” and the customer may have no clue what he’s referring to. So what is a differential?
Ever had this happen? You drive your car, park it for a few minutes to run an errand — then when you return your car won’t start.
Don’t let smoke get in your eyes!
