Tucson Auto Repair

                     The term "serpentine belt" may bring up images of a scarey snake like object crawling around you engine, and that's actually pretty accurate, (except for the scary part).  The serpentine belt is a long, belt that winds it way (like a serpent) around many of your vehicle's components. These can include the power the steering pump, alternator, and air conditioning compressor, and more, to the vehicle's crankshaft pulley. In some engines, the serpentine belt can also run the water pump, radiator fan, and supercharger. Years ago, most engines had several V-type belts, but today, most modern engines have one ribbed serpentine belt responsible for running all of the accessory components. This belt can be tensioned automatically or manually. Automatically tensioned serpentine belts are the most common and are kept taught with a spring loaded tensioning mechanism. Manually tensio ... read more

The engine and transmission in your vehicle are attached to the chassis. When they operate, it creates flexing and twisting from torque or vibrations. There are mounts that hold and support these two units. Mounts for the Engine and transmission are most typically made of metal and rubber, or somtimes filled with a hydraulic fluid. These mounts keep your teeth from vibrating out of your skull by separating the transmission and engine from the chassis so that there is no direct metal on metal contact between the engine, transmission and frame of the vehicle. To improve passenger comfort, some vehicles have fluid-filled hydraulic mounts which absorb and dampen vibrations that would otherwise pass right through a conventional solid rubber mount. While comfort is something we all enjoy, fluid-filled mounts are more expensive than solid rubber mounts, and they can leak fluid and can still collapse after years of service. Some import vehicles have electronically-controlled mounts that can ... read more

No Burned Out Bulbs  When a customer drops off their vehicle at our shop, the very first thing we do when we pull it into a service bay is to have a second technician help check all exterior lighting. Burned out or malfunctioning bulbs are very easy to overlook. Bad bulbs are also an invitation for a "fix it" ticket from the police, and we want to help you avoid those. We do not charge labor fees to replace bulbs so its very inexpensive, just the cost of the bulb (excluding headlight bulbs).  Rest assured that when you leave our shop all of your exterior bulbs will have been checked. 

Why Is My Car Overheating If your car is overheating and there are no obvious leaks, the oil level is okay, and the cooling system is properly filled, there can be several potential reasons for this issue. Here are some of the most common issues: A Malfunctioning Thermostat: A malfunctioning thermostat can prevent the proper flow of coolant through the engine, leading to overheating. If stuck in the closed position, it obstructs the circulation of coolant. Engine/Radiator Cooling Fan Problems: The radiator cooling fan helps remove excess heat from the engine. If the fan is not working correctly or fails to turn on when needed, it can result in overheating. It is important to check for proper operation of the fans(s) and any associated components. Radiator Blockage: An obstructed radiator will hold back the flow of coolant, causing the engine to overheat. Whether caused by debris or internal buildup, f ... read more

Some Helpful Information Regarding Oil Changes.  Over the last 3 years auto shops have seen their petroleum prices quadruple. Currently an oil and filter change using conventional oil will cost between $35 and $85, depending on your area. If your car requires synthetic oil, you should expect to pay more (anywhere from $75 to $125) but you make up some of the cost since synthetic oil lasts longer and has to be changed less frequently. Why the difference in pricing?  There are valid reasons for this big span, mainly relating to your vehicle manufacturer choice of oil requirements. Conventional oil (made from fossil fuel) is the least expensive option. A blend of conventional and synthetic bases ( Synthetic Blend) is the next step up. The most expensive oil is fully synthetic. In addition: The price of your oil change will depend on a few factors, not only the type of oil used but the amount of oil required,  ... read more