Boise Auto Repair

The heat is on this summer and that puts your car under a lot of stress. While the engine gets most of the attention when it comes to overheating, your transmission also gets very hot and has fewer ways to cool itself. Too much heat, too much weight and too little maintenance will overheat your transmission! Hot weather is bad enough, but if you tow anything or go driving in the mountains, that will really heat up your transmission. Stop-and-go traffic, rapid acceleration and just having a large, heavy car will heat the transmission too. You’ll know your transmission is in trouble when it starts slipping gears. You’ll be driving along and feel a slight jerk; the car will slow down a bit, then resume its correct gear and accelerate. If that’s happening, you need to fix it right away. Usually, the problem is low transmission oil level. Also, transmission fluid needs to be replaced occasionally because it naturally breaks down. These are inexpensive maintenance procedures ... read more

We all love a road trip! People have been going on road trips for a long, long time. Deep down you know your car should be checked before hitting the road, but with so many other things to do, some folks put it off. Bad idea, says the Car Care Council, an automotive consumer education group, especially when motorists don't realize that in as little as 10 minutes, they can determine if their car is ready for long-distance travel. The last thing anyone wants is for your car to stop working in the middle of nowhere. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant. Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, lose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power stee ... read more

Getting a checkup before a road trip is essential to a safe and enjoyable trip. Deep down you know your car should be checked before hitting the road, but with so many other things to do, some folks put it off. Bad idea, says the Car Care Council, an automotive consumer education group, especially when motorists don't realize that in as little as 10 minutes, they can determine if their car is ready for long-distance travel. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant. Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, lose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system. Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment ... read more

We mostly deal with the insides of cars, but we're also interested in the whole package. This story from thecarconnection.com has good information about the need to wash ash residue from your car. In Idaho, August has seen weeks of smoke-filled air from wildfires and a good deal of that has wound up on cars. According to the story, if water is allowed to mix with the ash on the car, it will create potassium hydroxide, which is similar to drain cleaner and will etch paint. The best solution is to keep your car garaged, but that's not possible if you're out driving. A good car wash or at least rinsing it off the car daily is the next best option

With all the heat in Boise lately, we're seeing more and more people coming in with overheating problems, at least once a day and sometimes several a day. People tend to neglect their cooling system because they don't see it or hear it - bad breaks squeak, a faulty air conditioner doesn't cool and transmission problems make the car drive strange. But cooling systems don't attract much attention. Excessive heat is bad for many of a car's systems, including the battery and tires. According to AAA, overheating is one of the top causes of breakdowns, right after flat tires. Overheating can quickly destroy on engine. If your warning light comes on, get it fixed right away. Here are some great tips also if you're dealing with an overheating emergency. You need to act immediately if you see the engine temperature warning light come on or steam starts coming o ... read more

The techs over at Pep Boys have put up some good tips for air conditioner care, including warning signs. If you experience any of these, don't take any chances and bring your car in for a checkup. A/C system doesn't cool vehicle to set temperature Fan/blower does not work when set in A/C mode Fan/blower is louder than usual Some or all of the dash controls do not work Heater, top and side vents, or defroster do not work A/C or engine makes loud noises when the heat or A/C is turned on Vehicle stalls or idles roughly when A/C is turned on Vehicle runs hot or overheats when A/C is on There is water on the car's floor Electric engine cooling fan quickly cycles on and off Unusual odors come from interior vents A/C unit has not been serviced regularly Windows fog when defroster is ... read more