Boise Auto Repair

Cold weather is cruel to batteries. We're seeing a lot of people in Boise come in with weak and dead batteries as temperatures get into the single digits. Through Feb. 28, get up to a $20 VISA rebate card when you purchase a qualifying NAPA battery. According to Industrial Battery Products, lead acid battery capacity drops about 20% from normal in freezing weather and it loses half its power when temperatures sink to about -22 degrees F. If that's not bad enough, your battery has more work to do in cold weather. When an engine is cold, the oil is thicker and the engine is much harder to turn over. At the same time, people are using accessories like the heater, seat warmer, defrosters and wipers. Even if the battery is new, cold weather can reduce ts capacity to where it can't start the car. The alternator, which recharges the battery, might not be ... read more

Fall is here and it's not just a good time to get ready for winter - there are some important steps that motorists should be taking to care for their car in general. This blog has some great suggestions. Among the ideas: Change your wiper blades. This should be done annually, every fall Check your spare tire to make sure it is properly inflated Check and top off all fluids Replace the air filter Check battery terminal and lights

Winterizing tips to keep you safe this season Don't let your car wind up like this because you didn't winterize! Right about now is the time to start planning your winter car preparations. Winter makes demands of all of a car's systems: brakes, electrical (especially the battery), tires, cooling and more and we offer a thorough winterizing service. This story from howstuffworks.com gives a good overview. Among other things, it includes what should you keep in the car with you, what parts you should check before driving, how important is gas and oil during the winder, and what to do about tires and brakes

Since Jan. 1, we've only had two days where the temperature reached above freezing and it's regularly been in the single digits and teens. Cold weather reduces a battery's effectiveness and a dead battery could endanger your life if you're stranded in freezing weather. This article at Fifthgear sums it up well. Cold weather reduces a battery's ability to hold a charge and to accept recharging (really hot weather is just as bad but we'll get into that later). Modern cars especially have lots of electronics that suck battery power as well. Stop by Plantation Tune Tech any time and we will check your battery's condition for free. You can trust us not to try and sell you a product you don't need. If your battery is fine, we'll send you on your way. If your battery is old, damaged or at risk of failing, we can also help with a replacement and we can installed ... read more

Cold weather is brutal on cars. Oils thicken and take longer to reach engine components and lubricate, metal and rubber hoses become more brittle and more subject to breakage and stress. Batteries lose power. In the old days, it was common advice to warm up your car before driving off, to give it a chance to get used to the cold. That was necessary for older fuel injection systems but in modern cars, a warm up is no longer a necessity. However, we do recommend people give their cars a three-minute warmup. This gives oils a chance to become thinner and reach all the way into the engine. Hoses become more flexible and less likely to crack. Letting the car sit and warm up gives this a chance to happen, before putting additional load on the engine, brakes, transmission and drive train through movement. Plugging into an engine heater also isn't a bad idea, if your car has one

Fan belts are important to cars. During the colder months, we see (and hear) more squealing fan belts. Wear and tear will eventually loosen all belts but in colder weather, metal engines and parts shrink a bit, causing loosening. A squealing belt is you car's way of warning you of problems and you should come in right away to have it looked it. In the old days, a car three or four fan belts, each one powering the alternator, water pump, air conditioner or power steering. If one belt broke, chances are you could at least make it to the next service station for repairs. Most newer cars just have one belt, called the serpentine belt, that threads through the engine and powers all these things. It's a more efficient system but if that belt breaks, the car will likely fail immediately due to loss of function to multiple systems. In addition to all the noise, a belt about to fail will also show signs of wear ... read more

A common cause of breakdowns is overheating, especially during summertime. Your cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled as recommended in your owner's manual. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically. (A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water is usually recommended.) If your car overheats - or if you are doing regular maintenance at home - never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled. A professional should check the tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps, and hoses. Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Weather Service, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Citizen Information Center, Washington State SAFE KIDS Coalition

Care and Maintenance Tips Keep Your Car Running in Top-Notch ConditionWe've compiled our best expert advice, surprising tricks, and car care tips to prolong the life of your automobile! 1. Be patient during the break-in period You've bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer's lot: During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car's manufacturer. Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials. Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods - this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine. Use only ligh ... read more

As the holiday season approaches, it is easy to forget about giving your car the tender loving care it needs to stay healthy. But with the start of heavy snow, icy roads and cold weather, now is the time to prepare your car for the winter. Cold weather makes pliable material stiffer and more brittle and can make fluids thicker. If you live an area with severe winter weather, you know how dangerous the roads can get and the unique problems winter weather can create for your car. So before you start making that shopping list, look through our list of top 5 winter car care tips! 1. Take your car in for a tune-upIf you haven't taken your car to the shop for a while, now is the time to do so. A tune-up will help keep your car running longer and may save you money by detecting potential problems early. 2. Check your TiresOn slippery or icy roads, your tires are extremely important to giving you stability and controlled handling. So before the ... read more

The three signs you need to change your car battery 1. Does your car fail to start or is sluggish to turn over in the morning - while this is often a sign that your car battery is failing to hold a charge, there are tests that you can do to make sure that this is an accurate assessment - though, in all fairness, this is often the first sign that people use to decide whether their car battery needs to be changed. If your car fails to start in the morning, and you're sure there's nothing else wrong with it, chances are there's something wrong with the batteries - but before you rush out to replace the battery, give the terminals and connections a good clean, just to be sure.2. Your car refuses to start after running for a while - this is often the cause of a lot of confusion for motorists - your car just won't restart when you get back in after filling up. In most cases, a catastrophic battery failure may have happened - or one of your leads may have come loose. Give the battery a qu ... read more