Vehicle Maintenance
How Often Should You Change Your Spark Plugs?
Well it can be confusing because there are several types of spark plugs and some last longer than others. Your owner’s manual will have a recommendation for when your spark plugs should be changed. Here’s a little background. Spark plugs are in the combustion chamber of your engine. They send a little spark between two…
Read MoreThe Problems with a Cream Puff (Dormant Vehicles)
You may own a vehicle that you only drive occasionally. Maybe it is a summer day cruiser, an off-roader, or vacation hauler. Here are some things you need to know about a vehicle that doesn’t get driven all that much. You know it has oil in it, and the problem with not driving a vehicle…
Read MoreOEM or Aftermarket? (Choosing Replacement Parts)
It happens – a part on your vehicle breaks or just wears out. The replacement part is very important. You want it to last and perform like new. That’s why Douglas Automotive Repair uses quality replacement parts. The parts we install on your vehicle will meet or exceed the specifications of the original parts. Let’s…
Read MoreMass Air Flow Sensor
The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor measures the volume, temperature and density of the air coming into your engine. With that information, the computer calculates how much oxygen is available to burn and adjusts the amount of fuel it sends. A dirty or damaged MAF sensor will provide inaccurate air flow readings, which can lead…
Read MoreMy Engine Overheated
Question: I was driving down the freeway and smoke started coming out of my car. I pulled over and called my husband. I had to be towed to my mechanic. He said my car engine had overheated. What can I do to prevent that in the future? Tech Answer: Oh, sounds like a rough experience. …
Read More4 Ways to Help Your Vehicle Service Go Well
Let’s face it, vehicles are complex machines, and hats off to our technicians who can diagnose and repair them when things go wrong. Here are four tips to follow when you bring your vehicle in. Describe the problem thoroughly and accurately. When you tell friends how your day at work was, you probably go into…
Read MoreImportance of Maintenance Schedules
Your vehicle isn’t the only aspect of life with recommended intervals: you have dental cleanings, physical exams, laundry, mowing the lawn and paying the bills. What would happen if you didn’t follow these intervals? Well, you’d get more cavities. You might miss health issues that benefit from early detection and treatment. And you’d wear dirty…
Read MoreBusted: The Maintenance Free Myth
Quality surveys report fewer problems with new cars than ever before. So, does that mean that modern vehicles have become maintenance free? Back when cars spent more time in the repair shop, people were more mindful of routine service. Now, it’s much easier to put it off. Take tune-ups for example. In the days of…
Read MoreA New Fuel Filter for Clean Fuel
When your fuel isn’t clean, your fuel injectors can start to become clogged up and your engine may not get the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure to run efficiently. This hurts fuel economy and performance and can also lead to the buildup of harmful deposits on valves and in the combustion chamber.…
Read MoreThe 3 Vehicle Service Items You Shouldn’t Put Off
When it comes to vehicle service, a lot of people procrastinate. The reasons? Don’t want to spend the money, don’t have time to get it done, it’s not urgent. Sound familiar? Here are the three service items you shouldn’t put off, no matter what. Oil Change. Oil is one of those things that just quietly…
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