Vehicle Maintenance
Spring Car Care Tips
Spring is one of the prime times for auto maintenance. That first wash-n-wax on a warm Saturday afternoon is liberating. Winter’s gloom (to say nothing of grit and road salt) is literally washed away. Take out the snow shovel, the gloves, and heavy boots and store them ‘til next season. Surely summer can’t be far…
Read MoreFuel System
There are a surprising number of small, inexpensive parts that can lead to expensive engine damage when they fail. It doesn’t seem right. Fortunately a lot of those things can be taken care of in routine maintenance. They may not be easy to remember, because it is a long list, but Douglas Automotive Repair can…
Read MoreOil Change
An oil change at Douglas Automotive Repair: Sounds simple, but there’s some pretty important things to know about preventing oil sludge. Oil eventually starts to turn into jelly. Literally – petroleum jelly. Sludge clogs up oil passages and keeps oil from getting to some areas of the engine, causing parts to wear out prematurely. And that means expensive engine repairs.…
Read MoreSix Point Checkup Means Less Trouble During Winter
Douglas Automotive Repair strongly recommends that all vehicle owners check six key systems before the temperatures start to drop. Battery –Keep the battery connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Cold weather is hard on batteries – we can check the battery and charging system for optimum performance. Batteries don’t always give warning signs before they fail…
Read MoreCar Care Tips from the Pros Prepare You For Fall and Winter Driving
It’s foolhardy to head out in a poorly maintained vehicle in the dead of winter, of course, but even vehicle owners in temperate zones need a car care check as the days grow shorter, note the pros with the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an independent group that tests and certifies the…
Read MoreWord to the Wise: Winterize
Winterizing your vehicle is a wise idea. An investment of an hour or two to have your vehicle checked is all it takes to have peace of mind and help avoid the cost and hassle of a breakdown during severe weather. The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in cold,…
Read MoreDaylight Savings Time Ends November 1st, Check Vehicle Lights
The end of Daylight Savings Time happens in most parts of the United States on Sunday, November 1st and creates unfamiliar driving conditions that can be hazardous without proper vehicle lighting. Douglas Automotive Repair recommends vehicle lights be checked before the clocks “fall back” to help ensure safe driving, especially during dusk and peak evening traffic hours. A…
Read MoreMaintaining A High Mileage Vehicle
What do I need to do for my high mileage vehicle? At Douglas Automotive Repair, we get asked this question a lot more these days. The median age for vehicles is now over 11 years. Regardless of your reason for keeping your Car or SUV around, the good news is that it’s capable of going…
Read MoreVent Cleaning…
Ever get musky odors coming from your car’s air vents? It’s fairly common. Moisture can often accumulate in the air conditioning/heating ventilation system allowing mold, mildew, fungus, and bacteria to grow. Disinfecting and deodorizing is a simple process. Depending on how bad the problem is, there are a couple of approaches we may take to…
Read MoreWhat is a MAF Sensor?
Air and fuel are mixed together to be burned in your engine. You request how much of each you need by how hard you press on the accelerator, or by going up or down a hill, or by how much you are carrying in your vehicle as your drive around. Based on how much air…
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