THE IMPORTANCE OF VISIBILITY (Cleaning Vehicle Glass)
Posted August 29, 2021 7:45 AMWe've all been through it. The vehicle ahead of us kicks up mud, slush, snow or salt on our windshield and we can't see a thing. And not being able to see a thing when we're driving? Not a good thing.
Debris on a vehicle's glass can be blinding when driving directly into the sun. And other things can ruin visibility: scratches on the glass, fogged windows, mineral deposits.
So lets make one thing clear: Your windows. Here are some tips.
- Number one rule, don't use abrasives on glass. That means no gritty cleaners that are made for metal. Avoid at all costs those dark green abrasive pads on some kitchen sponges that are made to clean metal pots and pans UNLESS the manufacturer specifically says they can be used on glass.
- Use the appropriate cleaner for the substance that's being cleaned off. Special automotive glass cleaners are available, and your Lakeside Certified Auto service advisor can make recommendations.
- Vinegar can work wonders. Sometimes you'll see hard, grayish water spots on your windows that nothing seems to take off. Distilled white vinegar (available in the grocery store) gets rid of them safely, quickly and easily.
- Use a microfiber cloth designed for cleaning glass; that's what professional detailers choose.
- Clean the insides of windows, too. That film that develops on the inside of vehicle windows can be the result of plastic interior surfaces decaying in the heat of sunlight (plastic contains oil). The film can also be caused by cigarette smoke. Clean that oily layer off thoroughly.
Now that you have clean windows, here's how to keep 'em clean.
- Replace your wipers at least once a year. Rubber deteriorates the older it gets, even if you rarely use your wipers.
- You might consider a newer type called a "beam" blade. Most have an aerodynamic design that cleans your windshield better, especially at higher speeds.
Your service advisor at Lakeside Certified Auto will be able to recommend good wiper blades for your vehicle and install them properly.
Visibility. See what we mean?
Lakeside Certified Auto
38525 Lakeshore Blvd
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 946-0076
http://www.lakesidecertifiedauto.com
What is a TPS? (Throttle Position Sensor)
Posted August 22, 2021 11:14 AMYou know you have an accelerator pedal; step on it and your vehicle is supposed to go. But did you know there is a part in your vehicle that keeps track of where the throttle is? It's called the Throttle Position Sensor, or TPS.
The TPS is a sensor that helps your vehicle figure out the right mix of air and fuel is reaching your engine. It does that by keeping track of the throttle and sending that information to your vehicle's computer. Other factors play a role in how well your engine is performing, including air temperature, how fast the engine is turning over and air flow.
When the TPS isn't working right, you may find your vehicle won't accelerate or doesn't have the power you're expecting when you press on the accelerator. In some cases, it may accelerate on its own. Sometimes your vehicle won't go over a certain speed. Your Check Engine light may go on.
Any of these symptoms should be checked out soon. If your TPS stops working right, your vehicle may not be safe to drive. Fortunately, most vehicles have a "limp home" mode that will allow you to get off a busy road to a safe spot.
Your service advisor can let you know which TPS is the correct replacement for your vehicle. Your shop may have to re-program the new TPS so it works correctly with other software in your vehicle.
It's a fact of life these days that computers control many of a vehicle's functions. The sensors that feed information to those computers help make your vehicle work the way it was engineered to and keep you motoring down the road safely and efficiently.
Lakeside Certified Auto
38525 Lakeshore Blvd
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 946-0076
http://www.lakesidecertifiedauto.com
The Lakeside Certified Auto Guide to Servicing Your Differential
Posted August 15, 2021 8:20 AM
Differential? What's that? And what's it for? I've been told by my service advisor that I need to get it serviced, but is that on the level?
Do these questions sound familiar? They're not uncommon for Willoughby drivers. A lot of us in Willoughby don't know what a differential is or what it's for. Every vehicle has a differential, and, yes, it does need to be serviced. In fact, it's more important to the operation of your vehicle than the air conditioner or windshield wipers.
A differential allows your vehicle tires to move at different speeds. This happens more than you think. The best example is when a vehicle is turning. The inside wheel travels a much shorter distance than the outside wheel during a turn. This means the outside wheel has to move faster than the inside wheel. Without a differential, your tires would hop and skip while turning. They would also lose traction in sand or snow.
The location of your differential depends on what kind of vehicle you drive. On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the differential is located in the back. For a front-wheel drive vehicle, it is located on the front, but it is usually called a transaxle. Four-wheel drive vehicles have three differentials: one on the front, one in the back and one in the middle. This center differential compensates for differences in speed between the front and rear wheels.
Your differential contains strong gears that need to be protected from dirt, debris, water and other contaminants. A differential is sometimes referred to as a “gear box.” The work of these gears is to transfer power from the vehicle drive train to the wheels.
Your differential needs fluid to lubricate and cool the gears. This fluid, even though enclosed in the “gear box,” can get dirty because the gears grind down over time, releasing tiny bits of themselves into the fluid. Also, the additives in the differential fluid break down and need to be replaced. That's why preventive maintenance for your vehicle needs to include servicing the differential.
Your owner's manual can give you recommendations on how often to service your differential. But you should also consult with your friendly and knowledgeable Lakeside Certified Auto professional. Lakeside Certified Auto can give you some good auto advice on whether your vehicle needs to be serviced more frequently. For example, if you drive in hot or cold OH weather conditions, your differential will need to have its fluid changed more often.
Severe conditions will also affect your vehicle care routine and your differential. Check your owner's manual for a definition of “severe service” conditions that affect your vehicle. Examples may include driving with frequent stops and starts, a lot of short trips around Willoughby, hot or cold OH weather conditions and towing.
Off-roading is particularly hard on a vehicle's differential. If you are an off-roader, especially if you cross OH streams or waterways, it is important that you service your differential more frequently than the recommendations suggest.
Properly servicing your differential will extend its life and keep you out of Willoughby auto repair shops. A smooth ride is the result of proper preparation and smart choices.
Lakeside Certified Auto
38525 Lakeshore Blvd
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 946-0076
http://www.lakesidecertifiedauto.com
Automotive Tips from Lakeside Certified Auto: Serpentine Belt Overview
Posted August 8, 2021 11:46 AMThe technicians at Lakeside Certified Auto know your serpentine belt drives important engine accessories like your alternator, air conditioning compressor, and power steering. In some cars it may also power the power brakes or water pump. The serpentine belt is powered by the engine and winds around pulleys and the accessories. Some cars in Willoughby have two serpentine belts.
The serpentine belt, the belt tensioner (which maintains the appropriate tension on the belt) and the idler pulleys are together known as the accessory drive system.
Now your serpentine belt and the belt tensioner will just wear out over time – that’s why your vehicle manufacturer has a scheduled belt replacement interval. The team at Lakeside Certified Auto in Willoughby can inspect your serpentine belt for wear and get it replaced if it’s time.
Give us a call.
Lakeside Certified Auto
38525 Lakeshore Blvd
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 946-0076
http://www.lakesidecertifiedauto.com
On Board Diagnostics for Your Engine
Posted August 1, 2021 11:18 AMStarting in 1996, Lakeside Certified Auto service technicians have been able to use a standardized diagnostic system to help determine what is wrong with a vehicle. This diagnostic system works in tandem with the Engine Control Modules for each vehicle's engine. The Engine Control Module is a computer that monitors and controls many engine functions.
Sensors throughout a vehicle send readings to the Engine Control Module. These readings help the computer make adjustments in various vehicle systems to allow for constantly changing driving conditions and even to compensate for minor problems. However, if the computer encounters a situation it can't adjust for, it turns on the Check Engine light. (The Check Engine light is called the “service engine soon” light on some vehicles.)
If the Check Engine light is burning steadily, it indicates a problem that needs to be taken care of soon. If it is flashing, however, the vehicle needs immediate attention at Lakeside Certified Auto. When the Check Engine light is flashing, the vehicle should not be driven at high speeds, haul heavy loads or tow a trailer. Willoughby drivers need to understand that doing so can cause major damage.
When a vehicle is brought to Lakeside Certified Auto in Willoughby because the Check Engine light is on, a technician will scan the Engine Control Module to learn why it turned the light on. The answer comes as a “trouble code.” The technician has access to software that allows him to enter the code and find out what it means. The software will also let your Lakeside Certified Auto technician know what might be causing the problem and how to diagnose it.
Notice that the trouble code does not tell your technician at Lakeside Certified Auto exactly what is wrong with the vehicle. It can only let him know where to start looking to find the problem.
Scanning a trouble code and determining what it means is fairly simple for the pros at Lakeside Certified Auto. But the ensuing process of actually diagnosing a vehicle's trouble can take a skilled technician some time. Sometimes this can add up to a significant repair bill. Some vehicle owners mistakenly believe that the “trouble code” is all they need and think they can then fix their vehicles themselves. Some have tried to save money by purchasing an inexpensive scanner, or they take their vehicles to an auto parts store that offers the scan for little or no cost.
These options are often not the money-savers they seem for Willoughby vehicle owners. They can end up costing the vehicle owner extra in unnecessary repairs and engine damage.
For example, the trouble code P0133 reads “Bank 1 sensor 1 circuit slow response.” Translated, that means the front oxygen sensor shows a slow response time in changing the mix of air to fuel. The seemingly obvious conclusion is that the sensor needs to be replaced. The vehicle owner purchases a sensor, installs it and happily goes on his way.
However, read the trouble again: a slow response time in changing the mix of air to fuel. Nowhere does this indicate that the sensor is bad. There are a lot of parts involved in changing the air-fuel mix, any of which could be causing a slow reaction time. Those include a bad or contaminated airflow sensor, an exhaust leak, a problem in the electrical system or a leak in the intake manifold. The sensor is merely relaying that the response time is slow; it doesn't indicate where the trouble is.
So the vehicle ends up with an oxygen sensor it did not need, and the delay in repairing the actual problem may have led to further damage to the engine. Both are added costs for the vehicle owner.
Cheap scanners also don't have the ability to read the history stored in an engine's computer. This operating history contains clues that can help in diagnosing engine trouble since it can indicate a developing problem. Lakeside Certified Auto invests a lot of money in high-end diagnostic equipment so that we have access not just to service codes but also to the operating history of the engine.
On-board diagnostics, then, are a tool to help diagnose what is wrong with a vehicle. They cannot specify what part needs to be fixed or replaced, and they cannot replace a well-trained and well-equipped service technician.
Unless you are a trained mechanic, it's good auto advice to use Lakeside Certified Auto for your car care. In the long run, it can save you time, unnecessary expense and frustration. Lakeside Certified Auto can also help you keep up with your scheduled preventive maintenance, which can also save you on repair bills by alerting you to potential problems before they get expensive.
Lakeside Certified Auto
38525 Lakeshore Blvd
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 946-0076
http://www.lakesidecertifiedauto.com