Archive for November 2024Stopping "Brake" Downs (Brake Pad Replacement)Posted November 17, 2024 3:02 AMIf someone tells you to put the brakes on something, you know it means stop. And stopping is one of the most important safety maneuvers you can do in any vehicle. That means your brakes have to work properly. Let's face it. You stop dozens of times every time you drive. And over time, that takes its toll on your brakes. Friction is what stops your vehicle. Most newer vehicles have disc brakes, and the parts that wear out the fastest are those that rub against each other every time you stop, the rotors and the pads. The rotors are discs that rotate with the wheels, and the pads are removable surfaces that make contact with the rotors to slow or stop your vehicle. Bits of both wear off each time you stop, and when enough of either (or both) lose too much material, your brakes become unable to safely slow or stop your vehicle. The pads usually are the parts that wear out first. Signs that your brakes might be getting worn are:
If you notice any of these, bring your car to us so we can have a technician inspect your brakes. Most brake pads have a wear indicator that indicates it's time they should be replaced. The technician who is checking things out will also look at your rotors for wear, as well as other brake system components. With regular inspections and maintenance, you'll be sure that when you need to stop, your vehicle will be up to the task. Lakeside Certified Auto Stopping "Brake" Downs (Brake Pad Replacement)Posted November 17, 2024 3:02 AMIf someone tells you to put the brakes on something, you know it means stop. And stopping is one of the most important safety maneuvers you can do in any vehicle. That means your brakes have to work properly. Let's face it. You stop dozens of times every time you drive. And over time, that takes its toll on your brakes. Friction is what stops your vehicle. Most newer vehicles have disc brakes, and the parts that wear out the fastest are those that rub against each other every time you stop, the rotors and the pads. The rotors are discs that rotate with the wheels, and the pads are removable surfaces that make contact with the rotors to slow or stop your vehicle. Bits of both wear off each time you stop, and when enough of either (or both) lose too much material, your brakes become unable to safely slow or stop your vehicle. The pads usually are the parts that wear out first. Signs that your brakes might be getting worn are:
If you notice any of these, bring your car to us so we can have a technician inspect your brakes. Most brake pads have a wear indicator that indicates it's time they should be replaced. The technician who is checking things out will also look at your rotors for wear, as well as other brake system components. With regular inspections and maintenance, you'll be sure that when you need to stop, your vehicle will be up to the task. Lakeside Certified Auto Feeling Powerless (Why Is My Battery Light On?)Posted November 10, 2024 3:00 AMWhen one of your vehicle’s warning lights comes on, the first thing that comes to mind is, “Oh, no, what’s wrong now?” When it’s the battery light, it means there’s something wrong with your vehicle’s battery or charging system. And because both are important for your vehicle to work properly, it’s a good idea to get it checked out. Here are some things that may cause a battery light to illuminate. It could be that your battery has failed. It could be on its last legs or completely dead. When it isn’t showing it has the voltage it should, your vehicle lets you know. If it’s not the battery itself, it could be the system that charges it. The alternator is part of that system and could have a problem. It could be putting out no power, too little power, or too much. The alternator may not be working because the belt that drives it (using the engine’s mechanical power) could be broken or slipping. Or the alternator pulley may be broken. The alternator needs to have a solid connection to the battery, and sometimes the posts that connect to the battery cables get so corroded, they can’t conduct enough electricity. Or it could be that a battery cable isn’t conducting power properly. Because the alternator supplies power to other parts of your vehicle, if it gets overloaded, it will also cause your battery light to come on. Other possibilities are an electrical short in the charging system or a failed voltage regulator. Your vehicle may be hard to start or it may not start at all if you have any of these problems. It’s important to bring it in to us so we can diagnose and repair the problem before you wind up stranded… and feeling really powerless. Lakeside Certified Auto All Lined Up (Alignment Inspection)Posted November 3, 2024 3:01 AMWhen you head down a straight road, does your vehicle pull to one side? Do you feel vibration in any of the wheels? If you've noticed any of these things, it's probably time for you to get your wheel alignment checked. When your vehicle left the factory, its wheels were parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. That maximizes traction for good steering and braking. Every time you take your vehicle on the road, normal wear and tear will affect your alignment. Hit a bump, a pothole or a curb and all those little knocks will add up Bad alignment not only can cause your steering wheel to pull unevenly, it can also wear your tires out a lot faster than they should. In fact, if you look at your tires and see one side of the tread is a lot smoother than the other, it could be another sign of bad alignment. Since different problems can cause similar symptoms, the first thing our trained technician will do is test drive your vehicle. Then, they'll check the front end and steering linkage as well as look for tire wear. Then, the technician will put your vehicle on a lift and use computerized diagnostic equipment to measure alignment angles so they can precisely align your vehicle's components. There are different kinds of alignments. One is a front-end alignment that aligns components of the vehicle's front axle. Another is a thrust alignment that makes sure the front wheels are lined up with the direction the rear wheels are pointed. A third type is four-wheel alignment which is usually used on all-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles. It's also recommended for front-wheel drive vehicles that have independent rear suspensions. It makes sure the angles of all the wheels are where they should be relative to each other and also the vehicle's body or frame. Your steering wheel should be perfectly centered if you are heading straight down the road, so the technician will adjust it so it is. Finally, they'll take your vehicle back on the road for a final test drive to make sure it's performing the way engineers intended. Your service adviser can recommend how often you should have your alignment inspection, since it depends on the type of vehicle you drive (SUV, sporty car, etc.) and your driving environment. Properly aligned wheels can help your vehicle perform better and save you from expensive repairs down the road. Lakeside Certified Auto | ||
SearchArchiveJuly 2016 (17)August 2016 (4) September 2016 (4) October 2016 (5) November 2016 (3) December 2016 (5) January 2017 (5) February 2017 (4) March 2017 (4) April 2017 (4) May 2017 (5) June 2017 (4) July 2017 (5) August 2017 (4) September 2017 (3) October 2017 (4) November 2017 (5) December 2017 (3) January 2018 (5) February 2018 (4) March 2018 (4) April 2018 (5) May 2018 (4) June 2018 (4) July 2018 (5) August 2018 (4) September 2018 (5) October 2018 (4) November 2018 (4) December 2018 (5) January 2019 (5) February 2019 (4) March 2019 (5) April 2019 (4) May 2019 (4) June 2019 (5) July 2019 (4) August 2019 (4) September 2019 (5) October 2019 (4) November 2019 (4) December 2019 (5) January 2020 (5) February 2020 (4) March 2020 (5) April 2020 (4) May 2020 (5) June 2020 (4) July 2020 (4) August 2020 (5) September 2020 (4) October 2020 (4) November 2020 (5) December 2020 (4) January 2021 (6) February 2021 (4) March 2021 (4) April 2021 (4) May 2021 (5) June 2021 (4) July 2021 (4) August 2021 (5) September 2021 (4) October 2021 (5) November 2021 (4) December 2021 (4) January 2022 (6) February 2022 (4) March 2022 (4) April 2022 (4) May 2022 (5) June 2022 (4) July 2022 (5) August 2022 (4) September 2022 (4) October 2022 (5) November 2022 (4) December 2022 (4) January 2023 (5) February 2023 (4) March 2023 (4) April 2023 (5) May 2023 (4) June 2023 (4) July 2023 (5) August 2023 (4) September 2023 (4) October 2023 (5) November 2023 (4) December 2023 (5) January 2024 (5) February 2024 (4) March 2024 (5) April 2024 (4) May 2024 (4) June 2024 (5) July 2024 (4) August 2024 (4) September 2024 (5) October 2024 (4) November 2024 (3) | CategoriesBattery (7)Air Conditioning (8)Headlamps (3)Alternator (5)Timing Belt (3)Service Intervals (2)Tires and Wheels (1)Fuel Economy (5)Fluids (6)What Customers Should Know (57)Brakes (7)Steering (7)Auto Safety (4)Cooling System (8)Maintenance (7)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (2)Dashboard (1)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (2)Wheel Bearings (1)Tires (6)Fuel System (3)Exhaust (6)Suspension (1)Alignment (4)Customer Detective Work (1)Shocks & Struts (2)Winter Prep (2)Inspection (3)Oil Change (4)Service Standards (2)Older Vehicles (1)Spark Plugs (2)Drive Train (2)Water Pump (1)Safety (2)Transmission (2)Cabin Air Filter (1)Check Engine Light (2)Windshield Wipers (2)TPMS (1)Tire Rotation and Balancing (2)Trip Inspection (1)Shocks and Struts (1)Brake Service (1) |