AUTONET TV

Catching Trouble Early

Your vehicle depends on wheel bearings.  Sitting between the wheel’s hub and axle, they allow your wheels to spin smoothly, bear the vehicle’s weight and work in harmony to stay aligned with other parts.  

Wheel bearings can fail in several ways, and they may send the driver some pretty clear clues.  Sometimes they make strange noises, or you may feel vibrations instead of the usual smooth ride. The most common signs are grinding or humming noises, uneven tire wear and steering vibrations.

Wheel bearings can fail when they are contaminated with water, road salt or dirt that slips in through a broken seal that’s designed to keep those things out.  If lubrication gets too old or overheats, it can create friction and heat that will cause the bearing to fail.  If you’ve hit some hard potholes or curbs, that can also damage a wheel bearing.

Unfortunately, wheel bearings can’t be fixed; they have to be replaced.

Once a wheel bearing is worn, replacement is the only fix—bearings cannot be repaired. When you bring your vehicle in, a technician will give it a road test and listen for noises on turns.  If your bearing needs replacing, the technician will use the appropriate part for your vehicle and make sure the axle nut is torqued to factory specifications.

If you can avoid driving in deep water, keep your tires balanced and make sure your suspension and brakes are maintained, you might minimize the chances of damaging a wheel bearing.  

You probably don’t think about your wheel bearings very much, but they are important to good vehicle performance.  When they’re healthy, your wheels will rotate smoothly, handling will be stable and your braking will feel solid and predictable.

AutoChoice Service Center Inc.
2009 S. Yost Ave.
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
812-339-9898

Helping Your Engine Breathe Easier

You may have heard someone tell you it’s time to replace your vehicle’s engine air filter and thought, “It’s OK.  I’ll do it in a while.”  While it’s tempting to put that off, keep in mind that having your engine air filter replaced is one of the easiest ways to maintain your vehicle’s performance and efficiency.  Here’s why.

Your engine needs the air that comes in to be clean because a proper fuel/oxygen mixture is necessary for good combustion.  If you wait too long to have the filter replaced, dust, dirt, air pollutants and debris from the road hamper the engine’s ability to get enough air.  That can lead to poor acceleration, lower fuel economy and strain on other engine parts.

The reason a dirty engine air filter reduces your fuel economy is that the engine’s computers have to compensate for lowered air intake by supplying more fuel to produce the same power. Over time, you’ll notice a significant difference. It’s important that you protect your engine from contaminants in the air. If dirt and dust aren’t filtered out before they get to the engine, that can cause premature wear on cylinders, pistons and other engine parts. In the long run, it may lead to costly repairs that are a lot more expensive than the cost of a filter.

If you value keeping our planet’s air clean, a fresh filter will improve the performance of your vehicle’s emission system, helping it run cleaner and reducing its impact on the environment

Think about it.  Getting a new engine air filter is quick, inexpensive and pays off with big benefits. Consider what it delivers for your engine’s performance, its long-term health and your fuel costs.  You and your engine will both breathe easier.

AutoChoice Service Center Inc.
2009 S. Yost Ave.
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
812-339-9898

Start Me Up

You have a nice road trip planned out.  You’re all packed, sit down in the driver’s seat, go to start your vehicle up and… Nothing!  You might hear a click, but that’s it.  What do you do now? 

Your problem may be a bad ignition switch. There are other symptoms you may notice.  A failing ignition switch can cause your vehicle to stall while you’re driving. That presents a significant safety risk.  You may notice dashboard lights flickering when the key is in the “on” position.  Accessories like the radio, headlights or other electric components may turn on and off at random. And you may notice the Check Engine light coming on intermittently.  

If you’re experiencing any of these problems, it’s important to have a technician take a look at it soon.  They’ll go through your system thoroughly, checking battery voltage and cables, then make sure your starter is working the way it should.

The technician will conduct tests to make sure there’s continuity and voltage in each of your switch’s terminals in the “Accessories, Power and Start” positions. They will also scan for diagnostic trouble codes designed to narrow down ignition and power issues.  

If they determine it’s a bad ignition switch, they’ll remove the old one and install the new one. Many newer vehicles have anti-theft systems, and the new switch and key may require programming.  Once the new one is in place, they’ll test all of the switch’s positions and make sure electrical components such as the lights, sound system and dashboard are working correctly.

AutoChoice Service Center Inc.
2009 S. Yost Ave.
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
812-339-9898

Keep Cool: Why Radiator Hoses Matter

If there’s one thing you want to make sure is going on under your vehicle’s hood, it’s that your engine doesn’t get too hot.  Heat is an engine’s worst enemy, and it can result in very expensive repairs, even leave you stranded in a tough spot.

One vital part of your vehicle is the radiator hose, which connects the engine to the radiator.  That’s where the heat goes to be carried away from your vehicle and is dispersed to the air outside.

A faulty radiator hose can lead to serious engine problems if it’s not handled quickly.  An aging, stressed radiator hose can develop cracks and leaks, leading to coolant leaking under your vehicle.  The rubber in the hose may weaken, swelling near the clamps that attach it to the radiator and may ultimately burst.  

You may smell coolant when a radiator hose is failing.  It has kind of a sweet odor, one that is a sign you shouldn’t ever ignore.  You may notice the temperature gauge on your dash is headed up past the middle zone, one possible sign of a radiator hose going bad.  And if you see steam coming out from under the hood, that’s a sign that some coolant may be leaking onto a hot surface.  

It is, of course, better to maintain your radiator hose’s health before any of these signs.  We recommend a technician regularly inspect hoses for wear, especially when you are planning a long drive.  It’s also important they check the areas next to clamps and bends.

Periodic replacement, say, every five years or so, is one way to reduce the chances of a radiator hose failure.  And it’s always a good idea to have the coolant in your vehicle regularly checked, as that may point to failures in the coolant system.  

Consider your radiator hose much more than just a rubber tube.  It’s one lifeline to a cool, healthy engine.  

Stopping Power Starts with Your Brake Pads

You may not think too often about your brakes, but one part of them plays a big role in your vehicle’s safety and performance.  That part?  The brake pad.  Every time you press your brake pedal, those pads create friction against the rotors, converting your vehicle’s motion into heat and bringing you to a controlled stop. When your brake pads are worn and unhealthy, this process becomes slower, less predictable and far more dangerous.

One reason it’s important to maintain good brake pads is stopping distance. As pads wear down, they lose the ability to generate consistent friction. You may not realize it, but just a slight increase in stopping distance can be the difference between avoiding a collision and having one. Worn pads also make your braking uneven or shaky, and it can quickly reduce your confidence in your brakes.

Your vehicle’s pads also protect other parts of your braking system. If they wear too thin, the metal backing can grind directly into the rotors, causing deep grooves, overheating and costly damage. This may lead to expensive repairs and compromise your ability to stop safely.

Another critical factor is managing heat in your brakes.  Brake pads must withstand extreme temperatures, especially during sudden stops, towing or highway driving. Pads in good condition can prevent brake fade, a temporary but dangerous loss of braking power caused by overheating.

Think of it this way.  Your brake pads are your vehicle’s first line of defense. Replacing them on time ensures shorter stopping distances, smoother braking and protection for the entire brake system. Maintaining them can deliver major safety benefits and peace of mind every time you drive.

AutoChoice Service Center Inc.
2009 S. Yost Ave.
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
812-339-9898