AUTONET TV

Control Arms: Small Part, Big Impact

Here’s one part of your vehicle you may never have heard of: the control arm.  It’s the part that connects the wheel hub and steering knuckle to your vehicle’s frame.  What it does is lets your wheel move up and down while keeping it aligned with your vehicle.  

Most control arms have things called ball joints and bushings.  They take a constant beating and wear out after a while.  It’s important to make sure your control arms are in good shape so your steering is stable and handling easy.  It also reduces wear on your tires and allows your suspension parts to wear evenly.  

How do you know if you need a new control arm?  You might feel clunks or knocking sounds every time you drive over a bump.  Your tires may wear unevenly and you might feel your steering wheel vibrate.  You might find your vehicle pulls to one side when you’re driving. 

If you notice some of these signs, it’s a good idea to bring your vehicle over so one of our technicians can check things out.  If they find you need a new control arm, they’ll remove the old one, install the new one and tighten bolts to specifications recommended by the manufacturer. 

Sometimes we recommend replacing other components, such as sway bars, if it appears they’ve worn out.  It’s also a good idea to have us replace both control arms to keep your handling even.  And after a control arm replacement, it’s best to have us perform a wheel alignment.  

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

Keeping Your Cool

Most vehicles on the road use an engine coolant to help get the heat out of the engine so it can run at the temperature it’s designed to. Coolant also prevents your engine from freezing in cold weather and reduces corrosion in some components such as the radiator and water pump.  

After you’ve driven your vehicle for a while, the coolant’s chemicals break down and can’t do the job they’re supposed to. If it’s been a long time since your coolant was last changed, you notice your vehicle is running a little hotter than it used to or your cabin heater isn’t working the way it once did, it may be time to have one of our technicians examine your coolant. It may need a coolant exchange.  What that means is draining out your old coolant and replacing it with new.  

In addition to simply replacing the fluid, the radiator, heater core, hoses and passages in the engine block should also be flushed.  That ensures that rust, corrosion and debris buildup will be removed so your cooling system can do its job more efficiently.

Conventional coolants (they’re usually a green color) typically last about 2-3 years.  Another longer-life coolant may last 5 years or more.  Many manufacturers recommend a coolant change every 5 years or 50,000-100,000 miles/80,000-160,000 km.  Our technicians will make sure your vehicle gets the correct coolant for your engine.

Once your coolant is replaced, your engine stays protected from extreme temperatures.  It shouldn’t overheat in summer or freeze in winter.  You should notice better heater performance, less corrosion in the cooling system and a longer lifespan for your water pump and radiator.

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

Why Does My Battery Go Dead (The Silent Battery Killers Under Your Hood)

It’s a sound you don’t want to hear when you turn your ignition key or push your ignition button: silence, except for a click. It can signal that your battery doesn’t have enough power in it to start your engine.  There can be many things that cause batteries to lose their power, and they’re called “silent battery killers” because they can happen slowly without much warning.

One is what they call parasitic electrical draw. You might think when you turn off your vehicle that it’s not using any power.  But in modern vehicles, there are a lot of things that continue to use electricity, like clocks, alarms and various computers.  

Another major battery killer is a failing alternator. The alternator is supposed to recharge the battery while the engine is running. If it’s weak or has a bad diode, your battery won’t fully recharge.  The alternator could even drain the battery after the engine is shut off. 

Your battery connections may also cause a battery to die if they are corroded or loose.  You may not realize that corrosion creates resistance in wires, which can make it harder for your battery to charge properly and deliver power.
 
One of a battery’s worst enemies can be heat.  If your engine generates too much of it, it speeds up the chemical breakdown inside the battery and makes it harder for your battery to hold a charge.  Warm climates can make this worse.

If you don’t drive your vehicle often or only take it on short trips, your battery may not be getting enough of a recharge.  Starting a vehicle uses a lot of power, and short drives may not give the alternator enough time to replenish what was used.

So, if your battery keeps going dead, it’s important to find the root of the problem.  Bring it in to us so one of our technicians can test it with specialized equipment and track down the silent killer before they leave you stranded at the most inopportune time.

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

Timing Cover Replacement

Your engine has a lot of parts that need to work in harmony in order to keep you powering down the road.  Some of those parts need to be protected in order to keep things running smoothly, and one that does the job is called a timing cover. It is in the front of your engine and shields components that keep your vehicle’s crankshaft and camshaft in sync so your engine will run the way it should.

The timing cover can fail, and it’s important to replace it before your engine suffers significant damage. The cover has to keep engine oil from getting on other parts of the engine.  Over time, gaskets and seals can start leaking oil because of the heat, vibration and deterioration.  When this happens, your oil level might be slowly going down, and sometimes you might even notice oil on the ground under your vehicle’s engine.  

The oil can leak onto belts and pulleys, severely affecting engine performance and safety.  When too much oil leaks, internal parts of your engine can be damaged.  

Sometimes it’s not oil leaks but physical damage from road debris and corrosion that can cause the timing cover to fail. It can be something as simple as a small crack.  When that happens, it’s possible your engine won’t be properly lubricated and timing alignment can be off.  

If your engine has a timing chain, the timing cover may make sure the chain’s guides and tension are operating the way they should.  If the timing cover begins to wear excessively or develops a small crack, you might notice rattles coming from your engine.  Plus, your engine’s timing accuracy may be affected and the chain may even fail.  

As part of regular maintenance, a technician checks to make sure your timing cover isn’t showing any leaks, wear or cracks.  A timing cover that is starting to show signs of damage or wear should be replaced so it can protect the engine’s timing system, prevent oil loss and keep your vehicle working reliably.  

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