Charlotte Auto Repair

One of the unfortunate situations that drivers deal with is having a sluggish car or reduced acceleration power. When that happens, the two major causes are loss of power and insufficient fuel. However, such problems are caused by a fault in one of the engine's components or sensors, impacting its ability to meet energy demands to operate efficiently. Below, we discuss some common reasons your car might be sluggish. Dirty Air Filter When you have a clogged or dirty air filter, the air flowing into the engine decreases. That affects the air-fuel ratio in the engine's combustion chamber. That reduces the power delivered to accelerate the car. Worn-n-torn Clutch Another common reason why your vehicle loses its acceleration power is a worn-out clutch. In fact, nine out of ten cases of unresponsive acceleration is an old clutch. The purpose of the clutch is to transmit torque from the engine to the transmission effectively. An old, corroded clutch often fails to engage with the ... read more

The gig economy and the effects of COVID 19 have pushed many people to work from home. This scenario means that many people are not driving as much as they did a while back. If you have been driving less lately and wondering if you need to change the oil often, our answer is YES! You need to change the oil. Learn why it is important and how often you should change the oil in the section below. How Often Should Change Your Oil? Most car owners use a mileage-based method to determine when to change the oil (about 5,000 miles). However, you can also apply a time-based oil change. Consider changing oil every six months or just twice a year. The reason is that engine oil degrades with time. Therefore, even if the car is not moving regularly, the oil becomes less effective. Some newer models do not require oil changes like their older counterparts. The reason is that they use synthetic oil, which can last longer than its conventional alternative. If your car uses syntheti ... read more

Bad driving habits can get you a ticket quickly, but they can also cause damage to your vehicle over time. The way you drive can directly impact the lifespan of your vehicle, as well as how often and how quickly things break down. If you are seeing your vehicle take too many trips to the shop, you might want to make sure you check your own driving habits and make some changes there before you blame anyone or anything else. Here are a few bad habits to change fast. Stopping Or Starting Too Fast Throwing on the brakes or flooring the gas is never a good idea, unless completely necessary. You will reduce your gas mileage, for one, and the brakes and accelerator will wear out a lot faster. You will see that you need brake pads way more often than you would normally and if you wait too long, the brakes can become damaged in other ways. Driving With Warning Lights On One of the worst habits you can have is ignoring your vehicle when you see that somethin ... read more

Cars require regular maintenance to perform at their best, including the transmission. At the first signs of transmission trouble, such as fluid leaks, warning lights, a burning smell, and other indications, take your car to an auto shop as soon as possible. The transmission is an essential part of your car that needs to be properly maintained. Here's what you need to know about the differences between transmission repair, replacement, and rebuilding. Transmission Repair A transmission repair is a cost-effective way to fix faults within a transmission. Transmission repair is ideal for minor fixes. This type of repair can include fixing specific components, in-car repairs, various adjustments, and resealing jobs. Transmission repairs do not require the transmission to be rebuilt completely. This type of repair is not an option for transmissions with extensive damages. Transmission Replacement Transmission replacement is costly but is an excellent option for transmissions that su ... read more

What is a pre-purchase used car inspection? If you are in the market for a used car or truck, then this article can help you to understand the value of a pre-purchase used car inspection. Sometimes a vehicle can look perfect from the outside. Also, this can seem to be true even if you look up under the hood and scan for defects. The benefits of having a third-party inspection to assist you with buying short or long-distance purchases are immense. Professional Third-Party Having a third party look under the hood and for other problems that are outside the vehicle is an excellent way to ensure that you are getting the best deal. Most good dealers and genuine independent sellers will agree to have a third party to inspect the vehicle. It is imperative to have a close inspection of the car you want to buy. Also, many underlying issues may not be obvious. There are two types of inspectors that you can hire to make sure you are not buying a lemon. If you are buying from ... read more

Wintertime brings many fun activities and opportunities for vacations, including snowboarding and skiing getaways, snow tubing, and sight-seeing. If you’re planning on visiting a colder place for fun winter activities, you may be wondering how to properly prepare for your winter vacation. Here are some tips on how to make sure that you will be prepared for your winter vacation!  Get the right attire for where you are traveling. If you will be having fun in the snow, proper attire is going to be necessary to keep you safe and warm while traveling. In the freezing cold, a winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf, long pants, and water-resistant boots will be needed. You may also need to dress in multiple layers depending on the temperature of your destination.  Check the weather forecast days in advance. The best way to prepare for a winter vacation is to check the weather forecast days in advance to be sure that you understand what weather to expect and what you will need. If t ... read more

At normal operation, your vehicle should drive smoothly and without issue. You shouldn't find yourself feeling too much of the road's imperfections or every single little bump in the road. However, if you start to feel that your vehicle's steering wheel vibrates excessively, there may be an issue with the suspension system, tires, or wheels. Since many different components can affect the steering wheel, diagnosing the problem can be a little bit tricky. The following are some ways that you can narrow down the issue and understand the cause of your shaking steering wheel.  The most common cause of a shaking steer wheel is the tires or wheels. Tire balance is vital to a steady vehicle and out of balance tires can cause shakiness, uneven tire wear, and more. Tire balance can be an issue if you notice that your steering wheel vibrates at high speeds or gets progressively worse the faster you drive.  The wheel bearings can also be a culprit when it comes to a shaky s ... read more

You're driving along and look down at your dashboard to see an alert from your vehicle that one or more of your tires has low air pressure. Like most drivers, you may ignore it and continue driving, maybe even for days or weeks. This may not be the case after you read this blog!  When your tire pressure warning comes on, one or more of your tires is 25% below the recommended air pressure. While most drivers don't think that this is a big deal to have fixed right away, the truth is, having the proper tire pressure is important for a number of reasons.  Have you ever driven on the highway and noticed a piece of a tire laying on the side of the road, or what was left of it? This happens when you have a tire blowout. A tire blowout is when your tire essentially breaks open, which can be extremely dangerous while on the road. Tire blowouts are actually mainly caused by low tire pressure, and trust us - you definitely want to avoid this situation.  Another reas ... read more

You get into your car on a cold morning only to find that your heater is blowing cold air - you wait for your car to "warm-up" yet nothing happens. Is your heater broken, and is it a serious issue?  Your vehicle's heating system is actually complex and is directly integrated into your vehicle's cooling system. The warmth that your vehicle uses to warm the air before it is released into the cabin is actually from the heat of your vehicle's engine, transferred through coolant and the heater core.  A problem with your vehicle's heater core or low coolant can actually cause issues with your air getting warm when you turn on the heater. So while you may think a broken heater isn't necessarily a big deal, the truth is that you may have a cooling system problem. Low coolant or a bad heater core can cause some serious issues when it comes to your vehicle's engine. If heat isn't being rerouted from the engine, your engine can quickly overheat w ... read more

The brake system in your vehicle is what ensures the safety of you and your passengers. Even if you notice the slightest difference in brake performance or a strange noise while braking, it is important to have your brakes inspected as soon as you can. If you suspect an issue with your brakes, bring your vehicle into our experts for fast and friendly service. We will work quickly to repair your brakes and get you back on the road safely.  If there is a problem with your brakes, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:  Brake pedal goes to the floor Brake system light is on Loss of brake power Squealing/grinding noise when braking Vehicle pulls to one side/shakes when braking All of the symptoms above can indicate a problem with your vehicle’s brakes. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, stop by our shop as soon as you can. Our auto repair shop has the latest, state-of-the-art computer diagnostic equipment to accurately diagnose and repair ... read more