Visit us on FacebookFrequently Asked Questions
In
our number of years in the business, we have answered different
questions related to repairs, towing, parts, and similar matters. To
better assist you, we gathered the most common questions we encounter.
We hope you will find the answers beneficial and helpful to you.
What happens if I wait a few thousand extra miles to have my oil changed?
Oil changes are one of the critical maintenance items you should be sure to do as recommended by the manufacturer. There are over 10,000 moving parts in a car. Oil and its additives are what keep them from grinding against each other. At 3000 miles, the additives in the oil, which are what actually protects moving parts, have broken down to the point of being mostly ineffective. That means it's harder for parts to move and increases their wear and tear, costing you money down the road for replacement when regular oil changes could have prolonged their life.
Why does everyone make such a big deal about timing belts and changing them at around 70,000 miles?
To replace your car's engine, it will cost over $5000. To replace your car's timing belt, depending on the make and model, should cost about $500 to $700. The timing belt, very simply put, makes the engine run. When the timing belt fails, the engine seizes and typically, that is the end of that engine.
Why
is it that auto shops suggest replacing the water pump at the same time
as the timing belt?
The majority of the cost of replacing a timing belt is due to the labor because of the location of the timing belt in the engine compartment. As you can see from the diagram, the water pump has a similar location. The water pump pushes engine coolant through your car's cooling system. That makes it a very important part to a functioning care. Rather than incur the labor charges to replace the water pump separately, we recommend you replace both at the same time. The additional cost to replace the water pump while replacing the timing belt, depending on make and model, is around $100-$200.
Feels, Smells, Sights and Sounds - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
What does it mean when it feels like my car hesitates upon
acceleration?
It could be several things and it requires bringing the vehicle in so our
mechanic can test drive it. Some possible explanations include:
- Old spark plugs (when was the last time you had them changed?)
- A clogged fuel system (have you had your injectors cleaned?)
- Cylinders misfiring (have you had your engine tuned lately?)
I smell something burnt when I turn off my car and get out. What
could that be?
It depends on the type of burnt smell. If you've had a recent oil change,
it's possible some drops of oil landed on parts that get hot when the
engine is running. It will burn off quickly and you shouldn't continue to
smell it. If the smell continues, bring it in to Honest-1 for a
diagnosis. Your engine should not smell burnt.
When I look in the rearview mirror, I see blue smoke coming out of
the back of my car when I accelerate hard. What is that?
Your engine is most likely burning oil and it's exiting from underneath
the car, not from your exhaust system. Bring it in immediately as oil
leaks due damage to other working parts in your car.
I've noticed my car pulls to the right when I'm driving on the highway. Is there something wrong with my tires?
Although it's possible it's your tires, it's more likely that your front end is out of alignment. Front-end alignments are inexpensive and not only make your car safer, but they extend the life of your tires.
When I put my car in gear, there's a delayed reaction. I hear a
clunk sometimes as well and the car is not upshifting like it used to.
What causes this?
Based on this description, it sounds like something related to your
transmission. There are lot of components that affect the transmission so
it's important to bring it in to Honest-1? so our mechanics can diagnose
the specific problem and make a recommendation. If you do need repairs on
your transmission, be sure to ask about our VIP Coupon. It has coupons in
it to help out with your repair costs.
My car is starting to sound like a hot rod even when it's idling.
It's getting hard to have a conversation inside the vehicle.
That is most likely your exhaust system making noise. It could be a loose
fitting or a hole somewhere in the exhaust. It will only get worse and
you can get fined for noise violations. Bring it in and we'll tell you
what's wrong and how much it will cost.
