Brakes

Stay Safe - Maintain Your Brakes!

Brakes are the most important safety device on your car. If you’ve ever partially lost your brakes in the past, you’ll agree that it’s not something you want to experience again. Inspecting your brakes twice a year for wear and damage can protect you and your passengers. Additionally, it will also help save you money by catching any damage before it becomes too costly.

Brake System Component Issues

The master cylinder, the heart of the vehicles braking system, holds the brake fluid when it is not being delivered to the brakes through the brake lines. If brake fluid leaks because the master cylinder is worn or brake lines are plugged or broken, the fluid cannot be delivered and the brake pads will become ruined.

The brake fluid itself can become dirty or contaminated as it draws rust-causing moisture and picks up other debris, or it can break down from excess heat. Clean brake fluid is either clear or slightly yellow, while dirty brake fluid may be brown or even black. Old and dirty brake fluid can damage ABS brake systems internally.

The brake lines connect to the master cylinder through a combination valve, which combines a metering and proportioning valve. It regulates the pressure on the front and rear wheels to make sure both sets of brakes are applied simultaneously. A malfunctioning combination valve may cause the wheels to lock up.

Brake System Parts Wear Out Over Time

Brake pads and shoes can be made of ceramic, metal or organic materials, while the disc rotors and drums they press against are made of metal. Because the pads and shoes create friction to stop the car, they gradually wear down over time and may wear away completely, letting the metal of the calipers and cylinders they are attached to grind against the rotors and drums and damage them. Some pads have a metal strip attached that sounds a warning whistle when the pad becomes too worn, but this strip sounds only when the car is in motion and the brakes are not applied.

Make sure to have your mechanic routinely check your vehicle's brakes to maintain the safety of your vehicle.

Automotive Electrical Repair

Information About Automotive Electrical Repair

Most of a modern vehicle’s systems are controlled by electrical components, and occasionally these components can fail. Part of what we do at Tune Tech Automotive is diagnose and repair automotive electrical components.

Check Your Vehicle's Starter

One of the most important parts in a vehicle is the starter. This is what turns the engine over when you put your key into the ignition to start it. There are a myriad of conditions that can cause problems with the starter in a vehicle, ranging from minor to major repairs. Because of this, it’s recommended to have a professional mechanic check the state and function of the vehicle’s starter once a year.

A Car's Alternator Is Essential

The next crucial part of a vehicle’s electrical system is the alternator. The alternator keeps the vehicle running continuously by charging the electrical systems. It does this by feeding a charge to the battery, which, in turn, charges the other electrical components of the vehicle. Because it is such a vital piece of the vehicular puzzle, it can be very expensive to replace. However, other things can impact the performance of the alternator, so it’s important to have your mechanic check it regularly. Many vehicles have an alternator warning light that reads “ALT” or a small battery symbol that will light up on your control panel. Some signs of a failing alternator can include erratic dimming or brightening of headlights, or speedometers/tachometers suddenly not working for no apparent reason. If you experience any of these “symptoms”, bring your vehicle in as soon as possible!

Be Aware Of The Age Of Your Vehicle's Battery

As mentioned above, a car’s battery feeds a charge to the rest of the vehicle’s electrical system. Most batteries need to be replaced every 3-4 years on average. Several factors influence battery life, such as extreme heat or cold, vibrations from consistent rough travel, and even driving style. You will find that most vehicle batteries come with a warranty for failure within one year of purchase.When a car battery is getting old and in need of replacement, you may or may not know it. Many car owners find that when their battery is around 4 years old it just dies! However inconvenient, this is actually an easy fix. Many times the life of the battery is checked with every oil change, which is usually around every 3,000 miles.

Other electrical components that we regularly repair are tail and headlights, power steering and windows, windshield wipers, and more. Many times the repairs to these electrical components are relatively simple, and due to a blown fuse or bad wiring. Sometimes car owners change these components themselves, but we can happily make sure it’s done correctly with the right parts.

Trust a good mechanic to diagnose and repair your automotive electrical problems, and be sure to contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment!

Vehicle Suspension Information

What Does A Suspension System Do?

The suspension is a major system found in your vehicle. It plays a vital role in stopping, steering and stability. All of the components of the suspension system absorbs all the impact and helps you maintain control when you hit bumps, obstacles or potholes, ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers. It supports the weight of the vehicle and contents, helps maintain consistent tire contact with the road, and transfers the weight of the vehicle as you round corners and turn.

The whole idea of a suspension system is to allow the vehicle body to travel over irregular surfaces undisturbed. Surely today’s vehicle suspensions enable a much more comfortable ride compared to that of the original automobiles. This is due mostly to the enhanced technology and maintenance knowledge we have today.

Suspension System Components

There are many parts to a suspension system, the important ones to the function of your vehicle being joints and pivot points. These allow a vehicle’s wheels to move up and over obstacles and to turn as you steer. As you cross over a bump or dip into a pothole, the suspension system moves in many places to accommodate these changes, resulting in a much smoother ride.

Suspension components wear out over time with prolonged use. Simply put, when they become worn out, the suspension elements don’t fit together as well as they should. This results in poor handling of the vehicle and the driver may even hear some odd noises coming from the suspension underneath the car. All of the components of your suspension system work together, so one part affects the function and quality of all the others. Having a loose joint , for example, can cause other suspension parts to wear out faster than they normally would.

Maintain Your Vehicle's Suspension

One of the suspension’s main functions is to maximize friction between the tires and the road surface. This contact between the road and tires is what affects a car’s ability to steer, brake and accelerate. A result of worn out suspension parts is uneven wear on the tires. The contact surface of new tires can actually be totally worn off in a couple of months due to poor suspension maintenance or unnoticed/neglected damage.

A trusted mechanic will be your best asset to ensure the function and safety of your suspension system. They will easily identify signs of damage or wear. Repairs can restore the correct handling to your vehicle and ensure your safety, as well.

It’s important to address small problems as quickly as possible, to avoid what could become a major and costly repair later. Remember, each component of the suspension’s structure makes up a much bigger and important system that is vital to your vehicle’s handling and safety. Keeping up with routine maintenance on your vehicle’s suspension system will help keep it driving as it should.