AUTONET TV

Stop! And See Us (Brake Pad Replacement)

If you’ve ever driven a bicycle with hand brakes, you’ll probably understand how the brake pads on your vehicle work.  Bicycle brakes use a system that squeezes the bike wheel’s rim with a pair of cushioned pads activated by your hand squeezing the hand brakes on your handlebars. The friction of those pads stops the wheel.

That’s the same principle used for the wheels on your vehicle.  Step on the brake pedal and that causes pads to put pressure on discs in the wheels called rotors.  Those pads create friction and stop the wheels from turning.

Brake pads in vehicles are made from several different materials.  The pads most commonly used are ceramic or a combination of metals.

The friction that stops your vehicle generates heat and wears both the pads and, eventually, the rotors, too.  That means that, over time, both are going to need replacing to work properly.  One sign brake wear is getting noticeable may be  when you hear squeaking when you stop.  Or you might feel the vehicle pulling to one side during braking or the brake light on your dash illuminates.  All are signs to bring your vehicle in to us for inspection and service.

When your vehicle is in for brake pad replacement, our technician will check other components such as the brake calipers, rotors and lines.   

Brakes are something you should have inspected at regular intervals because they are a vital safety component of your vehicle.  Consider having us look at them every 10,000 miles/16,000 km or each time you bring your vehicle in for an oil change. 

All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903

Don?t Be Hosed (Radiator Hose Replacement)

If you are like most drivers, you don’t worry too much about what shape your radiator hoses are in.  But they are a vital part of your coolant system, helping carry engine coolant from the hot engine to where it is cooled off in the radiator.  

When the cooling system has a problem, you will likely see your vehicle’s temperature gauge showing you it’s running at a higher temperature than it usually does. Or maybe the low coolant light has come on.  If either of these happens, it’s important that you not drive too long since a hot, running vehicle can suffer expensive damage quickly.

Radiator hoses can be damaged by being subjected to temperature extremes, both hot and cold. In addition to the temperature gauge climbing or low coolant light illuminating, there are other clues that may tell you your vehicle is leaking fluid.  You may notice a green, yellow, brown or purple fluid pooled on the ground around your vehicle.  

At any of these signs, it’s time to bring your vehicle in for service soon.  A technician can inspect hoses for leaks, deformities and other problems, as well as looking for cracks and wear.  They’ll also check the condition of the water pump, since problems with it can be another reason coolant will leak out from under your vehicle.

It is better to periodically have your hoses checked rather than waiting until they fail.  How often you should have yours replaced depends a lot on what vehicle you own, and in what conditions it is driven. Rubber degrades not only by temperature but also by what materials it comes in contact with.  For example, oil leaking on a radiator hose can prematurely cause that hose to fail. Age is another factor.  

We recommend you have one of our technicians inspect your cooling system regularly so you don’t get “hosed” by a failure at an inconvenient time.

All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903

If the Shoe Fits (Brake Shoe Replacement [Rear])

When it comes to brakes on your vehicle, we all know how important it is to keep them working well because they are vital safety equipment.  After all, if you can’t slow down and stop, you can’t drive safely.  

While many vehicles use what are called disc brakes, there’s another type of brakes that are used on the rear wheels of vehicles that have something called drum brakes.  Drum brakes were the original type that were invented in the early twentieth century.  The term drum comes from the part of the brakes that is a housing connected to your wheel.  Inside there are parts called brake shoes that press against the drum when you step on the pedal, and the friction slows and stops your vehicle.  

Signs your brake shoes might need replacing are your rear brakes make noise when you step on the pedal and they vibrate when you brake.  Another sign of bad brake shoes is that your hand brake stops working.  If you notice one or both problems in your vehicle, it’s time to bring it in so a technician can inspect your brake system.  It can be unsafe to drive a vehicle with worn out brake shoes.

There are two brake shoes in each brake, and since they both work each time you stop, when they need replacing, they should be done in pairs. When we replace your brake shoes, we will also inspect other components and parts of your brake system, including your emergency brake cable.  We will also lubricate another part called the backing plate. 

Let us keep your brakes operating as they were designed to. When it comes to safe driving, stopping is as important as going.

All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903

Don?t Blow Your Cool (Water Pump Replacement)

It’s always a good idea to keep your cool, and that’s especially true when it comes to some components of your vehicle.  One is the engine.  It’s hot under that hood thanks to the mini explosions that are occurring in the internal combustion engine when it’s running.  Your vehicle has a cooling system which takes the heat out of the engine by moving a liquid coolant to a spot where the heat can escape (the radiator). 

The part that keeps that coolant moving is the water pump, which could probably be more accurately called the coolant pump since water is only one component of the fluid that does the cooling. If the water pump fails, your engine can overheat quickly, and that can cause significant and expensive damage to your vehicle.  Water pumps can be driven by belts (mechanical) or electricity (electric).

Your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends mileage intervals when you should consider replacing your water pump even if seems to be working fine.  That way   you are less likely to have a water pump break down at an inopportune time. Some manufacturers recommend replacing it every 60,000-100,000 miles/100,000-160,000 km.

Sometimes your water pump will fail before that, of course.  One sign something is wrong with the cooling system is if you notice the engine is overheating.  An illuminated engine temperature warning light on your dash or a temperature gauge that shows above normal are two things to look for.

You may also see steam coming out of the engine compartment, which is another sign of overheating.  Both could mean your water pump needs replacing.  We also recommend that when your vehicle’s timing belt needs to be replaced that you have the water pump replaced at the same time since everything will already be apart.

When your vehicle is already in to have the water pump replaced, it’s a good time for a technician to examine other cooling system components at the same time.  Those will include belts, pulleys, hoses, clamps as well as the radiator, thermostat and heater core.

You Are the Fluid Detective! (Leaking Fluids)

When you see some liquid sitting underneath your vehicle, your mind starts churning.  Is that normal? Is that something serious, or did I just spill my drink? Here’s a quick list of what those fluids look, smell and feel like, as well as what they might be. No, we don’t recommend you taste them to verify.

   •    Clear and underneath your air conditioner or under the end of your tailpipe. It’s likely something as simple as condensed water.  This probably doesn’t need immediate attention, but you should keep checking periodically.
   •    Oily, brown, golden or black.  That could be the sign of engine oil leaking.  Oil may also smell if it has been leaking on metal and burning.  This is one you should have checked out fairly quickly.
   •    Green, blue, red, yellow, purple or orange and watery under the engine.  Smells sweet.  May be coolant (antifreeze) and a sign of a leaking radiator, hose or clamp.  Also, could mean your water pump is shot or radiator is broken or cracked.  The more that’s there, the more important it is for us to check it out soon.
   •    Yellow, slippery and smells a little foul.  Could be brake fluid. This is one that you should bring to us quickly to have us inspect.
   •    Red or pinkish and collects under the engine or middle of your vehicle.  Could be power steering fluid.  Here’s another one that should be checked by a professional soon.
   •    Red or brown liquid from around your transmission or between your radiator and the transmission, smells sweet.  You might smell burning from around your engine area, too.  Might be transmission fluid.  Another one where it’s important to have a pro look at it soon.  

Your eyes and nose can be helpful to spotting things that need attention on your vehicle.  When in doubt, head on over to see us so a technician can check it out.  Taking care of it sooner rather than later could save you an expensive repair down the road.

All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903