Boulder Auto Repair

Whether it's your first or tenth winter with your trusty vehicle, it's important to get your vehicle the preparation it needs to keep it running throughout the winter. As the temperatures drop in Boulder, CO, it will also bring an abundance of challenges to the drivers in town. To ensure everyone has a safe commute, here are some maintenance items that Boulder's residents should take care of before winter sets in: Test the Battery  Batteries grow very weak in extreme temperatures, so they won't be able to hold a proper charge. Before it gets too cold, drivers should get their battery tested if they need to replace it. Check Defroster and Climate Control Having a working heater is essential to make a winter car ride comfortable. Also, you will need a working defroster to defog your windshield.  Check Lights When winter comes, most vehicle owners immediately think of checking to see if their heater works. However, they often forget about daylight savings a ... read more

It might be a little soon to be talking about winter weather, but it's nearly around the corner. Snow tires, all-wheel drive, bags of kitty litter in the back - Boulder, CO residents have probably tried it all to take on the snowy, icy winter. For the most part, these strategies do work; they provide defense against an accident in freezing weather conditions. Another winter driving trick that some drivers live by is under-inflating their tires. But is it a safe and trusted approach? Why Do People Underinflate Their Tires? To understand why lowering the pressure in your tires in winter is a good plan, you need to understand what's happening when your vehicle skids. No matter what season it may be, your car needs traction to move on the road safely. Friction allows the tires to grasp the road surface and lets you control your vehicle. The more traction you gain, the better control you will have. One of the critical factors regarding traction is the tire's contact patch or t ... read more

The fuel pump is often overlooked in your car. It plays the vital role of transferring gas from the gas tank to your engine so that your car, truck, or SUV can start and run. These parts are meant to last you about 100K miles or more. If it doesn't or if you've surpassed that mileage mark, you may experience some major warning symptoms.  Sputtering Engine A sputtering engine is never a good sign. The sputtering symbolizes your engine's starvation of fuel, meaning that your fuel pump is not supplying it with enough power. This symptom can also mean that you have bad spark plugs, so be sure to see a professional for a proper diagnosis. Low Fuel Pressure Our technicians at Haglin Automotive can test your fuel pressure to see if see whether your fuel pump is on its way out. You can also try it yourself by buying a fuel pressure gauge at any auto parts store. Power Loss If your fuel pump is aging, you'll notice a reduction in engine power. You'll especially ex ... read more

Most college students nowadays reside off-campus for the benefits of freedom and more space. However, one of the cons of doing so is having to commute to school. And for those that are attending a community college, you may have no other option than to drive to school.   More than 80% of college students drive to school, making the traffic substantially crowded on weekdays. Moreover, parking may be more difficult to find than usual.  As a college student, you probably have enough stress on your hands. Here are some words of wisdom to ensure your college commute is as stress-free and seamless as possible: Leave for school early. Traffic is widespread at the start of the semester as people are trying to adjust to their schedules. We recommend leaving a lot earlier to prevent you from having to speed to get to class on time. Plan out your parking situation beforehand. You may have headaches finding a good parking spot for the first several weeks of classes. You may need ... read more

Your car stores numerous fluids to keep its internal components lubricated and enable specific systems to function correctly. The six main essential fluids that everybody should know are motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and coolant. If any of these solutions run out or the fluid is subpar, your vehicle could experience a whirlwind of problems.   Fluid Maintenance It is highly recommended that you monitor and track your fluids regularly. The most frequent fluid service is an oil change, occurring around every 5,000 miles (depending on the type of oil). Unless they get contaminated quickly, the other five fluids usually don't need to be refilled or replaced as often.   There are two different terms to know regarding fluid maintenance: fluid change and fluid flush. Most of the time, the average individual will use these terms interchangeably, but there is a difference in the eyes of a mechanic.   What Is th ... read more

“Why is my radiator leaking” is what you may ask your mechanic.Your vehicle’s radiator may leak suddenly, leaving you and your vehicle stranded on the side of the road. Do not drive your car after it overheats. Your radiator takes a beating every day, as antifreeze circulates through the engine, the generated heat dissipates, allowing the engine to run at extremely high revolutions for long periods.  Needless to say, there’s a lot of heat output. The Cooling System must be in top shape to handle it. If your vehicle overheats many parts of your car can be damaged including the engine, gaskets, thermostat, and other parts of the cooling system. The radiator could be damaged too. The leading and most common cause is corrosion in the radiator. Radiators, hoses, and hose connections collect sediment and rust that over time can punch holes in the radiator.  In a few instances, weak coolant can be the cause of overheating. Your coolant could be considered w ... read more

Tune-ups are essential to maintain a healthy vehicle, maximize fuel efficiency, and ensure a smooth drive. Having your vehicle tuned regularly will boost the power and overall performance of your car. Who doesn't want that? You might be wondering how often you should get one and what symptoms indicate that you need one, and what a tune-up service even includes.   How Often Do I Need a Tune-Up? Your vehicle's tune-up intervals are defined by the make and model of your car as well as external factors like your driving habit. Our expert mechanics recommend a tune-up at least once every 20-30k miles. If your vehicle hasn't had a tune-up in a while, you may notice some symptoms that mean your vehicle is long overdue for a tune-up service.    Symptoms to Look for If Your Car Needs a Tune-Up: Check engine light is constantly on Decreased gas mileage Rough idling Lack of power Engine having trouble starting Any of the issues above can signify that your vehi ... read more

Many families are looking forward to hitting the road this summer for a much-needed vacation. At Haglin Automotive, we believe you shouldn't have to sit through a long and boring car ride doing nothing. It'll especially be a headache if you have kids. Instead, shake things up with you and your family by playing some fun games. Here are some entertaining and kid-friendly games that you can play on the road this summer: The Classic License Plate Game This game requires paper maps and pens. The game's objective is to spot as many license plates from as many different states as possible. Whoever spots the first out-of-state plate gets to check it off their map. Additionally, this game can be very educational for kids to learn about the geography of the various states on the map.   I Spy One of the kids can be nominated to be "it," and he/she chooses something in the car to focus on. The other passengers will take turns guess ... read more

One common form of a fairly expensive purchase that takes place multiple times in the life of almost every adult is the purchase of a new or used vehicle. Purchasing a vehicle can be rather nerve-wracking, as you want your new purchase to be in good condition, reliable, and with the ability to serve your needs of getting from point A to point B daily. One way to make purchasing a vehicle a bit less stressful on yourself is by taking the vehicle to get a pre-purchase inspection. A pre-purchase inspection consists of a potential buyer taking the vehicle into an auto mechanics shop for an inspection. The mechanic will carefully look over and test the vehicle for its overall condition and will let you know of any underlying issues that the car currently has or that it may potentially develop soon. Some of the vehicle parts that get tested in a pre-purchase inspection include various engine parts, the braking system, the condition of the tires, the car's interior, exterior, and much m ... read more

Constant Velocity Axles, known as CV Axles, transfer the power from the transmission or differential to the drive wheels.    The design allows for constant power to be delivered to the wheels while the wheels turn for steering and move up and down over uneven road surfaces. The gears that allow for this transfer of power are protected by a rubber boot that holds in the necessary lubrication.  CV Axles are durable and built for a long service life. The most common reason for failure is a tear in the rubber boot that allows for the lubricating oil to escape and dirt and moisture to get into the gears.  A surprisingly small amount of dirt and/or moisture along with a lack of lubrication can do significant damage in a short period of time. Therefore, the best repair advice is to replace any CV Axle that has a failed boot. The alternative is to replace the boot, repack the grease and hope for the best. At that point a failure is far more likely to occur which puts y ... read more