Boulder Auto Repair

Can we talk preventative maintenance?  Fram famously said “You can pay me now or pay me later,” and it remains true to this day - nothing will prolong the life of your vehicle better than a good preventative maintenance regimen. Everybody knows that regular oil changes are critical to keeping a car running, but today there’s much more that can be done - and many more benefits to be enjoyed - for those wishing to properly maintain a vehicle.   Industry standards for preventative maintenance practices have changed.  Engine oil, for example, is far better today than in the past. Synthetic engine oil, now required in many new cars, provides an even higher level of protection for your engine while safely allowing extra time or miles between changes.   Because vehicles are lasting longer, manufacturers have adopted additional preventative maintenance practices that will help maximize the reliability and safety of your car or light truck. Brake flui ... read more

October is the start of Fall Car Care Month, a time of year dedicated to reminding car drivers to get their vehicles ready for the winter months and to practice good vehicle maintenance. As we approach the winter months, it is important to inspect vital components of our cars that are important for keeping safe and comfortable in the colder weather.    Regular car care is key to keeping your vehicle running healthy and to avoid costly repairs down the road. A properly maintained vehicle will also ensure your safety on the road.    The Car Care Council recommends 10 Fall maintenance items that will help make sure that your vehicle is ready for winter.:   Check fluids - This includes engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield wiper solvent, and coolant. Clean and topped off fluids will help make sure that all systems are running smoothly.  Check hoses and belts  ... read more

We recently had a new customer arrive in a vehicle that was in need of brakes.  They were pretty sure the brakes needed to be done because the car was making some scary grinding noises. The truth is they needed brakes long before it made the scary grinding noises. Those scary grinding noises were the sounds that meant the brake repair ended up costing several hundred dollars more than it normally would have because the pads had been worn completely through, and the resulting metal to metal contact severely damaged the calipers that holds the brake pads, and nearly broke through the rotors.   Waiting too long to get the brakes replaced on any vehicle runs the serious risk of brake failure, and the slightly less serious, but by no means trivial, additional costs.   This is another example of the ongoing value offered by establishing a relationship with a good quality repair shop.  Regular visits for preventative maintenance will spot the need for a brake service l ... read more

Why is my car blowing hot air? It worked last year, so what went wrong? Here are a few things that you can check to see if you are in need of an auto air conditioning repair. Auto Air Conditioning Repair Checklist 1) Make sure the blower works on all speeds. 2) Does the air duct deliver air on all modes. Defrost, Vent (face) and Floor. 3) Check the temperature that comes out of the vent. It should 38-40 degrees while driving or 30 degrees below the ambient temperature outside. 4) Can you hear the air compressor engaging on and off? If it is cycling (going on and off rapidly), most likely there is not the appropriate refrigerant to allow the compressor to work properly. Most repair facilities use a UV dye that gets injected into the system so that leaks can be detected with UV glasses and a black light. If you have had it serviced within the last year and it has dye in the system you can take it to a repair facility and have it inspected for leaks. All of ... read more

Haglin Automotive is excited to announce our first Family Service Day event on Saturday, May 10th from 9:00AM to 2:00PM. Family Service Day is our way of sharing our talents with those in our community who need help. Our car care team will be offering FREE automotive maintenance to single parent families through our nonprofit partners, Safehouse Alliance and Boulder County Circles. Guests will receive a range of free automotive maintenance including: oil changes tire rotation fluids top off 31 point inspection Haglin Automotive is one of five TECH-NET shops in the greater Boulder area holding Family Service Day events on May 10th. Our goal is to service 120 vehicles on May 10th. Stop by our shop and see what Family Service Day is all about. In addition to our Family Service Day, we will be co ... read more

Haglin Automotive is excited to announce that we now offer Mercedes Benz Sprinter repair services! Paul is a Mercedes Benz Master certified Sprinter Technician. This allows you the quality of service you expect from a high-end automobile mechanic without the cost that is usually associated with taking your Sprinter to a Mercedes dealership. We can perform same day service in most cases. Sprinter fleet services are also available. Google

It’s “time” to reset the clocks in your car again. Get ready for more daylight! Soon you will no longer be driving to work in the dark, thanks to Daylight Savings Time which begins at 2:00am on Sunday, March 10th 2013. To ensure you are not late to work on Monday, it would be wise to set the clock ahead one hour on your vehicle’s display. If you’re in the neighborhood, feel free to stop by Haglin Automotive. We’ll reset your car’s clock for free

Snow is great for hitting the slopes, but it’s not always fun to clear the white stuff off your car before you head off to work. With snowy conditions, ice can accumulate on your windshield. And if you are in a hurry you may decide to use your windshield wipers instead of your ice scraper. Although it is much more appealing to sit inside your vehicle as it warms up instead of standing outside chipping away at your frozen windshield, do not use your wiper blades to scrape off the window! Doing so can damage the motor, bend the arms or even rip off the blades altogether. Remember, they are called windshield “wiper” blades not “scraper” blades. If snow and ice are in the forecast, extend your wiper blades up off of the windshield, sitting straight up in the air. When you start your car, allow the windshield to defrost before using your wipers, or get a good ice scraper and scrape away so the blades can work smoothly over the windshield

Teenagers seem to think they know everything, but they could use some guidance when it comes to winter driving. When it does finally snow, take your teen driver out on the road – on a quiet street or in a parking lot away from other traffic – to practice driving safely in winter road conditions. Show them what it is like when the vehicle slides on an icy road and how to re-gain control if your vehicle fish tails. Practicing what to do if something goes wrong, before your child encounters these conditions, will help them be prepared if and when they are faced with icy roads or blizzard-like conditions. It’s always a good idea to store in your vehicle the following items in case you find yourself stranded on the side of the road in the snow or if you happen to run out of gas: Blanket Hat and Gloves Hand or Feet Warmers Water Spare Jacket Socks and an extra pair of boots or good walking shoes

With the days getting shorter, there is less daylight which means we need to adjust to driving in the dark more often. Depending on your work schedule, you may now find yourself driving to work in the dark, and again on your way home. As a precaution, check that your turn signals, hazard lights, dome lights, taillights and headlights are in proper working condition. Anything that needs attention should be replaced before you head out on the road. You may find that your headlights seem dim. Over time the lenses can become hazy. Have your auto mechanic shine up the lenses so you have a stronger, clear beam of light to guide you on your way through the sleet and snow! Daylight Savings Time is Sunday, November 4th 2012 @ 2:00am. It is that time of year again and in 1 month we will be setting our clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night November 3rd before we go to sleep. While I am excited for the extra hour I get to sleep that day, I hate that I have to reset all those clocks ... read more