Boulder Auto Repair

Excellent news!  The majority of vehicles sold in recent years can go 200,000 miles with precious few major repairs.    But there is a catch: Preventive maintenance is required.  And there is more to it than meets the eye. Also, there are important new services that not everyone is aware of yet.   Oil Change?  But of course.  Many people still refer to it as a “lube, oil and filter” service.  Chassis lubrication has pretty much gone by the wayside, but the fresh oil and filter part is still the meat and potatoes of a basic car service.   A proper oil change should include an examination of the vehicle’s major components and a check of other fluids; transmission, brake, power steering and coolant, in most cars. This service is due by mileage, or at least twice a year. Some of the preventive services recommended on modern cars are necessary because cars are lasting so much longer.  It’s also like ... read more

If your car has a timing belt, as many do, replacing it is considered a maintenance item.  Once every 60,000 to 105,000 miles doesn’t come too often, but it’s one of those things you definitely don’t want to miss.  Severe damage can result from a broken or failed timing belt if your car has an interference engine, and while that design is less prevalent these days, they are still fairly common.     Even if your vehicle’s engine won’t suffer internal damage when the timing belt breaks, you will, at a minimum, be inconvenienced.  If you happen to be driving at highway speeds, the danger could be very real.   Yes, timing belt replacement is a significant expense, but part of the cost is the additional  preventative measures many manufacturers include as part of a complete timing belt replacement.  Most of the time, the technician will replace the water pump because it’s driven by the timing belt because the l ... read more

Yes, you should replace your timing belt, but know when and why and choose a good repair shop to perform the work. There are many places that you can look up to see whether you vehicle has a timing belt or a timing chain. Call your repair shop and they can look up your specific vehicle and they should be able tell you whether you have a timing belt and when it should be replaced based on mileage and/or time. When and why should I replace my timing belt? Unfortunately, in most cases, there are no obvious signs the timing belt is near its end of life; it can break, lose teeth or jump its timing. That’s why highly rated auto mechanics recommend replacing it every 60,000 to 105,000 miles based on the vehicle’s factory recommended maintenance schedule, your individual driving habits and conditions as well as time before the belt breaks or has a catastrophic failure. “More vehicles have timing belts and their owners have ... read more