Gilbert Auto Repair

Here's something very interesting that I found a few weeks back on the Car Care Council web site (btw tons of great info there regarding maintenance and repairs if you're interested in that kind of stuff). It's a simple do it yourself car maintenance checklist for your car. This infographic helps you understand what items should be inspected, either by you or your mechanic. It's all about avoiding breakdowns and saving money by determining if there is a maintenance need before it becomes a bigger problem. When you come for an oil change we always make sure that these items are checked but because of longer period between oil changes you have to be aware of this and make sure that you're taking the time to go through that list yourself. It doesn't take very long and it's pretty st ... read more

  If you’re like me you’ve seen your share of engine light in your life. For those lucky ones who has never seen it, it’s an amber colored light that shows on your dashboard. Surprisingly the issue may be a very simple fix in newer vehicles like your gas cap not being screwed on tight enough or a worn gas cap, causing the vehicle to fail the self-diagnostic evaporative emission test. So first thing you should do is go to their gas cap and verify that it is tight. If that was the problem, the light will turn off and everything will be fine within one or two days. And you should definitely get this fixed before getting your car going through the  emission testing. Here’s a very important advice, we advise drivers to resist the temptation to have someone “clear” the codes to turn off your vehicle check engine light. This erases important diagnostic information that your repair shop technician needs to diagnose the underlying problem for the ... read more

How automakers have been able to consistently build more powerful engines in vehicles that get better fuel economy while at the same meeting increasing environmental standards is quite amazing. One of the little miracles that helps make this happen is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve. What does it do? The EGR valve routes some exhaust back into the air intake system in both gasoline and diesel engines. The exhaust gas takes up some space in the engine cylinders, replacing some of the oxygen-rich air that would otherwise be in there. This means that the fuel burning event is cooler. Cooler combustion means fewer harmful nitrous oxides are produced. Pretty simple right? What can go wrong? Well your EGR valve can get gummed up, messing the timing and amount of exhaust that is supposed to be recirculated in the engine. You’ll recognize that some of the symptoms of EGR valve problems are rough idle and poor engine performance. At that point, performance can be restored by cl ... read more

So you’ve found out that your brake pads are wearing out, and it’s time for a replacement. But did you know that there are multiple types of brake pads, made from different materials and suited to the different needs of cars and driving styles? Our team at Spectrum Car Care in Gilbert, AZ can help get the brake pads that best fit your car. Here’s a quick guide to help you select the right brake pads for you. Semi Metallic Brake Pads Semi Metallic pads can be made from anywhere from 30% to 65% metal, from copper, wire, steel wool and other metal materials. Semi Metallic pads wear out the least quickly of all brake pads, but they also tend to wear out the brake rotors faster. Low-Metallic These pads are made from a special formula using about 10% to 30% copper or steel. Low-metallic brake pads are optimal for high heat and friction braking, and ideal for high speed braking. These types of pads are less clean than others, though. Low metallic pads produce a lo ... read more

Tires keep your car going, so it is important to take care of them with regularly scheduled maintenance. Here are a couple of main reasons that cause wheel alignment issues for cars (leading to why tires wear out quicker than advertised): Suspension and steering components wear over time as well which can lead to and alignment issues. Of course, a big bump like hitting a curb or pothole can knock a wheel out ofalignment or damage a steering or suspension part. So when wheels are properly aligned they obviously all point i n the same direction. When they are out of alignment, you’ll notice a couple of things. First the vehicle pulls to one side when driving (it could be slight or pretty severe). If your wheels have been out of alignment for a while, you’ll also start to see uneven tire wear – the shoulder on either the outside or inside of the tire is worn down more than the other. And we’re not done, a whole bunch of steering and suspension compone ... read more

For those of us who came from the colder part of the country, it wasn’t unusual to have a car battery that lasted 5 to 8 years. But here in the desert you may have noticed that it’s a different story. The official average car battery life in southern AZ is about 30 months according to this site and according to what we see at the shop it might be more like 24 months! The worst part is that you never know when a battery will fail in this extreme hot climate like my daughter found out last Saturday morning at the mall. Odds are the only thing that you’ll hear are clicking sounds. At least in the cold winter up north you would feel the battery struggling for a while before failing. Still not a good enough reason to move back there… Here are a couple of useful battery tips: Batteries “dehydrate” just like us, fill them up if you can (some batterie are sealed) with distilled water. Here’s more info on maintaining your battery. Make sure that the ... read more

First of all, what is a water pump and why should I care? Water pumps are a critical component (among many others) that circulate engine coolant/antifreeze around the engine and out to the radiator. When they’re not working your vehicle will be overheating and you should stop the car immediately to avoid any permanent damage. Like any mechanical device, they eventually wear out. Some water pumps are driven by the serpentine belt and are bolted on out in the open with the alternator and air compressor and such. Other water pumps are driven by the timing belt. Water pumps that are driven by the timing belt (the belt that controls when your engine intake and exhaust valves open) are attached directly to the engine block. The timing belt system has protective cover. The serpentine belt and all the accessories are located over the timing belt cover. To make a long story short, getting to the water pump requires the removal of a lot of parts – which then need to be replaced. So ... read more