What are the Signs of a Bad Car Battery?

When a battery fails, you’re stranded with a car that can’t go anywhere, and generally not at a convenient time.  This can be a serious situation.  So you may be wondering what are the signs of a bad car battery? By knowing the signs of a bad battery, you will be able to recognize if it’s time for a car battery replacement.  Take a look at the three main issues below:

• Your engine cranks but doesn't start. When you turn on the ignition the engine barely turns over and the vehicle lights and accessories are very dim.
• When turning the ignition, the engine will not crank. The starter just makes a clicking noise and is unable to turn the engine over. The lights and other electrical accessories do not work at all.
• Have to use jumper cables to start the engine. After a jump start, the battery does not seem to take a charge from the alternator.

If you have the new stop-start technology in your car, it can be negatively affected by a bad battery.  This is because engines that are designed to automatically switch off when at a standstill place a greater strain on batteries than standard vehicles.  

Remember:  The car battery should be on your maintenance checklist, just like changing the oil, air filter, tires rotation, and windshield wipers.  Don’t get stranded out in the cold waiting for a tow truck to a strange auto shop.

Need to know what are the signs of a bad car battery?  Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about a car battery and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves car owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

Top 8 Winter Car Maintenance Tips for Safer Driving!

Winter has shown its face in many parts of the country.  If you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to ask your auto repair specialist about preventative vehicle maintenance.  It is vital to have a thorough inspection performed on all the systems of your vehicle so that you are driving as safe as possible.  It is also vital that you have any compulsory repairs taken care of at the same time.  This will help give you confidence in your vehicle as you head out on wet and icy roads.

Consider the 8 winter car maintenance tips listed below:

• Inspect the Car Battery-- Cold temperatures reduce a battery’s cranking power. For example, a battery has only half the cranking power at 0° F than at 80° F.  A tired battery may just want to be charged, or simply replaced.
• Windshield and Wiper Blades-- Wiper blades normally start to lose their effectiveness in as little as 6 months. Streaks or missed areas of glass are signs that they should be replaced.  Remove ice from the windshield with an ice-scraper. To keep your wipers from freezing to the windshield, stop them in the raised position, especially if you park outside.  Fill the windshield-washer reservoir with a washer solution that contains an antifreeze agent.  Also, make sure the heater is functioning correctly so that plenty of warm air is being directed to the windshield in the defrost mode.
• Lights-- Inspect that all the vehicle's lights are working correctly and that the lenses are clean so that you'll have optimum visibility at night and that other drivers can see you coming or going.
• Oil-- Oil thickens when cold, making it harder for the engine to turn over. Normally, you should be using multi-viscosity oil that has a "W" in the viscosity index, signifying that it can provide good oil flow at low temperatures.
• Radiator, Hoses, and Belts-- Have the radiator and heater hoses inspected for cracks, leaks, or contamination from oil or grease. The hoses should be firm yet pliable.  Ask your mechanic to inspect the coolant mixture in your radiator for your area’s winter temperatures.
• Tires-- If you only drive occasionally in snow, a new set of all-season tires rated to perform well in snow and ice should be fine.  If you do a lot of driving in snowy conditions, consider purchasing snow tires which are made from special rubber compounds and tread patterns to grip snow and ice for optimum traction. Make sure that you keep your tires correctly inflated, as tire pressure declines as the thermometer drops.
• Brakes-- If you feel any vibration, hear squealing, or the brake pedal feels “soft,” have your brakes checked and repaired as soon as potential for better-stopping performance on slick and icy roads.
• Emergency kit-- Regardless of the length of your commute or road trip, always carry a supply of water, snacks, jumper cables, flashlight, road flares, first aid kit, blanket, and cell phone and charger.

Need to know more winter car maintenance tips?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about vehicle maintenance services and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

What are the Signs of a Bad Alternator?

If your vehicle is starting to show signs of starting issues, it is possibly time for some form of auto electrical repair. The issue may be associated with the starter, alternator, or battery.  Ignoring the issues can lead to a car that refuses to start at all.  Have some components of the auto electrical system tested to determine the cause of your starting issues?  

When you start to experience starting issues, the alternator may be the last thing to come to mind.  But because the alternator is a key component in your car’s electrical system, when it starts to fail, it has an impact on other components of your vehicle, which can result in an urgent auto electrical repair.  

Before undertaking any auto electrical repair, the first things you should rule out are the battery and starter, narrowing it down to a failing alternator.  By understanding the signs of a bad alternator, you can have it replaced before it fails totally.  

So what are the signs of a bad alternator?

1. The dash warning light will come on. This is often the first indication of a failing alternator. 
2. The lights are dimmer than normal.
3. Other electrical systems, such as power windows, power locks, dashboard lights, air conditioning, radio, GPS, etc., will start to act up.
4. Bearings in the engine may fail, creating unusual rattles. 
5. There might not be enough power in the spark plugs to start the engine, or to keep the engine alive, causing it to stall while running.
6. The battery will drain because it is not receiving a charge from the alternator.  

Remember:  If you are having starting issues, be sure to have the alternator checked out to make sure it is sending a charge to the battery, especially before replacing the battery or starter.

Are you wondering what the signs of a bad alternator are? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about auto electrical repair and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

How Often Should My Car Be Serviced?

Do you remember the last time you were in an auto shop for some type of car repair?  If it’s been a while, you may be asking, “How often should my car be serviced?”  You may think you’re saving money by extending the time between service intervals, but the possible cost of car repair due to lack of maintenance is much greater.

So are you wondering how often should your car be serviced?  Here are four good reasons to think about if you don’t have your car serviced:

• Fuel efficiency can be drastically decreased
• Your car will lack performance power
• The quality of the air inside your vehicle will not be healthy
• A build-up of oil sludge will result in a noisier motor

Some types of engine damage are hidden and do not necessarily impact your ability to drive your car.  For example, if you drive with little or no oil for an extended period of time, you can severely damage the head gasket or the pistons. For just a few dollars, regular oil changes would have prevented the damage in the first place.

A word to the wise:  Don’t wait for the service warning lights to come on before scheduling car service.  Follow the maintenance schedule stated in your owner’s manual, or ask your car repair technician to keep you informed as to when your car should be serviced.

Are you wondering how often should my car be serviced?  Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about car repair and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

How Often Should Brakes Be Serviced?

Simply stated, brakes should be serviced any time you feel you are starting to notice stopping issues.  You may be just minutes away from an accident if your vehicle fails to stop when and where you expect it to.  Correctly working brakes are an absolute must for safe driving!  Drivers should be aware of when their brakes begin to fail or lose their effectiveness.  

Your answers to the following questions are factors that will determine the lifespan of your brakes:

• What is your style of driving? If you are an aggressive driver who is constantly stomping down hard on the brakes, such as in stop-and-go town traffic or at stoplights, your brakes will wear out more speedily than those who come to a slow stop while pressing gently on the brake pedal.
• How much does the vehicle plus passengers/cargo weigh? The stopping power of brakes is calculated on the weight of the car plus the passenger limits.  If you are continually overcapacity your vehicle, the effectiveness of your brakes is significantly diminished.
• What is the quality of the brake components? The quality of the components, such as brake pads and rotors, impacts how fast they wear out.
• What is the purpose of your vehicle? Pulling heavy loads, such as heavy trailers, driving mostly in mountainous terrain, or making frequent stop-and-go trips, your brakes will wear more speedily as they have to be applied harder and more frequently than on level roads.

Here are some problems that you should be on the lookout for relating to your brakes:

• Brake light comes on and stays on. 
• Squealing, squeaking noises. 
• Wobbling, vibration.
• Fluid leaks. 
• Spongy brake pedal.
• The car pulls to one side when braking. 
• Burning smell while driving. 
• Bouncing up and down when you make a hard stop.

Do you know how often should brakes be serviced? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about brake repair and to make an appointment.  Our auto shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

Wondering, “Why Is My Car AC Not Working?”

Most parts of the country are still experiencing warm weather.  Even though you may have had a brilliant summer, you may be looking forward to the cooler temperatures ahead.  So will your car!  It worked hard during summertime so if you haven’t yet scheduled a car AC service, it’s not too late!  Because of computerized parts in today’s vehicles, the AC system is more intricate than ever.  The days of “do-it-yourself” car maintenance are in the past.  

Wondering “Why is my car AC not working?”  There are some problems that could be the issue:

• Fresh coolant needs to be added to the radiator.
• The AC’s compressor isn’t able to create a high enough pressure in the system for the refrigerant to cool correctly.
• A clog or block in the system allows the high-pressure refrigerant to slowly decompress through the clog. 
• There is too low pressure in the system.  Without enough pressure, the compressor will work too hard to raise the pressure and it won’t be as well-organized.  
• The AC unit is exposed to the extreme heat of the engine, road debris, vibrations, dirt, quick stops, and even run-ins with curbs.  This stress may create small cracks that allow the refrigerant to leakage.  
• The cooling fans could be scorched out, a poor mount, a chipped blade, or easily a blown fuse or burnt-out relay.
• Finally, you could have an electrical issue such as a faulty signal from your ventilation system caused by a cracked wire, bad sensors tripping off your system or even a sensor in your vehicle’s motor that is causing the system to shut off accidentally.  

At least once a year, especially if you’ve been on a long summer road trip in hot temperatures, schedule a car AC service with a certified mechanic.  You will reap the benefits of not only a more comfortable drive, but increased gas mileage, and a more environmentally-friendly vehicle.

Why is my car AC not working?”  For an answer to your question, contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about car AC service and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE and Doniphan, NE.

How Do You Know If Your Muffler Is Bad?

Most drivers want to keep their vehicle running at its peak performance level.  This means that you want to keep all vehicle maintenance items up-to-date, including the exhaust system.  The exhaust system is most effective when it is operating quietly in the background.  Inappropriately, this means it is often “out of sight; out of mind” until an issue starts to develop.

A good exhaust system will keep your car running quietly, reduce toxic emissions, and increase fuel efficiency.  The job of the muffler is to funnel toxic exhaust fumes outside and away from your car. If there is a leak, those vapors could be circulating inside your car. Fortunately, today’s newer vehicles have a computer sensor that monitors fuel economy and overall performance, pinpointing an issue before it gets serious.

How do you know if your muffler is bad?  Here are 3 common issues to watch for:

1. Noisy Muffler – Does it sound like a roaring monster?
2. Decreased fuel mileage – Are you stopping at the pump more often than usual to fill the tank?  
3. Obnoxious odor – How does your car smell as you’re driving down the road?  

Tip to Remember:  At the first sign of exhaust system issues, make an inspection as soon as potential to prevent bigger and more costly issues down the road.

Wondering about how do you know if your muffler is bad?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about exhaust systems and mufflers and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE and Doniphan, NE.