Is your Car’s Radiator Going Bad?

A bad radiator is a sure sign that really bad things are about to happen to your car! Your Kansas City vehicle’s radiator is not invincible; there will come a time when it will fail and need repair…usually around 10 years. Kansas City area auto repair shop Able Auto Service will help you with your faulty radiator.

Here are some of the signs of a failing radiator –

 

1.  A bright green fluid is coming from beneath your vehicle.

2.  White smoke emanates from your exhaust.

3.  The coolant level is low.

4.  A sure sign is the temperature gauge inside of the cabin.

Able Auto Service of Kansas City has been repairing and replacing radiators for over four decades. You can count on them for every type of auto repair. Just call (913) 321-1030 for an appointment at Able Auto Service located at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS. See their many auto repair services on the web at ableautoservice.net.

How Healthy is Your Cooling System?

Your vehicle, of course! Does your car need a radiator flush? That is the job of Kansas City auto care experts, Able Auto Center. The A-Team specializes in flushing your radiator and keeping your cooling system in top condition. It is another way of keeping your car running on Kansas City area roads for a long time.

Here are some of the steps that will be taken by the A-Team to flush your radiator –

1.  Under the vehicle they will look for a valve or a large-diameter rubber hose.

2.  They may replace the hose and re-tighten the clamp.

3.  Then they will remove the cap and pour in distilled water.

4.  The cap will then be replaced and your vehicle will run for 15 minutes or so.

5.  They will know how much fresh antifreeze should be added.

It is quick and important to the life of your car. Just let Able Auto Center flush your vehicle’s radiator…guaranteed! The solution is simple. Make an appointment at Able Auto Center located at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS. Call (913) 321-1030 for an appointment and for their services visit ableautoservice.com.

What You Should Know about Your Car’s Radiator.

While this is not a very exciting topic you might be surprised to know that your vehicle’s radiator is relatively easy to maintain. Here are some of the “nuts and bolts.” When your engine is running, the pistons are moving up and down between 1500rpm when it is idling to 8000rpm at its max!  This creates a great deal of heat and friction.

Here are some of the causes of radiator overheating –

 

1.  A low level of antifreeze.

2.  Any debris that has clogged the unit.

3.  What material is your heat exchanger made of?

4.  It could be as simple as a malfunctioning radiator cap.

Any and all of these things could cause your car to become a 2500 lb. paperweight! To fix radiator problems in the Kansas City area always count on The A-Team. That is the team of professional mechanics who work their magic at Able Auto Service. Find out more by visiting ableautoservice.net then call for an appointment for KC area radiator repair at (913) 321-1030.

What is the Most Important Component of Your Car?

Have you ever asked yourself that? It’s probably not at the top of your brain, but may we suggest it is your vehicle’s braking system. Without them…well you may end up in Independence, Missouri! Just kidding, of course, but we are trying to make a valuable point…good brakes = safety and security.

What should you be listening for if your brakes may start to be going bad?

1.  That grinding sound with which we are all familiar

2.  There is a soft, mushy feel when you apply them

3.  Suddenly your vehicle is pulling to one side

4.  Your steering wheel is shaking when you are braking

5.  There is a noticeable fluid leak where your car has been parked

It is NEVER too soon to schedule an appointment to have your brakes checked! In the Kansas City area there is no better place for brake inspection or replacement than Able Auto Service. That is the home of the A-Team…a group of top auto mechanics located at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS. Check out ableautoservice.net and don’t hesitate to call (913) 321-1030.

There’s a Spider on my Windshield.

There are many different types of windshield cracks, but most of them occur from an object impacting the glass.  Often these are rocks which fall off dump trucks, or objects which are kicked up by tires of another car.  When the object hits the outside edge of the windshield it will usually result in one long crack.

The type of crack caused by impact is often determined by where the object strikes the windshield.  For example, a floater crack starts anywhere away from the edge of the windshield. These can start out small and then spread in a random direction.  An edge crack usually forms at the moment of impact and is usually ten to twelve inches long.

With more frequent highway driving around Kansas City in the summer windshield cracks can be not only annoying, but downright dangerous!  The A-Team knows that and are standing by ready to help.  The A-Team is found at Able Auto Service located at 837 Osage Ave. in KC Kansas.  Call them at (913) 321-1000.

Wheel Alignment = Suspension Alignment.

Did you think that those were two different things?  Well, a wheel alignment is actually a suspension alignment which involves fine-tuning the angles of the suspension system so the wheels are literally pointed in the right direction.  It’s always beneficial to have your car’s wheels pointed in the right direction!

A wheel alignment isn’t usually listed as a regular maintenance item, but there are a few times it should be checked: when suspension parts are replaced, if there are obvious signs of misalignment (such as the steering wheel being cocked to one side when the vehicle is going straight), or if the vehicle consistently pulls to one side.

Wheel alignments may not be as vital as say, oil changes, but now and again they are absolutely necessary.  Where can you get a reliable wheel alignment in Kansas City without going to a tire store?  Well, how about Able Auto Service at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS.  The A-Team is always standing by to help.  Call for an appointment at (913) 321-1030.

Excuse Me…I’m Having a Coughing Fit.

What caused it?  It was your vehicle’s exhaust system…that’s what!  Faulty exhausts greatly affect the amount of carbon emissions that your car pumps into the atmosphere…and into your lungs.  It’s simple stuff really.  Car exhaust is the result of burning fossil fuels in an internal combustion engine.

The exhaust fumes being referred to mostly consist of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and what are collectively called particulates.  That sounds pretty lousy doesn’t it?  Needless to say, that they are not good for you or the environment.  Fortunately, awareness of this problem has increased during this century.

Who helps you control faulty exhaust systems which emit noxious fumes from your vehicle in the Kansas City area?  Why, it’s the A-Team, of course!  The A-Team consists of the auto exhaust experts at Able Auto Service located at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS.  So do your lungs and the environment a huge favor…call (913) 321-1030 for an appointment today.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter.

Your car’s engine…your heart.  In many ways, your vehicle depends on a smooth-running engine as much as you need a healthy ticker.  Just as most of us get a warning when our heart is about to go bad, your vehicle has a mechanism to alert you when its vital engine is just about to go bad.  It’s the check engine light.

To get to the “heart” of the matter before that occurs consider these preventative measures –

1.  Have the engine fully diagnosed.

2.  The computer may need to be reprogrammed.

3.  Air suspension is a matter to be considered.

4.  Have the source of that menacing light investigated.

The A-Team knows all about the potential future dangers that your car may face.  That is why they offer a myriad of engine checks to keep you on the roadways of the Kansas City area.  Able Auto Service has plenty of engine experts.  Drive into Able Auto Service at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS…or call ahead (913) 321-1030.

What’s That…I Can’t Hear you Over the Muffler.

There aren’t many sounds more annoying than this one.  While proactive vehicle maintenance is always a plus, there are few components where this is truer than with your vehicle’s muffler.  Waiting too long to get your muffler serviced will almost always mean costly repair bills in your immediate future.

Here are a few warning signs that it is time –

1.  Loud noises emanating from your muffler

2.  Your MPG keeps going down and down

3.  Bad smells…this is usually the sign of some really bad things coming

A good auto mechanic should be your next call.  One of the very best shops in the Kansas City area is Able Auto Service.  The A-Team will take care of all your vehicle repair and maintenance needs this KC winter.  Just drive in to 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS or give them a call for an appointment at (913) 321-1030.

The Light You NEVER Want to See.

It’s the dreaded check engine light.  No one wants to see it, and NO ONE should ignore it!  The first thing you should think of is a serious problem that requires your immediate attention.  Check the dashboard for additional lights to see if the engine is overheating.  If so, pull over to the side of the road and put on your flashers as soon as possible.

The most common causes for a check engine light are –

1.  A loose gas cap

2.  The oxygen sensor

3.  A spark plug issue

4.  The catalytic converter

If and when the check engine lights comes on in your vehicle it should be treated the same way as if you or a loved one had a medical emergency.  Quickly and calmly address the problem with the A-Team.  They are Kansas City’s top auto repair professionals at Able Auto Service.  They are located at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS.  Call for an appointment at (913) 321-1030.

There’s No Alternative to your Alternator.

People may believe that the battery powers all of the electric functions in your car, but that's not the case.  The battery does provide electricity needed for the electric starter motor to start the car.  However, when the car is running, it is the alternator that generates energy to feed the electrical system and charge the battery.

It used to be called a generator, and it works in the same way. In this case, a car's gas engine spins wheels under the hood which crank a wheel on the alternator and generates energy.  In principle, this is the same as water falling over a hydroelectric dam and spinning wheels along the way generates energy.

You may ask whom in the Kansas City area offers a lifetime guarantee on nearly all of its alternators?  That answer is simple…Able Auto Service at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City KS.  When you buy an alternator from them and have one of their A-Team install it you know you are good to go!  Call Able Auto Service at (913) 321-1030.

Excuse Me…I Can’t Hear you Over the Muffler.

A bad muffler is not only a hinderance, but downright annoying as well!  While consistent vehicle maintenance is always a plus, there are few components where this is more vital than with your muffler.  If you wait too long to get your muffler serviced it will probably mean costly repair bills, and often a small problem easily turns into a much larger one.

Here are some of warning signs of a muffler going bad –

1.  Noise…you have heard that sound in other vehicles if not your own before.

2.  Lower MPG…pay attention when you fill up.

3.  Putrid smells…the fumes can be stuck in your car and that’s dangerous.

As they used to say about kids…well-working exhaust systems should be seen and NOT heard!  Common sense tells us that your muffler and your vehicle’s exhaust system need to be checked and serviced when necessary.  For that job, call the A-Team…the Kansas City area car repair professionals at Able Auto Service at 837 Osage Ave.  Call ahead at (913) 321-1030. 

Tighten Your Belt.

That’s good advice for dieters and managers of money.  It is GREAT advice for car owners!  This is no small point.  A belt or hose failure can cause an overheated engine, loss of power steering, and loss of the electrical charging system.  If a hose leaks coolant or the belt turning the water pump snaps, the cooling system becomes inoperable. 

Here are some basic maintenance tips –

1.  Check the white coolant-recovery tank to ensure proper levels.

2.  Squeeze the hoses to feel if it’s mushy…make sure it’s cool!

3.  Inspect for cracks and nicks while the engine is hot.

4.  Flush and replace the coolant in conjunction with your owner’s manual.

Experts recommend that that all hoses be replaced at least every four years or, obviously when one fails.  Have your hoses and belts checked professionally by the A-Team.  That’s the team of auto mechanics at Able Auto Service.  The Kansas City area has counted on their expertise for many, many years.  Call (913) 321-1030 or stop in at 837 Osage Ave. in Kansas City, KS.