Welcome to our Blog page!

Our blogs are updated once a month, usually on the first day of the month. On this page, we offer advice, tips, and insights for becoming a safer driver and for better travels on Chico roads. Bookmark this page and remember to check back!

If you need auto repair service, don’t forget that you can schedule an appointment at this link for D&E Auto Repair in Chico. We look forward to seeing you! Remember that you are a part of the family at D&E Auto Repair in Chico. We’re located at 3328 Esplanade St., Chico, CA 95973.

Category Archives: Cooling System

Is Your Car's A/C Working As It Should? Get It Checked at D&E Auto Repair

Is Your Car's A/C Working As It Should? Get It Checked at D&E Auto Repair

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash Is Your Car's A/C Working As It Should? Get It Checked at D&E Auto Repair Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes the blazing heat. As temperatures rise, you want to ensure your car's air conditioning system works correctly. A malfunctioning A/C can make driving uncomfortable and, in some cases, even dangerous.    A properly functioning A/C system should be able to cool the car's interior quickly and efficiently, even on hot summer days. It should also provide consistent and strong airflow without strange smells or noises. If you notice any issues with your car's A/C, check it immediately to avoid further damage and ensure your driving comfort.   In this blog post, we'll go over some common signs that your A/C needs to be checked and how our team at ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

How To Beat The Heat In Chico

How To Beat The Heat In Chico

Grant Porter on Unsplash Now that we’re in April, temperatures are rising, and we will be using our automotive A/C more often. In this month’s blog, we offer some tips on how to beat the heat in Chico. First and foremost, let’s talk about the health of your automotive air conditioning system. If COVID kept you home most of the time and you put fewer miles on your car throughout the pandemic, you may be surprised to learn that your vehicle is in significant need of a safety inspection.  We are NOT saying this to scare you. We advise a complete safety inspection of your car because it sat for too long without getting the drive time it needs. Your A/C system could have an excess of mold, refrigerant leaks, an ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

Cooling System

We’re often asked questions about the cooling system – the system that cools your engine and keeps it at the proper operating temperature.  Let’s examine the topic in two areas: first the coolant itself and, second, the parts that make up the cooling system. The coolant is the mix of water and antifreeze that circulates through the engine to draw off heat.  First, you need to have the proper amount.  If you don’t have enough coolant it can’t keep your engine cool.  You also need the right kind of coolant.  Different makes of vehicles require different coolant formulation to protect against corrosion.  Finally, your coolant needs to be fresh.  Over time and miles, the anti-corrosion additives in the coolant are depleted and the coolant can start to eat away at the cooling system parts.  Your owner’s manual and your service adviser can help you with the recommended coolant replacement schedule and make sure yo ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

The Hot Switch (Coolant Vacuum Valve Switch)

When the weather gets cooler, you want the cabin of your vehicle to stay warm.  When you switch on the heat, you may find the air that comes out of the vents just isn't hot.  The problem could be a part in the heating system that not that many people understand.  It's called the coolant vacuum valve switch or thermostat vacuum switch.  Here's what it does. When you don't need heat in your vehicle, you don't need hot coolant from your radiator to go through the heater core in your vehicle.  (The heater core is like a small radiator that exchanges heat between the coolant and your cabin air.)  When you turn on the switch for heat or defrost, it signals the coolant vacuum valve switch to open.  That should send hot coolant to the heater core which heats your cabin air or defroster air.  If the coolant vacuum valve switch isn't working, you don't get warm air to either. Sometimes the coolant vacuum valve switch can crac ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

Thermostat

The thermostat is part of your cooling system. CHICO residents' vehicle thermostats perform a similar function to the thermostats in their homes. At home, you set your thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature range. When your home gets too hot, the air conditioning kicks on and when it gets too cool, the heater turns on. Now your engine also has an optimal temperature range: warm enough to run efficiently and not so hot as to cause engine damage. Your vehicle's thermostat is a valve between the engine and the radiator. When CHICO residents first start a cold engine, the valve (thermostat) is closed, allowing the coolant surrounding the engine to warm up to the proper operating temperature. As the coolant gets hotter, the thermostat opens, allowing coolant to flow through to the radiator to be cooled. The thermostat opens and closes to keep the engine within a certain temperature range. Now thermostats are rated for a specific temperature depending on the engine &ndash ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

D AND E AUTO REPAIR Advice on Your Cooling System

Last week I was out running errands and my temperature warning light came on – total panic!  I pulled over and my car was overheating After it cooled down, I went right in to my service center to have them look.  My service advisor told me my water pump was leaking and needed to be replaced.  He said water pumps just wear out and that you need to replace them because they pump the coolant that cools the engine.  He told me they checked out my radiator hoses, serpentine belt and tensioner and that they were OK.  But I was overdue for changing my coolant – like, embarrassingly overdue.  I didn’t realize there was a schedule in my owner’s manual for when to change my coolant.  My service advisor said that the coolant becomes corrosive over time and could damage my radiator, head gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, heater core, metal cooling pipes, expansion (frost) plugs, etc.  That’s why they recommend changing the flu ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

Extend The Life Of Your Cooling System In CHICO

Extend The Life Of Your Cooling System In CHICO

Our vehicles operate in a wide range of outside CHICO temperatures. That's why use testing grounds from the frozen tundra to the blistering desert. Your vehicle engine antifreeze/coolant must be able to perform in these extreme temperatures. Antifreeze/coolant has to move heat away from the engine to prevent costly damage. Water does a very good job of holding heat, but it freezes at 32 degrees F, 0 degrees C. That's why we mix anti-freeze with water – it lowers the freezing point of the antifreeze/coolant and raises the boiling point as well. A 50/50 blend of water and antifreeze/coolant is the usual recommendation for CA . And on top of that, antifreeze/coolant has to protect the components of the vehicle cooling system from corrosion. Your owner's manual will tell you what kind of antifreeze/coolant you should use. Of course at D AND E AUTO REPAIR, we can advise you on what to put in your vehicle. Cooling system failure is the most common ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

Cooling System Service at D AND E AUTO REPAIR in CHICO

CHICO drivers often ask questions about the cooling system, the system that cools your vehicle engine and keeps it at the proper operating temperature. Let's examine the topic in two areas: first, the coolant itself and second, the parts that make up the cooling system. The coolant is the mix of water and antifreeze that circulates through the engine to draw off heat. First, you need to have the proper amount. If you don't have enough coolant, it can't keep your vehicle engine cool. You also need the right kind of coolant. Different makes of vehicles require different coolant formulation to protect against corrosion. Finally, your coolant needs to be fresh. Over time and miles of driving, the anti-corrosion additives in the coolant are depleted, and the coolant can actually start to eat away at the vehicle's cooling system parts. Your owner's manual and your D AND E AUTO REPAIR service advisor can help you with the reco ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System