Chico Auto Repair

With front-wheel drive being so common these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most folks don’t even have to think about it.  And most rear-wheel drive differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind.  So, it’s not uncommon for people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service. To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track.  There are lanes marked off on the track.  For the long-distance races, the starting lines are staggered.  The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes.  That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes.  Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run. The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive ... read more

After many years and tens of thousands of miles CHICO vehicles' suspension system components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive in CHICO. As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth CA highways, your shock absorbers will last a lot longer than if you do most of your driving on bumpy roads or hauling heavy loads in CA. In addition to just wearing out, vehicle suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in a bumpy CHICO road. Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your vehicle's manufacturer recommends periodic inspections. During an inspection, your friendly and knowledgeable D AND E AUTO REPAIR service advisor will check for worn, broken or missing parts. Signs for CHICO residents that shocks or struts are wearing out: the vehicle tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly. CHICO r ... read more

Your fuel pump sends fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. Fuel pumps just wear out over time; it might be the electric motor, a sensor, a valve, a relay or some other electrical component. Whatever the exact cause for the fuel pump failure may be, the solution to getting you back on the CHICO road is to replace the pump assembly. When one component has failed, another one is probably just around the corner, so it makes sense to replace everything at once and save the future labor costs. The fuel pump is inside the fuel tank on most vehicles, and for many cars, trucks and SUVs, the fuel tank must be removed to replace the fuel pump. As you can imagine, that is pretty labor intensive: removing heat shields, retaining straps, all of the EVAP lines, fuel lines and electrical connections. And, of course, there is properly and safely handling the fuel that must be drained from the tank. Some vehicles have an external fuel filter that should be replaced at the same time. The fuel tank may ... read more

When all a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment.  Hitting a road hazard or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday driving can cause your wheels to be out of alignment.  This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear. Here are some alignment basics: The first angle is called toe: do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire. The next angle is called camber: do the wheels tip in or out at the top. And finally, there is castor.  Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle. The ideal alignment for your car was designed by its engineers.  Alignment service starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension – so see if anything’s bent, broken or worn out.  Then the technician will look at tire condition.  From there, the vehicle is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading ... read more

It’s said that 90% of our driving decisions are based on visual information.  Our wiper blades play an important role in this.  A dirty or streaked windshield can catch the glare of the sun or on-coming headlights and make it nearly impossible to see. Most of us deal with our wiper blades from a failure perspective.  We address them when they no longer function.  Instead, we should think about wipers blades as an important safety system that we should maintain, rather than repair. And don’t think that your wiper blades will last longer because you don’t use them very often.  Hey, they live outside in the harsh sun and freezing cold – ice and wind.  They just dry out and crack over time. Experts recommend that we change our wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and fall.  That way you have functional blades for those spring showers and winter storms.  And consider a windshield treatment to help repeal water and make i ... read more

Thanks for visiting the D AND E AUTO REPAIR auto care blog. Today's post lists 5 important reasons CHICO drivers should follow recommended maintenance schedules. 1. Be Safe A well-maintained car doesn't put you and your passengers at unnecessary risk. Think brakes, headlamps, tires. 2. Get Better Fuel Economy Regular maintenance is an investment in optimum fuel economy. Inadequate tire pressure, a dirty fuel system and a clogged air filter are just a few things that reduce fuel economy. 3. Preserve Resale Value How many CHICO used car buyers will pay full Blue Book for a car with a filthy engine, clogged filters and bald tires? 4. Don't Void Your Warranty Your warranty claims may be denied if your service history doesn't fulfill the minimum requirements recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. 5. Save Money Regular maintenance reduces the chance of catastrophic failures and re ... read more

Your vehicle isn't the only aspect of CHICO life with recommended intervals: you have dental cleanings, physical exams, laundry, mowing the lawn and paying the bills. What would happen if you didn't follow these intervals? Well, you'd get more cavities. You might miss health issues that benefit from early detection and treatment. And you'd wear dirty clothes, be embarrassed by your overgrown lawn and have your utilities shut off. CHICO men and women realize there are some things in life that we have to take care of regularly. If we don't, there are negative consequences. For CHICO drivers who want to be more proactive with their car care, here are some simple ways to remember what has a maintenance interval. First: Fluids. If it's liquid, it's got a replacement schedule. Oil, transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, differential fluid, etc. We can take care of all of these for you at D AND E AUTO RE ... read more