Category: Auto Body Blog

Has this ever happened to you? You start your car normally, you get out on the road, and suddenly the engine surges, causing your vehicle to abruptly speed up and buck. This can be a dangerous problem, and one that you should fix or bring to our auto body shop in Seattle as soon as you can manage. Unfortunately, there are many potential causes for engine misfires, including the following:

• Your Cooling System isn’t Working: Check for problems in your radiator fluid, your coolant, your fan belt, your thermostat, or anything else that might cause your engine to overheat.
• Your Ignition Timing is Malfunctioning: Check to see if your timing needs an adjustment.
• Your Fuel-Pressure is Too Low: Look for problems in either your fuel pump or your fuel pressure regulator.
• You Have an Ignition Problem: The culprit may be your starter, your starter solenoid, your ignition coil, your distributor cap, your distributor rotor, or your spark plugs.
• Your Torque Converter is Locking: If you have an automatic transmission, check to see that your converter is properly in place.
• Your Fuel Injectors or Fuel Filter is Clogged: When your fuel injectors or filter become completely clogged, it can cause your engine to fail. Try changing your filter and cleaning your injectors.
• There is a Leak in Your Vacuum Line: Inspect your vacuum line to see if it needs to be replaced.
• Your EGR Valve is Stuck: When your EGR valve refuses to close, your engine can surge. Check to see that it is opening and closing properly.
• Your Drive Axles are Faulty: Inspect your CV joints for signs of damage.
• You Have Internal Engine Trouble: Look at your compression to determine the condition of your engine.

The cold season is rapidly approaching. Here in the Northwest, this means rain, snow, slippery roads, biting cold, and early nightfall. In short, this is far and away the worst season for driving. With this in mind, our auto body shop in Seattle has prepared the following advice to help assure that you and your car get through the winter intact.

First of all, get your proper maintenance, equip your car with an emergency kit, and keep your car filled with gasoline. Your chances of getting stranded out on the road are all the greater in the winter, and you’re likely to encounter far fewer people to help you. Should you end up stranded, resist the urge to seal up your car and crank your heater to fight the cold while you sleep. This is a good way to succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning, which is lethal. And if you end up in a wreck, bring your car down to Greenwood Collision; we’ll have you back on the road in no time!

Your timing belt is a very important and often overlooked part of your engine. Without a properly functioning belt, your engine will simply fail to run. Our auto body shop in Seattle can check up on your belt as part of your regular maintenance, but you may occasionally need to replace this belt ahead of schedule. Be on the lookout for the following signs that your belt is in need of a change:

• Problems Starting: If you have trouble starting up your engine, the timing belt may be to blame.
• Excess Emissions: When your belt falls out of synchronization, the problem may manifest in your exhaust valve. This leads to excessive exhaust emissions in your exhaust pipe.
• Overheating and Leaking: If your engine has been prone to overheating or fluid leaks, these may be inflicting damage on your timing belt. You’ll want to fix whatever is causing your overheating or leaking problems, and then check to make sure your belt is holding up.
• Abrupt Changes in Noise: Sometimes you may notice that your car’s engine isn’t making the same sound it usually makes. This can be caused by a faulty belt.

Taking your car in for maintenance and repairs at our auto body shop in Seattle is a good way to keep up the resale value of your vehicle. However, there is no way to completely prevent the gradual decline of your investment. There are many factors that will chip away at a car’s value over time, one of which is the mileage.

Mileage is a big factor for people buying a used car. Unfortunately, the specifics of how mileage affects a price are not cut and dry. The general rule of thumb is that a car should accrue roughly ten thousand miles every year. If your car has significantly more mileage on it than it should for its age, this can be taken as an indication of additional wear and tear. You can therefore expect to drop the price by a few hundred dollars when trying to sell your car.

Obviously, it can be difficult to reign in your driving if you have a particularly strong need for your car. It therefore pays to focus on the factors that you can control. With that in mind, always remember to bring your car in for appropriate maintenance and repairs with Greenwood Collision in Seattle.