Tucson Auto Repair

Your vehicle's cooling system serves a few very important functions. It maintains the engines optimal operating temperature which is where it works most efficiently, and removes any excess heat from the engine when its under a load or outside temperatures are high.  While your vehicle is in use, the coolant exits from the bottom of the radiator after it's cooled, where its then drawn into the water pump, to cycle it back through the engine where it absorbs the heat and travels back to the top of the radiator where the cycle continues.  A vehicles cooling system is basically made up of the engine, radiator, the water pump, cooling fan(s), circulatory hoses, and a thermostat and coolant temperature sensor.  During the engine combustion process (intake,compression,power,exhaust) the fuel energy is converted into heat, which is transferred throughout the cylinder head and block to the coolant, and cycled through the cooling system via the water pump. The hose carr ... read more

Doing a vehicle coolant system exchange? It is never a good time to break down on the side of the road in the middle of winter with your family in the vehicle.  One of the big causes of breakdowns are caused by overheating issues. Vehicle cooling system perform two things.  Cooling and lubrication.  Cooling systems remove heat from the engine using the properties of heat transfer. Modern cars use liquid cooling systems. These use a fluid call antifreeze circulated within the engine, that is then pumped out of the engine into a radiator, where the heat is released. Over time the coolant in your vehicle breaks down.  The components of the cooling system included a water pump, the thermostat, the radiator, cooling fans, the heater core, the pressure cap, the overflow tank and the hoses.  To prolong the life of the coolant system and minimize vehicle breakdowns it is recommended to change the coolant every 30,000 miles and replace the hoses ever ... read more

Although we live in the Sonoran Desert, and it doesn’t get nearly as cold as some other places, we still need to ensure our vehicles are ready for the colder temperatures. There are some basic maintenance things you can do to help prevent having issues on those cold mornings.   With the rapidly fluctuating temperatures that come with an Arizona winter, tire pressures can be affected greatly. For every 10 degrees of temperature change your vehicle’s tire pressures can change up to 1 psi. Over or under inflated tires are the number one cause of premature tire wear and can cause changes in your vehicle's fuel economy. Make sure your tire pressures are checked regularly.   Ensuring your engine’s cooling system has the proper 50/50 mix of coolant and water are crucial in preventing premature failure of the rubber hoses and plastic connectors in your cooling system. Water freezes at 32 degrees, whereas coolant is rated below 0 degrees. A cooling system fil ... read more