Ignition coils make it possible for spark plugs to generate the sparks that ignite air-fuel mixture that powers the internal combustion engine. Ignition coils transform low voltage from the car battery into high voltage that spark plugs require to generate the sparks. Over time, ignition coils may fail. When the ignition coil starts to fail, you may notice a number of behaviors that are not typical for your vehicle. You may notice that the check engine light came “on”, or that there is loss of power, or slow acceleration. Engine may run poorly, it may misfire, or it may even stall. These are all symptoms that indicate something is seriously wrong – but it takes a professional mechanic with professional diagnostic tools and skills to track down all the possibilities and get to the root cause of the problem. If it turns out that ignition coil is at fault, ignition coil replacement will fix the problem. Generally we recommend replacing all ignition coils at the ... read more

A while back we wrote about California’s plan to ban sale of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. Well… Wyoming legislators introduced a resolution to ban sale of electric vehicles by 2035. Sponsors mentioned that there is no infrastructure in the state to support electric vehicles, and that electric vehicles do not contribute to state’s economy – whereas fossil fuels are a major industry in Wyoming. One of the sponsors pointed out that his goal was not to ban electric vehicles, but rather to bring attention to other state governments banning gasoline powered cars. Wyoming is known for its laissez-faire attitude and free market inclinations. Wyoming government is one of the few state governments that are truly fiscally conservative and runs a budget surplus, even though Wyoming does not collect state individual income tax or state corporate tax. The resolution is unlikely to become a law but it did bring attention to the heavy handed behavior of many ... read more

Oil Change, the Unsung Hero As car owners, we are told that oil change is important, that we should have our vehicle get an oil change every 3000 miles if using conventional oil, and every 5000 miles if using full synthetic. But do we do it? When you get your car back from an oil change, there is usually a little sticker in the upper left corner of the windshield – it tells you when or at what mileage to get another oil change. Heed this advice. The biggest value of an oil change is that it extends engine life. Over time, motor oil deteriorates – both due to passage of time and the high heat under which it operates. It’s chemical and mechanical properties change. As it circulates through the engine and the system, it also picks up all kinds of grime and impurities that form within the system, as metal parts move close to each other, plastics deteriorate, etc. Oil filter can only filter our bigger particles, rest of them cycle through the system caus ... read more

Electric Vehicles - Challenges Ahead   Since California Governor Newsome mandated that by 2035 all new cars and passenger trucks sold in California are to be zero-emission vehicles, we are facing a few challenges.    First of all, no vehicle is “zero emissions” – the emissions just happen to occur far away from California towns and cities – in somebody else’s backyard.    Electric vehicles, as the name implies, require electricity. Most of our electric energy is generated by burning fossil fuels. There is about 30% loss (energy value of the fuel vs generated electricity) during generation of electricity in a power plant. Then electricity has to be sent across vast distances from power plants to the end users – according to the Energy Information Administration, that’s additional 9% power loss for California. And most of the electricity comes from fossil fuels ... read more

Why a Shock and Strut Repair Is Important   Your shocks and struts are an invaluable component of your vehicle’s suspension. These parts not only ensure that you have a comfortable ride but are also integral in making sure that you have complete control of your car.   Shocks and struts replacement or repairs are not something that should be put off as a suspension failure can cause loss of vehicle control. What Are Shocks and Struts Shocks and struts are sometimes used interchangeably and while they perform similar tasks, they are their own independent components. Every car can have a combination of shocks and struts or some may just have shocks. It is fairly common have shocks in the front and struts in the rear axle.   Both of these parts will help your vehicle in the following ways:   ● Preventing excessive body and tire movement. ● Provide consistent braking and handling by ensuring the tires are in consta ... read more

Brake Repair    It’s hard to overstate the importance of your car’s brakes. Responsible for allowing your car to come to a stop, they are the most important feature in your vehicle when it comes to safety. That’s why it’s important that you keep up with maintaining these systems and not hesitate to have a brake repair done if needed.    While brakes are much simpler than your engine, there are still many parts that contribute to your car's stopping power.   Most Common Brake Services and Repairs Due to how vital the brakes are to your safety, it is always recommended that you have your brakes repaired at your local repair shop. If you have noticed decreased braking power, a grinding noise when braking, or anything else out of the ordinary, do not delay bringing your car into the shop. As there can be many factors responsible for poor braking, here are a few examples of what types of brake repairs can be done at y ... read more