Ft. Collins Auto Repair

Today we're channeling things we learned from our parents - From Dad: "Work hard, play hard." From Mom: "Work before play, and enjoy the weather - it's a beautiful day. (No matter the weather.)" So first the work hard... This recent winter weather we're experiencing is a great time to test out your Anti-lock Brakes (ABS). And while testing those brakes if you happen to tag a curb or pothole, perhaps it's time for an alignment? At Perforamnce Tune Auto Repair, we can help you with both of those services.  Now the play hard... When you find yourself in a big open parking lot in fresh snow, it's a good time to test your car's behavior in slippery conditions. And if you happen to see a car spinning circles in the snow in the parking lot next to our shop, don't worry - the driver probably works for us! We never do it with customer cars, we promise... and remember, driver pays all fines. Have fun, be safe, and ... read more

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to share that gift with others. Every small business takes on the personality of its owner. Growing up in a small business family in North Dakota (my father was a pharmacist offering midnight prescription deliveries), I loved the customer service aspect of it all. But I was also the kid who could identify every late ‘60s muscle car at a thousand yards. There was no doubt, cars were in my blood. Mis-diagnosed in high school, I went on to study computer science and business and began a long career in consumer electronics - marketing, product management, sales development, travel. It was a good ride, supporting our growing family, allowing me to coach youth soccer and lead the Cub Scouts. Around the year 2000, a drag racer moved into the neighborhood. Engines roaring in the evening, I made my way over to meet him. This was the beginning of “shop night,” twenty years of “Every Thursday night ... read more

The moment you realize your car needs to stop, nothing is more important! Reducing your car to its basic functions, they are: start, run, go, stop. Many advanced features are layered on top, but at the time you need each of these basic functions there is really nothing more important. Brakes, by definition, are consumable items. Using hydraulic pressure and friction to stop your vehicle, they create a lot of heat in the process. Brakes wear thin over time, and we expect to replace them. Quality brakes cost money, and we don’t want to replace them too soon. That is where brake inspections come in. A proper brake inspection checks many items. It begins with a test drive to experience what you experience. We listen for noises, and we pay attention to vibrations or pulls. We check brake pedal operation, and verify that the brake lights illuminate. We remove each wheel to inspect and measure the components underneath: pad or shoe thickness, rotor or drum wear. We inspect calipe ... read more

“Why Change Your Oil?” If you drive a car, there is no doubt you have heard that you need to change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. But do you know why? Cars today are absolute engineering marvels. In recent years we have learned to squeeze more and more performance from engines by utilizing technologies such as variable valve timing and lift, cylinder deactivation, direct fuel injection and turbochargers. As consumers we have demanded more performance and more fuel economy for our dollar. Parts inside the engine move incredibly fast, generating friction and heat. Engine oil provides lubrication and cooling, allowing the parts to work together smoothly without overheating or seizing. Additionally, advanced engine technologies such as variable valve timing, employ oil pressure to activate, providing fuel economy when you want it and engine power when you need it! Driving too long between oil changes can be risky business. Fast-moving parts break dow ... read more

This week we found ourselves with a little time on our hands; decided to go after the valve cover gasket leak on our 1993 Toyota Pickup. This thing has been our shop truck since 2015, and it's a great little runner! Four wheel drive, manual transmission - fun to drive and extremely capable.  As it sometimes goes with automotive repairs, once we got under the hood we found a few other things. The power steering pump was leaking, and needed to be replaced. The engine thermostat housing was also leaking and we decided as long as we were there, why not?  We thought we were going to be done here, but while our technician had the timing cover peeled back, he noticed large cracks in the timing belt! I guess we shouldn't be surprised, given the truck is 1993 and has 137,xxx on the clock. Original timing belt, needed to be replaced.  Anyway, long story short - we're confident this list of repairs has given our beloved shop truck a new lease on life. And quite possi ... read more