Posted on 2/24/2023
A pre-purchase inspection can save miles of trouble and heartache. In the automotive repair business we are frequently asked the question “From a repair perspective, what kind of car should I buy?” Many are initially drawn to the emotional side of things - performance, luxury, throaty exhaust. Others more strongly consider the practical side. Do you need all-wheel-drive, or better fuel economy? Technology in today’s automobiles is advancing at an amazing rate, offering features from advanced driver assistance systems to Colorado-friendly all-wheel drive. This can bring cost and complexity in the automotive repair market. To eliminate anxiety and help you get an accurate assessment of the vehicle you are about to purchase, consider a pre-purchase inspection (PPI). A pre-purchase inspection is a detailed assessment by a qualified technician to determine the cosmetic, mechanical, and safety condition of the vehicle before completing the purchas ... read more
Posted on 11/30/2020
“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
Posted on 3/27/2020
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
Posted on 3/26/2020
Let's talk about the elephant on the table - coronavirus is fundamentally changing the way of life for all of us, all around this world. Business as usual? Hardly. Back to normal? Probably, never. What WILL remain for us as a constant though, is what we do - we fix cars. From oil changes to engine exchanges, under the hood and under the car - we fix cars. Brake repairs? No problem. Starter motor replacement? Yes, we can. Check engine light or other diagnostics required? We've got this. Radiator decided to put all it's coolant on the outside of your engine, instead of on the inside? We'll whip it into shape. Because that's who we are. It's what we do. And when the times are tough like they are now, we continue to come to work, every day - because we love the customer service side of our business almost as much as we love cars. We're here to help, and we're here to stay, no matter what the future looks like. Give us a call today at 970-482-3971. &nbs ... read more
Posted on 6/18/2012
Smoke got you down? Just wait until your car or truck start to react to the smoke and ash. There is one and maybe even a second air filter in your vehicle. The first and most critical is the air filter which removes dust, dirt and ASH that is in the air the engine breathes. The other (and sometimes there are two) are called cabin air filters which filter the air that comes into the cabin of the car and with which we air condition and breathe. Make sure you have these critical air filters checked to ensure your car and your lungs can operate at full capacity. The last big forest fire we had here in northern Colorado we pulled out lots of really dirty, black filters and expect to see more soon. For top performance, you need all the air you can get into your engine and not have it restricted by smoke and ash residue. Same for your lungs