Our Expert Automotive Service & Collision Repair Blog

The latest automobile dependability study by J. D. Power came out last month.

J. D. Power based their ratings on interviews with 80,000 vehicle owners who were asked about the problems they experienced during the past year on their 2016 vehicles. The survey covers 177 specific problems in eight categories. These are 1. Exterior; 2. Features, Controls, Displays; 3. Seats; 4. Interior; 5. Driving Experience; 6. Audio, Communication, Entertainment, Navigation; 7. HVAC; 8. Engine & transmission.

Watch the Addison Auto Team perform complete vehicle frame replacement on a 2015 Chevy Suburban. A vehicle's frame is critical to the entire vehicle's safety and reliability. In a uni-body vehicle, the frame or chassis is integrated into the body. Most passenger cars are uni-body. In frame on body construction, the chassis and body are separated. Most trucks and some large SUV's are frame on body.

Collision repair technology is changing faster than ever before. New materials like high strength and ultra-high strength steel require new repair methods and new equipment. These stronger materials help control crash energy and direct it around the passenger compartment. Ultra high steel cannot be straightened and must be replaced. Even though vehicles are becoming lighter, they are also stronger and safer. In 2018, the Honda Odyssey is 100 pounds lighter, the Chevy Equinox is 400 pounds lighter and the Chevy Traverse/Buick Enclave are 300 pounds lighter than the corresponding 2017 models. Many car makers have gone to aluminum to save weight with applications like hoods and lift gates all the way to Ford’s F150 and Explorer with complete aluminum bodies.

Car insurance rates in Colorado have increased since 2011 a whopping 52%. Aurora is the most expensive town and Fort Collins is the least expensive town to insure a vehicle. In Colorado, the average person is paying $1427.

The purpose of a timing belt, timing chain or timing gears is to keep the valves synchronized with the pistons. The intake valves open to let the air-fuel mixture into the cylinder, the valves are closed during the compression and power strokes and the exhaust valves are open during the exhaust stroke. If the system loses its synchronization the valves are likely to hit the pistons and bend. A broken chain or belt is one thing that causes loss of synchronization. Another is the premature failure of a tensioner or pulley. When this happens, major engine damage usually occurs.

Current Colorado Snow Removal Products

In winter, that grayish, gooey substance that sticks to your vehicle during cold weather is some form of magnesium chloride and should be washed from your vehicle, including the undercarriage, to prevent corrosion of electrical wires, nuts, brake shoes and even ball joints.

Safe driving begins with tires. Automatic emergency braking is a great safety feature but not if your tires are worn out and can’t grip the pavement. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration states only 19% of consumers properly check and inflate their tires. Tires need to be checked on a regular basis for tread depth, wear, pressure and any signs of deterioration. When we perform routine maintenance we check safety items including your tires. Tires are expensive and why wear them out prematurely by ignoring their maintenance. We recommend tire rotation every 2nd oil change. Keeping track of the condition of your tires is critical and a job you don’t have to do alone.

Since many vehicle values drop by 40% or more in 3 years, buying used can be a significant money saver and there’s a lot to choose from because of the number of vehicles coming off lease is increasing. Finding a good used vehicle isn’t a matter of luck, but rather the result of good research and inspection.

An article from one of our trade journals (Parts and People) this month caught my attention. It was on advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) and the effect they have on driver behavior. The study was done by MIT Advanced Vehicle Technology Consortium and includes automakers and insurance companies. The researchers used cameras and sensors to watch drivers of Tesla, Volvo, and Cadillac vehicles to see how the systems are used, how often they’re used and how drivers respond to the warnings. The study has been going on for 2 years and has logged over 300,000 miles with 89 drivers and some trends seem to be emerging.

We often have customers ask if buying an extended warranty for their vehicle is worth the cost. Most used car warranties cost around $1,500 - $3,500 for an additional five years of coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period, depending on the year, make and mileage of your vehicle. Think of it as paying in advance for repairs your car may need in the future. Most extended warranty companies let you make payments over 24 months. Many come with benefits like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement that you may already have through an AAA membership or rental coverage through your auto insurance. Warranty companies offer various levels of coverage from basic to comprehensive.