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Auto Maintenance: Choosing One Repair Shop

One of the things I learned from my dad is that it pays to find a good auto repair shop and stick with it. True enough, I have tried using more than one shop, based on what I needed done to my car. Every time, I found myself going back to one shop that knew my car and the car's history. I had found that shop not too long ago. They had offered help with everything from rebuilding engines to dent repair. The shop is located near my home, and they keep records that went back for years. Thanks to the long history, they always knew what to do when something was not working as it should. If you think that finding one shop to meet all your needs is a good idea, let me help. With a little effort, you'll know exactly where to take your vehicle any time it needs some work.

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Auto Maintenance: Choosing One Repair Shop

Car Tips: Help Avoid A Stall By Maintaining These 2 Compartments

by Noelle Snyder

Your car may be reliable, but you should still prepare for the possibility of it breaking down from time to time. The following are 2 compartments that you should be aware of, as they are vital for proper operation. Having your auto specialist check these parts, along with your general check-up, may help you avoid being stranded.

1. The Fuel Pressure Regulator

The fuel pressure regulator is a little device that usually sits on top of the driver's side of the engine, on the back wall. The device is usually shaped like a hexagon and has a small tube connected to it, along with an electrical plug.

The regulator detects the amount of fuel that your vehicle needs and only allows that amount into your engine. This is important because proper combustion requires a specific fuel and air mixture to produce the exact amount of power your car needs. The wrong mixture may cause your vehicle to stall because the regulator sends too little or too much gasoline to your engine. 

The following symptoms are associated with a bad regulator:

  • Blackened spark plugs that smell like gasoline
  • Engine misfires or sputtering
  • Engine oil dipstick smells like gas
  • Black smoke comes from the tail pipe
  • Gasoline might be found in any of the vacuum hoses
  • There may be some hesitation when accelerating

Be sure to talk to your auto care specialist if you notice any of these symptoms. You should also make sure your whole fuel system is checked, which includes your fuel pump, fuel lines, fuel pump relay, and your fuel filter.

2. The Idle Air Control Sensor

The idle air control sensor is responsible for detecting the amount of air that your car needs while you are idling and ensures that your air ducts only allow the necessary amount. A problem with this sensor can cause your vehicle to stall when your car is idling, which can happen when you stop, decelerate, or when you turn on your vehicle. 

The following are other symptoms related to a bad idle control sensor:

  • Erratic idling
  • Car idles as if it is going to stall

Talk to your auto care specialist about these symptoms to decrease the odds of your car leaving you stranded. You might also want to consider having your auto care specialist check the rest of your air flow system, like your air ducts and air filter. And to be on the safe side, keep the number of your towing specialist like one from Big Valley Towing near you because taking precautions does not guarantee that your vehicle won't stop at any given time. 

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