AUTONET TV

No Fuel-ing! (Fuel Filter Replacement)

Your vehicle has a few filters you might be somewhat familiar with.  There’s the oil filter that removes impurities from your engine’s oil, and a couple of different kinds of air filters that prevent contaminants from getting into the engine and the cabin. But you may not know that your vehicle also has a fuel filter.

The fuel filter keeps contaminants such as particles and other foreign substances from making their way into the engine.  They can result from using lower quality fuel, driving in dirty or stop-and-go conditions, or simply what happens after many weeks and months of travel. 

At some point, your fuel filter will start to get clogged up and won’t let the fuel get to your engine easily.  You might notice some signs of that: your engine doesn’t have the power it used to, it may misfire when you accelerate, it may be harder to start, or it may stall while you’re driving.  You may notice your vehicle vibrating a lot when you’re idling.  

If you notice any of those symptoms in your vehicle, you should bring it in for us to take a look.  We can run diagnostics such as a fuel pressure test that will let us know if your fuel filter is finished or still has a little more life remaining.

Even better, it’s a good idea to replace the fuel filter BEFORE you start seeing symptoms.  Each vehicle’s manufacturer recommends an interval at which you should change your fuel filter.  Older vehicles may recommend it be changed fairly frequently, such as every 30,000 miles/50,000 km.  Newer vehicles from different manufacturers have much longer intervals, and that’s something we can check so you can stay on schedule with regular maintenance.  

Make sure your fuel filter is doing its job so your engine can keep doing its job. 

TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886

Rumble from Down Under (Muffler Replacement)

We’ve all noticed them at one time or another on the street: a car or truck that drives by and the deep roar from their exhaust system sounds like a drag racer on the line.  But what happens when that rumble is coming from under YOUR vehicle? Well, it could be a sign your muffler needs attention.

You may notice other signs if your muffler needs to be replaced.  Your fuel economy may have plummeted, the smell of exhaust is blowing into your cabin, or your engine isn’t running in its usually smooth manner.  Or you may notice your vehicle’s temperature gauge is showing it’s running hotter than usual.

Mufflers sit under your vehicle, so they are exposed to all sorts of nasty things every day, and every season.  It may be dirt or salt from the road that gets kicked up on it, or you may rough it up with the potholes and speed bumps on the road.  Also, moisture from rain and snow combined with chemicals and brine can literally dissolve your muffler and other components of your exhaust system.

When you start to notice one or more of these signs, it’s time to head on over to have one of our technicians look at your exhaust system.  Under normal conditions, mufflers may last anywhere from five to seven years.  But when they start to go, to ensure your vehicle runs the way it should, you should have your muffler (and the rest of the components in the exhaust system) inspected and replaced if necessary.

Ideally, it makes sense to have your muffler and exhaust system inspected regularly when you have other routine maintenance done to your vehicle, such as oil changes and tire rotations.  That way, you can know sooner rather than later that your muffler is on its last legs before your (noisy) vehicle begins to draw the wrong kind of attention from other drivers.

TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886

Ball Joint Replacement

Think about this the next time you’re driving.  Your front wheels can steer your vehicle and, at the same time, the wheels can move, even with all the irregularities in the road moving them up, down and in different directions. Pretty amazing engineering, wouldn’t you say?

What allows that are parts called ball joints.  Most vehicles have them only in the front, but there are some vehicles that have them in the rear as well.  When you consider all the bumps and turns your wheels are subjected to, it’s not hard to imagine the wear and tear these ball joints endure. After any vehicle has put on many months of road time, these ball joints will start to wear out. 

You may find your vehicle’s front wheels clunk when you are on the road, it may not hold the road as well when you go over a bump, or you may feel vibration in your steering wheel and your tires may start to wear unevenly.

When you start to notice any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to bring it in to have one of our technicians look at what’s going on. If you keep driving with worn out ball joints, you can cause your tires to wear out more quickly.  And if you go even longer, you might find your suspension can collapse, meaning you won’t be able to keep your vehicle under control.  

Many vehicles have upper and lower ball joints, depending on what kind you are driving.  The upper ball joints usually don’t bear any weight while the lower ones do.

When our technician replaces your ball joints, they’ll take your wheels off, then remove the control arm(s).  After replacing the ball joints, they’ll inspect the rest of your suspension to make sure there aren’t any other components that need attention. In some cases, you’ll also need to have your wheels aligned after this service. 

So, when you hear those clunks or feel those vibrations, they may be signs your steering and control over your vehicle aren’t as good as they need to be for dependable, safe driving.  Heed the warning signs and keep your steering and suspension performing the way they’re designed to.  

TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886

You Are the Fluid Detective! (Leaking Fluids)

When you see some liquid sitting underneath your vehicle, your mind starts churning.  Is that normal? Is that something serious, or did I just spill my drink? Here’s a quick list of what those fluids look, smell and feel like, as well as what they might be. No, we don’t recommend you taste them to verify.

   •    Clear and underneath your air conditioner or under the end of your tailpipe. It’s likely something as simple as condensed water.  This probably doesn’t need immediate attention, but you should keep checking periodically.
   •    Oily, brown, golden or black.  That could be the sign of engine oil leaking.  Oil may also smell if it has been leaking on metal and burning.  This is one you should have checked out fairly quickly.
   •    Green, blue, red, yellow, purple or orange and watery under the engine.  Smells sweet.  May be coolant (antifreeze) and a sign of a leaking radiator, hose or clamp.  Also, could mean your water pump is shot or radiator is broken or cracked.  The more that’s there, the more important it is for us to check it out soon.
   •    Yellow, slippery and smells a little foul.  Could be brake fluid. This is one that you should bring to us quickly to have us inspect.
   •    Red or pinkish and collects under the engine or middle of your vehicle.  Could be power steering fluid.  Here’s another one that should be checked by a professional soon.
   •    Red or brown liquid from around your transmission or between your radiator and the transmission, smells sweet.  You might smell burning from around your engine area, too.  Might be transmission fluid.  Another one where it’s important to have a pro look at it soon.  

Your eyes and nose can be helpful to spotting things that need attention on your vehicle.  When in doubt, head on over to see us so a technician can check it out.  Taking care of it sooner rather than later could save you an expensive repair down the road.

TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886

A Most Important Part (Serpentine Belt Replacement)

Your vehicle’s engine is an engineering work of wonder with many complex parts working in harmony to get you down the road. One of those simple but important components is called a serpentine belt. It is driven by a pulley on the engine and transfers that power to many of your engine’s most important components.  The serpentine belt may drive the alternator, water pump, power steering pump and air conditioning compressor.  

When it’s working like it should, you won’t even notice the serpentine belt.  But when it starts to fail, you may hear a squealing noise coming from under the hood as the belt starts slipping.  Heat and time take their toll on the serpentine belt, causing it to crack or even to start shredding.  When this happens, it may not drive your alternator correctly, and your battery light may come on.  If the water pump isn’t turning, your engine may overheat, causing the heat gauge to show hotter than usual.

When the serpentine belt isn’t doing its job, it’s important to get it serviced very soon.  Letting it go too long can result in many more expensive repairs to multiple parts on your vehicle, especially if the belt breaks.  

Regular vehicle maintenance is important, and an inspection of your serpentine belt should be one of those things you should have one of our technicians do periodically.  While the belts can last for years, it’s important to detect any beginning of wear earlier rather than later.  In addition to the condition of the belt, the technician can also check to make sure pulleys are aligned properly and that the belt is routed correctly.  

Your vehicle’s serpentine belt is one of those components that you won’t even notice when it’s doing its job, and maintaining it will help you avoid surprises at the worst possible time.  

TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886