Des Moines Auto Repair

The cabin filter is cotton-made that is attached to the air-conditioning system. The filter is responsible for collecting contaminants and preventing them from entering the cabin. A clean filter is vital in ensuring that you don't breathe in any harmful pollutants. A clogged cabin filter won't just impact the HVAC system, but it can also influence the engine performance. To avoid the hazards of a dirty cabin filter, you must get it changed every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Here are some of the common symptoms of a dirty air filter:   Decrease Air Flow A clogged cabin filter will restrict the amount of air that flows through the vents into the cabin. If you notice yourself needing to turn the air conditioner up to the highest setting to feel the airflow at all, check the cabin filter. Clogged cabin air filters can put stress on the fans, causing them to overheat and impact performance.    Increase Air Pollutants  Airborne pollutants can enter your vehicle a ... read more

You have been planning this trip for months. After all, who wouldn't desire to break free from the ordinary routine, breathe fresh air, meet new people, and visit new places? You are finally ready. Your bags packed, designated routes mapped out, and hotels booked. But how prepared is your car for this adventure? Nothing could be more frustrating than a vehicle breaking down on you while you are miles away from home. Here are some brilliant tips to help you stay safe and make the most of your road trip. Inspect Your Tire Thread Your tires are the only source of traction between your car and the road surface. Ensure that your tires are well treaded to facilitate maximum control and handling ability, especially when it rains. Also, check your tire pressure and ensure that it measures up to the manufacturer's recommended guidelines as indicated on your car manual. Do not forget to inspect the wheels for any signs of cracks or bulges. Get a Car Tune-Up If you cannot remember the ... read more

Many bad habits are linked to our behavior patterns. The same can be said of our driving. Learn how your driving habits can affect your vehicle's performance. You may also want to learn how to change these habits to make your car drive better and last for years to come.  1. Resting Your Hand on the Gear Shift of an Automatic Transmission We know it is a comfortable position to have your hand resting on the gear shifter of the car. Did you know, though, that this can put pressure on the transmission bushings and synchronizes? It is best to keep both hands on the steering wheel. 2. Making Hard Starts or Stops The hard starts at the green lights will cause poor fuel mileage. If you can, ease your foot onto the gas pedal and take off as slowly as possible. Also, the hard stops will cause more wear and tear on the braking components of the vehicle. When these parts wear down, you will need to replace them sooner than you should have if you had been stopping suddenly only when n ... read more

April is known as National Car Care Month. And, with good reason. Winter wreaks havoc on cars and after the winter thaw, it becomes necessary to perform an annual spring maintenance check and inspection on your vehicle. This is to ensure that all aspects of your motor vehicle are performing at an optimal level. Small hidden problems can thus be identified and addressed before these problems become serious. Here are seven checklist items for your annual spring maintenance check and inspection: Test and Replace Your Car Battery The car's battery and the electrical system work harder during winter, and thus, it becomes necessary to check and replace the battery during spring. Check Car Tires Changing temperatures could result in uneven air pressure. This in turn causes uneven wear on the tires. Apart from tire pressure, tire treads should also be inspected to ensure that there is sufficient tread left. Place a penny in the groove of the tread. If t ... read more

When bringing your car to a stop, it may briefly cross one's mind that there is a mechanism at work that pushes one thing against another, ultimately bringing the vehicle to a halt, as and when you need to. You may even have heard home-based mechanics talking about brake shoes and brake pads and other words that relate to bringing vehicles to a safe halt, and these words being bandied about may even sound like they mean the exact same thing. But this is not true. Brake shoes and brake pads are essentially two different parts of a whole braking system in your car. We all know that brake pads' primary function is to slow down or stop the motion of a moving machine or vehicle. But do you understand what a brake pad itself does to stop or slow down a vehicle or a machine? This is the part of the braking system in your car that is the rubber lining inside the caliper, which is part of the large metal structure clamped to the side of the rotor, located at your car's wheels. B ... read more