Tampa Auto Repair

Seeing a warning light on your car's control panel can be stressful, and these lights should never be ignored. The issue could be minor, or it could be a much larger system. When it comes to your ABS light, you want to fix the problem immediately. What does it mean when it comes on? What is ABS? When you hear a mechanic refer to ABS, they are referring to your car's anti-lock braking system. When there is an issue with your ABS, a light appears that looks like the letters AB inside a circle. There are a few reasons why this light comes on. What Causes an ABS Light to Come On The ABS sensors monitor how the brakes are functioning based on wheel rotation speeds. When there is an abnormal reading, the light appears indicating the brakes are not working effectively. Other reasons the light appears include: Low Brake Fluid Levels: Low levels of brake fluid affect the way your brake system works, making them less effective. Blown Fuse: A blown fuse can cause your ABS light to c ... read more

Labor day is a three-day weekend, where most families and friends get together to squeeze out one last summer trip. With parties, BBQs, vacations, and other activities going on, there will be many driving hazards present. To help make your Labor Day plans go smoothly, here are some safety tips to help you plan for the traffic ahead of time. Have important documentation on hand - You’ll need to double check that you have your insurance, license, and other essential papers onboard with you. Check for traffic beforehand - With the traffic being extra congested in Tampa on the holiday weekend, it is best to be prepared by looking at the GPS traffic conditions before heading out the door. You should look for alternative routes just in case there’s a traffic jam, crash, or construction on your normal route. Always use your seat belt - This goes without saying, but we want to remind you that you and your passengers should have your seat belt on at all times. It is the law after ... read more

If you're like most people, you have no idea what a catalytic converter does. In fact, many people don't even know what catalysts are! A catalytic converter is a device that is found in the exhaust system of cars. It uses a catalyst to convert harmful emissions into less harmful ones. Without a catalytic converter, your car would produce smog and other pollutants that are harmful to both humans and the environment. Catalytic converters are made up of three main parts: the housing, the substrate, and the catalyst. The housing is typically made of stainless steel or ceramic. The substrate is a honeycomb-like structure that is coated with platinum, palladium, or rhodium. The catalyst is what actually does the work of converting the emissions. It is usually made of platinum or palladium. Catalytic converters are not 100% effective at cleaning up emissions. However, they are very good at reducing the amount of pollution that cars produce. In fact, catalytic converters have been cr ... read more

After miles and miles of driving, did you know that your wheels start to point in different directions or knock out of alignment? To have your wheels pointing in the right direction, vehicle owners need to get wheel alignments. Here are some of the signs to look out for to tell when it's time to get a wheel alignment: Rapid Tire Wear - One way to tell if you need a wheel alignment is by look at your tire tread. Accelerated tire wear can occur from a number of problems, including poor wheel alignment. If you notice balding or unusual wear pattern, have an expert check on your wheel’s angles. Car Pulling to the Side - Imaging wanting to drive straight, but your vehicle keeps yanking your left or right. This frustrating symptom can mean you need a wheel alignment. If you can’t seem to hold a grip of your vehicle on a straight road, please bring your car to an auto repair shop immediately. Loose Steering Wheel - Poor alignment can make your steering feel loose, sloppy, o ... read more

You don't have to be a trained automotive expert to know when something is going wrong with your vehicle. With the simple use of your eyes and nose, you can infer that you may need to take a trip to a mechanic. When it comes to your exhaust system, a thick cloud of emissions is typically a bad sign. Under normal conditions, a light cloud is fine. However, if the smoke is thick and unusual in color, it can mean trouble. Bad exhaust smoke usually appears as black, white, or blue depending on the nature of the problem. Black Smoke Black smoke means that there's an imbalance of fuel and air burning in the engine. Some examples of issues that can cause excess black fumes include failing fuel injectors, a clogged air filter, or even a bad pump. White Smoke White smoke is a sign that your head gasket is leaking and trickling coolant into the combustion chamber of the engine. Other ways coolant can drip into the chamber is a cracked engine block and faulty cylinder head. Blue Smok ... read more