Fort Collins Auto Repair

Spring is here and it's time for your winter tire swap or changeover   Understanding tires can at first seem overwhelming. There are a lot of options and information to keep straight. Breaking down the categories and types of tires helps you to see what your options are. For typical commuting, most drivers opt for Summer, All-Season, M+S (mud and snow) and/or Snow tires. When deciding which tires to use in Colorado, there are some things to keep in mind. All-season tires simplify the decision of what tires to get and are sufficient for general driving in Colorado year-round. However, more specialized tires do in fact perform better under certain driving conditions. People who do off-road driving, mountain driving, or prefer a better performing tire for peace-of-mind and safety sometimes opt for Winter or M+S tires to be swapped out seasonally. A tire swap is neces ... read more

SHOCKing!! Your mechanic says your vehicle needs new shocks or struts. You’ve heard it before. What the heck are these things, anyway? And do you really need them? What are they? Vehicles come equipped with shocks, struts or both. Shocks, or a shock absorber, do just that: they absorb unevenness or bumps in the road, allowing the vehicle to travel steadily along. Struts serve a similar purpose and are designed differently. Both are mounted to your vehicle’s suspension system and are an integral part of steering, handling & control, comfort and safety. Learn more about the differences here. Shocks                                                                            Strut ... read more

I can’t imagine what it’s like to move to Colorado and experience driving in snow for the first time. It’s scary and is much different than driving in normal conditions. Driving on snow and ice is a skill. Use these winter driving tips to keep you and those around you safe during Colorado’s winter. Make sure your vehicle is Winter Worthy First, it’s very important to make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter driving. This means up-to-date maintenance, good tires and wiper blades, fluids full, coolant and exhaust system in good shape, gas tank full, and a fully charged battery. Refer here for winter car care to ensure your vehicle is worthy of winter driving. Driving on Snow and Ice Go Slow This is the most basic and fundamental tip for driving in winter. The surest way to avoid an accident or curb check is to go slow–the slower, the better. Seems simple, but this is the ... read more

With today’s flurries and yesterday’s treacherous slide home, my vehicle is at the forefront of my mind. I’m also thinking about the condition of other vehicles on the road with me. Driving conditions were so bad yesterday, there was no shortage of cars tipped over and slid out along the medians of I-25. Without windshield washer fluid, working wiper blades and tires with proper tread depth, the drive would not only have been 100X more miserable, but my car and I may not have made it home safely. Colorado weather greatly affects our vehicles, requiring us to manage and maintain them in ways that residents in warmer states don’t have to. As with any machine, cold temperatures cause components to shrink, making plastic pieces brittle and more likely to break, seals and hoses more likely leak, tires to lose pressure, and batteries to weaken and cause no or hard starts. Preventive maintenance can reduce cold-related headaches and ensure safe, reliable transportatio ... read more

Every once in a while we encounter some confusion about vehicle diagnostic charges. “You mean I have to pay for you to tell me what needs to be repaired? Even if you don’t fix anything?” Or, “I still have to pay for a diagnostic even though I get it fixed by you?” Diagnostic charges are sometimes a topic of debate. But they shouldn’t be. You don’t see people upset about paying their doctor for their yearly physical exam. It takes education, a whole lot of experience (I’m talking YEARS), and talent to be a really good mechanic. And it’s not easy. Having problems with your vehicle solved and fixed is a valuable service that saves you a lot of headache. Proper equipment, experience, and training are required to consistently and accurately diagnose the cause of vehicle problems. These pe ... read more