Elysian Auto Service

  What Happens If My Coolant Is Low? When a vehicle has a low coolant/antifreeze scenario some common symptoms will occur. The first symptom in almost all cases is a rising temperature gauge and a dashboard warning light if the vehicle is equipped with that feature. The internal heating system will not function properly blowing hot air in summer or cold in the winter. A distinct sweet smell may occur on the inside of the vehicle if there is a leak. In some cases, the vehicle will go into a shutdown mode automatically if the car is too hot. The coolant/antifreeze is the most important fluid underneath your hood, this fluid circulates throughout the engine to prevent overheating. If you expose your motor to overheating it can do severe damage to many internal components leaving you stranded, and with a hefty repair bill in your hand. Some causes of low coolant could be a leak from your coolant hoses, or even the radiator itself. Your radiator cap could be leaking due to not being pro...

  Why is my brake pedal spongy? A “spongy” brake pedal can result from a few different things. You could have air in your brake line. Or you may have a leak in the brake line. If you have an air bubble in your brake line this can prevent the fluid from flowing down the brake line causing that spongy sensation. The other culprit, a leak in the brake line, can cause this spongy sensation, or your brake pedal may press all the way down to the floor. These are major symptoms and should not be ignored! In a disc brake vehicle, the process is simple to follow, every time you step on your brakes hydraulic brake fluid is sent down the brake line to an item called a caliper. The caliper then squeezes the brake pads against that shiny round silver disc called a rotor, which stops your vehicle. If you have any interruption in the process you have a major problem, and will lose braking power. If there is air in the line we perform a brake fluid service or brake bleed to get all the old fluid a...

Vehicle Maintenance Tips: Summer The season to hit the open road is nearly upon us! Whether you are heading up north to the cabin for the weekend or loading up the family to take that big cross-country vacation. You need to be prepared, and so does your vehicle. Elysian Auto Service has a couple of tips and reminders to make your travels safer and give you peace of mind. Most of these things just take a few minutes but that does not mean they are not important so let us begin.  The first item on the agenda is your tires, check them for low tread, abnormal wear like less tread on the inside or outside of the tire, or incorrect inflation. We know most are not tire experts, but if it looks bad or odd you most likely have a problem. As far as inflation is concerned, on the inside door frame of the driver's side is a sticker with the correct inflation. Be sure to check your spare tire as well! Secondly, how are the fluids? You have coolant, transmission, brake, and power steering fluid ...

  Tire Safety 101 When you think about major components of your vehicle, your first thought might go to your engine. After all, without an engine you cant drive. The same thing can be said about tires! Tires are put through more wear and tear than we realize. They provide traction to help keep us on the road, increase our breaking power, and assist us with handling. Here are a few tips to consider and be aware of to help keep your tires in the best possible condition and last longer; One of the major causes of bad tires or extreme wear is lack of rotation. If you don't rotate you can have uneven wear on the inside or outside of your tire and that can result in bad handling but also the worst-case scenario of a blowout. The best practice to follow is to rotate every 5000 miles. If your tires are low or your tire light comes in it is important to check your pressures. Inside the driver's door, you should see a small sticker on the frame with the correct tire inflation number, fol...