Elysian Auto Service

  Can I Drive With Bad Struts?  Technically yes, you can drive a vehicle with bad struts. But Elysian Auto Service wants to remind you it is not a good idea to wait very long to have them replaced. Over time struts become worn and in some cases leak which means the stability of your vehicle is now compromised. Struts are a component unlike filters or tires where you can see the problem, they are much harder to see. When is the last time you looked under your vehicle? You will know when your struts have gone bad by some common symptoms including poor handling, excessive bounce, body roll, poor traction, and possibly a steering wheel wobble. If your struts are binding, which we do see on occasion, the ability to steer the vehicle can be affected causing other issues. The other area where bad struts have a major impact is your tires. The instability will cause abnormal tire wear which leads to handling issues and costly replacement. If you just put new tires on recently or are pl...

  How often should you change your transmission fluid? The answer to this question leads us to more questions including; what type of vehicle do you drive, who is the vehicle manufacturer, how many miles do you put on, where it is driven, if the vehicle is used for towing, etc. After we have identified what category it falls under we can recommend a fluid service interval that is best for that situation. The first thing that is needed is a fluid sample of your transmission fluid. Our ASE Certified technicians will pull a sample and take a picture so you are able to see it for yourself. Transmission fluid like all other fluids in the vehicle breaks down over time from excessive heat and pressure, once the fluid does break down it cant dissipate heat which can lead to multiple problems. That is why manufacturers recommend this service. A good rule to follow is every 30,000 to 60,000 miles unless you are towing or have a manual transmission which may require more frequency. We know it...

  How Often Should I Change My Spark Plugs? Spark plugs do require maintenance and at Elysian Auto, we have seen manufacturer-recommended replacement anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 miles depending on the vehicle. In many cases there is no specific rule as to when they need servicing, it is up to the owners to have them checked regularly by a certified technician so that you avoid a major problem. Pictured above is a bad spark plug on the left and a new one on the right. The left plug has a worn electrode and is coated with carbon (top arrow), its threads are oil soaked (middle arrow), and  An automobile engine needs gas, air, and spark to get rolling, without any of these your engine will struggle, so you can see how important it is to maintain. If you encounter any of the following symptoms you most likely have a faulty plug; hard starting or extended crank, poor performance, bad fuel economy, engine miss, knocking or pinging, check engine light. These are not something to i...

  What Are Signs of a Bad Fuel Pump?  Your vehicle's fuel pump is an integral part of your fuel system, if it completely fails you are not going anywhere. In today’s fuel-injected vehicles the fuel pump is located inside the fuel tank which is the most efficient way to deliver a constant flow of gas. The most common symptom of a bad fuel pump is difficulty starting, so if you turn the key and it is turning over but not firing, this may be your fuel pump. Many folks will immediately connect this symptom to the battery or starter, but usually, if it is one of those two components extended cranking is not the norm, so be aware that the problem could run deeper. Difficulty starting is not the lone symptom for this type of issue. You may hear a whining noise, the engine may sputter at high speed, you could experience a loss in power, engine stalling, or in some cases, the gas gauge will fluctuate as you travel down the road. When there is a disruption in fuel distribution, which is...

  What Is Power Steering Fluid? You might have seen a photo on your 42 Point Digital Inspection that showed your power steering fluid sample. But, do you actually know what power steering fluid is? If the answer is no, that is perfectly okay! Many people are unfamiliar with it so I am going to take some time to fill you in. Power steering fluid pressurizes your steering system, this is what allows you to easily steer and control your multi-ton vehicle. Power steering fluid is vitally important in protecting many components, especially your power steering pump, if that were to be damaged you are looking at an expensive repair! It is hard to say how many times we could have saved a power steering pump with a simple fluid service. Power steering fluid has to deal with intense heat and pressure which causes it to degrade, which then causes metals and deposits to become trapped in the fluid and it is all downhill from that point. The high-quality BG Products power steering fluid service...

  BG Products: Cooling System Service  Have you ever been traveling down the road and had your vehicle overheat leaving you stranded? There is nothing worse! Regularly servicing your cooling system can help avoid those situations. Over time coolant/antifreeze breaks down and becomes very acidic, which can be extremely damaging to your radiator, heater core, water pump, hoses, and many other components. When we service your vehicle with BG Products we add a cleaner to the old fluid to get rid of those harmful deposits, then we use a pressurized machine to extract all of that broken-down fluid before refilling the system with new coolant. Some people ask if you can just drain it and then add fluid and the answer is no. Did you know about 50% of the old fluid is left in there when done that way? If you have a tub half full of dirty water and then you fill it you now have a full tub of dirty water, and that is what happens when you just drain and fill the system. The coolant servi...

  What Does Brake Fluid Do? We install hundreds of sets of brakes during the year here at Elysian Auto Service, but not everyone is aware of the importance of brake fluid! Did you know that every time you step on the brakes it heats up that fluid and sends it through the system? When it cools, condensation is created and that moisture is absorbed into the fluid which will cause corrosion, especially in the calipers.  So to avoid a costly repair and to keep your brakes operating at peak efficiency we encourage everyone to have a BG brake fluid service at regular intervals to protect those components as you head down the road. Brake fluid should be a part of your regular maintenance schedule much like your coolant or transmission fluid. We like to see most fluids changed every 30,000 miles.  Contact Elysian Auto Service if you would like to set up an appointment or find out more about the benefits of this fluid service.