Elysian Auto Service

  How Often Should I Replace The Belts In My Vehicle? Did you know that there are multiple different belts within your vehicle? Most vehicles come with what is called a serpentine belt, this belt carries power to several components including the alternator, A/C, and power steering. If it fails it can leave you stranded. There are many vehicles that have more than one serpentine, so keep in mind you may have to replace multiple belts. The other is the timing belt which basically keeps the vehicle's valves working together, if this snaps it can cause catastrophic damage to your motor. Now back to the original question, the serpentine belt or belts should be replaced between 90,000 and 100,000 miles in most vehicles. This tends to be a general rule of thumb but they may need to be serviced sooner due to manufacturer recommendation or premature wear. If you do need new belts it is not a major repair and can usually be done in minimal time for a moderate cost. If components that work in...

  Do my wheels need balancing? Have you ever had your wheels balanced? Many customers at some point will experience a serious vibration or shake while driving and assume they have an alignment or tire problem and that may be true, but often times your wheels are out of balance. Tires and wheels don’t have equal weight distribution, they will be heavier in spots. That is why the weight must be evenly distributed around the circumference of the wheel to make sure each tire rolls smoothly. Imagine one or a few of those weights getting worn down or falling off, which can happen over time. You can see how it can throw off the precise balance of the wheel very quickly.     When you bring your vehicle into Elysian Auto and we do find an imbalance we will mount the tire on a balancing machine and then the wheel is spun while vibration measurements are taken. This process will tell the technician how much weight to add to the wheel and where to add it. Wheel balancing work is...

  Can I Drive With a Bad Thermostat? The short answer to this question is technically yes, but the long and smart answer is no. Yes, your car will still run but not very well. Without that thermostat properly working, it decreases performance and can cause damage. Most think a car would immediately overheat without a functioning thermostat and that may be true, but the car may also never warm up to its optimal temperature. Driving with a bad thermostat is a disaster waiting to happen. The thermostat serves an important role in your vehicle, it is basically a valve between the engine and radiator. When the coolant gets hot the thermostat opens letting the coolant pass to the radiator, if it is not hot then the thermostat stays closed allowing the coolant to circulate. Some common signs of a bad thermostat include your engine overheating or a fluctuation of your temperature gauge. If either happens get your vehicle into a certified shop as soon as possible. Overheating your vehicle i...

  Cabin Air Filters and Spring Cleaning Have you ever opened the hood and encountered this? This is a mouse nest made out of a cabin air filter. Yes, it is frightening to find out something has been living in your car. Here at Elysian Auto Service, we encounter dozens of these scenarios each year, it is common because little critters are always looking for a place to live, and your car offers a couple of great housing amenities They enjoy small spaces, and cabin and engine air filters make the most comfortable bedding imaginable. These little friends will drag things in from all over, and once they get started it does not take long to set up shop and for them to get comfortable. This situation looks like it's minor, and in most cases it is, but that does not mean it should not be thoroughly investigated. We recommend you have a certified technician conduct an inspection to make sure there is not any other damage. These rodents are infamous for chewing on wires in all areas of the v...

  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...