In Pennsylvania, on you make the decision on where your vehicle will be repaired after it has been in an accident. Your insurance company is there to work with you and the repair facility to ensure that your car is repaired safely and correctly. If you have been in accident in Lansdale, Montgomeryville or anywhere in the Montco area and are in need of expert auto body repair, come see the professionals for an estimate today.

When the temperature dips, your vehicle’s heater is your best friend, so it’s important to make sure the system is operating properly.

Automotive heaters consist of several main components – the vents, the blower fan and the heater core. If any of these fail, you could be left cold and miserable on your commute.

The cooling system circulates coolant around the engine to draw off excess heat so the engine doesn’t turn into a lump of molten metal. The hot coolant passes through two heat exchangers to transfer the heat to the air flowing around the vehicle. One of these is the radiator, which handles most of the work of cooling the engine. Before the hot coolant gets to the radiator, it passes through a smaller heat exchanger behind the passenger side of the dashboard.

The most important part of heating system maintenance is making sure the cooling system is flushed regularly and the hoses are in good condition. If this step is ignored, the heater core and radiator can corrode or the passages can get clogged, preventing proper circulation.

The first step in testing the heater is to make sure the engine is thoroughly warmed up and the temperature control is turned up. With the engine warm, you should feel warm air coming out of at least some of the vents. If not, the cooling system should be checked for leaks, blockages and low coolant level. Be sure to check your thermostat for proper operation. If coolant is dripping into the passenger footwell, the hoses and heater core should be tested for leaks.

If heated air is available, the fan should be checked to make sure it works at all speeds levels. Direct the airflow to the dashboard vents and turn the fan up to ensure each speed level works. If the fan doesn’t work, it could be a burned out motor or a blown fuse. If the fuse has blown, the fan and motor should be checked anyway to make sure there are no obstructions causing an overload. If the fuse is fine, the motor and wiring should be checked.

Even if the wiring is intact and delivering power to the fan motor, it may not blow air if a bearing has failed or something is blocking the fan, such as a small animal looking for a warm place to sleep. If the fan is working but air still isn’t blowing, it’s time to check the ducts. If air blows from the dash vents when the airflow is set to circulate but not when directed to take in fresh air, check the intake at the base of the windshield. Leaves and other debris often collect there behind the rear edge of the hood.

If the air doesn’t move even in recirculation mode, the flaps inside the ductwork that direct airflow may not be functioning. On most vehicles, the doors that manage the mix of warm and fresh air or send the air to your feet, windshield or dash are vacuum operated. If the air can’t be re-directed, it’s time to check the vacuum hoses from the engine and the heater control valve. Some newer vehicles are now using small electric servo motors to move these flaps, so if the direction and blending don’t work, it’s time to check the fuses again. If the fuses are intact, a technician will need to check the wiring and the motors.

In general, heating system diagnosis and maintenance is not that complicated. If the cooling system is properly maintained to preserve the engine, the heater will usually work most of the time. Test the fan, temperature and directional controls on a regular basis and if necessary, get the system repaired promptly before you really need it. Stop by today and let us take care of your heating system to ensure it works when you need it most.

As for your car, be sure to stop and get gas and check windshield washer fluid levels as well as tire pressure before storms hit the Lansdale area. For brake and battery checks feel free to make an appointment to see us at 5 Points so that you can have as much peace of mind as possible before your attempt to navigate nasty roads this winter.

A healthy transmission is crucial for smooth operation

One of the most important parts of your car or truck, and often a part you rarely think of, is the transmission. Proper transmission maintenance, while not necessary as frequently as other routine maintenance tasks, is still an important part of increasing your vehicle’s longevity.

Getting power from your car’s engine to its wheels is the job of the transmission. The gears in the transmission help multiply the torque from the engine to get your vehicle started from a stop, and they reduce the engine speed needed to drive at highway speeds for less noise and fuel consumption. Transmissions come in automatic and manual varieties. Automatic transmissions contain planetary gear sets and hydraulically operated clutches, instead of the foot-pedal clutch found in a manual, to engage the gear that’s needed at any particular time. The hydraulic fluid, and the filter that keeps the fluid clean, are the only parts that need any regular maintenance.

Newer transmissions are sealed to help prevent leaks, and many modern transmissions don’t need any service until 100,000 miles or more. Older transmissions need to have the fluid and filters replaced more frequently. Repairing damage if the transmission isn’t sealed up properly after fluid and/or filter maintenance can get very expensive, so transmission service is a job best handled by your dealer’s service department.

The driver-operated clutch in a manual transmission vehicle consists of a pressure plate that squeezes a friction disk against the engine flywheel. Most newer clutches are operated by a hydraulic cylinder that needs to be kept full of fluid, and the reservoir can be easily checked by anyone and topped off if necessary.

The condition and lifespan of the clutch itself is dependent on how the driver uses it. A driver who doesn’t slip or ride the clutch can have it last 100,000 miles or more. Someone who rides their foot on the clutch pedal can overheat it, causing it to wear out prematurely. Replacing a burned out or worn clutch is a difficult job that should be handled by a mechanic at 5 Points Automotive. The gearbox also contains a thick lubricating oil to keep heat and noise levels down, and this should be drained and replaced according to the recommended maintenance schedule.

For more information about your transmission, and to keep it performing optimally, stop by or contact us today.

In addition to having your tires properly inflated, it is also important to see to it that they have the proper tread depth to ensure safe driving on road surfaces. A tire with proper tread depth is able to grip the road better by channeling water through its grooves and out the sides of the tire’s pathway. This ensures better stopping and prevents excessive hydroplaning in wet weather.

Your tire’s tread depth is a measurement between the outermost tread rubber down to the bottom of the tire’s deepest grooves. We measure tread depth in 32nds of an inch. The best tool for this job is a tread depth gauge which can be purchased for a few bucks at a hardware store, home center or auto parts store.

Generally, new tires from the factory start out life with 10/32″ to 11/32″ of tread depth. Your tires are considered legally worn out in most states when they reach 2/32″. What’s more is at that point they are arguably unsafe for you and your family. It is commonly known that at this point, one can use a penny to measure if a tire’s tread has worn beyond 2/32″. If  you turn the penny headfirst towards your tire’s groove and you can still see Lincoln’s entire head, then the tire is worn to approximately 2/32″ and you should make arrangements to get new tires.

If you have questions about tires for your vehicle, call us today at 215-855-3592.

The fuel tank, pump and lines generally don’t require any service over the life of the vehicle. However, any fuel smell at all in a modern vehicle should be quickly investigated. The fuel system is completely sealed from stem to stern, and shouldn’t emit any smell of fuel or leaks. If you’re seeing or smelling anything, it should prompt you to have 5 Points service techs take a look at the system immediately. Not only is it obviously dangerous, but lots of work has gone into keeping fuel from venting to the atmosphere. Fuel tanks are typically plastic today, but fuel lines are generally steel and can rust over the years, causing leaks. Road hazards can also cause punctures.

Most modern vehicles use electric fuel pumps that are submerged in the tank, while older cars use mechanical pumps that are mounted on the side of the engine and driven off the crank or camshaft. Replacing a submerged fuel pump generally requires the fuel tank to be removed, and testing one isn’t something even a seasoned DIY’er should mess with.

The only part of the fuel system that needs any regular service on newer vehicles is the filter that catches sediment and particles that may be in the fuel to prevent them from getting to the engine. The fuel filter is usually mounted somewhere underneath the vehicle and is commonly difficult to access. Because replacing it requires disconnecting the fuel lines, it’s best to let a professional handle this job. If the lines aren’t reconnected properly, you can end up with a leak that could lead to a fire.

Engines built before the 1990s often use mechanical carburetors, which require periodic adjustments, instead of fuel injection systems. Carburetor adjustments should also be handled by a pro, since an improperly carburetor can lead to excessive fuel use or excessive emissions.

Modern fuel injection systems are electronically controlled and need minimal regular maintenance. However, years of use can lead to varnish and other deposits building up inside the injectors. You might be tempted to use a fuel system cleaner to try and clean out the injectors, but it’s best to have the fuel spray of the injectors tested to see if they’re flowing effectively. Dirty injectors can cause problems like rough idle, engine misfire, acceleration hesitation, loss of power and poor fuel economy.

For more information on these systems and any other car related issue, stop by or contact us today. We have the knowledge and experience to keep your fuel system running properly.