Colorado Springs Auto Repair

Your car has many different fluids inside that help keep components lubricated and vital systems working properly. We're talking about engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid and radiator coolant (antifreeze). If these fluids aren't kept at a certain level and the fluid itself is not in good shape, your vehicle could develop major problems and you could be in for expensive repairs. Fluid Maintenance First of all, it's a good idea to get all your fluids checked regularly. The most common maintenance service is an oil change (which includes changing out the oil in the pan along with the oil filter). Other fluids usually don't need to be changed as often, but they always need to be taken care of properly. You may hear a cou ... read more

At LightHouse Automotive, brake inspections and repairs are among the most common services we perform for our customers. After all, everyone wants their brakes to be working properly! We often get questions about the differences between the primary brake components. This article will help explain the various parts and talk about the importance of brake maintenance for your vehicle's safety and performance.  Brake Components Most vehicles on the road have disc brake systems. We do work on a lot of classic cars with drum brakes here at LightHouse Automotive, but we're going to keep this topic focused on disc brakes. There are four primary components to disc brakes, including the caliper, caliper support, brake pad and brake rotor. Brake Pads vs. Brake Rotors Brake pads are attached to the calipers, which are essentially clamps that close when you press on the ... read more

Most vehicles will rely upon a water pump system to keep the engine cool and maintain consistent running temperatures. It’s vital to prevent overheating. There are air cooling systems, as well, which require their own maintenance and care. In this article, however, we want to focus on water pumps. Modern vehicles that use water pumps have more sophisticated cooling systems that are designed to last longer. This is pretty true with all modern vehicle designs. However, no car is exempt from something going wrong and it always pays to know what to look for in case of a failing water pump. Obviously, the older your vehicle is, the more concern you should have for your water pump. When it fails, your engine will overheat and it could lead to more significant engi ... read more

Colorado winters can be tough on your vehicle's battery. The cold weather, wet road conditions and increased use of electrical components such as the heater, defroster, headlights or windshield wipers will put additional strain on your battery and entire electrical system. You want to make sure your battery is running at full strength. If it is dying or dead, you could be left stranded and that's not a good thing. Recharge vs. Replace In some cases, a battery can just be drained and will benefit from being recharged. In other cases (especially if it's a recurring failure), it needs to be replaced with a new battery. Trust an experienced auto repair technician to test your battery and provide an accurate recommendation on whether your battery should be recharged or replaced. Signs of a Bad Car Battery There are a few common symptoms that will l ... read more

When it comes to the exhaust systems of modern gas-powered or diesel-powered vehicles, the catalytic converter is one of the most important components. It is vital to convert very harmful emissions gasses and fumes into less harmful exhaust. If it is not performing properly, it's bad for the driver and passengers, bad for the environment and bad for your vehicle itself.  Does Your Vehicle Have a Catalytic Converter? This may depend on the age of your vehicle because catalytic converters weren't a requirement until 1975. Some older vehicles may still have one, but a lot of older cars and trucks may not. Colorado emissions requirements are very strict and will affect all cars older than seven (7) years. Whether your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter or not, it must meet the state's emissions/smog testing requirements ... read more

This is the time of year when your vehicle's heater and defrosters are ultra important. Fog, rain, sleet and snow can all impact your safety and visibility while driving on Colorado's roads throughout the winter months. You want to make sure your heater, AC and defroster(s) are all working correctly. It's cold outside, so you want to stay warm inside your car or truck. You also want to be able to see out the windows while driving. Remember other drivers will have the same limited visibility you do on bad weather days, so you always have to be extra vigilant while on the road. Here are some of signs that you could have issues with your vehicle's Heating/Air Conditioning system: Air Not Warm Enough It may take a few minutes for your car to warm up and thus start blowing hot air into the passenger cabin. However, if it is not gettin ... read more

There are a number of things that can affect how smoothly your car drives. Some factors include wheel alignment, tire treads, tire pressure, brakes, differentials, wheel bearings and axles. However, your suspension system will have the biggest impact on the ride of your vehicle, and that’s what we want to focus on in this article. Components of Your Suspension There are three main components you need to know about when talking about your vehicle’s suspension system: Springs Most modern cars will use coil springs while some older vehicles use leaf spring designs. Then, there are custom air-ride systems, as well. The springs help absorb bumps on the road and maintain a consistent vehicle height to balance against rough road condit ... read more

Today's vehicles are very advanced and your dashboard warning lights are very important. Your car will have many different sensors that feed information directly into the vehicle's computer system. When potential problems are detected, one of those warning lights will illuminate and you may need to take immediate action. The most important dashboard warning light in any vehicle is the "check engine" light. It can represent any number of problems relating to your engine and it should never be ignored. Here are a couple of different scenarios that can and will happen. The Check Engine Light is Flashing If your check engine light is flashing, it means there is a major problem. You should pull off the road immediately, turn off your vehicle and call for roadside assistance. If you don't do this, you can risk even more damage to the engine or ... read more

When it comes to the health and performance of your car or truck, wheel alignment plays an important role. That’s why it’s always a good idea to get your wheel alignment checked regularly. If it is way off, then it is worth getting corrected as soon as possible. There are three things looked at when we perform a wheel alignment test at LightHouse Automotive: Camber Camber is the angle of the wheel/tire if you are looking at it directly from the front or rear of the vehicle. If it is tilted in at the top, that’s considered negative camber. If it tilts the opposite way, that’s considered positive camber. You want the right camber for cornering performance and tread wear. Caster Caster is tougher to explain. It is the angle created by the steering’s pivot point, from the front to the back of the vehicle. It mainly impacts the steering of the ve ... read more

It should come as no surprise that your engine gets hot. With many repeated controlled explosions of fuel happening every second to power your vehicle, it's easy to understand why you need a good cooling system doing its job to prevent the car from overheating.  In this article, LightHouse Automotive shares the basic information you need to know about your vehicle's cooling system, its key components and standard maintenance tips. Radiator and Coolant The cooling system component most people are at least somewhat familiar with is the radiator. It's what houses the coolant (aka "antifreeze") that ultimately helps regulate the temperature of the engine ... read more