Colorado Springs Auto Repair

Uneven tire wear, the car pulling to one side or a steering wheel that is off-center are signs for Colorado Springs drivers that their wheels may be out of alignment.When doing an alignment inspection, the service advisor at Lighthouse Automotive will inspect your tires for uneven wear as well as suspension and steering parts for signs of wear or damage. He?ll also compare your current alignment with the vehicle manufacturer?s settings.Your vehicle owner?s manual will have a recommendation for when to check alignment. Of course, this recommendation is based on normal driving. If you have been in a crash, hit a curb/pothole, frequently drive off-road around Colorado Springs, or notice any symptoms of misalignment, have your Lighthouse Automotive service advisor perform an important alignment check.Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Springs, Colorado 8090971

Car care is part of auto safety in Colorado Springs. But the most important thing we can do to improve safety on Colorado roads is to drive safely.Defensive driving begins with the proper attitude. Have in mind that you won't let anyone take your safety away from you. You'll be aware of your surroundings, road conditions, other vehicles and hazards. And the first person to be concerned with is you: start with your own environment.Don't leave without securing all occupants including children and pets. Watch for loose items that can become projectiles during evasive maneuvers.Driving too fast or too slow increases the chance of an accident.Never drive impaired: Alcohol is a factor in half of all fatal crashes. Never drink and drive.Other impairments include being sleepy, angry, daydreaming or talking. If you suddenly wonder how you got where you are – you're not paying enough attention.Keep your windows clean and uncluttered. No fuzzy dice and stickers.K ... read more

There are a lot of things in life that Colorado Springs residents have to do on a regular basis. We wash dishes every day, do our laundry and mow our lawns every week, and pay the bills every month. We should go to our Colorado Springs dentist twice a year and see our doctor for a check-up once a year. When we don't stay on schedule with these routines, it can lead to embarrassing, painful or expensive consequences. Scheduled maintenance is also part of good vehicle care. Colorado Springs drivers should take their vehicles in regularly for a good check-up. But many folks struggle to remember — or actually even ignore — this auto advice. When it comes to our vehicles, we're more likely to listen to, “If it ain't broke, don't fix it,” than, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Yet it is the second adage that is the more applicable one.Regular brushing treatments prevent cavities. Filling a cavi ... read more

A good suspension system gives a vehicle a smooth, even ride while providing Colorado Springs drivers with good handling and control. But like any system on your vehicle, parts of the suspension system can wear out, leading to a lower ride quality and safety concerns. So it's a good idea for drivers in Colorado Springs to remember their suspension system in their schedule of preventive maintenance. Springs do most of the work of the suspension system. The most common types of springs are coil and leaf, but air springs and torsion bars are becoming more common. The body of the vehicle is “suspended” by the springs.If springs were the only working component in your suspension system, however, you'd spend your travel time bouncing up and down like a bobblehead. That's where your shocks come in. They keep the rebound, or bounciness, of the springs under control. Shocks also keep your tires on the road, which keeps the driver in control of the vehicle. Some vehicles have struts ... read more

A lot of people get custom wheels in Colorado Springs. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you're not careful. Sometimes, once they're mounted, they just don't fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don't want that. Consulting your Lighthouse Automotive tire professional can ensure you get the right fit. First he'll ask you a series of questions about your Colorado Springs driving needs and what you want in your new wheels. Now, not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub.If you don't want to make any modifications to your vehicle, you would need to focus on the wheels that would fit. With trucks, some people in Colorado Springs like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.Also, most Colorado Springs drivers don't realize that you need ... read more

When your vehicle has a problem or just needs some routine service, you might get a little nervous. Your vehicle's so important to your life in Colorado Springs, you need to get back on the road as soon as possible – with the problem fixed right the first time.If you've ever checked into some of the technician training Lighthouse Automotive professionals receive, you may be surprised at how much specialized knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern car. For example: Today there are four cylinder engines that generate more power than the 1980s-era V-8's. I mean a new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket's Ferrari in a race to 60 mph/100 kph. Our engines are more and more powerful and at the same time their fuel economy keeps inching up – even with steep Colorado Springs gas prices. They are also amazingly reliable: Kudos to the automotive engineers. But the advances come at the price of simplicity.  ... read more

  Today we're talking to Colorado Springs drivers about shocks and struts. They're so easy for Colorado folks to forget about because they last so long and wear out so slowly. But your shocks are really responsible for keeping your tires on the road – so they're very important.Without shocks, your wheels would be bouncing over bumps and lifting on corners. The shocks push the tire down to the road to maximize traction. Good shocks equal good ride quality and safe handling for Colorado Springs drivers. There's a difference between shocks and springs. Springs support the weight of the vehicle, keeping it suspended up off the axles. The shocks moderate the rebound motion as wheels hit bumps. Now a strut combines a shock and a coil spring in one compact unit. It's best to replace all four shocks at the same time. That way you'll have even, predictable handling at all four corners. Anything less could be dangerous. Visit Lighthouse Automotive ... read more

Today's report from Lighthouse Automotive is on vehicle batteries, why they die and what we can do to lengthen their life. Most of us have had a dead battery at one time or another. In fact, it would be very unusual if you hadn't. You may be surprised to learn that only 30 percent of Colorado Springs vehicle batteries last for 48 months.Now that's an average. How long a battery lasts depends on many factors. You may not know that one of the biggest factors is the temperature where you live and drive around in Colorado. You might suppose that cold weather was harder on batteries because it takes more power to crank a cold engine, but the opposite is actually true. For more information on your battery, please visit us:Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Springs, Colorado 80909719.634.0005 Batteries in very cold climates have a life expectancy of 51 months as opposed to 30 months in very warm climates. The reason is sim ... read more

The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some Colorado Springs drivers, and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most people. Let's get the urgency issues out of the way first. If your Check Engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause engine damage. Naturally, you need to get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn't drive at high speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to your Colorado Springs service center. If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn't go off, schedule an appointment with your friendly and knowledgeable pros at Lighthouse Automotive to get it checked out.Some more information on how the Check Engine light works may be helpful for Colorado Springs drivers. Most of your engine functions are controlled by a compute ... read more

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Colorado Springs drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Colorado Springs drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around Colorado Springs?Are most of your trips less than 10 miles/16 kilometers in below-zero Colorado temps?Are most of your trips off-highway in Colorado?Do you drive often in dusty Colorado Springs areas?Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Colorado Springs?Do you drive in very hot or very cold Colorado weather?Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Colorado Springs on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on Colorado Springs surface streets? Let's suppose your owner's manual says the severe service oil ... read more