Colorado Springs Auto Repair

Having trouble with your fuel system? Bring your vehicle into Lighthouse Automotive for a check up.In today's Lighthouse Automotive auto post,we're talking about fuel system cleaning. The first thing to know is how important it is to have a clean fuel system. Colorado Springs residents need fuel to go, and the cleaner the fuel system, the more efficiently the fuel will burn. That means more power and better mileage .A clean fuel system saves money for Colorado Springs drivers at Colorado gas stations. We guess you could say it all starts and ends at the pump. One of the most important things Colorado Springs residents can do to keep their vehicle fuel system clean is to buy good quality gas. Major brands have detergents that keep gum and varnish from rapidly building up in the fuel system.So buying cheaper gas in Colorado can actually be more expensive for Colorado Springs drivers in the long run. Now, most cars on Colorado roads are more than five or six years ol ... read more

Diesel engines have been used extensively in Europe and Asia for many years. They haven't been as common in the Colorado Springs area because of the high sulfur content in our diesel fuel. But the government is now mandating lower sulfur content and, as a result, we are going to see more Colorado Springs diesel-fueled vehicles on the road, especially in passenger cars and SUV's.Diesels are popular in Colorado because they get better fuel economy than gas-powered engines. They also last longer. Modern diesel engines are quiet and powerful. And if you associate diesel engines with black smoke, then you're not up with the times. That smoke is a thing of the past.Diesels don't produce any more pollutants than gasoline engines. The pollution standards for diesel-powered vehicles are as strict in Colorado as for other vehicles.Also, diesel engines can run on bio-diesel fuels as well as fossil fuels. Diesel fuel can be produced from vegetabl ... read more

  Which item is most often stolen from vehicles in Colorado Springs?Is it: Stereo Wheels Air Bag DVD System Well, if you said stereo – you used to be right. But airbags have now surpassed stereos as the biggest target for theft in Colorado – approximately 50,000 a year are stolen across the country. New airbags cost about $1,000, but go for $50 to $200 on the black market in Colorado.Stolen airbags are making their way back into cars that have been in an accident. Of course, the danger to the consumer of having a stolen airbag installed is that you can never be sure what may have previously affected them and if they will work right when you need them. Contact us at Lighthouse Automotive for more information about where to get your airbags checked or replaced.Find us at 2499 East Platte Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909You can reach us by phone at: 719.634.0005 There are reports that 1 in ... read more

Road trip, anyone? Nothing spoils a great vacation faster than ending up stranded on the side of the road or spending a week in a rundown motel while our vehicle sits in the shop. Long days on the road can bring out the worst in your vehicle, so before you leave, prepare it for the journey by getting a trip inspection at Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs. After all, you wouldn't travel without clean socks, why ask your vehicle to travel with a load of dirty oil?The first step in a trip inspection at Lighthouse Automotive is to look at your travel plans. What kinds of roads will you be driving on? Will you be in the Colorado back country or on the freeway? Will you be crossing mountains? Off-roading? What will the weather be like? How far away from Colorado Springs will you be traveling? How much are you hauling? Will you be towing a trailer or lugging a rooftop carrier? Will you encounter dust, mud, snow or sea salt? All of these questions can help determine which se ... read more

When you drop your vehicle off at Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs, they don't just poke around under your hood looking for stuff to do. Lighthouse Automotive professionals have lists and procedures they follow for different types of service. First of all, your Colorado Springs service center will note the mileage on your vehicle. They'll then check to see what inspections and services the vehicle manufacturer recommends for a vehicle of your make, model and mileage. If you are a regular customer, they will also check your vehicle's history.If the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations go beyond the services you've ordered, they'll let you know. They'll also indicate whether those services are urgent or if you can wait a while to take care of them. The Lighthouse Automotive pros won't do work that you don't agree to.They will, however, perform inspections while they're servicing your vehicle. They'll check belts, filters and fluids. They'll check your win ... read more

Colorado Springs drivers may feel intimidated when they take their vehicles to a service center. They have questions but aren't sure how to ask. They don't want to feel embarrassed about their lack of knowledge. They don't want to make the service technician feel that they don't trust him.If your service advisor at Lighthouse Automotive uses a term you don't understand, just ask him to explain. Remember, they are the auto service experts. If they came to your place of work, they probably wouldn't understand the jargon, either. When you take your vehicle in to be serviced, make sure you understand the financial issues up front. Ask about payment policies, warranties and, of course, the cost of the work being done.It helps to understand basic services your vehicle needs. Know the difference between a quick check-up and a thorough inspection, which you are getting and which you are asking for. Understand that diagnosing a problem takes time, and time isn't free. If you have concerns ... read more

Our vehicles are not massage chairs. While we may enjoy a good vibration in an overstuffed recliner, we generally want as smooth a ride as possible in our vehicles. One way to achieve this is to keep a vehicle's wheels in balance. When a tire is mounted onto a wheel, it is usually out of balance. This means that as the wheel spins, there is a slight wobble to the path of the tire. For best handling performance and safety on the road, Colorado Springs drivers want to minimize this wobble as much as possible. So we balance our tires. To balance a tire, your technician at Lighthouse Automotive spins it on a machine or drum to determine where it is off-balance. He then attaches weights that counter-balance the uneven weight. Most people in Colorado Springs are surprised at how much balancing improves the smoothness of their ride. High-quality tires generally hold their balance well. But over time, wear and tear take their toll and tires can become unbalanced. Colorad ... read more

If you haven't shopped in the Colorado Springs area for a new vehicle recently, you're likely to experience some sticker shock. It seems everything is costing more these days. And when you consider the price of auto financing in Colorado Springs, and insurance, the idea of hanging on to your old vehicle for a few more years gets even more attractive.On the plus side, vehicles these days are engineered to last for 150,000 miles (250,000 km) or more. So why don't they? Usually it's because Colorado Springs drivers don't stay on top of preventive maintenance. Good vehicle care at professional automotive service centers like Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs is the key to getting the most mileage out of your vehicle.Too often, Colorado Springs vehicle owners are inclined to wait until their vehicles develop an obvious problem and take them in for repairs instead of maintenance. Repairs can be expensive, but allowing ... read more

Starting in 1996, Lighthouse Automotive service technicians have been able to use a standardized diagnostic system to help determine what is wrong with a vehicle. This diagnostic system works in tandem with the Engine Control Modules for each vehicle's engine. The Engine Control Module is a computer that monitors and controls many engine functions.Sensors throughout a vehicle send readings to the Engine Control Module. These readings help the computer make adjustments in various vehicle systems to allow for constantly changing driving conditions and even to compensate for minor problems. However, if the computer encounters a situation it can't adjust for, it turns on the Check Engine light. (The Check Engine light is called the “service engine soon” light on some vehicles.)If the Check Engine light is burning steadily, it indicates a problem that needs to be taken care of soon. If it is flashing, however, the vehicle needs ... read more

Most auto manufacturers recommend an interval for an air conditioning system inspection. The inspection uncovers leaks, worn hoses and assesses the condition of the other components.Environmental laws in some around Colorado Springs require leaks to be repaired before refrigerant can be added. Also some parts manufacturers require other components to be replaced along with certain failed parts in order to maintain the new part warranty. This is because a given failure may be the result of another worn or damaged part that will, if not replaced, prematurely damage the new component.Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs is fully equipped to restore your flow of cool air.Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Springs, Colorado 80909719.634.0005