Colorado Springs Auto Repair

The automotive professionals at Lighthouse Automotive would like to give Colorado Springs drivers an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, vehicles are becoming more sophisticated every day.  Fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.The Colorado Springs do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their vehicle with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many Colorado ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable Lighthouse Automotive service advisor to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their vehicle and their driving habits in the Colorado Springs area.Let's start with engine oil. Colorado Springs drivers who have been paying attention will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the Colorado sc ... read more

The timing belt rotates the cam shafts which open and close the valves that allow air, fuel, and exhaust to flow through the engine as it powers your car when you drive around Colorado Springs.An old timing belt can lose a “tooth” in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing belt slips – or a broken timing belt – can be disastrous on some engines. In “interference” engines, open valves can get in the way of the piston when the timing belt breaks or slips. When that happens one or more valves can be bent requiring expensive engine repairs.It is important for Colorado Springs drivers to replace their timing belts as recommended in their owner’s manual to avoid unnecessary breakdowns. Ask the team of professionals at Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs if it’s time for your timing belt to be replaced. Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Springs, Colorado 8090971

Hello Colorado Springs . Have you ever had your Check Engine light come on? Did you panic? Or just scowl and ignore it? What should you do? Pull to the side of the road and call a tow truck? Or just keep driving? What does that little light really mean for Colorado Springs drivers?First of all, the Check Engine or Service Engine light does indicate that something is wrong. That's why it is called a warning light. But the something that is wrong might be a loose gas cap, or it might be serious vehicle engine trouble. That's why Colorado Springs residents often don't know how to respond to it.The Check Engine light has two modes: it flashes or it stays on. A flashing light is serious. You need to get your vehicle to Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs ASAP. No, you don't need to call a tow truck, but, yes, you can't wait to get your car serviced. If your Check Engine light is on and flash ... read more

Motorists in North America drive about 3 trillion miles/4.8 trillion kilometers every year. There are over 250+ million licensed drivers, and approximately 6.2 million accidents happen every year. Unfortunately, if we're going to drive vehicles, there are going to be accidents. Knowing what to do in case of an accident can help reduce the stress and cost of the situation. It can also protect you from false claims, incorrect judgments and unjust liabilities. Never leave the scene of an accident. This is a crime, even if the accident is not your fault. If you leave the scene, it is referred to as a “hit-and-run,” and the fines are steep in Colorado. You can even lose your driver's license or spend some time in jail. If someone has been injured in the accident, most laws require you to help them. You must call for help. If you can, you must also render first aid. Call 9-1-1 or get someone else to call 9-1-1 as soon as possible. Tell the operat ... read more

The simple fact is that 70% of car batteries fail within 4 years. They just need to be replaced at Lighthouse Automotive when they are no longer able to hold a full charge.Batteries are a big ticket item for most Colorado Springs drivers and it’s tempting to put off buying a new one as long as possible. But a battery that cannot hold a full charge requires the alternator to work extra hard, causing it to wear out prematurely.Your Lighthouse Automotive service advisor can test your battery to see if it should be replaced. Testing is a good idea for Colorado drivers because a battery might still be good, but become dead because of a bad alternator or even a worn serpentine belt and tensioner. Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Springs, Colorado 80909719.634.0005  

All of us in Colorado Springs know we have to get the oil changed in our vehicles periodically. That's just part of good vehicle care. But when Lighthouse Automotive technicians change your oil, they also usually inspect your air filter. That's why they sometimes let you know that your air filter needs to be changed before releasing your vehicle.Don't just chock this up to trying to sell you something else. Colorado Springs area drivers really do need to change their air filter when it gets dirty. You can check your owner's manual to see how often your air filter should need to be changed, but remember, if you live in an area in Colorado with poor air quality, or if you drive a lot or drive under harsh conditions in the Colorado Springs area, you may need to change that filter more often than is recommended.Changing an air filter isn't guesswork. If a filter's dirty, it needs to be replaced. Air filters ar ... read more

With front-wheel drive being so common these days in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Colorado Springs drivers don't even have to think about it. And rear-wheel drive differentials don't need to be serviced for years, so it's understandable that it's not something on the top of Colorado Springs customers' minds. It's not uncommon for drivers to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service. Call Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs at 719.634.0005 for information about differential service, or stop by our Colorado Springs, Colorado, auto center at 2499 East Platte Ave, 80909. To better understand what a differential does, think about our local Colorado Springs high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahe ... read more