Colorado Springs Auto Repair

When asked, most people think they are good at multi-tasking. Scientific studies, however, reveal that only around 2% of the population can truly demonstrate the capacity to effectively multi-task. For the rest of us who are not so biologically wired, no amount of practice can increase our effectiveness at multi-tasking. Turns out, multi-tasking is almost a superpower. Think of fighter pilots: capable of maintaining their orientation in three dimensional space and performing specific and highly complicated functions while accessing life threatening situations and coming up with an appropriate response. Admit it – you can’t do that. Yet when it comes to driving, we seem to think we are very capable of safely operating a motor vehicle with myriad distractions. 77% of young adults feel somewhat confident that they can safely text and drive while 55% claim it’s easy to text and drive. Can they possibly be right? Let’s look at some statistics. Nearly 23% of all accid ... read more

We don't want to think about it, but each Colorado Springs resident who drives or rides in a vehicle is potentially an accident victim. In the worst-case scenario, those people are unconscious and unable to communicate with Colorado rescue workers. Rescue workers and Colorado Springs police are well aware of this difficulty, even if the rest of us don't stop to think about it. They can all recount stories of searching through glove compartments, pockets, wallets, purses and cell phone directories for a person's name and for contact information for someone who can help them get the person the medical care they need. This contact information is critical in an accident because Colorado Springs medical workers need to know about allergies and potential drug interactions. Also, in Colorado, some medical treatments can't be provided without authorization or consent, and there can be insurance and billing issues if the person's medical care is not properly arranged. ICE  ... read more

With Colorado Springs gas prices being what they are, many of us in Colorado are driving less and looking into purchasing smaller or more efficient vehicles. Colorado Springs area residents who have to drive a lot, have large families or need four-wheel drive are particularly hard hit by the cost of fuel in Colorado. But there are things all Colorado Springs drivers can do to save fuel: We can improve our driving habits and stay on top of preventive maintenance at Lighthouse Automotive. These things make small savings possible, but they can really add up.Let's start with driving habits. One major gas-eater is jackrabbit starts. A smooth, gradual acceleration uses a lot less fuel. It's also easier on your engine and drivetrain, so you'll prolong their lives as well.If you drive with one foot on the brake, stop. That creates drag, increasing fuel usage and reducing the useful life of your brakes.Slowing down can really add up on gas savings over time for ... read more

Your brake pads are the important parts that rub against the rotor (or disc) to slow and stop your car when driving in Colorado Springs. They eventually wear down.When your pads are worn too much, they won’t stop your vehicle as well. When the friction material is worn away, metal parts of the pad are exposed and you’ll hear a squeal or grinding sound. That’s when Colorado Springs drivers should replace their brake pads at Lighthouse Automotive. Not only will new pads restore your stopping power, but replacing them on time will prevent damage to the rotor.If your brakes are making noise, ask your Lighthouse Automotive service advisor to inspect your brakes. Addressing problems early will restore your safety and prevent expensive brake damage.Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Springs, Colorado 8090971

The primary job of the serpentine belt for Colorado Springs drivers is to provide important traction to spin the accessories. As the belt wears it loses some of its grip and the accessories may not spin at optimal speeds. For example, if your alternator doesn’t spin fast enough, the battery will not completely recharge while you’re driving and you could end up stranded around Colorado Springs with a dead battery. In short, a worn serpentine belt will stress all of the accessories it powers leading to premature wear and possible early replacement. When as little as 5% of belt material is lost, the serpentine belt cannot provide the proper traction for the accessories. Your friendly and professional Lighthouse Automotive service advisor can inspect your belt for excessive wear and replace your serpentine belt system if it’s excessively worn.Give us a call.Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Springs, Colorado 8090971

A big part of the service we provide at Lighthouse Automotive for our Colorado Springs customers is education. We want you to feel confident with your service decisions. And we're always open to questions from our valued Colorado Springs area customers. Even though we try to be proactive in our Lighthouse Automotive automotive education, we sometimes get busy fixing vehicles and need a reminder. Please, just ask. We've found our Colorado Springs customers like the service reminders. They've grown to trust that our recommendations are based on the vehicle manufactures’ published maintenance schedules and that Lighthouse Automotive is not just pulling them out of the air. We know that people in Colorado Springs live a busy life with a lot more to think about than wondering if it's time to replace the PCV valve on their vehicle. Part of our Lighthouse Automotive service process is checking the vehicle manufacture's schedule to make sure we don't ... read more

There’s not much Colorado Springs drivers can do about the price of gas in Colorado, but we can control - up to a point - how much we use. Our driving habits can dramatically affect our fuel economy.The first thing we can do is watch the go-pedal. Hard acceleration just sucks the gas. Gently leave stop lights and plan lane changes so you don’t need to floor it. That can save you hundreds of dollars a year in improved gas mileage.Go a little slower on Colorado expressways. Colorado Springs drivers who go more than 65 miles an hour (105 kilometers per hour) will see their gas mileage drop dramatically. Leave early so you don’t need to rush to be on time. And cruise control is your friend – steady speeds use less gas.Plan errands ahead. Make fewer trips by combining errands around Colorado Springs.Hey at current Colorado Springs gas prices, a lead-foot might as well be a gold foot. Give us a call Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Spring ... read more

With the weather getting colder, you might be tempted to start your vehicle up, let it idle for 15 or 20 minutes and then get in the nice, cozy cabin.  Some vehicles offer remote starting that let you do that from the comfort of your home or apartment.  But is letting your vehicle idle like that good for it? Manufacturers say it doesn't harm the vehicle.  They say it's because modern vehicles are made differently from those in the past.  Just about all newer vehicles employ fuel injection which uses computers to adjust the amount of gasoline that goes into the cylinders.  The engine gets only the fuel it needs, taking conditions into account. Older vehicles, on the other hand, used to use carburetors.  When you started a cold engine, the carburetor wasn't able to adjust the gasoline amount depending on conditions.  Some of the gasoline would mix with oil and the pistons wouldn't get the same lubrication as they would with undiluted oil. So yes, you ca ... read more

There are several important factors that go into how often Colorado Springs drivers should replace their wiper blades. Of course, the more you use your wipers, the faster the blades will wear out – especially if you use them on an icy windshield. Whether it’s a lot of bugs and road grime from Colorado freeway driving or lots of wet weather – your blades get a work out and start to wear. But your wiper blades break down even when they aren’t used frequently. They are damaged by sunlight and temperature changes as well. The rubber in the blades can dry out and crack and eventually fall apart. Check your wipers: If they’re not doing their important job, have them replaced at Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs. Talk to your Lighthouse Automotive service advisor about how you drive - we can counsel you on the optimal blades for your needs.Lighthouse Automotive2499 East Platte AveColorado Springs, Colorado 8090971

Imagine waking up one morning with a stomach ache. You pick up the phone, call the doctor’s office and say, “I’ve got a really bad tummy ache. How much will it cost to make me feel better?” Of course you wouldn’t do that. You know that there could be a lot of reasons for your symptoms and that the doctor will have to examine you, ask some questions and probably run some tests before she can tell you what’s wrong and give you treatment options. This same scenario plays out every day at Colorado auto repair facilities. When the cause of the concern isn’t obvious, the car will need to undergo a diagnostic examination. The typical car has about 30,000 parts, including several networked computers and miles of wiring. Finding exactly what is wrong can be very complicated and take some time. The most experienced technicians at Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs are the ones who tackle the difficult diagnostic jobs. Once they have determine ... read more