Colorado Springs Auto Repair

Screeching tires, crunching metal – it's an accident! If you've ever been in a car accident in Colorado Springs, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It's hard to think straight and know what to do.Let's review what Colorado Springs drivers should do in case of an accident:When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident in Colorado Springs is considered a crime - even if it's not your fault. And hit and run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your Colorado driver's license or even jail time.Your jurisdiction may require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able. Warn other motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood. Call Colorado Springs emergency services as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.You should always file a police report. It's tempting t ... read more

  Today at Lighthouse Automotive we want to talk with you about a very important safety issue. This automotive safety warning is coming from a very unusual source: fire fighting experts. You've probably heard of E-85 gasoline being offered in the Colorado Springs area. Some newer vehicle models are specifically built to run on E-85 – the rest are not. Does your vehicle use E-85 gasoline? Bring it down to Lighthouse Automotive at 2499 East Platte Ave in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909, to find out, or give us a call to make an appointment by calling 719.634.0005. E-85 gasoline has been developed to fight air pollution and reduce oil consumption. E-85 fuel is a mix of 85% ethanol, a grain-base alcohol, and 15% gasoline. So-called Flex-Fuel vehicles are designed to use either normal gasoline or E-85 gas. The result is lower exhaust emissions to our local Colorado Springs community ... read more

Today we want to talk about a system in our vehicles – the cooling system. It's one of those things that Colorado Springs auto owners don't give much thought to until it fails and then they're stranded by the side of a road in Colorado.Cooling systems fail more often than any other mechanical system – usually because of neglect. Don't you hate it when something breaks and you could have done something to prevent it?The good news is that if Colorado Springs drivers take care of their cooling systems, they can keep working for the life of their car.Here at Lighthouse Automotive in Colorado Springs, we emphasize preventive maintenance services like replacing your coolant according to the factory schedule. But the various parts that make up the cooling system need attention too. The major components of the cooling system are the water pump, freeze plugs, the thermostat, radiator, cooling fans, the heater core, the pressure cap ... read more

We've all seen drivers do crazy things while driving to or from Colorado Springs. A guy shaving in the rear-view mirror, a woman applying makeup, people talking on their phones, texting or drinking from an enormous coffee mug. It's a wonder we even dare drive on Colorado roads.The truth is that all of us are distracted when we drive. Unfortunately, traffic, road construction and other external factors are beyond our control. The distractions inside our car, however, are things we can often control.Here's some things that'll give you more control in your car, and help keep your attention on the roads around Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs drivers who are 16 to 20 years old tend to be more distracted by the radio, CD or MP3 player. Colorado Springs drivers who are 20 to 29 are more distracted by passengers in the car, including small children. Those over age 65 tend to be more distracted by objects or events that are outside of the vehicle. Other factors like fatigue, stress and la ... read more

Underinflated tires waste gas for lots of folks in the Colorado Springs area. Think how hard it is to walk in sand – you just have to work harder because of the resistance. When your tires don't have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased and it simply takes more gas to get from here to there.Always check your tire pressure when you gas up at one of our local Colorado Springs service stations. If they're low – even just a little bit – bring them up to proper pressure. There's a sticker on the inside of your driver's door that gives the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure.And don't rely on your tire pressure monitoring system to alert you to when you need more air. The TPMS system is set to warn you when pressure drops 20 percent below recommendations. That's severely underinflated and you needed more air a long time ago. And if you have a slow leak – get it fixed right away at Lighthouse Aut ... read more