Clifton Park Auto Repair

If you own a vehicle long enough, eventually, it will leak one or more fluids. Usually, this will hardly be noticeable at first. Some leaks are serious, but fortunately, figuring out what the leak is can usually be done by color and smell. Here are a few common leaks and how to tell when you need to get your vehicle in for service. Coolant Coolant is usually green and is also known as anti-freeze. It is deadly to pets, so you cannot ignore a coolant leak. If you have a coolant leak, get it checked out immediately and follow the directions on coolant product labels to learn how to safely clean it up. Remember that coolant is vital for the smooth operation of your engine, so ignoring a coolant leak is asking for engine malfunction or failure. Oil Oil is black, usually, or if it is cleaner, it can be a very dark amber color. Oil is the most important liquid in your engine as it keeps your moving parts lubricated. Without it, the engine can abruptly cease to operate. Most oil leaks ... read more

Few things are as inconvenient and embarrassing as a car that doesn't start when you need it. Let's look at the most common culprits and how to identify the problem. The Battery The battery is essential to start your car as it powers the starter. A weak battery will likely cause a sluggish start, which indicates that the battery may die entirely and be unable to start the car at all soon. Should you suspect that the battery is responsible, check its connections for signs of corrosion and check that the battery isn't warped or bulging. Some cars may have a battery warning indicator that may illuminate when the battery power is low. If the battery is the culprit, overcome the situation by jump-starting the car and replace the battery. The Alternator The alternator is responsible for charging the battery and powering the onboard electronics while the car is running. If the alternator fails, you may notice dim dashboard indicators, dim headlights, or an illuminated batter ... read more

A catalytic converter is an essential part of your car's exhaust system. It converts harmful gases such as nitrogen oxide and unburned gases produced by the engine into harmless gases. It, therefore, offers defense against toxic gases from vehicles. When they become clogged, overheated, contaminated, or physically damaged, the car engine performance deteriorates and eventually shuts down. Being conversant with the bad catalytic converter's signs might help you quickly spot them and take the car to a servicing garage. Here are some critical bad catalytic converter symptoms. Increased Fuel Consumption When there's a blockage in your car's catalytic converter, the lower airflow forces your car to burn excessive amounts of fuel than needed. When the exhaust flow isn't working correctly, you'll have to step on the gas pedal many times since it affects acceleration. As a result, the engine might inject extra fuel into the cylinders, and you'll have more fuel mi ... read more

While you may not feel like you know all that much about cars, there are warning signs of certain things that you definitely want to be aware of so you are able to diagnose small issues and get them taken care of before they become a bigger deal. Spark plugs, while they are a small part of any vehicle, can cause a lot of issues when they fail. But how do you know they are failing? Here are a few things to watch out for. Slow Acceleration If you notice that your vehicle doesn't have nearly the get up and go that it had in the past, the most common cause for that is poor spark plug condition. Replacing the spark plugs is very simple and mechanics can do it with ease. Of course, that may not be the issue, but it is something you will want to have checked out. Poor Fuel Efficiency There are lots of things that can cause your vehicle to get less miles per gallon than it was getting before and spark plug issues are one such thing. If the plugs aren ... read more

Top 7 Signs Your Vehicle Needs Brake Service Let's get one thing straight – keeping your brakes in proper condition is a matter of life and death. Literally. Unfortunately, brakes are generally very prone to wear and must be regularly checked and replaced if necessary. Fortunately, the signs of them being broken or worn out are usually quite clear. It's good to keep an eye on them. Weird noises Screeching, grinding, squeaking, whatever it is – if it's outside of the norm, have it checked. These sounds usually indicate that brake pads need to be replaced. When neglected, they may cause further damage to the system, resulting in pricey repair at best, seriously dangerous situation at worst. Vibrations They may occur in the steering wheel, brake pedal, or even the whole vehicle and usually mean warped brake rotors. Don't ignore them, even if they seem neglectable at first. Uneven braking If your car is not stopping as fast as it should, or its brake peda ... read more