Olympia Auto Repair

Every car is fitted with a cooling system that prevents it from overheating and damaging your engine. It usually restores and maintains the right and optimum operating temperature in your engine block. The cooling system comprises the radiator, fan, thermostat, fan, water pump, freeze plug, and other vital components. When to get your Cooling System Repaired Your vehicle progressively heats when you start the engine, and the cooling system is critical in ensuring it remains healthy without any exposure to damaging heat. However, the cooling system components may malfunction and cause problems. Ensure it's repaired if you notice the following signs of cooling system trouble. Smoking This is usually the most significant sign of a car overheating. When you notice smoke coming out under the hood, you should pull over immediately to a safe place and check. It's a common sign of overheating, indicating cooling system trouble. Low Coolant Level When you notice a drop in your co ... read more

The mass air flow sensor (MAF) is a component that calculates and decides how much air should go into the engine for the combustion process. Your vehicle should keep the right balance of air and fuel in the engine’s combustion chamber. Over time, the MAF tends to get dirty, which can cause miscalculations in airflow. As a result, the engine will run too rich or too lean, causing issues. Read on to learn more about the top signs of a bad mass air flow sensor: Illuminated Check Engine Light When your motor runs an unbalanced air-to-fuel ratio, your check engine light will come on. It will read a MAF error code during diagnostics. Dark or Black Exhaust Smoke When your engine doesn’t allow enough air and too much fuel into the combustion chamber, it can cause excess black smoke to blow out the tailpipe. In some cases, it can linger in the catalytic converter and cause a clog. Poor Fuel Economy Along with dark exhaust smoke, you will also notice a drop in your fuel mileage ... read more

A car signals or lets you know when something is wrong. Common indicators of trouble include illuminated dashboard lights, strange sounds, and smells. Also, the manufacturer's manual may state the approximate timeline of most parts, like the battery. While there's no specific lifespan, a car battery needs replacement at least every three years, depending on some factors. But first, here are signals to replace your battery. Signs that it's Time to Replace Your Car Battery It's frustrating when your car fails to start, and after checking, everything seems fine. Look out for these signals of a dying battery. Dim Headlights When you notice your headlights are no longer as bright as they used to be, your battery is not generating enough power. If it persists after recharging, replace it. Low Engine Starts If your engine requires a lot of cranking before starting, it indicates that the battery is not keeping enough charge like before and it's dying. Misshapen Batt ... read more

When driving, any foreign feeling or sound is an indication of something wrong. If you suspect your suspension needs to be fixed, here are some symptoms to look out for; Drifting or pulling along bends When turning, a vehicle with a malfunctioning suspension system would frequently drift or pull. The risk of a rollover increases since the shocks are no longer stabilizing the vehicle body against the gravitational force of a turn. Having trouble steering When steering becomes challenging, especially when traveling at low speeds, it may indicate that your suspension or steer systems aren't working properly. Power steering fluid could be low, the power steering pump might be broken, the power steering rack might be leaking, or the control arm bushings can be worn out. You can feel every hole and bump You probably have a suspension system issue if you can feel every bump and divot in the road. if you drive over potholes and feel like you've sped over a significant speed bump ... read more

The steering wheel is one of the many parts that make up your vehicle’s steering system. It is necessary to give you optimal control of your vehicle. When you need to change directions in your car, you need to be able to move your steering wheel swiftly. If you notice your steering wheel stiffening or locking up, please get repairs immediately.    Below are some of the reasons why your steering wheel is stuck: Worn Steering Rack The steering rack is made up of the pinion and rack. And this part is ultimately connected to the steering wheel. If the rack is worn down, it can affect your steering capabilities. Low Power Steering Fluid Poor lubrication could be the culprit of your hard-to-turn steering wheel. If you have a leak in your hydraulic power steering system, it can certainly cause a stiff steering wheel. Leaks can occur for a number of reasons including cracked or damaged hoses.  Faulty Serpentine Belt The serpentine belt is a long belt that runs thro ... read more

Engine problems can appear in several ways, like noises, vibrations, or colored smoke from the exhaust pipe. Color emission indicates something is wrong with the engine, especially a liquid leaking inside the engine. You can tell what's wrong by looking at the color of the smoke. These are the three most common types of smoke that comes out of your car's exhaust when something is wrong with the engine. Exhaust Smoke Is Black Black smoke coming from your engine means that the amount of fuel in the air is too high. Either the fuel injectors put in too much fuel, or the intake valves don't let in enough air. There could be a dirty air filter, a fuel injector leaking, or a fuel pressure regulator that isn't working right. A rich engine can lead to serious problems. And your car is using too much gas to keep the engine running. You could also have a bad sensor or fuel pressure switch that is causing the fuel system to have too much pressure. If so, you might notice that t ... read more

Your car holds and depends on different fluids to function, and most parts rely on specific liquids for optimal performance and efficiency. This is why it's frustrating when you notice a liquid patch on the ground where you parked your car. Many questions run through your mind, which may drain your energy and peace. While these fluids should not leak, you may encounter this problem at some point. The leaks could be a minor issue or a sign of a bigger problem. Since car fluid colors vary, understanding the meaning of these leaks may help you avoid the guesswork. Types of Car Fluid Leaks and How to Identify them Oil Leak An oil leak is a common problem for many car owners and one of the easiest to spot. When you notice a black stain, puddle, or patch under your car, it is usually an indicator of an oil spill. The problem is a sign of a faulty gasket that an expert must check. Gear Oil Leak This problem is common in manual transmission vehicles. The oil leaks slowly. It's also ... read more

  Getting your vehicle ready for summer fun doesn't have to be a headache. Ready for an oil change and wondering what is the difference between a conventional, semi-synthetic, and synthetic oil change? Keep reading to learn how often you should get an oil change and learn the difference between oil change options below. How Often Should You Get An Oil Change? According to the automotive experts at Car and Driver, the time between oil changes for your vehicle can vary depending on a few factors. Most vehicles require an engine oil change around every 3000-5000 miles. In most cases, vehicle manufacturers recommended specific mileage intervals according to factory maintenance schedules. Factors that can affect how often you need to change your engine oil include the following. Vehicle Age Engine Oil Type Date of Last Engine Oil Service Best Oil Change for Your Vehicle Operating your veh ... read more

Wouldn't you love to breathe fresh, clean air while driving? If so, consider changing your cabin air filter. Going too long without changing it means potentially breathing in contaminated air. Make sure you change your cabin air filter as necessary to get the air you deserve! What Is a Cabin Air Filter and What Does it Do? A cabin air filter is an air filter, usually made out of multi-fiber cotton or other engineered materials, in your vehicle that filters out various air contaminates which include but are not limited to: dust, pollen, exhaust gases, dirt, smoke, and other air pollutants. By doing so, it provides clean air to your vehicle's ventilation system. The cabin air filter also prevents your vehicle's ventilation system from being clogged up by debris such as leaves, for example. When Should You Change Your Cabin Air Filter? Typically, you would want to change your cabin air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles through various factors such as the air quality and ... read more

There are risks to driving during the day, but the risks are higher at night because you can't see as well and you may be tired from the day's activities. Here are some tips to stay safe while driving at night. Seeing the Road This is the most important part of driving because of the guidelines for the different lanes, turns, street signs, etc. being laid out on the road. To ensure your view isn't obstructed at night, it's a good idea to make sure you keep your windshield and your headlines clean. If you have cracks in them, you may want to get them replaced. You should also be using your high beams in rural areas or on open roads, but make sure you are being courteous to other drivers. Precautionary Steps If you know ahead of time that you're going to be driving at night, you may want to make sure you take a nap or get a couple of extra hours of sleep the night before to make sure you're not too fatigued to stay awake. Keeping a snack in the car can be a go ... read more