281-589-8984 | 12510 Oxford Park Drive Houston, TX 77082
AUTONET TV
Archive for February 2022The Truth about Tire Pressure (Tire Inflation)Posted February 27, 2022 9:18 AMMost light vehicles (under 10,000 pounds/4,500 kg) in North America sold from 2008 model year on have a feature that many people are confused about. It's the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). You may have some experience with it yourself if you own a newer vehicle. Vehicles with TPMS have sensors in each tire that are supposed to warn the driver when tire pressure gets dangerously low. That's important because tires that are significantly under-inflated can cause very serious accidents. Unfortunately, many drivers think the TPMS does all the work keeping track of tire pressure. To them, as long as the warning light or gauge isn’t giving a warning, the tires must have the proper amount of air pressure in them. That's not the case. Tire pressure monitoring systems aren't all created equal. Some give you a digital readout of the pressures in each individual tire. But many simply have a warning light that looks like the cross section of a tire with an exclamation point in the middle. If you don't know what it is, it's because it's not instantly recognizable as a tire. In fact, one company that makes TPMS, Schrader Performance Sensors, surveyed drivers. Their study showed that more than 40 percent of drivers didn't know that that warning light was. One out of 5 of the drivers who did know what the light was only looked at their tires after the light came on to see if they could see any that needed air; they never checked them with a tire gauge or had someone else do it. Ten percent of them didn't do anything when the light came on. In most vehicles with TPMS, the warning comes on only when the tires are more than 25% underinflated. The American Automobile Association says that's under the pressure you need for safe vehicle operation. The bottom line is once a month you should make sure your tires are inflated to the manufacturer's recommendations. That means each tire should be measured with an accurate, external tire gauge. To be confident you are getting a correct reading, take your vehicle to a reputable service facility where their equipment is calibrated and they know what they're doing. Severely underinflated tires can contribute to an accident that kills or severely injures people. The idea behind TPMS is well intended, but the system was never meant to replace regular inflation measurements and maintenance. Periodically have your tires checked for proper inflation. Westside Automotive Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Wheel BearingsPosted February 20, 2022 11:21 AM
Wheel bearings are pretty simple parts. They're made of high quality steel and are engineered to last 100,000 miles (160,000) or more if properly cared for. The bearings do two jobs: First, they allow the wheel to freely rotate with as little friction as possible. Second, they support the weight of the vehicle. For example, if your car weighs 3,600 pounds (1600 kilogram), each wheel has to support approximately 900 pounds (400 kilograms). That's a lot of heavy lifting over those long distances. Westside Automotive Trip Inspection at Westside Automotive in HoustonPosted February 13, 2022 7:38 AMHouston area drivers love their vehicles. And one of the most enjoyable things about them is taking a road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it's great! But there's nothing like vehicle trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt. Prepared with answers to these questions, you can schedule a trip inspection at Westside Automotive in Houston to help you prepare your vehicle for your big adventure. A lot of our Houston customers prefer to go through this exercise with their friendly and knowledgeable service advisor to get their input and make sure they haven't overlooked anything. Shocks and struts play a major role in both driving comfort and safety. If they need to be replaced, you'll really be glad you did once you hit the road. Is it time for a wheel alignment? Fighting a car that's pulling to one side all day can be tiring and dangerous. And don't forget your brakes. Any strange noises, grabbing, soft or hard peddle feel? If there is any doubt, get a brake inspection at Westside Automotive in Houston before you leave. Moving under the hood, have a belts and hoses inspection. If something is excessively worn or near failure, the stress of a long road trip might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Talk to your service advisor at Westside Automotive. Do you notice any unusual odors in your vehicle? If so, it could be as harmless as a dirty cabin air filter. But if it's an exhaust leak, it could be fatal for Houston drivers and their passengers on a long trip. Of course you'll want to be comfortable, so get an air conditioning service if you aren't getting the cold air you’re used to. Are your wiper blades still working well? If not, that is a quick and inexpensive fix for Houston drivers. Headlamps are often overlooked when planning for a trip. If you haven't changed the bulb in six months or so, replacement bulbs will really light up the night on your trip and provide the necessary after-sundown visibility. All the items mentioned are part of any good vehicle maintenance plan. These are things that you want to take care of anyway, but they all become more important as you plan for your trip. Westside Automotive Breathe Deep in Houston With a New Cabin Air FilterPosted February 6, 2022 7:37 AMPoor interior air quality is nothing to sneeze at, and Houston auto owners might be interested to know that more and more new cars are coming equipped with a cabin air filter. Check your vehicle owner's manual, but they typically need to be replaced at around 12,000 to 15,000 miles (19,000 to 24,000 kilometers). Westside Automotive
| ||
SearchArchiveDecember 2019 (15)January 2020 (5) February 2020 (4) March 2020 (5) April 2020 (4) May 2020 (5) June 2020 (4) July 2020 (4) August 2020 (5) September 2020 (4) October 2020 (4) November 2020 (5) December 2020 (4) January 2021 (6) February 2021 (4) March 2021 (4) April 2021 (4) May 2021 (5) June 2021 (4) July 2021 (4) August 2021 (5) September 2021 (3) October 2021 (5) November 2021 (4) December 2021 (4) January 2022 (6) February 2022 (4) March 2022 (4) April 2022 (4) May 2022 (5) June 2022 (4) July 2022 (5) August 2022 (4) September 2022 (4) October 2022 (5) November 2022 (4) December 2022 (4) January 2023 (5) February 2023 (4) March 2023 (4) April 2023 (5) May 2023 (4) June 2023 (4) July 2023 (5) August 2023 (4) September 2023 (4) October 2023 (5) November 2023 (4) December 2023 (5) January 2024 (5) February 2024 (4) March 2024 (5) April 2024 (4) May 2024 (2) | CategoriesSteering (7)Tires and Wheels (25)Windshield Wipers (3)Drive Train (3)Automotive News (5)Brakes (14)Timing Belt (5)Maintenance (23)Auto Safety (3)Safety (2)Fluids (5)Alternator (3)Older Vehicles (3)Trip Inspection (2)Battery (8)Fuel System (21)Service Standards (5)Service Intervals (4)What Customers Should Know (32)Dashboard (2)Transmission (6)Shocks & Struts (4)Cooling System (7)Oil Change (4)Diagnostics (3)Fuel Economy (6)Diesel Maintenance (1)Tires (2)Air Conditioning (5)Parts (2)Exhaust (3)Differential Service (1)Alignment (4)Serpentine Belt (2)Cabin Air Filter (4)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (1)TPMS (2)Headlamps (2)Winter Tires (1)Safe Driving (1)Inspection (2)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (1)PCV Valve (1)Customer Detective Work (1)Check Engine Light (3)Winter Prep (1) |