West Babylon Auto Repair

There is a lot of anxiety that comes with driving during the winter. The best thing you can do is be prepared. There are several items to take into play when preparing yourself for the snow season. The main ones to focus on consist of; reducing your speed, making sure you have good or better tire quality, keeping your headlights clear and in working condition, and making sure you plan ahead of time.   1. Reduce Speed During rain or snow, the roads you are planning to drive on will get slicker. You must lower your speed in these conditions to help maintain a better grip on the road. The last thing you want to do is drive too fast, even though feeling confident, but not be able to stop on a dime if needed.   2. Tire Quality Your tires are extremely important as they are the only thing holding your car to the road. An experienced mechanic can help you get your tire specifications correct. Otherwise, make sure you know your tire size and th ... read more

Your car should start with the turn of a key (or a push of a button). Once you initiate one or the other, an electrical current will reach the motor to start. If your vehicle's engine turns but does not start or takes longer than average to start, you are probably dealing with one of the five issues below. The following are five common reasons to explain why your car won't start: Dead Battery This is the number one blame for why your vehicle won't start. If there is no charge in the battery, there will be no electrical power to supply throughout your car. Dead batteries can be due to accidentally leaving a door open or extreme temperatures, and most of the time, you can revive your vehicle with jumper cables. But you should know that batteries do need replacing after years of use. Faulty Starter The starter motor is the component that receives the electrical energy to kickstart the process. If the starter has declined, you'll generally just hear a sequence of clicks ... read more

Your cabin filter is made of a cottony material that is fastened to the HVAC system. Its job is to collect contaminants and prevent them from escaping into the cabin. The cabin air filter ensures you don't end up breathing in any of these harmful pollutants that can trigger allergies or make you sick. A dirty cabin filter won't just impact the air conditioning system, but it can also affect your vehicle's overall performance. To prevent this impact, you should change this filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Here are the top 3 signs that your cabin air filter is getting clogged: Decrease Air Flow A clogged cabin filter will restrict the airflow through your vents into the cabin. If you find yourself needing to turn the A/C or heat up to the highest setting to feel any air, please consider checking your cabin filter.  Air Pollutants  Airborne bacteria and germs can enter your car cabin, especially when the filter is dirty. The more you breathe in the dust and p ... read more

When your check engine light comes on your dash, you're almost guaranteed to be faced with troubles. The CE light is a way for your car to communicate that there is a serious issue at hand. Depending on the behavior of the light itself, some reasons behind check engine lights are more urgent than others. When this light comes on, you should contact an auto repair shop immediately to diagnose the problem using proper computer diagnostic equipment to pinpoint the issue. Here are some of the most common reasons why your check engine light may be on. Faulty Catalytic Converter. The catalytic converter is a piece in your vehicle's exhaust system that reduces harmful emissions by changing carbon monoxide and other hazardous gases into less harmful emissions. The cat rarely fails on its own, so it is best to have a professional check out your exhaust system. Loose Gas Cap. The gas cap is the best-case scenario when it comes to any check engine light. When your cap is loose, gas will ... read more

Most vehicle owners will agree: your tires are a pretty crucial safety feature of your car. Having sufficient tire tread is what keeps you and your passengers safe on the road. Your vehicle needs good tread to be able to handle wet weather conditions like rain and snow. It will also ensure minimal wear and tear.   So, how do you know when you need to get a fresh set of wheels for your car? A tread depth gauge is an ideal tool to use, but it is not always readily available. You'll be glad that you can simply test your tread with some loose change; a penny or quarter will do the job. Let's look at how:   The Penny Test The Penny test has always been a dependable way to check your tire tread in a hurry. Grab a penny and point President Lincoln's head down towards the ridge of the tire. Insert the penny and inspect where Lincoln's head is. If you do not see Lincoln's head, then your tires are still in good condition. If all of Lincoln's head is visibl ... read more