Engine Repair What’s the Problem?

Finding out the source of engine problems covers a lot of territory. Most of your car is engine—made up of many systems that all work together to make your car run the way it should. If you have taken care of regular engine service, it will likely give you good service for many miles. However, if you start to notice strange sounds or smells, be sure to listen to what your engine is telling you. The best way to find the source of a problem is to observe the symptoms, then trace those symptoms to the most likely engine repair.

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Key to Troubleshooting -- Observation

You know your car better than anyone else. This means that if it's making a sound or a smell that's not normal you will most likely notice something's awry. Many times a strange smell or sound is no big deal, but when you know that something is wrong these clues can be the key to proper troubleshooting. If you catch problems early enough you can avoid a lot of time and money on engine repair!

The following areas will come up during troubleshooting analysis. Look for these symptoms:

• Misfiring or Surging -- The engine surges or misfires while moving. The engine seems to start fine and will normally accelerate fine. As you are driving and maintaining a steady speed, the engine seems to "speed up" slightly or it seems to miss and buck.
• Hesitating -- When you step on the gas, the engine seems to bog down or takes a second to respond, along with a popping sound. You may notice a general lack of power, especially when the engine is hot or cold or when you are low on fuel.
• Excessive Oil Consumption -- If everything is fine with your car's engine, there will be no need to add oil. However, as your engine starts to wear, oil makes its escape. A little oil added now and then is nothing to worry about, but if you're adding a quart or more between oil changes, look for professional engine repair. The piston rings are probably worn out and simply need to be replaced. Or it could be leaking oil due to a bad gasket or cracked part. This can be an expensive engine repair.

Tip to Remember: Regular engine service prevents major engine repair. Like the old adage says, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"

Looking for quality engine repair? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Price's Precision auto shop today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information about engine service. Our Tech-Net professional auto repair shop in Billings, MT, also serves vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd andLaurel, MT.

Vehicle Maintenance Look In Your Trunk!

With the prices of automotive parts and labor going up in today's economy, many vehicle owners would like to know of some ways to save money on car maintenance. Most auto shops understand this and want to help their customers to be safe as possible—both in their driving and in car maintenance, while at the same time helping them save a few dollars in their budget.

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Here are a few simple car maintenance tools to keep in your trunk that could come in handy on a road trip:

• Tire-Pressure Gauge — Flat tires are hazards for safety, so take a little extra time to check air pressure at least once a week and be sure they are at the right psi (pounds per square inch).
• Shop Towels – Keep a supply handy in your trunk and also in your garage. They are useful for all kinds of spills and wipes, including spilled sodas, kid's hands, cleaning the oil dipstick, washing off the headlights or windows, or wiping grime off the windshield wipers.
• Funnel -- This comes in handy when you need to top-off the oil, add water or coolant to the radiator, or add washer fluid to the water reservoir. Checking and topping-off fluids as necessary will save you expensive vehicle maintenance costs in the future.
• Jack and lug wrench -- These are necessary if you get stranded out somewhere with a flat tire. Even if you're unable to change the tire yourself, you will have the tools for someone to help you out.

These four items will be useful in all sorts of situations. One final tip, make sure you have professional vehicle maintenance taken care of at the proper intervals so you can drive safely down the road.

For advice on professional vehicle maintenance, contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Price's Precision Automotive today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information about car maintenance and repairs. Our Tech-Net professional auto shop in Billings, MT, also serves vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT

Tire Balance and Tire Rotation Working Together.

Unbalanced tires can lead to uneven wear, excessive vibration while driving, and potentially unsafe driving conditions. A tire balance or tire rotation service will help to ensure that your tires are spinning around as evenly as possible, important for optimal driving performance. The daily wear and tear on your tires causes changes in the distribution of weight around the tire and wheel assembly.

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• All About Tire Balance

A tire balance service consists of removing the tire and wheel to mount it on a balancing machine, spinning it around to make sure the weight of the wheel and tire are balanced evenly around the axle. The machine will detect any imbalance and a lead weight will be placed on the opposite side of the tire to compensate for weight differences. The tires and wheel are then remounted.

A tire balance service will:

• Minimize any potential vibration felt in the steering wheel, seat, or floorboard
• Enhance the stability of the drive-train components for smoother riding
• Reduce tire wear and aid in proper tread-wear

How often should I have a tire balance service?

Based on wear or mileage, a good rule of thumb is to have a tire balance service every 3,000 - 6,000 miles, unless you are experiencing vibration at highway speed in the steering wheel, seat, floorboard, and if you are noticing scalloped/cupped wear patterns on your tires.

• All About Tire Rotation

The tires mounted on the drive wheels of any vehicle perform extra duty because they apply the power to the pavement. Rotating your tires means moving them from one side of the vehicle to the other, moving them from front to back, or a combination of both. A tire rotation service consists of removing the tires, inspecting the tread wear patterns, and then putting them back on where they will wear most evenly. If necessary, the tire-pressure monitors will be reset.

A tire rotation service will:

• Prevent uneven tire wear
• Maintain optimum driving performance
• Maintain fuel efficiency.

How often should I have a tire rotation service?

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that a tire rotation be performed about every 7,500 miles or six months, unless you drive fewer than about 7,500 miles per year. Your tires will last longer and drive strong with regular rotation, and could save you hundreds of dollars in new tires.

Does your vehicle needs a tire rotation service or just a tire balance? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Price's Precision auto repair shop today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information. Our Tech-Net professional auto repair shop in Billings, MT, also serves vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.

4 Maintenance Tips for Your Car Battery.

Winter has past, and everyone is looking forward to warmer weather. Don't forget to take a look at your car battery. It's been through some tough times—freezing temperatures and icy conditions. To keep your vehicle running strong for smooth summer driving, consider the simple tips below for good car battery maintenance.

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Avoid the inconvenience of a dead car battery on a busy school or work morning, or on a long-awaited road trip. If your car battery is more than five years old, all you may need is a simple car battery replacement to keep you going smoothly down the road.

4 Car Battery Maintenance Tips:

1. Keep it clean. A dirty connection weakens the charge, so remove the clamps to clean away grease, dirt and oxidation. Keep the battery tray clean as well.
2. Charge with solar. A solar charger can refill your battery's charge with solar energy for very little cost, and you will save money by preventing an urgent car battery replacement.
3. Add water. To stretch the life of your car battery, you may need to add a little water occasionally. Be sure to use distilled water.
4. Fasten it down. Make sure the battery sits correctly on the tray and is securely fastened. Battery acid spilling all over your motor is not a good thing!

A word to the wise: Don't get stranded by the side of the road! Keep your vehicle going strong with the appropriate automotive services and repair, including a necessary car battery replacement.

Need a car battery replacement, or just a charge? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Price's Precision auto shop today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information. Our Tech-Net professional auto shop in Billings, MT, also serves vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.