AUTONET TV
Archive for May 2022Automotive Tips from Joe D'Auria's Auto: A Broken or Damaged Timing BeltPosted May 29, 2022 10:15 AMThe timing belt rotates the cam shafts which open and close the valves that allow air, fuel, and exhaust to flow through the engine as it powers your car when you drive around CHERRY HILL. Joe D'Auria's Auto It's Brake Time (Brake Calipers)Posted May 22, 2022 11:16 AMRace car drivers have demonstrated the advantages of disc brakes, so most modern vehicles use them. Sometimes just the front wheels have disc brakes, but many vehicles now have them all the way around. A major component of the disc brake is called a caliper. It works by squeezing brake pads against the disc or rotor, kind of like a bicycle hand brake. The brake pads themselves are what contact the rotor, causing friction to build and the wheel to slow down, but it's the calipers that apply the pressure to the pads. Caliper design has evolved over the years, and there are two common types. One is called a floating caliper. It has one or two pistons on one side of the disc. When you push down the brake pedal, the piston or pistons in your caliper put pressure on that one side. A mechanism connected on the other side of the disc applies pressure as well, squeezing your disc so the vehicle stops. Floating calipers are less expensive since they have fewer parts. The other type is called a fixed caliper. They use pistons on both sides of the disc, sometimes several. They are often used in more high-performance or heavy-duty vehicles. Calipers can have rubber seals to keep out dirt, debris and moisture, but when that rubber wears out, sometimes the calipers can get contaminated. They can stick or start leaking; they can even rust. Then your caliper can get stuck applying that "squeeze" when you are not pressing on the brake pedal. Or they can get stuck in the other position, not applying stopping power when you press the pedal. When this happens, it's not unusual to feel your vehicle pull to one side when you brake. You might notice a burning smell from the constant friction if the caliper is stuck on, plus you may feel the heat from the wheel after you park and get out of your vehicle. Sometimes you'll hear a high-pitched sound or clunk if your calipers are binding up. That's your cue to have them checked out at your vehicle service center. If your calipers aren't working correctly, it can be a safety hazard. Sticking calipers can affect your ability to steer and stop; this is the kind of "brake time" you need so you can get them back on track and working properly. Joe D'Auria's Auto Automotive Tips from Joe D'Auria's Auto: Tire Replacement OverviewPosted May 15, 2022 7:48 AMTires are an expensive purchase, so knowing when tires should be replaced is important for CHERRY HILL drivers. Tires will just wear out with normal use. The depth of the tread on your tire determines how well it will stop, start and steer – especially in wet conditions. 4/32th of an inch (3.2 mm) of tire tread is considered a safe amount of tread. Poor Reflections (Door Mirror Problems)Posted May 8, 2022 7:58 AMMirror, mirror on the door, why is my vision there so poor? Well, you could have a broken outside rearview mirror that's disabled your blind spot vision there and endangering your ability to see some of the traffic around you. Outside rearview (or door) mirrors are important safety devices that are thoughtfully designed to help drivers see. And there are a variety of ways those door mirrors can develop problems. One is when the glass is broken in them. Sometimes it's caused by an accident or vandalism. But without your ability to see in that mirror, you could be driving blind, unable to see drivers approaching from the rear in adjacent lanes. Sometimes it's as simple as having the glass replaced. You'll greatly enhance your safety if you do. Then there's the door mirror that you can't adjust. First, let's look at a common scenario in later models, the power mirror. They're great when they're working, awful when they're not. Sometimes the motor fails, the switch goes bad or the wiring fails to deliver power. Or how about the manually-adjusted door mirror that has either frozen up or just flops around? In this case, the mechanism has corroded, jammed up or a part has broken. In both power- and manually-adjusted door mirrors, it sometimes can be hard to keep them in the right position. Plus, every time there's a driver change, it may be hard to adjust those broken mechanisms by hand. Finally, heated door mirrors can be extraordinarily useful in eliminating fogging or icing up in certain weather conditions. But those heating elements can fail, switches can break or wiring can go bad. Suddenly your fogged over, frozen mirrors aren't doing you any good at all. Good drivers use those outside rearview mirrors all the time. They should be working the way designers intended, to provide the driver with vital traffic position information. That's the kind of safety device you should get fixed or replaced sooner rather than later. It's well worth it if you prevent even one little accident. Joe D'Auria's Auto Can Your Car Last Another Year?Posted May 1, 2022 9:48 AMHave you checked out the price of new vehicles at CHERRY HILL car dealers? Ouch! Add financing and insurance and a new ride may not seem so attractive. A lot of CHERRY HILL, NJ, folks are hoping to make their cars last a lot longer. Joe D'Auria's Auto | ||
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Steve Bender, 01/11/2022Joe, Chris, Ryan and the rest of the crew have been taking care of our cars for 30 years. They're the most honest mechanics I've ever interacted with and have worked on our various cars including: Volvo, Ford, BMW, Acura, Benz, Hyundai, Honda... If there were a button for 11 stars, that's the one I'd hit!
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