Posted on 8/13/2021
Power Steering Maintenance Aug 13th, 2021 Power steering service includes a thorough cleaning of the system and inspection of all the parts. The steering system and the suspension system work in tandem. An alignment service at Carmasters Automotive in Norfolk also includes an inspection of steering components. In addition to protecting parts, properly maintaining your power steering system is necessary for keeping everyone safe — you, your passengers and other Norfolk drivers on the road. Carmasters Automotive931 E Little Creek Rd.Norfolk, VA 23518757.456.0722 At Carmasters Automotive we install quality NAPA replacement parts.  
Posted on 8/2/2021
Norfolk Drivers Ask: Why is My Check Engine Light On? Aug 2nd, 2021 The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us. First, if your check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. Get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to the service center. If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your service advisor to get it checked out. Some more information on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative. Most of your engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer. The c ... read more
Posted on 7/26/2021
ABS - Anti-Lock Brakes Jul 25th, 2021 There’s a common misconception that Anti-Lock Brakes help you stop faster. That is not always the case on loose gravel or snowy surfaces. Anti-Lock Brakes, in fact, are designed to help you maintain control of your vehicle in an emergency braking situation. Imagine you are driving on a snowy road. You need to slam on your brakes and your rear wheels lock up. Chances are good that the rear end of your vehicle will try to pass the front end and you can easily lose control. What would happen in the same circumstance if your front wheels locked up? Well you certainly would not be able to steer properly, and your front end would go to wherever gravity leads it. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) modulates your brakes on and off as many as 15 times a second. This keeps your wheels from locking up while providing the greatest amount of braking possible. You are better able to steer your vehicle ... read more
Posted on 7/26/2021
Your Nose Knows Gasoline Jul 24th, 2021 Each time we fuel up our vehicles, we get a little whiff of gasoline, so the smell is very familiar. There shouldn’t be any gasoline smell in or around your vehicle when you are away from the gas station. When you do smell gasoline away from the gas pump, the cause ranges from something simple to something that can be very dangerous. Let's start with the simple causes. It could be a loose or faulty gas cap, or you might be missing one entirely. You may also have a leak in the fuel tank vent hose. These are relatively straightforward things to repair. By the way, because your vehicle has fans that draw in outside air, you may be able to smell these outside fuel leaks inside the cabin. Here are some other possible sources of a gasoline smell. You may have a leak in your fuel tank, and these are more common than you might think. Fuel tanks can rot or get punctured by road debris. The tank can be fixed or re ... read more
Posted on 7/14/2021
Summertime is a time of the year where many families and friends like to go out and about. We often overlook how much the hot weather can take a toll on our vehicles with all our fun plans in mind. However, the last thing you'd want to happen is for your car to break down amid your fun adventures. It would be best to give your vehicle the proper attention during the summer, or it won't keep taking you where you want to go. We've made a list of the top four priorities of every vehicle that you should routinely monitor this summer! 1) Air-Conditioning System We depend on air conditioning in the summer as much as we rely on water. If your AC is older, then leaking freon is a common problem. As a result of the leak, you will be surprised by warm air blowing out of your vents. Carmasters Automotive has the equipment needed to properly recharge your air conditioning system if you are concerned about your air conditioning. 2) Air Filter While you ar ... read more
Posted on 7/12/2021
Jul 12th, 2021 If you’re old enough, you’ve heard the term “fan belt”. Back in the day the radiator fan in your vehicle was turned by a belt driven by the engine. There are still belt driven fans – although most are now driven by the serpentine belt. But most vehicles now have electric fans that draw fresh air across the radiator to cool it. As coolant/antifreeze circulates in the cooling system it captures heat from the engine and flows into the radiator. Air cools the radiator and the coolant in it before it flows back into the engine to pick up some more heat. Now your engine has an ideal temperature range in which it is most efficient: it shouldn’t be too hot or too cool. The electric radiator fans help maintain the ideal temperature. A switch mounted in a cooling system passage checks the temperature of the coolant. If the coolant is at the low end of the range, the switch turns off the fan motor. When the coolant rises to a certain temperatu ... read more
Posted on 7/6/2021
Carmasters Automotive Serpentine Belt Service Jul 5th, 2021 Your serpentine belt drives your alternator and air conditioning compressor. The power steering and power brake pumps are driven by the serpentine belt in many vehicles. In some vehicles, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt (in others it’s driven by the timing belt). The radiator cooling fan on some vehicles are also driven by the serpentine belt. Some have separate electric motors. Serpentine belts do a lot of work, but they’re tough and can last for thousands of miles, but just how long will they last? That’ll vary for each individual car. Your manufacturer will have a recommendation for when it should be changed, but it could need it sooner. The good news is that a visual inspection can reveal a belt that’s worn. It’s often recommended that the tensioner pulley that keeps the belt at the proper tension be replaced along with the serpentine belt ... read more
Posted on 6/27/2021
Tire Tread Depth Jun 27th, 2021 When talking about stopping power, we tend to focus on our brakes. But our tires are where the rubber meets the road. So having good brakes isn't enough: we have to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power. Let's focus on stopping in wet conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water. To move water out of the way, the tire has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you'll see channels that run around and across the tire. They're designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better. The deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down eno ... read more
Posted on 6/25/2021
The Fourth of July is a special and fun-filled day for every fellow American. Whether you plan to watch fireworks, have a grill out, go to Virginia Beach or all of the above, you will likely run into traffic during this time of the year. With lifted group restrictions, people are ready to come together again. We are looking forward to the 4th ourselves; however, it is crucial to prioritize your safety during the holiday. Below are some tips that we suggest you follow to ensure you are safe for the 4th of July: Plan ahead for your trip. As mentioned before, there will be more drivers on the road, and parking may be difficult to find in most places. There are plenty of helpful apps that will help you with planning, navigating, and streamlining your drive. We recommend Waze for real-time navigation and traffic conditions and SpotHero to find your parking beforehand. Be alert when driving. Independence Day is known to be one of the most dangerous days ... read more
Posted on 6/15/2021
Jun 15th, 2021 In cold weather, you may notice your windows fogging up. Then you can't see where you're going, and suddenly you and those around you are in danger. So, what causes your windows to fog up in cold weather, and how can you stop it? Fog is simply moisture condensing on a cold surface. When the air inside your vehicle is moist and warmer than the outside air, it hits the glass that's cooled by the outside temperature, and you get fog. If your windows fog up, you probably already know to try the defroster for your windshield. You may also have an electric defroster for your rear window and outside rearview mirrors. Electric elements in the window and mirror glass heat up, so the moisture doesn't condense on the glass. If the defroster isn't working on all the windows, turn up the temperature setting on your heater. Hot air holds more moisture. Switch on the air conditioning. As the air moves over the cooling coils, the moisture is removed. Turn your ve ... read more