Norfolk Auto Repair

Tire balancing is an important aspect of vehicle maintenance that helps ensure a smooth and comfortable ride, and also helps extend the life of your tires. If you've ever experienced a vibrating steering wheel or an uneven ride, it's likely that your tires are out of balance. Here's what you need to know about tire balancing and why it's important for your vehicle. What is Tire Balancing? Tire balancing refers to the process of adjusting the weight distribution of a tire and wheel assembly to ensure that it rotates evenly and smoothly. This is important because an unbalanced tire can cause a range of problems, including vibrations, uneven tire wear, and reduced fuel efficiency. Why is Tire Balancing Important? Improved Ride Quality: When your tires are properly balanced, your vehicle will ride more smoothly and comfortably. You'll also experience less vibration in the steering wheel, which can make driving more enjoyable. Extended Tire Life: An unbalanced tire ... read more

Transmission problems are a car issue that you should not take lightly. They can be extensive and costly if not taken care of. To prevent a hole in your wallet, you should perform transmission maintenance when necessary and get regular inspections.  Today, we will go over 8 symptoms that may indicate transmission trouble. If you experience one or more of the following warning signs, we invite you to visit the transmission auto repair specialists at Carmasters Automotive! Odd Smells - When your transmission overworks itself, it can emit an unpleasant burning scent.  Clunking, Humming, or Whining Noises - When you switch gears, it shouldn’t be described as a noisy experience. Otherwise, you should have your transmission checked out. Check Engine Light On - A warning light such as the check engine light may indicate a deeper problem within the transmission. A diagnostic scan can confirm whether or not it relates to the transmission.  Red Fluid Leak - Automatic t ... read more

Question: I need new tires. How do I know which tires to get? Carmasters Automotive Answer: Let's look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value. Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: VA weather conditions, Norfolk terrain, Norfolk temperatures, etc. Most new family vehicles in VA come with all-season tires. They can be used all year long and do pretty well in most VA road conditions – but they aren't ideal at the extremes. Winter tires have a more aggressive tread for handling snow and ice on roads, and they have a rubber compound that helps them have better traction as Norfolk temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit/7.2 degrees Centigrade. In winter weather, you'll definitely experience better stopping and road-holding characteristics for Norfolk vehicles than all-season tires. Dedicated summer tires enhan ... read more

Let's address a very important maintenance item for everyone in Norfolk VA – timing belt replacement. It's important because letting this one slide can lead to very expensive engine damage. Your timing belt choreographs the timing of your combustion process. Your pistons travel up and down in the cylinder. Intake valves open at the right time to let in air and fuel; they close at the right time to allow the fuel to burn and then the exhaust valves open at the right time to let out the exhaust. All this happens thousands of times a minute and it's your timing belt that makes sure the valves are opening and closing at precisely the right time. If the timing is off, your engine won't run. And that's the best case. The worst case is that a valve is opening at the wrong time and collides with the piston. The result is bent valves and maybe even more damage to the cy ... read more

Question I was driving down the freeway and smoke started coming out of my car.  I pulled over and called my husband.  I had to be towed to my mechanic.  He said my car had overheated.  What can I do to prevent that in the future? Answer Oh, sounds like a rough experience.  Unfortunately overheating is the most common engine failure.  It’s also one of the easiest to prevent. The basic idea is this: you need to keep enough coolant/antifreeze flowing through your engine to keep it cool.  Problems come when you develop leaks in the system – like in your radiator or a hose – and the coolant leaks out.  Sometimes the coolant gets so contaminated that it blocks up the radiator so the coolant can’t get through.  Enough of that and you end up broken down on the side of the road.  Your owner’s manual recommends a schedule for replacing your coolant.  That’s because y ... read more

If you are looking for a performance boost on your vehicle, without wanting to spend money on a new car, you’ve come to the right place. There are several ways you can better your car’s performance to get a bang for your buck. Here are 5 ways you can maximize vehicle performance: Tip #1: Invest in Performance Parts There are many ways you can enhance the quality of your ride. There are exhaust parts, suspension parts, brakes, and even ignition parts that you can use in place of the ones that came with your vehicle. If you are looking to swap your components for performance purposes, consult with our team for more information. Tip #2: Swap Out the Engine Filter All engines require clean air to breathe. Over time, the air filter can collect a ton of dust, dirt, pollen, and other harmful pollutants. As a result, it can block enough air from entering the engine. Instead, changing your air filters on time will improve efficiency and engine performance. Tip #3: Use the Righ ... read more

The axle assemblies in your vehicle transfer power out to the drive wheels.  On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, there is an axle shaft that goes from the differential in the center of the axle to each rear wheel.  On a front-wheel drive vehicle, the axle shafts go from the transmission to each front-wheel.  All-wheel drive vehicles have axle shafts connected to all four wheels.  Axles assemblies are tough parts: they transfer torque from the engine to the wheels to move the vehicle.  Tough as they are, they are still subject to normal wear and tear.  The axle shafts are in a sealed housing with lubricant that protects the axle shaft.  When there is a leak anywhere in the axle assembly, lubricant gets out and dirt, water, and other contaminates can get in.  This can greatly accelerate axle wear.  If an axle assembly fails, you’re not going anywhere. A worn or damaged axle assembly on the front will make a clunking sound during low speed t ... read more

A driver recently noticed that her garage had begun to smell like gasoline after she parked her vehicle inside. Her Check Engine light had also just come on. This was something she'd never experienced before. So, she called up her NAPA Service Advisor and asked what was causing it. The answer, of course, is that many things can cause a sitting vehicle to smell like gasoline fumes. But it can sometimes be tricky to track down the source, so here are a few things you can look for that may help your NAPA AutoCare Center technician pinpoint the origin of the odor. Gasoline odors can be caused by a leak somewhere in the fuel system, meaning gasoline can be dripping out. Some possibilities? It could be a break in a fuel line. You could have a leaky fuel-injection line or injector. There's a vent for your fuel tank that may also leak. The fuel filler neck can wear out and fail. One thing you should look for is to see if there are any puddles of gasoline on the floor of your garage ... read more

A driver who uses his or her ears has a leg up on those who don't.  In addition to noises helping you be aware of traffic, they can give you clues to potential problems in your vehicle.  One noise to pay attention to is growling. Growling is a universally recognizable noise; you know it when you hear it.  In a vehicle, it's usually the sound of metal contacting metal, and not in a good way.  So, what is your vehicle telling you if you hear growling when you are turning your steering wheel? There are a few possibilities.  One is the mechanical linkage that helps your steering wheel turn your wheels and tires.  That system frequently has a hydraulic system that makes turning the steering wheel easier for you.  That can be a source of growling sounds as well.  A NAPA AutoCare technician can check your power steering fluid to see if it's at the correct level and still in good shape.  There are a few things that can go wrong with y ... read more

You may not be familiar with all the items on your service center’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.  Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Service Adviser about other possible needs or services. Fuel system cleaning:  Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up.  A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors.  Saves gas, by the way. Headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade.  When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness.  Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new condition. Inspections: People get inspections for many reasons.  Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter.  Maybe they just bought a used car and want to g ... read more