Norfolk Auto Repair

Question:When should I replace my windshield wipers? Carmasters Automotive Answer: Well, most Norfolk drivers wait until they fail. The problem with that is that you find out they have failed when you actually need them most – a little too late. Wiper blades are really a safety system for Norfolk drivers. As you can imagine, 90% of our driving decisions are based on what we see. If you can't see well because your wipers can't clear your windshield, your ability to drive safely is significantly impaired. So the simple answer: of course, Norfolk drivers should change wipers if they don't work well. But replace them before they go bad so they are always ready when that storm hits. For some Norfolk drivers, once a year may be enough. For others – those who drive a lot, whose wipers are exposed to a lot of sun or use their wipers more – r ... read more

You probably have a cabinet in your kitchen filled with pots and pans. Your vehicle has one very important pan in it as well. It's the pan that holds oil for your engine called, naturally, an oil pan. The oil pan is a very important, though simple, component of your engine's lubrication system.  The oil pan is attached to the bottom of the engine and holds the oil that will be circulated through parts of your engine to keep them lubricated, reducing friction, so everything works smoothly and prevents damage.  It's important that the oil doesn't leak out, so there is a gasket between the oil pan and the engine block.  The oil in your engine can get very hot while it’s running.  The heat causes your oil pan and engine block to expand at different rates – cushioned by the gasket. Your oil pan can also get hit and damaged by debris kicked up from the road.  Wear and tear, heat and time all take their toll, and it's possible for the ... read more

Some drivers don't worry at all about their vehicles and neglect taking them in for service.  Here are six warning signs that it's time to head over to your NAPA AutoCare Center and get things checked out. Warning light is on. Vehicles have warning lights for everything from engine troubles to brakes to battery issues. They usually look like the system they're warning you about (a tire for under or over inflation, an engine for engine problems, etc.). It's telling you something.  Have it checked out, especially a flashing Check Engine light. Shaking or vibrations. Your vehicle should go smoothly down the road, but if you feel shakes where there once were none, something's wrong. You might feel them in the steering wheel or through your seat. It could be a suspension, tire, or electrical problem (among other possibilities), so have it checked out, so you know what's going on. Burning smell or smoke ... read more

After many years and tens of thousands of miles, your suspension system components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive. As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth highways, your shock absorbers will last a lot longer than if you do most of your driving on bumpy roads or hauling heavy loads.  In addition to just wearing out, suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road. Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your vehicle manufacturer recommends periodic inspections.  During an inspection, your service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts. Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out:  The tires may have a cupped wear pattern.  This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly.  You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering.  If the front of your vehicle dives excessively when stopping ... read more

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Carmasters Automotive'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 Carmasters Automotive service advisor about other possible needs or services. Carmasters Automotive Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Carmasters Automotive gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Norfolk and on Norfolk freeways, by the way. Carmasters Automotive 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. As your friendly and knowledgeable Carmasters Automotive advisor for information. Ca ... read more

Road trips are fun in theory, but being stuck in a car for hours can get boring. If you’re traveling with children, you know that their attention span is even smaller than yours. To pass time and have a little fun with the family on the road this summer, we recommend playing some fun road trip games! Below are some games to play to get rid of everybody’s boredom: I Spy This is a childhood classic for many of us at Carmaster Automotive. To play this game, designate someone in the car to be "it,". This person will have to choose a specific thing that is visible to everyone else in the car. Then the rest of the car will have to guess what the chosen object is. Finish the Lyric Finish the lyric is a fun game for music lovers all around. The game’s name is pretty much self-explanatory. One person, who is not participating in the game itself, controls the music by playing snippets of songs. And the first passenger to shout out the rest of the lyrics of the son ... read more

Some new vehicle manufacturers are now recommending much higher oil change intervals than they have in the past. As much as 5,000 to 8,000 miles or more.  Following these recommendations is very important to avoid engine damage.  When you go too long between oil changes, oil starts to turn to sludge.  This causes small oil passages to clog and engine parts to fail. What causes oil sludge? It’s a factor of time and mileage.  There are hot spots in every engine that cause oil burn off that leads to sludge.  Also, water from normal condensation can build up in the oil.  This water also creates sludge.  Severe driving conditions lead to more rapid sludge formation. Severe driving includes short trips under four miles or trips under ten miles in freezing conditions.  The engine just doesn’t get warm enough for the water in the oil to evaporate. Severe conditions are at the heart of the problem.  Stop and go driving, towing, dusty c ... read more

You don't have to be an auto expert to know what a fuel pump does: it pumps fuel.  The fuel pump happens to be one of those vital parts of your vehicle that can leave you stranded when it isn't working the way it should.  Here are a few things to be aware of that might indicate your fuel pump is about to give up the ghost. One thing to watch for is something called "heat and stall." If you see your vehicle's temperature gauge go up and then your vehicle stalls, your fuel pump could be weakening. If you stall, but your fuel gauge shows you have plenty of fuel, that's another sign.  Also, if you are giving your vehicle a stress test (hauling a big load, going uphill, going at highway speeds) and your engine sputters, the fuel pump may be failing to deliver the fuel pressure your engine needs. Here are a couple more possible symptoms: your engine suddenly jerks or your fuel economy plummets. Finally, if you have trouble starting your vehicle, yo ... read more

If you feel your vehicle vibrating when you’re braking, or if you don't stop in as short a distance as you used to, it may be time to have your brakes checked. All newer vehicles have disc brakes in the front, and more manufacturers are using disc brakes all around (instead of an older technology called drum brakes), so there's a pretty good chance at some point you'll find yourself facing a disc brake repair when yours begin to wear out. Before we go any farther, here's how disc brakes work.  If you've ever had a bicycle with hand brakes, you know there is a caliper that pushes pads on each side of your bicycle wheel when you squeeze the brake handle.  Disc brakes are similar, but there's a metal disc (called a brake rotor) there instead of the bike wheel's rim. In disc brakes, the vibration you feel when you are stopping is often because the surface of the rotor is not flat, or the rotors have an uneven thickness. Sometimes, the rotors ca ... read more

If you feel a slight shudder or vibration coming through your brake pedal when you stop, it could be a sign you need some brake work done. That gets you thinking, how long should my brakes last anyway? It depends on a lot of factors.  But for discussion's sake, let's talk about the components that wear out most often, the pads and rotors. One factor is how you drive.  If you drive on highways a lot, you won't use your brakes as much as, say, someone who lives in the city and is in the middle of a lot of stop-and-go traffic. Do you drive a lot in the mountains? Do you tow a trailer or haul heavy loads? Those driving habits will all wear down your pads and rotors more quickly than someone who doesn't put that extra friction on their brake components. Do you love jackrabbit starts and squealing stops?  That will wear out your brakes more quickly than smoother driving habits.  Do you drive a hybrid or electric vehicle? In that case, you may have reg ... read more