When Should You Get A Front End Alignment?

When your car rolls off the assembly line, the wheels have been aligned, tested, adjusted and eventually verified.  But as you may have already experienced if you’ve car owned very long, wheels lose their alignment.  This means that the tires on your vehicle are not pointing in the same direction as the steering wheel. When this happens, it not only shortens the life of your tires by thousands of miles, it compromises the safety of your vehicle by affecting crucial steering and suspension parts. 

There are several reasons that wheels lose their alignment, most of which have to do with road conditions.  Poorly maintained roads, hitting potholes, going too fast over speed bumps, running over curbs, or having an accident no matter how minor, can all affect your car’s wheel alignment.  You may find yourself fighting the steering wheel as you try to drive your car straight down the road!  Inexperienced drivers may not be aware of how damaging misalignment can be.  It not only impacts the safety of your vehicle, but it also adds extreme wear to your tires, suspension system, and steering system. 

When should you get a front end alignment?  The typical answer to this question is to have your wheel alignment inspected about every 6,000 miles.   Or, whenever you start to notice signs of premature tire and tread wear caused by wheel alignment issues. 

There are several benefits to maintaining the correct wheel alignment on your vehicle, such as:

• Enhances the handling and safety of your car.
• You can maximize your cars fuel efficiency,
• Prevents damage to other important components (such as shocks and brakes), and 
• You increase the lifespan of your tires.  

Remember:  The cost for replacing a new set of tires is much greater than the cost of an alignment service!

Need to know more about wheel alignment issues? Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about when should you get a front end alignment and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

How Do You Know When Your Car Axle is bad?

Did you know that the condition of your car axles and car struts impacts the steering and braking of your vehicle?  Axles serve the purpose of transmitting power from the engine to make the wheels go round. They also carry the entire weight of your vehicle, plus passengers and cargo.  

Unless damage occurs in several ways, most car axles can last well over 100,000 miles.  Though, axles, car struts and shocks are subjected to a lot of stress from the constantly rotating and flexing while driving, which is compounded by rough bumpy roads.  As the miles add up, axles and car struts or shocks will experience wear. When they fail, the effect is instant, compromising the safety of your vehicle.

So how do you know when your car axle is bad?  Here are a few issues that you may start to experience: 

• Clicking: This is the most common and noticeable symptom of a bad axle and is most often heard during sharp turns at lower speeds.
• Clunking: Most often heard when accelerating your speed.
• Excessive grease: You may see grease on the inside edge of the tire, steering and suspension components, or even on the ground.
• Vibration: If the shaft of the axle is damaged, you will feel a vibration which becomes more obvious as your speed increases. 

If you start to notice any of the signs above, don’t delay in scheduling a checkup of your suspension system.

Are you wondering how do you know when your car axle is bad?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about suspension systems and to make an appointment. Our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served car owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

Why is Car Service Necessary on a regular basis?

New drivers may not always understand that car service is necessary.  Therefore, they put off suggested services, thinking they are saving money on seemingly needless items.  As long as their car is running, they think everything is fine.  The truth is, the damage could be taking place in the engine or transmission and they may be faced with a costly car repair bill later on.  Please realize that the cost of regular maintenance is considerably less than the cost of car repair.  For example, a damaged engine, transmission system. 

Why is car service necessary on a regular basis?  Your mechanic can inspect the overall condition of your car.  For example, if your suspension is wearing out, the appropriate parts can be replaced before the issue gets any bigger and damages other parts.  Regular car service can also find hidden damage.  For example, driving with low engine oil doesn't necessarily impact your ability to drive the car, though, after an extended period of time, the head gasket or the pistons will suffer damage.  This type of car repair can cost a small fortune instead of little bucks for an oil change.  Excessive wear on the steering and braking components can also be identified early on, preventing a failure on the road which could have devastating penalties. 

So why is car service necessary?  Consider these 4 benefits:

• You know your car – When something doesn’t feel right, sound right, you will be able to notice the difference.
• Your auto mechanic knows your car – By taking your vehicle to the same mechanic for service, problems can be recognized before they get too big.  They will also be able to tell you what is starting to wear out, or what wants replacing right away.
• Improved emissions – You don’t have to worry about passing the emission checkup.
• Confidence – You know your car is operating at its peak performance level and that you are driving as safe as potential. 

Do you know more about why is car service necessary?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about car repair services and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

Wondering how do you know if a radiator is bad?

It’s time to think about the radiator in your vehicle!  You will want to make sure you don’t get stuck out in cold weather and road conditions with an overheating engine and steam coming from underneath the hood of your car.  By knowing how do you know if a radiator is bad you can avoid an emergency visit to your auto shop to replace a radiator.  

So how do you know if a radiator is bad?  Schedule an inspection by an ASE certified mechanic if you notice these two main signs below:

• Leaking:  You may notice a puddle of coolant (it could be green, pink, or orange) on the garage floor under your vehicle. You could also notice a sweet smell.  There could be a crack in the radiator unit.  Radiator leakages and cracks should be repaired by an ASE certified mechanic.
• Warning Light:  If the coolant level drops too low, a low coolant light will come on and you will see the temperature gauge increasing, indicating that your engine is overheating.  If you notice your engine is overheating while driving, pull over instantly and call a tow truck.

Remember:  To prevent the necessity of replacing your radiator and for your vehicle to remain a trustworthy source of transportation, have the radiator checked periodically for leaks or cracks.  

For more information about how do you know if a radiator is bad, call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served car owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

How Do You Know If You Need Your Oil Changed?

Changing the oil in your car is generally a quick and relatively inexpensive service. Some drivers underestimate what timely oil changes can do for their car.  Good, clean oil increases the performance level and extends the life of the engine.  However, over time, the fluid breaks down and becomes ineffective in doing its job. So why do so many people procrastinate when it comes to oil changes?

How do you know if you need your oil changed?  A lot of drivers rely solely on mileage, but there are other factors to consider as well, such as the quality of the oil, the age of the car and how the car is driven. 

Here are 6 common signs that it’s time for an oil change:

1. Oil Change Light -- The oil change light in your car will illuminate when there’s not enough oil in the system so check the dipstick. The check engine light will illuminate for extreme issues, warning that the engine is at risk of damage.
2. Engine Noise and Knocking -- Oil provides a protective layer between engine parts, avoiding metal-to-metal contact and keeping the engine quiet. If the oil has lost its effectiveness, you may hear knocking sounds indicating that the engine is not being lubricated correctly.
3. Dark, Dirty Oil -- Clean oil is amber in color and slightly translucent. Over time, it becomes filled with particles collected from the engine and turns darker. It’s not obvious when this begins to happen, so check the oil at least once a month. If you cannot see the dipstick through the oil, it is time for an oil change.
4. Oil Smell Inside the Car -- If you smell oil inside the car, it can often signify an oil leak. If you also smell gas or exhaust fumes, the engine may be overheating. 
5. Exhaust Smoke -- Some translucent vapor will always come out of the muffler, but if this changes to smoke, it’s time for an engine check-up. you may have faulty engine parts or an oil leak.
6. Excessive Mileage -- If you travel a lot of miles on a regular basis you may want oil change sooner than the normal schedule.  Check your owner’s manual for specific guidelines.

Fresh, clean oil optimizes your vehicle’s performance by lubricating parts and keeping the engine clean and healthy as well as preventing excessive wear and tear on your engine, resulting in fewer repairs down the road.

Are you wondering how do you know if you need your oil changed?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about how to find their oil change coupons and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served car owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

Wondering when to Do Maintenance on Your Car?

Many drivers, you want to take good care of your vehicle and may wonder when to do maintenance on your car?  The first thing to do is to find your owner’s manual.  The next thing to do is to read it!  The third thing to do to take good care of your vehicle is to follow the suggested vehicle maintenance schedule listed in that manual. 

Fortunately, for those of us who are challenged when it comes to reading our vehicle service guide, there are two other ways in which you may be reminded as to when to do maintenance on your car:

• In-vehicle Maintenance Reminder Systems Newer cars normally have an in-vehicle maintenance reminder system that makes mileage-based schedules obsolete. These reminder systems take a number of vehicle operating conditions into account and provide an alert on the dash when it is time for an engine oil change, fluid level inspects component checks and other car maintenance services.  These systems have been found to be fairly accurate as to when service should be performed.
• Mileage-Based Maintenance Service Intervals Older cars have service intervals based on mileage. There are generally two different maintenance schedules listed in the manual--one for cars driven in “normal” operating conditions and another for “severe” operating conditions.  The definition of “severe” mainly means short trips of 5 miles or less, extreme climates, stop-and-go driving, towing a trailer or carrying heavy loads.  In addition to reading your owner’s manual to know those mileage intervals, your auto technician can give you sound advice as to when to do maintenance on your car.

Tip to Remember:  Plan ahead for car maintenance items by finding an auto shop and auto technician for small problems so you know you can trust them for the bigger service items or repairs that will come up down the road!

Wondering when to do maintenance on your car?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about preventative car maintenance and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

What are the Signs of Engine Failure?

If you’re experiencing issues with the performance of your vehicle, ask your auto mechanic what to do to help restore its power and trustworthiness.  Some good advice is to take care of all engine service items when suggested by your mechanic.   This will help keep your vehicle running strong and prevent unexpected and expensive engine repairs.  

So just what are the signs of engine failure?  Of course, the “Check Engine” light is your first hint.  When this little warning light comes on, many drivers become fearful of what might be happening under the hood.  If at all possible, head to your auto shop for a diagnostic service.   Your auto mechanic can then pinpoint what and where something is going wrong.  

In addition to the “check engine” light, here a few other common signs of engine failure: 

1. Loss of Power -- Combustion engines convert gasoline into the power needed to make your vehicle go. There could be a glitch in the combustion process. 
2. Decreased Fuel Economy -- There could be a problem in the compression stroke of the engine. 
3. Noisy Engine -- Knocking, backfiring, hissing, spitting and popping during the ignition process can occur when there is an abnormality in the combustion flow.
4. Stalling -- The intake stroke is not receiving the right spark or air/fuel mixture. 
5. Odors -- A noxious odor from the exhaust may be detected if the exhaust stroke of your internal combustion engine is starting to fail. 
6. High-performance Engines Don’t Turn Off -- This commonly happens when the octane in the gas is incorrect, a solenoid is failing, or the carburetor wants an adjustment.
7. Engine Run Rough -- This is usually caused by clogs in the system, old spark plugs, an improper octane level, or a low battery.

Are you looking for a quality engine service?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about recommended engine service and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.