Concord Auto Repair

If you are hearing about Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for the first time, they are electronic safety systems installed in vehicles to help with driving and parking. ADAS is a vital part of most modern vehicles' safety functions. Besides your safety as the driver, they enhance your passengers' safety and other people you are sharing the road with, including pedestrians. ADAS Features Any car leaving the factory today has at least two or three ADAS features. They include: • Rearview, front, and side cameras • Computer imaging technology • Adaptive cruise control (ACC) • Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) • Autonomous braking system (ABS) • Intelligent speed assist (ISA) Functions of ADAS Systems ADAS systems play four main functions in your car, they include: Alerting you of any potential dangers on the road. Monitoring things like the tire pressure and any blind spots. To adjust settings to adapt to the surrounding environ ... read more

Hydroplaning Basics Did you know there was a term for losing control of your vehicle on a snowy, icy, or wet road? This is called hydroplaning. Hydroplaning happens when your car tires lose contact with the road and skim or slide across a wet surface instead. Speeding through light rain, snow, or ice can easily cause your vehicle tires to lose traction with the road and the car to "hydroplane." Loss of tire traction can result in unexpected accidents if your vehicle has an issue with steering, braking, or loss of control of the vehicle. According to experts, the first few minutes of wet rainy conditions are the most important. These conditions are more likely to cause hydroplaning than others as water, road debris, lubricants, and oils combine to create a slippery road service. People who are driving over 35 miles an hour under these wet road conditions are more likely to hydroplane than people driving at a reduced rate of speed. How to Prevent Your Car F ... read more

You probably have heard of how awful oil sludge can be for your engine. But what exactly is it, and how can it affect your car? Oil sludge is a thick gel that is formed when the engine oil is oxidized and contaminated. It is comprised of partially burnt fuel, metal fragments, and dirt. Oil sludge is then carried by the oil and you can find it sticking on the various parts of the engine. Why Oil Sludge Builds Up Oil sludge will first appear on top of the engine, inside the oil pan, and on the valve cover. The sludge can then block the siphon, and consequently hinder the circulation of oil within the engine. Sludge usually build-up due to several reasons, but driving in heavy traffic repeatedly is one of the main causes. Frequent driving for short distances and long periods of stop-and-go driving can also accelerate the build-up of oil sludge. How Oil Sludge Can Hurt Your Car As mentioned above, oil sludge usually has the effect of hindering the circulation of oil in your engine. Sin ... read more

Driving the same vehicle for several years can lead to natural wear and tear. Over time you’re bound to experience a decrease in performance at one point or another. Various issues can occur, and one of the most common is within the suspension system. Trucks that use coil springs can encounter several problems. Shocks and coil springs are critical for a car to support its weight and effectively handle potholes and speed bumps. Worn coil springs can not only cause an uncomfortable drive but a dangerous one. Damaged coil springs can make your truck unstable. Below are three major signs it’s time to replace the coil springs.   Your vehicle sags. Coil springs balance the weight of your vehicle. If the coil springs are damaged, the car will sag downward. You’ll notice this more if your car is packed close to weight capacity. The sagging may be unnoticeable initially but may feel like it’s leaning when you sit in the driver&rsquo ... read more

When most drivers think of brake maintenance, they only consider their brake pads. Brake fluid can go completely forgotten about, leading it to become old and ineffective. Having the brake pads inspected every so often is a great idea, but they may still be useless if the brake system needs to be flushed. Over time the brake fluid can become contaminated and discolored. When brake fluid becomes worn, topping it off won’t fix it because it will need to be replaced. Bleeding or flushing the brake fluid can restore your brake system; however, a brake flush would be the better alternative. What’s the difference between bleeding versus flushing the brakes? Bleeding the brakes If your brake pads are severely worn, air can become trapped inside the system. Air can become trapped from poor driving habits such as slamming on the brakes or significantly worn brake pads. If there is air inside the brake system, its performance can be considerably impacted. If you st ... read more