Concord Auto Repair

A car's radiator is immensely stressed during extreme winter temperatures because it can quickly fail, causing serious engine issues. In some circumstances, a problem with the radiator can warrant the need to replace it. To ensure that the engine weathers the icy conditions, antifreeze is used in the radiator. Many people use antifreeze and coolant interchangeably, but there's a difference. Let's try and understand that in-depth below. Are Antifreeze and Coolant the Same? If you say that antifreeze is a coolant, you might be right and wrong at the same time. Well, antifreeze and coolant are similar, but there's a difference. The former is a glycol-based fluid that must be mixed with water in the ratio of 1:1 for use. It is that antifreeze/water mixture that is called coolant. The major component in antifreeze is ethylene glycol, which ensures that the coolant doesn't freeze despite the sub-zero conditions that come with winter. It does that by lowering the freez ... read more

Many people report that their cars squeal only when in reverse. No, this is not a human response to the gate or trashcan you might be too close to for comfort but rather a sign that something might be amiss with your braking system. Or it could simply be an integral part of your car's makeup that is specially designed to warn you when it is time to take a look at your brakes. Here are some possible causes for your car's brakes squealing as you are reversing. Most often what is heard is a 'squealer' attached to the brakes. This is designed so that when the pads wear down to a certain point this piece of metal will rub against the rotor, making the high-pitched squealing noise to notify the driver that it is time to have the brakes checked out. However, if the noise goes away when brakes are applied then it could be as a result of something else causing the sound. One of the first things to check is the brakes' wear tabs that are situated on the e ... read more

Buying a car is one of the major investment decisions you can ever make. But having a car comes with responsibility. If you really love your car and want it to serve you longer, you must be ready to maintain it properly. Doing so will ensure you don't waste money on expensive repairs. Here are some maintenance tips to keep your car in good shape. Inspecting and maintaining the tires Worn-out tires are among the greatest causes of accidents on highways, especially during rainy days. That's why you must ensure your tires are perfect. Tire pressure is also important. You don't have to put excess or inadequate pressure on the tires. That will damage them very fast. Oil changes Oil is very important in keeping your engine running. If your engine lacks oil, your car can stall, and many engine components can get damaged. A qualified mechanic should check your oil monthly and, if necessary, change it. It is good for oil to be changed by an exp ... read more

Cabin Air filter the forgotten service   My last blog post I talked about AC service and the various types of refrigerant. This time I want to talk about a related service that is often-overlooked, the cabin filter. The cabin filter is important to the proper functioning of you air conditioning and heating system. It filters the air coming into your HVAC system. This removes dust dirt and allergens so that you can breathe easier. It also has the effect of preventing a lot of that dirt and debris getting to the heater and evaporator cores. These are the devices that add or take away heat to keep you cool or warm. This is important for the air conditioning evaporator core. Because it often gets wet from condensation that can attract dirt. This dirt can and does become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. This not only can coat the evaporator core and cause the efficiency to drop. It can introduce odors and allergens that are not particularly good for you as well. If you servi ... read more

 New air conditioning refrigerants   For a long time now, most vehicles have been using R134A as the refrigerant of choice in air conditioning. Most shops that can service air conditioning performance issues can service those systems. Things are changing though. If you have a newer car and the air conditioning no longer blows cold you no longer can take it to any shop. You need one like Accomplished Auto 134 Hall St Ste A Concord NH 03301, 603-226-6630. We have the equipment, and expertise to service air conditioning with both R134A and R1234YF refrigerant.   A little History. Starting around 2014, Fiat Chrysler, and General Motors Cadillac, started the transition to the new R1234YF. Soon all the other manufacturers, Domestic, Asian and European followed suit. So, if you have a vehicle newer than 2014 there is a good chance it has R1234YF and the newer it is the more likely to have it. Today 90% of vehicles use R1234YF.   What does that mean to you and your vehic ... read more