Concord Auto Repair

Question: What are the signs that I need a brake job? Accomplished Auto Answer: Indicators of brake issues generally fall into two categories for drivers in Concord and our neighbors in Hopkinton, Contoocook, Boscawen, Bow, and Penacook: auditory signals or a pulsation in the brake pedal. Let us begin with the noise. Most brake pads have an audible wear indicator. This is a small metal component that when makes contact with the brake rotor when the brake pads have worn down to that point, they need replacement. The resultant noise is typically a chirp or soft squeal. This serves as an early warning for Concord and our neighbors in Hopkinton, Contoocook, Boscawen, Bow, and Penacook drivers to have their brakes serviced while there remains sufficient brake pad material to ensure safe stopping. Drivers in Concord and our neighbors in Hopkinton, Contoocook, Boscawen, Bow, and Penacook who ignore this chirping sound may eventually hear a grinding noise, w ... 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

My check engine light is on, what do I do now? My check engine light is on or flashing, red oil light, or others am I in trouble? Do I need to have my car towed; can I make it to where I am going? All these questions will immediately run through your mind, and like a lot of things in life it can depend. Some quick checks and attention to a few things will help.   Does your vehicle drive or perform the same as it did before and the only thing that has changed is the check engine light is on? Then you are most likely safe to get to your destination or bring it in to Accomplished Auto in Concord NH. Do this as soon as possible to prevent further issues such as engine, transmission or catalytic converter damage. Is the vehicle performance suffering and/or is it making unusual noises? Engine ticking, knocking or banging? Oil, coolant leaks, smoke or odors?  Overheating, multiple warning lights on? Th ... 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