Let's address a very important maintenance item for everyone in JEFFERSON CITY MO – timing belt replacement. It's important because letting this one slide can lead to very expensive engine damage. Your timing belt choreographs the timing of your combustion process. Your pistons travel up and down in the cylinder. Intake valves open at the right time to let in air and fuel; they close at the right time to allow the fuel to burn and then the exhaust valves open at the right time to let out the exhaust. All this happens thousands of times a minute and it's your timing belt that makes sure the valves are opening and closing at precisely the right time. If the timing is off, your engine won't run. And that's the best case. The worst case is that a valve is opening at the wrong time and collides with the piston. The result is bent valves and maybe even more damage to the cylinder head. Repairs can run several thousand dollars. Now, timing belts just wear out naturally so you want to replace a worn belt before it slips or breaks. Check your owner's manual or with your service advisor at Frosty Auto Clinic in JEFFERSON CITY, MO, to see when they recommend you replace the timing belt. If you've never replaced your timing belt and have more than 60,000 miles/100,000 kilometers on the clock, talk with your JEFFERSON CITY service advisor at Frosty Auto Clinic right away to see if you're due. On some engines, the water pump is driven by the timing belt as opposed to the serpentine belt. If that's the case, it's a good idea to replace the water pump when you're replacing the timing belt and vice versa, since much of the same work has to be done for either. The same is true for the timing belt tensioner – it should be inspected and possibly replaced. Now, replacing a timing belt is one of the more expensive routine maintenance items on your service schedule. But not replacing your timing belt can lead to some of the most expensive repairs you're likely to ever have. Call Us Today.

Today's Frosty Auto Clinic article focuses on the effect of tire tread depth on braking. When JEFFERSON CITY and drivers talk about stopping power, they tend to focus on their brakes. But our tires are where the rubber meets the road. We have to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power. Let's concentrate on stopping in wet conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water. That's called hydroplaning and it is a factor in many MO auto accidents. If it's really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won't stop as fast. Your vehicle tires have channels for water to flow through. The deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet MO roads. That's why it's so important for JEFFERSON CITY and motorists to replace their tires when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of replacing tires when the tread is worn down to 4/32 of an inch. That's 3.2 millimeters. By comparison, you've probably seen the wear indicator that's molded into tires. When tires are worn to 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet JEFFERSON CITY surface streets and highways. A safe stop from MO freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires. There's an easy way to tell when a tire's worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn't cover George Washington's hairline, it's time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp. You've probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln's head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount. And if you have uneven tread wear, have us check it out at Frosty Auto Clinic. It could be a problem with your steering or suspension components or a wheel alignment problem. If you need new tires or have any concerns about your brakes, give us a call today at 573-635-1767.

Ever wonder where they came up with the term "dashboard" for that part of your vehicle that sits behind the steering wheel? That name began back before cars were even invented. People used to travel by horse and buggy, and streets weren't as well built as they are today. On a muddy road (which was sometimes just a couple of ruts alongside a field), it wasn't unusual for those inside the buggy to have mud and stones "dashed" (knocked, thrown, or hurled) in their direction. So those who built carriages began installing a board to protect them. That became known as the dashboard. The word carriage got shortened to car, and the dashboard is sometimes shortened to dash. Today, the dashboard sits behind and below the windshield that houses various controls and instruments. In addition to the speedometer, tachometer, and gas gauge, there are warning lights you need to pay attention to on your dashboard and instrument panel. (You may have gauges for some of these, but it's still important for you to keep an eye on them.) Here are some examples: Oil pressure — This lets you know if you have had a drop in oil pressure in your engine. Low oil pressure means your engine parts aren't getting lubricated as they should, and this can cause serious damage. Call your service advisor immediately; you may damage your vehicle if you drive it in this condition any further. Check Engine light — If you see this one (it usually looks like an engine), it means one or more sensors in your vehicle has detected an abnormal situation. Again, you should have this checked out as soon as possible. A technician at your service facility can read a code stored in your vehicle that will point towards the issue. If the Check Engine Light is flashing, there is something wrong that could lead to serious damage – so get it checked out right away. Brake light — If this is illuminated, your parking brake may be on, or there may be a more serious problem like low brake fluid or hydraulic system issues. Check your parking brake and if it isn't on and the light is, make sure to get it checked asap. Tire pressure — Newer vehicles have tire pressure monitors (TPMS) built in that will tell you if any of your tires are over or underinflated. Both conditions need to be checked out. If the TPMS light is flashing, the system itself needs attention. Of course, there a many more warning lights. You should get your vehicle checked as so as you can. Here are some critical warning lights for which it is recommended that you have your vehicle towed to your AutoCare Canter: Oil Light, Temp(erature) Light, Charging (Batt) Light, and Brake Light if pedal performance is low. These warning lights indicate a condition which could cause serious engine damage, leave you stranded, or with unsafe brakes. Things were sure simpler back in the horse and carriage days, but it's a good thing today's dashboard can tell you all these things about your complicated vehicle. We at NAPA AutoCare want to make sure your driving experience is trouble- and worry-free. Consult us for all of your vehicle maintenance and repair needs. Read the original article on the NAPA website.