Orlando Auto Repair

Service to a vehicle's power steering system is part of preventive maintenance for  Orlando auto owners. This system provides power to the steering wheel so you can turn it with ease. Without power steering, all of the power to turn your vehicle's wheels would have to come from you. The central element of most power steering systems is a pump. The pump pressurizes the power steering fluid, and it is this pressure that provides auxiliary steering power. A belt connected to the engine usually powers the pump, although some systems use an electric pump. Some newer vehicles have an electric motor that directly provides the power steering boost. Pressurized fluid moves from the pump to the steering gear through a high-pressure hose. A low-pressure hose returns fluid to the pump. Power steering fluid cleans, cools and lubricates the system. Orlando drivers should remember that fluid levels in the power steering system shou ... read more

Used vehicles are certainly an economical choice for budget-conscious Orlando drivers. But how can we know we're getting a good used vehicle and not just inheriting someone else's problems? There are good used vehicles for sale in the Orlando area. Vehicles are sold when families upsize, when families downsize or even when someone just wants a new ride. So the used vehicle may be just fine. But some Orlando used vehicle owners sell them because they don't want to deal with developing or existing problems. When you're considering buying a used vehicle in Orlando, ask for service records. Check to see if the recommended schedules for preventive maintenance have been followed. If so, you probably have a great used vehicle on your hands. If there aren't any service records, then assume the worst. Check the vehicle for obvious signs of problems. Kick the tires if you want to but definitely check them for uneven tread wear. This can indicate alignment problems ... read more

Oil changes are probably the most recognized service on a vehicle. Almost all Orlando residents know about them. But do we know enough? Several decades ago, oil changes were fairly standard: every three months or 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But recent advances in both engine technology and oil quality have led to longer oil change intervals. Delayed or skipped oil changes are a problem for Orlando residents because they lead to the build-up of oil sludge in your engine. Oil sludge forms when engine oil breaks down, which happens with both time and miles. Obviously, driving will take its toll on engine oil, but the oil also breaks down even as the vehicle just sits in the garage. This is why oil change intervals are listed in both time and distance traveled, and the phrase “whichever comes first” is applicable. Oil sludge is essentially petroleum jelly. Imagine this stuff squishing around in your vehicle engine, pushing into small engine passageways and blocking ... read more

Any Orlando driver who understands preventive maintenance knows that “if it ain't broke, don't fix it” is bad auto advice. Replacing a part before it breaks is much less costly for Orlando residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of this is the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt gets its name because of its circuitous path around the engine. The serpentine belt is driven by the engine and powers a number of systems, as follows: The serpentine belt spins the compressor that generates the cool air for the air conditioning system. The serpentine belt powers the alternator. The alternator generates electricity for use in the vehicle's electrical systems and to charge the battery. Without the alternator, the battery wouldn't last more than a few miles. In many Orlando residents' vehicles, the serpentine belt runs the pumps for both the power steering and the power brakes. In other vehicles ... read more

One topic that hits the news in FL on a regular basis is the price of gas. The answer for some FL drivers is to buy a vehicle that gets better fuel economy. For those of us in Orlando who don't want to add a car payment to our monthly expenses, we need to improve our fuel economy any way we can. Following recommended service intervals by coming into Honest-1 Auto Care is one of the best ways people in Orlando can keep their vehicle running efficiently. That means better fuel economy. When you give it some thought, it only makes sense. Dirty oil or transmission fluid can't lubricate or clean. That means more drag which reduces fuel economy. Keeping up with scheduled oil changes and transmission services will save gas for FL drivers. Dirty engine air filters are another efficiency pirate. They rob your engine of enough air to effectively burn the fuel, so you need more gas to get the job done. Replacing a dirty air filter can pay for itself in fuel savings before the next oil ... read more

When asked, most people think they are good at multi-tasking. Scientific studies, however, reveal that only around 2% of the population can truly demonstrate the capacity to effectively multi-task. For the rest of us who are not so biologically wired, no amount of practice can increase our effectiveness at multi-tasking. Turns out, multi-tasking is almost a superpower. Think of fighter pilots: capable of maintaining their orientation in three dimensional space and performing specific and highly complicated functions while accessing life threatening situations and coming up with an appropriate response. Admit it – you can’t do that. Yet when it comes to driving, we seem to think we are very capable of safely operating a motor vehicle with myriad distractions. 77% of young adults feel somewhat confident that they can safely text and drive while 55% claim it’s easy to text and drive. Can they possibly be right? Let’s look at some statistics. Nearly 23% of all acc ... read more

The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. Orlando drivers need to replace it on a schedule to avoid failure. Timing belts are very difficult to get to, requiring quite a bit of labor to access. Timing belt replacement is one of the more expensive maintenance services, but the cost at Honest-1 Auto Care to correct an engine damaged by a broken timing belt is much, much more. The timing belt has a tensioner to help maintain proper belt tension. The tensioner should be replaced along with the timing belt and any idler pulleys at the vehicle manufacturer’s specified service interval. Your Honest-1 Auto Care service advisor can help you with the timing belt. Give us a call. - See more at: http://honest1autocare.autotipsblog.com/2017/06/11/automotive-tips-from-honest-1-auto-care-knowing-when-your-timing-belt-should-be-replaced#sthash.lFzqTdqi.dpuf

The simple fact is that 70% of car batteries fail within 4 years. They just need to be replaced at Honest-1 Auto Care when they are no longer able to hold a full charge. Batteries are a big ticket item for most Orlando drivers and it’s tempting to put off buying a new one as long as possible. But a battery that cannot hold a full charge requires the alternator to work extra hard, causing it to wear out prematurely. Your Honest-1 Auto Care service advisor can test your battery to see if it should be replaced. Testing is a good idea for FL drivers because a battery might still be good, but become dead because of a bad alternator or even a worn serpentine belt and tensioner

Most Orlando drivers worry about a breakdown or a tire blowout on a busy FL highway, but don't worry too much about failure of their air conditioning system. A breakdown on the side of the road can be a miserable and dangerous affair during Orlando rush hour, but so can a long ride in a hot vehicle. A lot of Orlando drivers judge their vehicles' air conditioning systems as “non-essential” and so may neglect them in favor of repairs and maintenance that keep the vehicle running. But preventive maintenance of an air conditioning system is simple and inexpensive, while auto a/c repair can be very expensive. Orlando drivers should have the refrigerant in their air conditioning system checked regularly to ensure it is adequate and clean. Air conditioning systems often fail because air and water have contaminated the refrigerant. Air reduces the efficiency of the refrigerant, and water can cause rusting of the system's comp ... read more

There are several important factors that go into how often Orlando drivers should replace their wiper blades. Of course, the more you use your wipers, the faster the blades will wear out – especially if you use them on an icy windshield. Whether it’s a lot of bugs and road grime from FL freeway driving or lots of wet weather – your blades get a work out and start to wear. But your wiper blades break down even when they aren’t used frequently. They are damaged by sunlight and temperature changes as well. The rubber in the blades can dry out and crack and eventually fall apart. Check your wipers: If they’re not doing their important job, have them replaced at Honest-1 Auto Care in Orlando. Talk to your Honest-1 Auto Care service advisor about how you drive - we can counsel you on the optimal blades for your needs