Signs You Need a Brake Repair at Your Local Car Dealer

No driver wants to face an overheating engine. Excessive heat can warp the cylinder heads, blow the head gasket, and cause a variety of damage. Fortunately, there are always warning signs that your engine is getting too hot too quickly. Your friendly Chrysler dealer in Fulton, NY, is here to help you with a radiator repair. These are a few warning signs that your radiator may have a problem. Loose Hose Clamps Your radiator is connected to the cooling system by two thick rubber hoses. These hoses fit securely onto the radiator casing, and strong metal clamps ensure the hoses are sealed against leaks. These measures are vital, as the cooling system operates at high speed and under great pressure. The hoses are flexible, as they must accommodate the movement of hot coolant. more Over time, the hose clamps can loosen. Loose clamps can be caused by wear and the constant movement of the hoses as they flex when coolant passes through them. The rubber hoses can also slightly shrink as they age, which loosens the clamps. Loose clamps can allow the high-pressure coolant to escape the system and cause a leak. Our technicians can tighten the clamps or replace them if they're damaged. Worn Thermal Switch The heat produced by your engine is removed by airflow over the radiator tubes. The hot coolant is pumped into these tubes, and the airflow through the radiator grille blows across them to cool the liquid. As your car moves faster airflow increases, and the coolant cools faster. If your engine is idling, however, airflow through the grille is greatly reduced. When your engine is on and your car isn't moving, the radiator fan at the rear of your radiator switches on. The fan blows air across the tubes and forces the heat out of the grille. The fan is controlled by the thermal switch, which recognizes the increased temperature and turns the fan on. If the thermal switch fails, the fan won't switch on, and your engine will start overheating. We'll replace the worn switch to fix this problem. Jammed Thermostat Coolant is released into your engine in response to the increasing temperature caused by combustion. When the engine temperature reaches a preset level, usually around 185F, the thermostat will note the increased temperature and open to release coolant. This small valve can jam, and if this happens, your engine can overheat. A thermostat that jams closed won't release any coolant, regardless of the engine temperature. Our technicians can replace a worn thermostat, and your cooling system will work effectively again. If your engine is getting hot, call us at Longley Bros. Our Chrysler experts will fix the problem.

Engine problems can rapidly turn from a minor nuisance to a major problem if not repaired ASAP. A car's engine is filled with a multitude of parts, any of which can fail due to age or damage. As your Dodge RAM dealer in Fulton, NY, we have the technicians and parts to repair any problem with your car. We'd like to tell you some signs that your car has a problem with its engine that we need to fix. Worn Alternator A worn alternator can cause serious issues for your automobile. The alternator is responsible for generating electricity for your car's systems and devices. As your alternator ages, it starts to produce less power. This is a gradual process, but it's irreversible. A reduction in the power supply will cause electrical glitches, starting and stalling problems, and can even kill your battery. more Electrical glitches are caused by your car's computer trying to provide as many components as possible with electricity using a reduced power supply. The computer will shift power between components depending on demand. It will also shut down components with a lower priority to supply electricity to higher-priority ones. We'll test your alternator and install a new one if the original has worn out. Oil Leaks Oil is essential for your engine, as it lubricates all the moving parts. As the oil is pumped through the engine, it covers the various components in a protective film that helps to reduce friction damage. The movement of the oil reduces the heat generated by the fast-moving parts, which helps to lower the engine temperature. If you spot a puddle of oil underneath your car, we advise that you call us right away. If you drive with an oil leak, your engine can get damaged. A lack of oil reduces engine lubrication, and individual parts can seize up. Oil can leak from a variety of places, but our expert technicians will find and seal the leak. Once the leak is repaired, we'll refill your car's oil. Damaged Pistons, Rings, and Cylinders The pistons fit inside the cylinders in your engine, and the rings provide an airtight seal to allow for compression. The fuel-air mix in your engine is drawn into the cylinders, and the upward movement of the cylinders compresses the mixture until it's ignited. Your engine depends on these components to produce the combustion that enables your car to move. Rough idling, rattling noises, and blue exhaust smoke are all signs of problems with these components. Most problems with these components can be quickly fixed if they're repaired when they first appear. If you suspect you have a problem with your engine, call our service department right away at Longley Bros Inc.

A car's battery has a limited lifespan. It will gradually become weaker as it ages, and you'll need to fit a replacement at your friendly Chrysler Dealer. We want to give you a heads-up on some signs you need a new car battery. Rotten Egg Smell Hydrogen sulfide has a characteristic rotten egg smell. If this smell comes from your engine, your battery is very likely wearing out. The sulfur smell is a byproduct of the chemical breakdown in your battery. A car battery contains several chemicals, the most important of which is sulfuric acid. These chemicals enable the battery to store electricity as chemical energy. more As sulfuric acid breaks down, it releases hydrogen gas. Hydrogen molecules are small enough to escape the confines of the battery casing and enter your engine. In the engine compartment, the hydrogen molecules combine with sulfur molecules produced by the fuel. This combination creates hydrogen sulfide. In time, this new gas will start to corrode your battery. Our technicians will examine your battery and replace it if it's damaged. Distorted Battery Case The chemicals and other components in a battery must be protected from external damage and contamination. The strong plastic casing around your battery components also prevents battery chemicals from leaking into your engine. A car battery is usually rectangular, but you can also get square ones. One of the signs of a failing battery is the distortion of the battery casing. You can check the condition of your battery by popping the hood. If you notice any protrusions or other distortion in the flat sides of the battery case, your battery is failing. These distortions are caused by changes in the chemical composition of the battery. Extreme heat or cold alters the chemical balance in an older battery and builds up its internal pressure. The pressure can't escape, so it damages the battery's casing. If this happens, we can quickly replace the battery for you. Your Battery Is Old Age isn't kind to a battery. As your battery gets older, the chemicals inside the battery slowly decay. These chemicals break down and recombine into other chemicals. As we've seen, sulfuric acid breaks down and emits hydrogen gas. The average life of a battery is three to five years before it starts to weaken. We always advise a battery test when your battery is three years old and then annual inspections after that. This will ensure that your battery is in good health, and we can monitor it for any decline. If the test shows your battery is failing, we can swiftly replace it for you. If your battery displays any of these signs, call us right away at Longley Bros Inc.