Brentwood Auto Repair

Belts and hoses are some of the most economical parts of an engine. However, if they begin to fail or tear, they can lead to some relatively severe damages.    In particular, your car's timing belt is an integral part of the engine because of its job. It is responsible for synchronizing and coordinating the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft. Without this movement, the engine valves would not open and close at the appropriate times for operation. The belt uses teeth to provide consistent coordination. If the timing is off or the timing belt connection is weak, it could be disastrous for your engine. For example, the pistons can strike the valves, causing damage to the engine. The timing belt must be correctly installed and maintain a good condition.   Common Causes of Timing Belt Failure There are several different ways that a timing belt can fail. These include: Stripped teeth on the strap Unraveling of the belt's fiber cores Belt breakage (uncommon ... read more

Summer provides an excellent season to travel and explore the outdoors. If you own a Fido, you might want to bring them along on your vacation or trip so that they can also enjoy a fun time away from home. Your pet is not your typical passenger, and it is critical to ensure that they're safe on the road. If it's your first time traveling with your furry friend, then read on to get valuable insights into how you can ensure their safety and security. Invest in a Travel Crate or Carrier Safety and ventilation are critical when you want to provide your pet with the best travel experience. Therefore, visit the pet supply sop with your Fido and find a suitable crate that fits them perfectly. The secret to using a travel crate is to purchase it months in advance so that your pet gets accustomed to it. If you surprise him, it might shock him due to the abrupt change in his everyday lifestyle. Ensure You Drive with the Windows Shut It's critical to roll up the windows when trave ... read more

Some stuff just doesn't happen at the right moment. Take, for example, a car that unexpectedly refuses to start. While inconvenient, this is not a cause for concern. Do you have a car that won't start right now? Have you recently seen a stalled vehicle or one that hasn't started properly? Then this is the article for you. We look at the triggers of a car that won't start and provide solutions. Warning: If your car won't start, don't turn the key any further. Warming up the starter motor, especially when it's cold, might seem like a good idea, but it can harm the starter motor. So don't try for more than 15 seconds! Why Won't My Car Start? There's A Problem With One Of These Systems. We need to look at what happens when a car starts well to understand why it starts poorly. Several components in the car work together to keep the engine running smoothly. The following are some of them: The electrical system The fuel system The starter motor T ... read more

One of the biggest mistakes made by drivers is not inspecting their tires often enough. Tire wear is usually a telltale sign that your vehicle's tires are out of balance or that the suspension is unbalanced or worn. So anytime you see unusual tire wear, make sure to immediately give both the tires and suspension an intensive check to determine what is causing the trouble. Most drivers focus on center wear or cupping when they need to know the specific condition of their tires. If you notice a slow, gradual reduction in the tire's ability to grip the road as you drive, this is a very important indicator that the tire wear is uneven and possibly signs of a problem with the suspension system of your car. Also, tires with cracks most likely need to be replaced. Cracks usually appear when the sidewall of the tire has been stressed extensively. This causes the sidewall to break and the tire becomes prone to splitting apart. This also means that the tire is nearing the end of its li ... read more

To better understand what a head gasket leak is, it would help first to know what a head gasket is and its role in a car. What is a Head Gasket? A head gasket is a flat, thin metal sheet with several holes fitted between the motor and the cylinder head. Their design, thickness, and construction vary, depending on the engine design. It is a critical component under the hood, enhancing the engine's efficiency by sealing the combustion chamber for maximum compression and containment of exhaust gases. It also prevents the entry of oil and coolant (and antifreeze) into the combustion chamber. Understanding Head Gasket Leak and Its Costs The head gasket seals out extremely hot pressurized combustion gases and the antifreeze. Because the coolant temperature varies from time to time and the gasket's large surface area, it is not uncommon for the gasket to leak as the years go by. A leak in the head gasket is also referred to as a blown head gasket. That means it can no longer perfo ... read more

The starter on your vehicle is so important and makes every drive happen. The starter is attached to the back of the motor and is essential to your motor starting. The entire process of your car starting all begins and relies on the starter. If you are ever having issues with your starter and it begins to wear down or even break it will directly affect your ability to drive your vehicle. Starters in vehicles can go out or become worse and that's not what's ever wanted. Luckily there are some symptoms that you can look for when you may be headed towards having a bad starter. These are some warning signs you can be watching for that may indicate your starter is going bad or beginning to fail on you. Sporadic starting issues: If you have sporadic starting issues it could be caused by wires that are loose or dirty. This can lead to your car not starting or starting irregularly.   Your engine won't turn over: This is a common indicator that you may see. If you do not he ... read more

Your car has a way of letting you know when something is wrong. Your brakes make different noises to tell you what's going on with your car. Here's what the different brake noises mean. Morning Sounds If your brakes make a grinding noise each morning, you may or may not have a cause for concern. Some brakes make this noise due to accumulated moisture. Other times, your brakes can make a squealing or grinding noise due to rust buildup on the rotors. Normal driving can remove the rust and stop the noise. Loud Squealing Your brakes will make a loud squealing noise when the brake pads need to be replaced. You should never drive a vehicle that has worn brake pads. Most cars have a brake wear indicator that is made from steel. When the brake pads make contact with the rotor, you will hear a loud squealing noise. Rattling or Vibrating Rattling or vibrating sounds could indicate you have a worn or warped rotor. Worn or warped mot ... read more

Not many parts of your car are more important than the brakes. No matter how beautiful or luxurious your vehicle may be, it is worthless and even deadly if you cannot stop it when you need to. Therefore, the braking system has to be subjected to regular maintenance to keep it operating perfectly. Some of the parts of the braking system that need regular checks include the brake pads, the rotors, and the brake fluid. But why exactly does the condition of brake fluid matter? The Importance of Brake Fluid For you to appreciate the importance of getting your brake fluid checked on a regular basis, you need to understand its role. Basically, brake fluid is responsible for moving the various parts of your car's braking system. The braking system is hydraulic, and the brake fluid is its hydraulic fluid. This implies that the entire braking system is moved by the brake fluid. Therefore, if your car does not have the right amount of brake fluid, the braking system could fail and, and cons ... read more

There's no better way to prepare for a Thanksgiving road trip than to schedule an inspection and maintenance service for your vehicle. During an inspection, the brakes, battery, tires, filters, and essential fluids are checked. This gives you the added peace of mind that your vehicle is completely safe and effective functioning. In the long run, it can also prolong your vehicle's lifespan. During your last vehicle inspection, you may have received a list of updates on a few pages that you filed away. Or, in some cases, threw away or even lost. At Monkey Wrenches, we use the latest technology to provide digital vehicle inspections that can be sent straight to your email, phone, or tablet. This is the perfect option for drivers who are busy and on the go. Electronic results are not the only reasons to consider digital inspections. Below are three benefits to choosing a digital vehicle inspection over a traditional one.  Images and Videos During ... read more

You’re driving down the road, drumming your fingers to your stereo as you receive an unwelcome surprise – the check engine light. There are several reasons your dashboard may be alerting you, and all of them aren’t also severe. Since the check engine light can come on for various reasons, it’s crucial to have a trusted automotive expert perform a troubleshoot to identify the exact cause. Staying informed can save you from unnecessary panic if the check engine light can be a quick fix. If your check engine light has recently come on, below are five commons reasons why:  Bad Oxygen Sensor The oxygen sensor plays a vital role in measuring the amount of unburned oxygen within your vehicle’s exhaust system. If you’re noticing that your car is guzzling more gas than usual, followed by the check engine light coming on, you should have the oxygen sensor inspected. The Catalytic Converter is Failing  The catalyt ... read more