Cabin Air Filter

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

The following Cabin Air Filter video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

The following Cabin Air Filter animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

Let’s talk about cabin air filters. There seems to be some confusion about them in Hewitt that we should be able to clear up. Much of the confusion starts because cabin air filters are relatively new. Not all vehicles in Hewitt have them, so some people confuse their cabin air filter with the engine air filter.

Every vehicle in TX has an engine air filter that cleans the air going into the engine, but not all have a cabin air filter that cleans the air going into the passenger compartment. Easy to get mixed up.

The cabin air filter cleans out dust, pollen, spores and other pollutants. To give a point of comparison, a grain of sand is about 200 microns across. A cabin air filter can stop particles that are just 3 microns in size. It really does make the passenger cabin a much more pleasant environment.

When the cabin air filter gets dirty, you just need to replace it. Your owner’s manual may have a recommended interval for changing it. If not we can inspect it. You know, it’s ironic that many people who don’t realize they even have a cabin air filter first find out they do when it starts to get smelly.

Some cabin air filters are very easy to access when it’s time to replace them. Others, not so much. We may have to get behind the dashboard and it takes some time.

A clean cabin air filter keeps out smog, allergens and other harmful pollutants. If it’s time, get it changed right away.

At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts.

Fuel System

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

Everyone likes to save money on gas. But cheap no-brand gas may not contain enough detergent additives to keep yourfuel system clean. Major brand gas may cost a few cents more per gallon, but it can help prevent expensive fuel system repairs down the road. At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.

Timing Belts

Posted on February 20, 2012 by

They say timing is everything. That’s doubly true when it comes to your timing belt. First, your timing belt keeps your valves operating in time with your engine so that it runs properly. Second, if you replace your timing belt on schedule, you’ll likely avoid the downtime and expense that can result from a broken or slipping timing belt. At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.

Drum Brakes

Posted on February 17, 2012 by

The following Drum Brakes video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

The following Drum Brakes animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

Brakes that work properly are essential to your safety as you drive and stop on our Woodway streets. You want to carefully maintain your brakes. In vehicles equipped with drum brakes, the brake components are housed inside a drum that rotates with the wheel. When you step on the brake pedal, brake shoes push out against the inside of the drum, slowing the wheel.

Now brake shoes just wear away with use from rubbing on the drum as you brake. When it’s time to replace brake shoes, it’s a straight-forward repair.

If you hear squealing or grinding when braking, have your Woodway service advisor check them out. He’ll have a technician perform a thorough brake inspection to see what needs to be done. He’ll check for signs of brake problems and go over other brake components to see that they’re working properly.

He can tell you if it’s time to replace the brake shoes or if there are other issues with your brakes that should be addressed. Some people in our Woodway community ignore the warning signs and keep driving long after the shoes are completely worn out. When that happens, metal brake components will grind against the drum, damaging it enough that it has to be resurfaced or replaced.

When you push on your brake pedal, the wheel cylinder is activated and it pushes the shoes against the drum to slow the vehicle. This cylinder, and various springs within the brake, can wear out affecting your ability to stop. The worn components can be easily replaced.

The new brake shoes we put on your truck or other vehicle will restore your brakes to manufacturers’ specifications. Or, we can install upgraded parts to increase your stopping power and reduce brake noise and brake dust. We have several options to meet your braking requirements and your budget.

Taking care of your brakes keeps them working safely – and you could prevent premature brake repairs down the road.

At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts.

Power Brakes

Posted on February 16, 2012 by

The following Power Brakes video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

The following Power Brakes animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

Basically, the power brake system helps you provide braking power so that you don’t have to do all the work with your brake pedal.

The brakes themselves are applied at the wheel using hydraulic pressure. When we step on the brake pedal, we create pressure in the power booster that’s multiplied by vacuum from the engine. The resulting pressure pushes brake fluidthrough the master cylinder into tubes and hoses that run to the brake at each wheel.

When there’s a problem, it’s usually a fluid leak somewhere along the line. It could be at a fitting or a hose, or even an internal leak in the master cylinder. A leak gives the pressurized fluid somewhere to go other than to the brakes, so stopping power is hurt. Lose enough fluid and you can’t stop at all. Of course that’s extremely dangerous.

If you notice any decrease in stopping power or if your pedal seems mushy, you could have a problem. There are some preventive maintenance items for the power brake system that will help them last longer.

Obviously you’d want to make sure your brake fluid is filled to the recommended level. Low fluid in the master cylinder could indicate a leak or worn brake material. Master cylinder leaks are usually just because it’s worn out but, leaks in the brake lines and connectors can be minimized by replacing the brake fluid from time to time. Brake fluid has additives that protect against corrosion that can damage brake components.

Brake fluid also attracts moisture which can lead to rust – not a good thing for expensive anti-lock brake components. Also, significant amounts of water in the brake fluid can affect stopping power because the water has a much lower boiling point than brake fluid. In the high temperature environment of the brake system, the water can vaporize – and steam doesn’t do a very good job of providing hydraulic pressure.

A final word – make sure you use the recommended type of brake fluid. There are several kinds and using the wrong one can lead to total brake failure. Your Hewitt service advisor at Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center can help you. Just give us a call at 254.753.2491.

At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts.

Tire Rotation

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

The following Tire Rotation and Balancing video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

The following Tire Rotation and Balancing animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

You can make your truck tires last longer with regular tire rotation and wheel balancing.

Let’s start with tire rotation. In normal driving around Woodway TX, your front tires wear more on the shoulders because they handle much of the cornering forces in turns. Front-wheel drive vehicles have even more force on the front tires.

We rotate the tires so that all of the tires do some duty on the front end as well as getting a little break on the back end. That way, all four tires wear more evenly over their life and last longer.

For most vehicles in Woodway TX, tires are rotated front to back. Some manufacturers recommend a cross rotational pattern that includes the spare tire, and some high-performance vehicles have different size tires on the front and rear and may even have uni-directional tires that can only be on the left or the right side of the vehicle. Your Woodway TX service advisor at Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center can help you sort that out and will perform the right tire rotation for your vehicle.

Your tire manufacturer will have a recommendation for how often you should rotate your tires. It’s usually somewhere around 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

Let’s move on to wheel balancing. That’s when there are heavy spots on the tire and wheel that cause it to wobble.

Balancing adds weights to the wheel to balance it out. Now, we are talking about very small weight differences. Variations in the tire and wheel manufacture can cause a slight imbalance. The valve stem, and now the tire pressure monitoring sensors in the tire, also play into the equation.

Even small differences can cause annoying vibrations at speed: the wheel is essentially bouncing a bit as it goes down the road. For example, at freeway speeds, an out of balance wheel can be slamming into the road 14 times a second. That’s annoying and can cause your tires to wear out more quickly.

If a front wheel’s out of balance you’ll feel the vibration through the steering wheel. When it’s a rear tire, you’ll feel the vibration through your seat. If you’re getting bad vibes from your vehicle, bring it in to see if it’s a balance issue or something else. You should balance your wheels whenever you get a new tire or remount a tire like when it’s been removed for a flat repair.

Give us a call:

Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center
6025 Woodway Drive
Woodway, TX 76712
254.753.2491

At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts.

Disc Brakes

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

The following Disc Brakes video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

The following Disc Brakes animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

Your brakes are extremely important as you drive around Woodway TX. Having good brakes just keeps you out of trouble. You’ll want to carefully maintain your brakes. With disc brakes, brake pads rub on a disc – or rotor – to slow the wheels.

The brake pads are attached to a caliper that squeezes the pads against the rotor. It’s kind of like how squeezing the handbrake on a bicycle pushes the brake pads against the wheel of the bike.

Now pads just wear away with use – kind of like a pencil eraser wears out. The good news is that replacing brake pads is a straight-forward repair.

If you hear squealing or grinding when you use the brakes, have your Woodway TX service advisor check them out. He’ll have a technician perform a thorough brake inspection to see what needs to be done. He’ll check for signs of brake problems and go over other brake components to see that they’re working properly.

He can tell you if it’s time to replace the pads or if there are other issues with your brakes that should be addressed. Some people ignore the warning signs and keep driving long after the pads are completely worn out. When that happens, metal brake components will grind on the rotor, damaging it enough that it needs to be resurfaced or replaced.

Rotors can also warp or crack, in which case they’ll need to be replaced. Brake calipers also wear out over time. They can develop leaks or the caliper pistons can freeze open or closed – either way it’s not good. When this happens it’s time to replace the calipers. A thorough brake inspection will reveal worn bearings or seals as well.

The new brake pads we put on your vehicle will restore your brakes to manufacturers’ specifications. Or, we can install upgraded parts to increase your stopping power and reduce brake noise and brake dust. We have several options to meet your braking requirements and your budget.

Taking care of your brakes keeps them working safely – and you could prevent premature brake repairs down the road.

At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Call us from Lorena at 254.753.2491.

Air Filter

Posted on February 13, 2012 by

Your vehicle uses about 12,000 gallons of air for every gallon of fuel you burn. That’s about 100 gallons of air every block. All that air needs to be filtered to keep your engine clean and your fuel economy good. If you replace your dirty engine air filter it might just pay for itself with fuel savings before your next oil change. At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 254.753.2491 and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road.

Full System

Posted on February 13, 2012 by

The following Fuel System video is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

The following Fuel System animation is presented by Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center:

I’d like to give our friends in Woodway TX a quick overview of the fuel system. It starts with the fuel pump. The fuel pump is located inside the tank and pumps fuel out to the engine. Somewhere along the way is a fuel filter whose job is to filter out dirt before it hits the engine. Then there’s the fuel intake system and the fuel injectors that deliver the fuel to be burned in the engine.

Our focus is to discuss how to make the various components of your fuel system work well and last as long as possible.

Now the best thing you can do for your fuel pump is to use good quality fuel. Top tier gas typically has fewer contaminants and more detergents to keep things clean. Using good gas, or adding a fuel system cleaner to your tank, can prolong the life of your fuel pump. Because the fuel pump lives inside your tank, it’s pretty expensive to replace, so helping it last as long as possible is a worthwhile goal.

The fuel filter catches dirt and contaminants. When it’s clogged, your engine may not be able to get enough fuel and could sputter. Many fuel filters have a bypass valve that allows unfiltered fuel past when the filter’s clogged.

That prevents your engine from dying while you’re driving, but it can’t protect your engine from dirty fuel. Check your owner’s manual or talk with your Woodway TX service advisor at Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center about when you should replace your fuel filter.

Call Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center at 254.753.2491

Now fuel will cause gum and varnish to build up in the fuel intake system. A professional fuel system cleaning will remove the gunk to keep fuel flowing freely and help prevent contamination from reaching your fuel injectors and your engine.

Fuel injectors squirt fuel into the engine. The fuel must be delivered in a precise amount, at a precise time, under precise pressure and in a precise pattern. Pressure can range from 45 pounds per square inch to 45,000 pounds per square inch depending on the engine. As you may guess, fuel injectors cost a lot. Allowing them to get gummed up will not only hurt your performance and fuel economy, it will cause the injectors to wear out much more quickly than they should.

A professional fuel system cleaning will keep injectors clean and working correctly. It’ll also clean deposits from the inside of the combustion chamber and off the intake valves giving you optimum performance and mileage.

Check with your Woodway service advisor at Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center and see when he recommends you get a fuel system cleaning.

At Kendrick Tire & Auto Repair Center in Woodway TX we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at254.753.2491. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.