JW Auto Care - Scottsdale

When all of a vehicle's wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Hitting a road hazard in SCOTTSDALE or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday AZ driving can cause your vehicle wheels to be out of alignment. This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear. Here are some alignment basics from JW Auto Care: The first angle is called toe: Do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire? The next angle is called camber: Do the wheels tip in or out at the top? And finally, there is castor. Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle. The ideal alignment for your vehicle was designed by its engineers. JW Auto Care alignment service starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension to see if anything's bent, broken or worn o ... read more

Question:Why isn't my air conditioner blowing cold air? JW Auto Care Answer: Your air conditioning system uses refrigerant to create cold air. The most common reasons SCOTTSDALE drivers lose their cold air have to do with the refrigerant. The first is not enough refrigerant. Refrigerant is a gas in the system, and very small holes in a hose, seal or coupler can allow enough to leak out to prevent the creation of cold air. Another potential problem for SCOTTSDALE auto owners is contamination. Over time the inside of the rubber hoses can deteriorate, and little bits of rubber can clog up various filters and other parts of the vehicle A/C system, preventing proper circulation of the refrigerant. And a component could also be worn or broken. So the first step for SCOTTSDALE drivers who can't cool their vehicle is a thorough air conditio ... read more

Power steering is easy to take for granted – you spin the steering wheel and your car turns.  But behind the scenes your power steering is making it easy.  The vast majority of vehicles on the road have hydraulic power steering systems, which means that pressurized fluid is used to help you do the work of steering.  A pump pressurizes the power steering fluid to provide the boost you need.  In some vehicles the pump is driven by the serpentine belt, in others there’s an electric pump. The problem is that over time, the fluid becomes contaminated and can cause leaks in the hoses and connections.  It gets harder to steer and could even cause total failure of the power steering system. Periodically, your service advisor may recommend that the old, dirty fluid be cleaned out of your system and fresh fluid be installed.  This helps the power steering components last longer and maintains your vehicle’s steering performance and keeps you safe ... read more

When SCOTTSDALE drivers take a corner in their vehicle, the outside wheels have a slightly longer distance to go than the inside wheels. That means that the outside wheels have to turn a bit faster than the inside. The piece of mechanical wizardry that makes this possible for is called the differential. The differential allows the drive wheels to rotate at different speeds in turns without the wheel binding or hopping. If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the differential is on the rear axle. You've seen that bulge in the middle of the axle when you're behind a truck; that's the differential.  If you have a front-wheel drive vehicle, the differential function is handled by your transaxle. Of course, all-wheel drive vehicles have differentials on both axles. They also have a center differential or a transfer case between the front and rear axles to compensate for speed differences betw ... read more

The oil and fuel in your vehicle give off vapors that are very harmful to the environment. Evaporative emissions control systems – EVAP for short – are mandated in all cars and trucks. The EVAP system is there to capture these vapors and direct them into the engine to be burned – kind of an on-board recycling program. The EVAP system is a complicated network of hoses, valves, filters and such. Issues with the EVAP system are in the top 5 reasons for a Check Engine light to be illuminated. Your friendly and knowledgeable JW Auto Care service advisor can pull the trouble codes and begin a diagnostic procedure to isolate the fault. With the proper equipment, your technician can test the valves in order to trace a blockage. A low pressure smoke test can be performed to find any leaks. The repairs are then made to get the EVAP system working again and to reset the Check Engine light. While EVAP problems don't generally lead to vehicle damage, the fact that they tri ... read more

Although several newer vehicles are coming equipped with electric power steering, the vast majority of cars and trucks on the road use a hydraulic power boost system.  With hydraulics, fluid is pressurized by a pump which actuates a hydraulic cylinder to reduce steering effort.  Some of these pumps are powered by an electric motor.  Most pumps are powered by the serpentine belt driven by the engine. Power steering fluid provides power assistance and protects components from rust and corrosion.  Manufacturers recommend that the fluid be replaced on schedule.  The old fluid is drained, and the system cleaned thoroughly.  Fresh fluid is then installed. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize how important it is to service their power steering, or even that it should be done at all.  A neglected power steering system can develop leaks and the pump won’t last as long. Signs that you may be having problems with your power steering system in ... read more