AUTONET TV

To Fix or Not To Fix (Tire Repair)

You know that sinking feeling when you realize one of your tires has a problem.  It may be making an odd noise or behaving oddly when you're driving.  You may hit a pothole or curb and one suddenly goes flat.  Or you may head back to your vehicle and discover it has one tire deflated without a clue of what must have happened to it.

With a lot of different tires hitting the streets these days, the issue of whether to have a tire repaired or replaced can be tricky, and we strongly recommend you have a trained technician help you make that decision. 

One of the most common causes of flat tires is picking up a screw or nail in the tread area.  Many of those can be patched and plugged if the puncture isn't more than ¼ inch/6 mm in diameter. Most tires can handle two of this type of repair, but any more and you should buy a new tire. 

If there's a puncture or bulge in the sidewall or shoulder, the rule of thumb is it's not repairable.  The sidewall doesn't have the reinforcements that the tread area does.  In fact, any puncture that's more than a ½ inch/12 mm away from the edge of the tread should not be fixed. 

Many newer vehicles have no spare tires (to save weight and fuel) and instead have a type of tire called "run-flat."  Sometimes, the only way you know they're deflated is when the tire pressure monitor alerts the driver.  Driving on them more than 50 miles/80km can render them un-repairable.  They may be fixable if you pulled off to the side of the road before driving on them too long. Our technicians can evaluate whether they can be driven further or should be replaced.

Other vehicles with no spare include a can of tire sealant and a compressor.  If you use it, tire experts say to have the tire professionally repaired as soon as possible.

If you have had a flat tire, try not to drive on it unless it's necessary to get your vehicle away from a dangerous situation.  Our technicians can evaluate any tire you may be having problems with and recommend whether repair or replacement is the best option. Your safety is riding on your tires.  

Darrell's Firestone
23534 Farmington Rd
Farmington, MI 48336
248-477-9090
www.darrellsfirestone.net

The Car Fluid Most Drivers Forget—And Why It Matters

Here’s an automotive part you might not be familiar with—the differential.  It’s a component that transfers power from the driveshaft to the wheels.  It’s called a differential because the left and right drive wheels travel at different speeds when you make a turn. During that turn, the wheel on the outside travels farther than the one on the inside, so the outside wheel is turning faster. 

Your vehicle’s differential works by having gears that regulate the whole process.  It has fluid inside to reduce friction between the gears. As you can imagine, those gears have a heavy load to handle, so this differential fluid helps reduce friction between the metal parts as they’re moving.  The fluid also carries heat away from the gears to keep temperatures down in the differential.

After a time, the heat and the loads take their toll on the differential fluid.  It starts to accumulate little metal particles from the gears wearing down.  After a while, your differential fluid isn’t as efficient in cooling and lubricating the gears.  The gears start making noise, aren’t as smooth as before and can reduce your fuel economy.  Let the fluid stay in too long and you can wind up having to replace the differential itself, an expensive repair.

The best way to make your differential last as long as possible is by having the differential fluid changed at intervals recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.  Your differential will not only last longer, it will make for smoother operation. It’s especially important if you use your vehicle for towing or do a lot of driving in stop and go traffic.  

It’s a fluid many drivers forget about, but maintaining your differential fluid will pay off in the long run. 

Darrell's Firestone
23534 Farmington Rd
Farmington, MI 48336
248-477-9090
www.darrellsfirestone.net

Automotive Tips from Darrell's Firestone: Wiper Blade Options

Wiper blades are critically important to Farmington drivers for good driving visibility and safety. When it’s time to replace your wiper blades, there are a number of different wiper blade designs and grades. Farmington drivers should always use at least the design or grade that came with their vehicle.

If you live in MI where there is a lot of wet weather, flying insects, or you do a lot of highway driving, you may want to upgrade to a more advanced design or premium quality wiper blade. Your friendly and professional Darrell's Firestone service advisor can share the options available for your vehicle and help you decide which wiper blades are optimal for you.

Give us a call.

Darrell's Firestone
23534 Farmington Rd
Farmington, MI 48336
248-477-9090
www.darrellsfirestone.net

T for Transmission, T for Trouble (Automatic Transmission Trouble Signs)

One of the hardest working components of your vehicle is its transmission, shifting gears up and down when you need it to.  The transmission is vital to your vehicle driving properly, and if you start to see signs of problems in it, it’s best to have them fixed earlier rather than later. (Since nearly all new vehicles have automatic transmissions, we’re leaving manual transmissions for another time since their issues are different.)

One sure sign your transmission has a problem is when you notice it’s not changing gears like it used to.  Or perhaps you observe when it does change gears, they slip when you are driving.  Gear change problems could be as simple as something wrong with your transmission fluid, but it could be more serious, so get this one checked out soon.

Another trouble sign is when you feel your transmission shaking and vibrating as you’re accelerating, decelerating or trying to maintain a constant speed. Hearing odd noises when you are standing still and in neutral is another warning that something’s wrong,

It's always a good idea to look around on the garage floor, or wherever you park your vehicle, to see if there is anything leaking.  Transmission fluid leaks are an important sign of trouble and should be followed up quickly.  The fluid is usually  clear or pinkish red, and it smells sweet.  Call us soon if you see it under your vehicle.

Your nose can also be helpful in sensing when your transmission might need attention.  Transmission fluid can burn when it overheats, and if you smell a burning smell, let your service advisor know as soon as you can.  Other odors that could alert you to transmission problems are burning plastic or rubber from wires. 

The earlier we can catch a transmission problem, the better.  If you drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission and notice any of these trouble signs, have a technician check them out so we can “shift” our attention to it as soon as possible.

Darrell's Firestone
23534 Farmington Rd
Farmington, MI 48336
248-477-9090
www.darrellsfirestone.net

Fuel Filter Replacement

Hello Farmington resident! You would never like to drink a glass of mud, right? Well, your vehicle feels the same way. It needs a steady supply of clean fuel in order to run well and deliver good fuel economy. The fuel filter's job is to clean dirt and rust out of the fuel before it gets to your engine. A clogged fuel filter can actually choke off the engine so that it won't start or run. Some fuel filters have a bypass valve that allows fuel to go around the clogged filter so your vehicle will still run. But, then the contaminated fuel can clog your fuel injectors and allow particles into your engine.

A vehicle with a partially clogged fuel filter might run well around Farmington, but sputter and strain on the because it's starving for gas. There are two things that affect how often you need to replace the filter. They are: where you drive in MI and the gas you buy. If you drive a lot on dirt or gravel roads in rural MI, your fuel filter will have a harder time keeping the fuel clean.

And, we hate to say it, but buying the cheapest gas from bargain stations sometimes means dirtier fuel that'll clog the filter sooner. Major brands tend to be cleaner and certainly have higher levels of detergent additives.

Of course, manufacturers recommend intervals for changing the fuel filter. But, it's a little more complicated than that for Farmington residents. Some manufacturers stopped listing recommended intervals for fuel filter replacement or have very long intervals like every five years or 80,000 miles (130,000 kilometers). So you may need to look to other sources for recommendations. Vehicles older than six or seven years are especially at risk because they have had time for dirt and rust to build up in the fuel tank. A clean fuel filter keeps the gas flowing. Even a partially clogged filter puts added strain on the vehicle fuel pump. That can shorten its life and result in repair.

As is often the case, spending a little money now on something as inexpensive as a fuel filter can save money for Farmington residents down the road by improving and preventing repairs. At Darrell's Firestone in Farmington, we can check your fuel filter. It is better than fixing a burned-out vehicle fuel pump or ruined fuel injectors.

Darrell's Firestone
23534 Farmington Rd
Farmington, MI 48336
248-477-9090
www.darrellsfirestone.net