Gas Smell! (What Causes Gasoline Odors)
Posted February 27, 2022 9:52 AMIf you've ever walked into your garage and noticed it smelled like gasoline, pay attention. Gasoline can be dangerous, both from the health problems fumes can cause and the fire danger gasoline presents.
There are many things that can cause a vehicle to give off a gasoline odor. One of the easiest to track down is the gas cap. It could be missing or it doesn't seal well any more (they do wear out). That can also cause the Check Engine light to light up, so those are clues to tell your service advisor when you take it in for diagnosis.
Another thing that can cause the Check Engine light to come on and produce a gasoline smell is the fuel filler neck. It's the part that goes from the place you put your fuel in to the gas tank. Over time, these can wear out and fail (they're made out of rubber or metal). They can leak gasoline, too.
It's always a good idea to check the garage floor for any gasoline puddles. Note the location of the puddle in relation to the vehicle. If it's near the back, that's possibly the fuel filler neck or the gas tank leaking. In the middle of the vehicle? May be fuel lines. Near the front? Could be fuel injectors (or carburetor if you have one) or fuel pump.
There are other causes of gas odors, and you need an expert to figure out the source soon. Gasoline leaks are nothing to play around with. Gasoline is flammable, potentially explosive and its fumes can damage your lungs. A trained technician can pinpoint the cause and get your garage back to smelling like a normal garage again.
All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903
Water Everywhere (Clogged Drains)
Posted February 20, 2022 8:31 AMIt's bad enough when you mistakenly leave a window open in your vehicle on a rainy day and you find your carpet soaked. But what in the world is going on when your windows are closed tight, not leaking and you STILL wind up with wet carpet? The answer could be something you might not even know your vehicle has.
And the answer is? Drains. And those drains can get clogged. Yes, your vehicle has several drains with tubes or hoses attached to them that you really never see. There are some in and around the hood that channel rainwater down to the ground. There are some that take condensation from the air conditioner and allow it to flow outside. And if your vehicle has a retractable sunroof or moon roof, there are small drains at each corner that connect to tubes that go through the vehicle body down to an exit near the ground.
Considering all the leaves, dirt, dust and other debris your vehicle encounters on a daily basis, it's not surprising that these drains can get blocked. Then when it rains, that water winds up going to the place of least resistance. Sometimes, that's inside the cabin where it shows up as wet carpeting.
So, what's the solution? You may be tempted to see if you can clean out those drains yourself. But there are many people who have tried blowing condensed air in the drains only to find that they literally blow the tubes off of their connections inside the vehicle's body. Reattaching those can be a time-consuming, labor-intensive, expensive proposition.
A trained technician has the equipment and knowledge to clear out those drains properly. To prevent clogged drains, regular maintenance is the key, so when your vehicle is in for other periodic maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations, the technician can make sure all drains are clear and flowing like they should.
All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903
A Sticky Brake Situation (Parking Brake Service and Maintenance)
Posted February 13, 2022 7:49 AMWe've all been there. You park your vehicle on a steeper than usual hill and worry about it rolling down while you're running your errands. So you decide you'll use the parking brake. When you get back, you release the parking brake, hit the ignition, put it in gear and—uh, oh—you can feel the parking brake is still on. It's stuck. What do you do now?
Welcome to the world of infrequently-used parking brakes. Yes, they do stick for several reasons. It's common for components to corrode and get locked up. Sometimes if you have applied it extra hard, it can jam. Could be a rusty cable, could be a spring that doesn't return the brake to its disengaged position. Some pieces just break when they're stressed for the first time in a while. A caliper or the pivot arm it's on can also stick.
There are a few things you can try to unstick it. Carefully rock your vehicle by putting it first in drive and then reverse. You have to be careful doing that, though, because sometimes you can damage the transmission. You can try working the parking brake control a few times to see if that will loosen the corrosion. If you can't unstick it, you can try driving slowly a short distance to a repair facility near you. Sometimes it won't cause damage to the brakes but it depends on how tightly the parking brake was applied and what was stuck. You may also have to have your vehicle towed to a repair facility.
In any case, once you've seen these symptoms, have your vehicle brakes looked at by a professional who can fix the root of the problem. Better yet, don't let your vehicle get in this condition; regular maintenance and inspections by a trained technician should prevent you from getting in a jam somewhere thanks to a stuck parking brake. You could use a "brake" like that.
All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903
Lean Times (Shocks and Springs)
Posted February 6, 2022 12:10 PMYou may have noticed your vehicle going through lean times. By that, we mean it's literally leaning to one side. When you notice that, you should get it checked out at your service facility soon because you could have a serious problem.
Many things can cause a vehicle to lean. You may have problems with your struts, shocks or springs. They all work in tandem to make your ride more comfortable. The struts bear the weight of the vehicle's body, the shock absorbers employ a piston that keeps your tires in contact with the road and controls movement of the vehicle's body. Springs also absorb impacts from uneven road surfaces.
If these components get stuck, either too high or too low, they cause your vehicle to lean. That's because that side of the vehicle isn't at the height it is designed to be. A technician will determine where the problem is. Outside elements such as moisture plus hard knocks to these components can weaken them, eventually resulting in a failure. The metal can get so fatigued that it breaks. Often when one side of a vehicle is too high or too low, your service advisor will advise you to have the other side done as well. That's because if only one side has new parts installed, it won't be level with the side that has old parts.
There are a couple of other reasons vehicles can lean. One is that the suspension can be bent or the chassis twisted, again due to wear and tear by driving on rough roads, over badly maintained railroad tracks or in deep potholes.
Another reason your vehicle may lean is that the tires and/or wheels aren't all the same size. Or one side might have drastically over or underinflated tires. This can be a dangerous condition since the imbalance can affect steering and handling.
Considering what drivers put suspension parts, tires and wheels through, it's not surprising that they can be punished so much that they don't hold up like we want them to. A level-headed driver will make sure to be driving a level vehicle by making sure these components are maintained in good condition.
All Things Automotive & Diesel Service
1997 Walton Ave #C
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
208-523-3903