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FALCONER AUTO REPAIR

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Yearly Archives: 2013

Fuel Injection Keeps Getting Better for Falconer Motorists

Falconer residents know that engines burn fuel to operate. Fuel is pumped from your fuel tank to your engine where it is squirted—or injected—into your engine's cylinders. This is the function of the fuel injectors.There are two ways to inject fuel into an engine. Fuel needs air to burn, so in the first method, fuel is injected into a port and allowed to mix with airand before it is drawn into the cylinders. In the second method, fuel is injected directly into the cylinders and mixes with air after it enters the engine.Direct injection engines burn fuel more efficiently than conventional engines. Some models can deliver the power of a V8 with the economy of a V6.For example, in one family of engines, the conventional version (a V6) delivers about 250 horsepower. The direct injection version delivers over 300 horsepower and gets about the same . The turbocharged version delivers 350 horsepower.Why the big difference in power? Direct i ... read more

Categories:

Fuel System

On Board Diagnostics for Your vehicle

Today we're going to talk about on-board diagnostics and the questions we hear from folks around Falconer, New York, who need answers about diagnostic services. They want to know what diagnostics are, what's involved and what the benefits are. They really want to understand the value of diagnostic scans by a trained technician in Falconer.These are valid concerns. If you don't understand something it's really hard to know its value. Let's start with some history.Since 1996, all cars and light trucks in Falconer, New York, have been required to use a standardized diagnostic system to help repair technicians determine what's wrong with your vehicle. The diagnostic system works with the vehicle's Engine Control Module – the computer that controls many engine functions.The computer monitors dozens of components and processes. Depending on what the sensors read, the computer will make adjustments to compensate for conditions and minor problems. When there is a condition that it can't ... read more

Economics of Maintenance for Falconer Auto Owners

Buying a new car in Falconer is always a big financial decision. The allure of that new car smell is powerful, to be sure. But what if your current car is still in good shape? How do you decide?People in Falconer who've been used to driving a new car every three to five years may be having second thoughts in this economy. For many, the question is, how does the certainty of a new car payment stack up against uncertain repairs for a car that may be out of warranty?For purposes of our discussion, let's assume you live right here in Falconer and have a five year old vehicle. It's now paid off. If you keep it, you fear that there'll be some repairs over the next five years, but you really don't know what to expect. For help we turned to maintenance and repair information for cars and trucks. With this data, they project likely service and repair costs for a particular make and model. They're able to use manufacturer's maintenan ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Save Fuel by Watching Your Weight

Most Falconer drivers are all talking right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. New York folks want to save the environment and our pocketbooks.And we Falconer drivers all know — or should know — that preventive maintenance will help maintain maximum fuel efficiency. But is there something more we can do? After all, some of us Falconer road warriors can't cut back on our driving, and others would like to do more to economize.Weight is one major enemy of fuel economy. The more you lug around in your vehicle, the more fuel you have to burn to get around Falconer. And that means buying more gas and producing more emissions.Of course, your vehicle's weight isn't negotiable. And you can't do much about the weight of your passengers. And this isn't an article about diet and exercise.But look around your car. Are you hauling a bunch of unnecessary weight while driving around Falconer? Do you really need your golf clubs every time y ... read more

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Fuel Economy

Finding Vehicle Recall Information in Falconer, New York

No matter how well they're made, vehicles in Falconer, New York, will have design or manufacturing problems. And when the government thinks a problem is really serious for people in Falconer, New York, they require the manufacturer to issue a recall notice and fix the vehicle  free of charge. The manufacturer then tries to contact everyone in New York who owns that type of vehicle to get the recall work done. Perhaps you have received a postcard notifying you of a recall. The government has links on its websites, or just visit AutoNetTV for links. There are many websites with free recall information and searches. There's CarFax, AutoByTel and the DMV.Recalls are serious but not all that common. Sometimes there are fewer issues, and for these, manufacturers issue a Technical Service Bulletin, or TSB, that tells service centers like I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service how to repair a frequent or difficult problem.The pro ... read more

Categories:

Fuel System

Battery Replacement at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service in Falconer

Battery Replacement at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service in Falconer

Hello, welcome to I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service. Today's focus is batteries. It seems like everything in Falconer runs on batteries. Of course, the batteries we're most concerned with here at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service are those in our customer's vehicles. Just like the batteries in our smoke detectors or TV remote, they wear out and need to be replaced . This can be thought of as the power output used to start a cold vehicle engine. The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live in New York, specifically how cold it is. (Many Falconer drivers have first-hand experience trying to start their car on a cold winter morning.) The two factors are that the colder your vehicle's engine is, the more power it takes to turn the engine over to get it started. It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend with.The other factor is that the chemical reaction in the battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient whe ... read more

Categories:

Battery

Stop It! You Need Good Brakes

Good brakes are obviously very important. If you've ever had your brakes go out while you're driving around the Falconer area, you'll know how terrifying it can be. Today we'll focus on how to tell when you have a brake problem and how to make good repair choices. Often, the first indication that something's wrong with the brakes is an unusual sound. It could be a squeal, chatter or grinding sound. Some brake pads have a little piece of metal embedded in them that will make a squeal or chirping sound when the brake pads have been worn down to the point that they need to be replaced. It's an early warning indicator. When you hear that sound, schedule an appointment at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service soon. Now a chattering sound is more urgent. That usually indicates that something is loose. It could be a brake pad or even the brake calipers. If one of those parts falls off, you could have some serious trouble stopping the vehicle. I ... read more

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Brakes

Which Item Is Most Stolen from Vehicles in Falconer?

  Which item is most often stolen from vehicles in Falconer?Is it: Stereo Wheels Air Bag DVD System Well, if you said stereo – you used to be right. But airbags have now surpassed stereos as the biggest target for theft in New York – approximately 50,000 a year are stolen across the country. New airbags cost about $1,000, but go for $50 to $200 on the black market in New York.Stolen airbags are making their way back into cars that have been in an accident. Of course, the danger to the consumer of having a stolen airbag installed is that you can never be sure what may have previously affected them and if they will work right when you need them. Contact us at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service for more information about where to get your airbags checked or replaced.Find us at 1739 Lindquist Drive, Falconer, New York 14733You can reach us by phone at: 716-665-2501 There are reports that 1 in 25 airb ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Can Your Car Last Another Year?

Have you checked out the price of new vehicles at Falconer car dealers? Ouch! Add financing and insurance and a new ride may not seem so attractive. A lot of Falconer, New York, folks are hoping to make their cars last a lot longer.Fortunately, with the current state of automotive engineering and manufacturing, there's no reason a modern vehicle can't be made to last for a 150,000 miles (250,000 kilometers) or more for smart Falconer drivers.The old adage: 'a stitch in time saves nine' is really true for Falconer residents when it comes to car maintenance. A great example is coolant service.Over time, coolant becomes corrosive and actually starts to damage your radiator and other parts. Smart Falconer drivers have their cooling system service taken care of right on schedule at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service.Ditto for your power steering system, brake fluid, air conditioning system, differential and transmission. Of course, oil changes should be done right on schedule to av ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Why Wheel Balancing and Tire Rotation Save You Money on Tires

Falconer drivers want their tires to last as long as possible. Two ways to extend tire life are wheel balancing and tire rotation.When wheels are out of balance, they wobble and vibrate. That makes the tires wear in a cupping pattern. If a front wheel is out of balance you'll feel it in the steering wheel. If it's a rear wheel you'll feel it through your seat. To fix this, your technician at I-86 Truck Repair & Auto Service puts weights on your wheels to balance them out.That brings us to tire rotation. The front tires on a vehicle wear out faster than the rear tires. As they push through turns, the shoulders of the front tires wear down. So rotating front and rear tires allows them to all wear at about the same rate over the life of the tire.Proper tire inflation will also help Falconer folks' tires last longer. Underinflated tires wear more on the shoulder and may even overheat. This could cause tire damage or a blow out. Overinflated tires wear too fast in the middl ... read more

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Tires and Wheels