FALCONER AUTO REPAIR

Heat is one thing that can damage a vehicle, especially if a problem isn’t taken care of soon.  Be on the lookout for signs that it’s getting too hot in some parts of your vehicle, starting with the most obvious one: the heat gauge/warning light on your instrument panel. When you see that heat gauge heading into the H zone or the warning light comes on, it’s often because your engine’s coolant is contaminated or running low.  It’s important to let a pro look at it soon before serious damage is done, The radiator is another trouble spot that can cause overheating.  It has a fan that needs to run properly, and it needs to be free of debris and dirt. Another radiator trouble spot is the core.  When it gets clogged and coolant isn’t circulating as it should, an overheated engine can be the result. Have your cooling system checked regularly, including its thermostat. Your water pump is another part of the cooling system that can wear o ... read more

When you are comfortably headed down the road, you may not realize how many of the imperfections in the driving surface are being smoothed out, so you hardly feel most of them.  You can thank your shock absorbers for a lot of that comfort, and it’s important to make sure you keep your shocks in good shape. Newer vehicles have shock absorbers in the back wheels with another shock absorbing assembly in the front which may also have a spring component as well, called struts.   Shock absorbers not only keep your vehicle traveling smoothly and comfortably, but they also contribute to its stability.  Increased stability will help you be able to handle sharp turns and sudden stops more easily.  Shocks also prolong the life of your tires because they’ll grip the road more tightly.  And a nice side benefit of that is your tires should last longer.   After months hitting a lot of bumps on uneven road surfaces, eventually your shock absorbers will start t ... read more

You may have heard someone say they just got the air filter replaced in their vehicle.  But did you know your vehicle has two different major air filters and they both perform quite different—but very important—duties? Today’s vehicles have a cabin air filter, and an engine air filter.  The engine air filter cleans the air that enters your engine so it can run better, and so contaminants don’t foul vital parts.  While the cabin air filter keeps the air inside the vehicle’s cabin clean, the place where you and your passengers sit.   It is important that you have each of these types of filters changed at regular intervals, or earlier if either shows signs that they’re contaminated. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual often will recommend how long that interval should be. First, let’s look at the engine air filter. Your vehicle’s manufacturer will offer guidelines on how often you should change the engine air filter ... read more

It’s always more comfortable in your vehicle when you can control temperature and humidity in the cabin. Air conditioning, which is standard on most newer vehicles, is a vital part of that comfort, and a key component of that system is the condenser. The condenser converts the refrigerant gas into a liquid by cooling it down.  There are a few reasons the condenser can fail.  It can start leaking, which is usually caused by faulty seals and tubes, or debris from the road can damage it since it sits in a vulnerable spot at the front of your vehicle.   Another way your condenser can be damaged is when bits of metal are released after your vehicle’s air conditioning compressor fails and are sent into the condenser. In both cases, you will have to have the condenser replaced as well as other components that are part of the system. Here are signs that your condenser needs replacing.  When you turn on your air conditioning, it won’t make the air as cold a ... read more