Looking at getting some new tires? The choices at Limerick tire stores can be a little overwhelming. Suppose you have an SUV and are trying to decide between all season tires or some that are also rated for off-highway. Do you get off the payment on the outskirts of Limerick more than most? If so, some additional off-road traction would be nice.
Maybe the real reason for wanting those off-highway tires is that they look cool. Well there’s nothing wrong with that. If you make sure that you’ve got your functional needs covered with your selection, then you can have some fun with where you go from there.
Let’s suppose you zip around Limerick in a sporty car. You may like to run a high-performance summer tire when the weather’s good. When PA weather turns cold, you can put on high-performance winter tires. For the kind of driving you like to do, you want full-on performance tires. All-season tires are naturally a compromise that works well for most Limerick drivers, but since you have a choice, go for dedicated summer and winter tires.
When it’s time for new tires, visit with a knowledgeable Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. tire professional. Describe your needs and wants. He’ll come up with some selections for you to discuss. And once you settle on a type of tire, there are options for special needs: like pulling a trailer or carrying heavy loads.
Tires are one of the biggest purchases for Limerick drivers. With so many choices, you’ll be able to get what’s best for you. Take their time. And don’t worry about what’s in stock. If you want something that isn’t here at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc., manager John Wynne can order it. Chances are you’ll be rolling on your new tires in a couple of days.
Flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances can all be the result of Collegeville folks driving around on under-inflated tires. Now, it’s hard to tell when a radial tire is under-inflated. If your manufacturer recommends 35 pounds of pressure, your Sedan tire’s considered significantly under inflated at 26 pounds. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds.
New laws required manufacturers to include a Tire Pressure Monitoring System – or TPMS system – in all cars and light trucks by the 2008 model year. The system has a dashboard mounted warning light that goes off if one or more of the tires falls 25% below manufacturer’s pressure recommendations.
This technology has been used by Collegeville race car drivers for years. They are able to head off problems from under inflation by closely monitoring tire pressure on the track. It’s up to your car’s manufacturer to determine which of many TPMS systems available they’ll use to comply with the law.
Obviously, all of this doesn’t come free for Collegeville drivers. U.S. government studies have estimated the net costs. Of course, the TPMS system itself will cost something. Maintaining the system will have a cost, replacement of worn or broken parts and tire repair cost increases.
The costs are partially offset by savings in fuel and tire wear. There’s also a saving in property damage and travel delay. The net cost is estimated to be between $27 and $100. The government predicts fewer fatal accidents. They estimate that it will cost between three and nine million dollars for every life saved.
Your safety has always been a concern at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc.. We want you on the road and accident free. We’ve traditionally provided things like tire rotations, snow tire mounting and flat fixes at a very low cost. We’ve been able to quickly and cheaply provide the service, and pass the low cost on to you as an expression of our good will.
That’s why we’re concerned about how you’ll perceive the changes that this new law will force. Every time a tire is changed: taken off to fix a flat, a new tire installed, a snow tire mounted; the Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. service technician is now going to have to deal with the TPMS system.
Even a simple tire rotation will require that the monitor be reprogrammed to the new location of each tire. When a car battery is disconnected, the TPMS system will need to be reprogrammed. TPMS sensor batteries will need to be changed and failed parts replaced.
Like all other Collegeville service centers, here at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. we’ve had to purchase new scanning equipment to work with the TPMS sensors and to update expensive tire change equipment to better service wheels equipped with the new monitoring systems. Our Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. service technicians have been thoroughly trained on many systems and new tire-changing techniques. All of this adds up to significantly increased cost to perform what was once a very inexpensive service for you.
So when you start so see the cost of tire changes, flat repairs and rotations going up at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc., please keep in mind that it’s because of government mandated safety equipment. We want to keep you safely on the road – and we’re committed to doing it at a fair price. This new safety equipment will help you avoid the most common types of vehicle failure in Collegeville, and possibly a catastrophic accident.
Most Collegeville drivers wait for their air conditioning to fail before they service it at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc.. That’s because many Trappe and Limerick motorists don’t really understand that automotive air conditioners need periodic service. Let me share some of the reasons why they fail.
First, like every machine, the Sedan air conditioner parts need lubrication. The lubricant is actually mixed in with the refrigerant (that’s the stuff that makes the air cool). So sometimes, even though the air conditioner is still making cool air, the oil that lubricates the parts has just been used up: and unlubricated parts can fail in all PA cars.
Now here’s a tip for Collegeville drivers: You should run your air conditioner every so often during PA winters. This circulates the lubricant to help keep the seals from drying out.
The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your windshield during PA winters or during a rain storm, running the A/C on the defrost setting should help. Now on some Collegeville cars you can’t run the A/C at the same time as the defroster. Don’t ask me why, but I suspect lawyers were involved.
Also, air and water can get into the A/C system. That can reduce the efficiency of the system and also lead to corrosion that causes damage. Collegeville drivers should periodically purge the system and replace the refrigerant to clear out the air and water.
Trappe drivers should be aware of early warning signs of trouble: One might be that the air’s not as cold as it used to be. You may hear an unusual noise when the A/C cycles on. Those are signs to get your vehicle into Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. in Trappe before the damage gets worse.
So following the recommended service intervals in your Sedan owner’s manual can help prevent mechanical failure of your air conditioning system. You’re A/C system contains some expensive components like the compressor, condenser, dryer, etc. Anything Collegeville and Limerick car owners can do to lengthen the life of their A/C is well worth it.
When your Sedan breaks down, or just needs some routine service, you might get a little nervous. Your car’s so important to your life in Limerick, you need to back on the road as soon as possible – with the problem fixed right the first time.
If you’ve ever checked into some of the technician training Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. professionals receive, you may be surprised at how much knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern car. Let me give you some perspective. Today there are four cylinder engines that make more power than the V-8’s in luxury cars twenty years ago. I mean a new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket’s Ferrari in a race to sixty.
Our engines are more and more powerful and at the same time their fuel economy keeps inching up – even with steep Limerick gas prices. And they’re so reliable. This is all due to engineering. But the advances come at the price of simplicity. The modern cars driving around Limerick roads are so much more complex from a mechanical standpoint that it makes your head spin – not to mention the electronics.
Some cars have several networked computers controlling most of the engine functions and many other vehicle functions as well. Limerick motorists take all of this sophistication for granted – but somebody has to fix it when it breaks. It’s a real challenge for Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. technicians to keep up, but we work hard to stay ahead of the technology. It requires a high level of commitment on the part of the technician and the Limerick service center as well.
In addition to the training, there’s the financial commitment to purchase the diagnostic and repair tools. Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. technicians receive training through a combination of formal classroom training, training provided at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. by parts and equipment manufacturers, on-line courses and home study courses.
There are many independent certifications available at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. all the way up to Master Technician. The ability to repair your Sedan requires a strong combination of training and resources. No one can know everything, so Limerick auto service centers subscribe to data services, technical libraries and even on-line communities that can help them when they run into a difficult problem.
It’s like those medical diagnosis shows on TV. Here are the symptoms – what’s the diagnosis and treatment? Diagnosis is every bit as much an art as a science. At Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc., we want everything to be simple, straightforward and cheap – but sometimes it just isn’t.
So try to be more relaxed next time you bring us your Sedan. You’re in good hands.
Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy Limerick and Royersford car owners until serious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment from the rest by hitting a curb or pothole on Collegeville roads.
When a vehicle’s out of alignment, one or more of the wheels does not track true and pulls against the others. The tires will wear out very quickly and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to Sedan suspension damage.
But the big issue for Limerick, Royersford, and Trappe motorists is safety. When your Sedan wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you’re out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. in Trappe.
At Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc., your vehicle is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings.
Adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in precisely the same direction.
Signs of alignment problems are: Your car pulls to one side. Also, your steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your Collegeville service center look it over. If you’ve been in an auto accident in PA that involved a wheel, you should get your alignment checked.
A big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but Limerick drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.
That’s why your manufacturer recommends periodic alignment checks. If your Sedan owner’s manual doesn’t specify, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with John Wynne or your service advisor at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. in Trappe.
One thing’s for sure: the cost of the alignment at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. is cheaper than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.
Some Trappe motorists are confused by Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. charges for diagnostic services for a vehicle repair. Many services at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. and other Trappe automotive repair shops include diagnostic fees.
When you take your laptop into a Collegeville computer repair shop for a problem you’ll likely have to leave a deposit for diagnostics. When we visit our Collegeville doctor for a medical problem, we’re paying him to diagnose our ailment and of course for the tests that go along with it.
So receiving a diagnostic charge at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. for a tricky automotive problem shouldn’t be a surprise. In the Collegeville area, automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range. If you hear a noise in your Sedan brakes when you slow down in rush-hour traffic on a busy PA expressway, you pull off the next off-ramp and take a quick visual check. That is usually enough to know what needs to be done. If you’re having an intermittent problem with your Sedan engine, Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. diagnosis may be much more involved.
Much of the Collegeville public’s confusion comes when the problem involves the check engine light. The check engine light comes on when the engine management computer has sensed a problem.
There’s a common misconception among Collegeville, Limerick, and Royersford drivers that the trouble code tells the Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. technician exactly what’s wrong. Why then is there a diagnostic charge, the scanner just gave the diagnosis?
Reality is more involved than that. The computer monitors many sensors throughout the vehicle. When one of these sensors has a reading that’s out of parameters, the computer will record a trouble code and turn on the check engine light.
The Sedan computer’s trouble code just tells the Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. technician what engine parameter is out of range – not what’s causing it. The technician needs to determine the underlying problem that’s causing the symptom.
There are many problems that could cause a troublesome sensor reading for Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. Trappe customers. The Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. technician makes a list of the most likely causes and begins tracking down the source of the problem.
Collegeville service centers subscribe to databases that document possible causes for a given trouble code. They outline procedures for confirming a diagnosis and provide the documented fix. These databases are specific to each vehicle and engine combination.
Some diagnoses are quick and easy. Others are more involved and difficult. Of course Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. wants to figure out what’s wrong with your Sedan and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
Every Trappe car owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told that their engine air filter’s dirty.
Here’s what goes into the determination of when to change the filter: First, your Sedan owner’s manual will have a recommendation of when to change the filter. Second, a visual inspection by your Collegeville technician may determine that your filter it is visibly dirty and needs to be changed.
So between your owner’s manual and your Collegeville technician’s inspection there’s really no guesswork involved.
Now, most air filters purchased in Collegeville, Limerick, or Royersford don’t cost a lot to replace. It’s just that PA people hate getting caught with an unexpected expense. On the plus side, though, changing a dirty air filter at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. can often save enough on gas to pay for itself before your next oil change in Collegeville.
Think about a dirty furnace filter in your Limerick home. When it’s all clogged up, enough clean air can’t get through. In your Sedan, that means that your engine can’t get as much air as it needs to burn the fuel efficiently. So it makes do with less air and has to use more expensive PA gas to move your vehicle around Collegeville roads.
Your Sedan actually needs about 12,000 gallons of air for every gallon of gas it burns. Engine air filters don’t cost much in Trappe at Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc.. When it’s time to change yours, just get it done. You’ll save buy less expensive Collegeville fuel, have better performance and protect your engine.
In very simple terms, a fuel injector is a valve that squirts fuel into your Sedan engine. Your engine control computer tells the fuel injector how much fuel to deliver as well as the precise time it should be delivered. Of course this happens thousands of times a minute in every single fuel-injected car driving down Collegeville, Limerick, and Royersford roads.
Most fuel injectors for gas engines are known in the Collegeville auto industry as port fuel injectors because they deliver the fuel to a port just outside the cylinder. The fuel pump provides pressure needed to squirt the right amount of fuel into the engine.
A few auto makers have recently introduced gas direct injection systems on some engines. They are now available at some Collegeville dealerships. These systems inject the gas directly into the cylinders under very high pressure – many times the pressure of port injection systems.
Although more complicated, direct injection technology promises greater power with improved fuel economy for gas-poor Collegeville, Limerick, and Royersford commuters. PA motorists can expect to see more of it in the future. High temperatures under your Sedan hood and variations in Collegeville gas quality cause fuel injectors to be fouled with wax, dirt, water, additives and carbon. Injectors can become partially clogged, preventing them from delivering the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure.
When injectors are dirty, the fuel doesn’t burn as efficiently resulting in poor fuel economy and loss of power. So it’s important for Trappe drivers keep their fuel injectors clean.
Your Trappe Wynne’s Express Lube & Auto Repair Inc. service center can perform a fuel system service for you in which the fuel injectors are cleaned so that they operate properly and deliver the right amount of fuel at the right time.
Proper maintenance of your Sedan fuel system means that you will spend less on gas, enjoy strong performance and prevent costly Collegeville repair bills down the road.
Imagine you’ve left Trappe and you’re up in the arctic on a dog sled.
Your dog team is pulling straight and true. You can cover a lot of ground fast. Now imagine what would happen if one or two of the dogs wanted to go their own way and were pulling off to the side.
That would slow you down. You would have to work harder to keep the sled going where you want it. The dogs are all working as hard as before, but you’re covering less ground for the same effort.
You’re wasting kibble.
The same is true of your vehicle when the wheels are out of alignment. That wheel that’s pulling to the side is dragging down the rest of the car; so you push a little harder on the gas pedal to keep up your speed. You’re wasting gas.
So have your wheel alignment checked at least once a year. Get it checked right away if you feel the car pulling to one side.
Sometimes we bump a curb or hit a pothole and knock our wheels out of alignment. An accident can take the wheels out of alignment as well.
A question for our Trappe PA motorists: How long have you been enjoying the romantic glow of your check engine light?
Hey, it’s not there to create ambiance; it’s a warning that something’s wrong. When your check engine light comes on get it checked at a capable Trappe PA service station.
Many conditions that cause the check engine light to come on affect fuel economy. Some very dramatically.
Always make sure you tighten your gas cap until it clicks. A loose gas cap can cause a false sensor reading that’ll make the check engine light come on.
If your date’s eyes are smoldering in the reflected glow of the check engine light, try to think of all the gas money you’ll save by getting it fixed. Give us a call when you are ready: 610-489-4050
Maybe the real reason for wanting those off-highway tires is that they look cool. Well there’s nothing wrong with that. If you make sure that you’ve got your functional needs covered with your selection, then you can have some fun with where you go from there.
