Alma, Gaylord & Mount Pleasant Auto Repair

The exhaust system is an underappreciated part of the vehicle. It is responsible for handling all the engine byproducts and moving them out of your vehicle. Over time, you may experience problems with your vehicle’s exhaust system. Regular maintenance and checkups are the best way to protect you from costly automotive repairs down the line. Read on to learn more about some common exhaust issues. Common Signs of Exhaust System Issues Broken Gaskets and Seals - Faulty gaskets and seals are responsible for keeping things in and out of your exhaust. These things can include toxic fumes. If you notice hissing or knocking sounds coming from your engine, you should have a professional check out your engine and exhaust system. Malfunctioning Oxygen Sensor - Failing O2 sensors are also another common problem when you have an older engine and exhaust system. When this sensor goes out, it can't perform the essential job of regulating the air and gas mixture in your car, SUV, or truck ... read more

When driving around, you might hear some noises coming from different parts of your car. Some might be perfectly normal, but others might be warning signs that you need to visit a repair auto shop as soon as possible. Here are some strange car noises that might be warning signs of impending problems: Rattling Noises from the Wheels, Especially When Accelerating at Low Speeds A rattling sound from the wheels might mean many things, but if it sounds like a coin eddying in a clothes dryer, which goes away at high speeds, then it could be there's a loose lug nut allowing free movement in a hup-cap. This usually happens when the wheel wasn't tightened properly during previous repairs. If this happens to your car, don't ignore the sound—plan for a visit to a mechanic as soon as possible. Chirping Engine If you are having a worn-out or loose serpentine belt under the hood, then there will be intermittent birds-like sounds coming from the engine. The ser ... read more

Timing belts and serpentine belts are both vital in keeping a car running. Both are driven by your engine's crankshaft but both belts serve completely different functions and are not the same in any way. The serpentine belt is a friction drive belt, and the timing belt is a direct drive belt. Failure of either the timing belt or the serpentine belt will cause your vehicle to not run. Serpentine Belt Named serpentine belt because of the way it winds, like a snake, around several pulleys which help power your car's accessories like your air conditioning, alternator, power steering, and water pump. The serpentine belt is made of a stretchy rubber compound and has grooves cut into it that match up with the grooves which are on your accessory pulleys. These are all external to the engine and can easily be seen. If your serpentine belt breaks, your car may run for a short time but will eventually overheat. Avoiding situations like this is easy by replacing the belt every 7 to 9 yea ... read more

The speedometer in your vehicle is the vital component that shows you how fast your vehicle is traveling while driving. If your speedometer is not working properly, your safety is at risk. Without knowing the proper speed that you are traveling, it is impossible to be aware of your vehicle's speed and this can lead to accidents or traffic tickets. If there is a problem with your vehicle's speedometer, don't hesitate to bring your vehicle into our shop as soon as possible. The speedometer in your vehicle interacts with the transmission and the rotation of the driveshaft to translate those motions into an understandable speed. If you notice that your speedometer isn't working at all, noticeably isn't accurate, or your cruise control isn't working, then there may be an issue with the speedometer. You may also notice that your vehicle's check engine light has turned on. A couple of issues can cause your speedometer to stop working, including a malfunctioning EC ... read more

If you're not in tune with automotive parts, you have probably never heard of fuel injectors. These components work together with your fuel filter and pump to ensure your engine gets a balanced air and fuel mixture. To be specific, the injectors are in charge of spraying the clean fuel into the intake manifold before it gets compressed and burned to power your car engine.   Over time, the fuel injectors can get dirty, wear down, and become inefficient. As a result, you may notice poor engine performance and bad mileage. To combat these problems, you may have to get them cleaned (or replaced) so that you can go back to smooth cruising.   Knowing the symptoms of worn fuel injectors can help you detect them early on and prevent damaging your engine. Below are the several signs that you need fuel injector repairs: Engine Misfires This may be a symptom of dirty injectors causing an imbalance between the fuel and air that is being burned. And it could send vibrations thro ... read more