Malvern PA Auto Repair

ASM Auto LLC Tech Question: I'm Doug. A few years ago I was driving my '85 powder blue Dodge Ramcharger with about 80,000 miles (129,000 kilometers) on it. I was going up a hill and heard a noise like a tin can rolling down the road. I looked back and saw my drive shaft bouncing down the hill. I put it in four wheel drive and drove to my mechanic to get it fixed. What could I have done to prevent that? ASM Auto LLC Tech Answer: Now that's quite a story. Doug was fortunate that his vehicle had a part-time four wheel drive system that would let him get home without a rear drive shaft. This “case of the missing drive shaft” highlights the need for regular inspections. Now most drivers are familiar with recommendations for preventive maintenance services like oil changes and coolant replacement. What you may not know is that there are also recommendations for inspections at various intervals. By the time a vehicle gets the number of miles on it l ... read more

Question: What benefit will I get out of a fuel system cleaning? ASM Auto LLC Answer: Well, the dirtier your fuel system is, the bigger the improvement you'll see in performance and fuel economy. But it's not wise to wait until your engine is running poorly, you've wasted hundreds of dollars in gas or maybe even damaged your fuel injectors and catalytic converter. Look, gasoline is a petroleum-based product and will leave some residue, gum and varnish along the way. Some of that can find its way into your fuel injectors and interfere with their job. The fuel injectors do just that – inject fuel into your vehicle engine. They spray a precise amount of fuel at a precise time in a precise pattern at a precise pressure. When they are dirty this precision just isn't possible. So your vehicle engine can run rough. Also carbon deposits build up on valves and in the combustion chamber. Fuel economy suffers and performance is degraded. These conditions allow excess ... read more

For most people buying tires is a big deal, so consult with your friendly and knowledgeable ASM Auto LLC tire professional about proper size, type and grade for your driving needs. He can help you balance load requirements, performance, durability and cost. When buying new tires it's best to replace both tires on the same axle in order to keep the rolling diameter as close as possible. Drivers with four-wheel-drive vehicles should replace all four tires at the same time because you can run into problems if the tires have different rolling diameters due to wear or different type of tire. Four-wheel-drive vehicles should have all tir ... read more

Question How do I know when I should get my tires rotated and balanced? Answer The interval for tire rotation could depend on a recommendation from either the tire manufacturer or the vehicle maker. The interval is typically around 5,000 miles but could range from 3,000 to 8,000 miles. The background question is why do tires need to be rotated? Front tires wear differently than the rear tires because steering wears the shoulders faster up front. Rotating the position of the tires allows for more even wear among all the tires. Now the suspension set-up on certain vehicles may also affect the relative wear between the front and rear. There are several rotation patterns – your service advisor will see that you get the correct pattern for your particular vehicle. Wheels and tires are not perfectly balanced due to slight variations in the manufacturing process and the placement of tire pressure monitoring sensors. So, weights are strategically placed on the wheel to ensure that ... read more

Your suspension system keeps your car up off the road. From there, it’s responsible for a smooth and comfortable ride. It also keeps your wheels firmly planted over bumps and through curves. Your suspension system has many critical parts that do a big job. They should be inspected for damage and excessive wear at least once a year. A good time would be when you get your semiannual alignment check. Here are some warning signs of suspension problems: the car pulls to one side, wandering, erratic steering, uneven tire wear, leaning, shocks bottom out, poor ride or handling, oil leaking from shocks, and excessive bouncing. Now suspension parts just wear out over time. Shocks and struts eventually lose their ability to control your ride. If you’re in an accident, your suspension can be damaged or knocked out of alignment. Even a minor accident, like hitting a curb, pothole or large rock can mess things up. If you suspect suspension problems, ask for an inspection and let us s ... read more