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Installing a new starter on a Honda Pilot

In Diagnostics by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Is your car refusing to turn over?

It could mean that you need a new starter. Other signs include a clicking sound when you try start a vehicle and a slight grinding sound.

Bolted into the transmission housing, the part has a gear that turns the flywheel. The flywheel is responsible for turning the engine over.

A new starter was installed in a 2005 Honda Pilot.

Replacing the starter

First, the battery was tested. When the technician found that the battery was good, he checked the starter and found it wasn’t working properly.

To get to this component, the technician needed to remove the battery, the tray the battery sits on, and the wires connected to the starter.

A jump box was used to bench test the new and older starters. Through this process, he was able to compare their power.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Serpentine belt on BMW gets caught in engine

In Diagnostics by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

The driver of a 2009 BMW 535xi had an unexpected experience recently: his car stopped running in the middle of the road.

The culprit? A leaking oil filter housing that caused the serpentine belt to get caught in the engine.

Oil Filter Housing.

Oil Filter Housing

How the serpentine belt became caught

Because of the leak, the serpentine belt — which surrounds parts of the engine — became soaked with oil. It slipped off the pulleys, wrapped around the components, and began to fray.

After getting caught around the crankshaft pulley, the belt started working its way through the crankshaft seal into the timing cover.

Parts of the belt wrapped around the timing chain, throwing the car’s timing off. It was also caught around the oil pan, which clogged up the oil pickup tube and prevented oil from entering the engine. 

Oil pickup tube.

Oil pickup tube

Timing chain replacement

When the customer’s car stopped running, he cranked the car and a crunching metal sound could be heard in the front timing cover. We knew that the timing chain needed to be replaced.

After removing the old timing chain and timing chain unit, our technician cleaned out material from the serpentine belt that had gotten into the timing cover.

New chains, a new tensioner and new bolts for the camshaft, sprockets and crankshaft were then installed.

New timing belt.

New timing belt

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Diagnosing problems on BMWs and Mercedes

In Diagnostics by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Diagnosing problems that come in through an auto repair shop can be tricky and time consuming. 

Technicians at Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire are using OPUS IVS AUTOLOGIC DrivePro to identify problems sooner and more accurately.

We have invested into this diagnostic platform for our BMW and Mercedes customers. It also has very good capability for other European vehicles, including Volkswagens and Land Rovers.

How this tools helps us with diagnosing problems

For many auto repair shops, using a scan tool that has limited functions becomes a roadblock.

Not only does DrivePro give near dealer capability, it also enables us to access the computers of vehicles. 

We are able to use the tool to code modules and reprogram vehicle computers, as well.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Why did my BMW check engine light turn on?

In Diagnostics by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

You’re about to leave for work and you start your BMW.

The dashboard lights turn on, like normal, but you notice that the check engine light stays on.

If it’s blinking, you should go to an auto repair shop as soon as possible. A blinking check engine light indicates that there’s a problem with the engine and it may lead to damage to the catalytic converter.

Reasons why a BMW check engine light may turn on

If your BMW check engine light comes on and stays on, you should have it checked out soon.

There are many reasons why a check engine light turns on. It can be anything from a loose gas cap to an internal engine problem.

Other reasons include a circuit problem, the catalyst system working below its threshold, and issues with the coolant system.

BMW repair is one of the services that Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire offers.

If you’re going in for regular BMW service, don’t forget to let your service adviser know if your check engine light comes on or if it turns off and comes back on.

Diagnostic testing on an engine light

When a vehicle comes in with a check engine light on, we start with a visual inspection. During the inspection, we make sure nothing is loose and that the oil and fluid levels aren’t low.

After that, the technicians pull a trouble code, which shows them where they should start the diagnostic testing.

Then, they perform a diagnostic test, through which they are able to isolate the problem. More information about engine diagnostics can be found in this article we wrote.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Reasons why a car won’t start

In Diagnostics by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

You get into your vehicle, and the interior lights come on. You put your key in the ignition, and the dashboard lights up. You turn your key a little further, but it won’t turn on. 

There are many reasons why a car won’t start.

Here are a few of them:

  1. Dead battery: It could be a problem with your battery. You may have enough battery to turn some things on, but you don’t have enough to turn your car on. Battery failure can occur for several reasons.
  2. Starter: If you turn the ignition or press the ignition start button, and you hear it click but nothing happens, it may be a sign that your starter or starter solenoid is bad. Other symptoms are covered in this article.
  3. Fuel system problem: Your vehicle may not turn on if it has a fuel system problem. It could be anything from a clogged fuel filter, a fuel pump not working, or even the fuel tank being empty of gas. Even if the fuel gauge reads that you have fuel, it may be reading incorrectly.
  4. Transmission sensor: Some vehicles may experience a no-start condition, because of the neutral safety switch that’s in the transmission. It could be bad or a gear shifter problem that’s not aligning correctly on what some people refer to as the PRNDL. You may want to make sure it’s in park or neutral before starting the car. 
  5. Anti-theft system: Another reason a vehicle may not start is if the anti-theft system is activated. Even though you use the key for the car, it can actually cause the vehicle to not start. One indication of this is if the security light is flashing while the ignition is on. Also, most keys have some type of chip or transmitter that the car receives, and it’s not uncommon for them to go bad.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.