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Servicing vehicles with driver assist

In Alignment, Maintenance, Safety by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Today, many vehicles use Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS).

For the automotive field, servicing vehicles with driver assist has started to become a challenge, even when it comes to regular maintenance.

Parts of the ADAS system can include: adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, pedestrian detection, collision avoidance, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, cross traffic alert, surround view, blind spot detection, park assist, rear collision warning, and rear park assist/back up park assist with surround view.

Some of the things that work with the sensors are: long range radars, LIDAR, cameras, short-medium range radars, and ultrasound.

Driver assist features graphic.

Driver assist

Driver assist resets

Depending on the vehicle, there are different levels of ADAS system resets — some of them are passive, some are hard resets where you have to use targets.

Some vehicles have different radar set ups and blind spot detection, which require different targets on certain vehicles, and they can be kind of tricky to reset.

Replacing a windshield with the incorrect kind of windshield may not allow the ADAS system to work correctly. Even body shops putting metallic paint on a car can impact the sensors located on the front bumper.

An ADAS system reset may also be needed after a wheel alignment or if technicians remove the bumper to replace the timing belt.

Why ADAS system resets are important

Another challenge is that a lot of people don’t know that a reset is needed. There’s no direct warning light for ADAS, unless you have a driver’s information center. So, you could be driving the car and not know the system isn’t set up correctly to help you in an emergency situation. 

In extreme conditions of the ADAS system not working correctly, the car may try to compensate for your regular driving.

So, if your vehicle has an ADAS system and you bring it to a repair shop, you may want to ask them if the work will affect your driving assist system. That way you can make sure that it does get reset.

What we see is a lot of people in the industry don’t even know that they’re supposed to do it.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire has invested in the complete ADAS system — everything from Fords, Chevys, Subarus, Mercedes, BMWs. We even can do the camera systems and the targeted systems.

It’s quite an investment, but we know that we need to make sure that we’re fixing these cars correctly, and we’re keeping your family safe on the road.

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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Having the timing belt replacement done right can save you money

In Maintenance by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

When having work done on your vehicle, cutting corners can lead to costly mistakes.

The driver of a 2011 Volvo learned this after bringing his car into Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire.

They expressed concerns about a moaning or clunking sound the car made when traveling at 25 miles per hour. The sound would go away a little when the vehicle accelerated.

While working on the vehicle, the technician discovered that a couple of camshaft seals were leaking oil on the timing belt and serpentine belt.

Surrounding the pulleys, a timing belt makes sure that the timing of the crankshaft and camshaft is correct. The serpentine belt runs the power steering and the alternator.

Both belts and the camshaft seals needed to be replaced.

Correct way to perform timing belt replacement

How often you should replace the timing belt depends on the vehicle and manufacturer’s recommendations. Some timing belts should be replaced every 60,000 miles and others need to be changed every 100,000 miles.

When performing a timing belt replacement, it’s important to replace the camshaft seals at the same time.

Some auto shops will choose to do the work for a cheaper price and won’t install new seals.

This can lead to massive oil leaks and disintegration parts. It also means that the customer needs to pay for new parts and have the work done all over again.

Cheap doesn’t always equal good. Doing the job right using good, high quality parts will save you in the long run by preventing you from doing the job over or breaking down on the side of the road.

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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New differential housing needed after lack of maintenance

In Maintenance by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

A Chevy Tahoe is in need of a new differential housing.

The driver of the vehicle heard a grinding sound and decided to have it checked out.

Differential housing problems

Its differential gear lube was too low and the vehicle hadn’t been checked over a long period of time.

There wasn’t enough fluid to push up to the pinion bearing, which seized up on the pinion shaft and began to spin in the differential housing.

The pinion bearing also started hitting the carrier of the ring and pinion, which move the axles of the rear differential tires.

Having your vehicle checked regularly can prevent this issue and many others from occurring. It can also save you money by addressing minor problems early on.

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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Windshield washer fluid: Blue does not equal good

In Maintenance by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Just because your windshield washer fluid is blue does not mean that it is good. You should use a windshield washer fluid tester to make sure the temperature protection level is good to negative 40 degrees.

It’s important to make sure it has adequate protection so during cold weather, the washer fluid doesn’t freeze in washer fluid reservoir, washer pump. This will prevent any fluid from coming out of the washer nozzles when you try to use it to clear ice off your windshield.

It can also cause the plastic to break. 

The way vehicles are designed nowadays, the windshield washer reservoir in buried behind bumpers and fenders, and replacement can be difficult and costly.

Windshield washer fluid reservoir.

Washer fluid reservoir

Having the right windshield washer fluid protection

A lot of places use windshield washer fluid concentrate and one or two pumps can turn a gallon of water blue, but that doesn’t mean it’s providing the correct amount of protection.

During the winter months, there are many choices of fluid.

Washer fluid is normally blue, but can be other colors depending on the manufacturer.

“I particularly like RainX Winter Fluid, because it does help clear the windshield and it puts a light RainX coating for when it rains,” Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire Owner ST Billingsley.

As long as you have washer fluid that is at the correct protection level, blue will do you just fine. 

Windshield Washer Fluid Warning Light.

Washer Fluid Warning Light

If you’re not sure if you need more washer fluid, go to your local, independent auto repair shop and have them check it for you.

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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When to replace a serpentine belt

In Maintenance by Steves Auto Repair and Tire

Updated June 6, 2024

Taking care of your car sometimes involves changing its belts.

The serpentine belt goes around engine accessories, including the power steering pump, air compressor and alternator. They can also be called “drive belts”.

Because the belt helps various components run correctly, it’s important to have it checked on a regular basis.

About drive belts

Vehicles on the road can have different setups. Some cars have more than one serpentine belt, while others have a couple of different belts.

These are some drive belts found on today’s cars:

  • Dual drive belts: Dual drive belts are made up of “v” grooves on each side. 
  • Serpentine belt: Like dual drive belts, serpentine belts feature “v” grooves. However, they can only be found on one side, while the other side is flat.
  • Stretch belts: Stretch belts are on a lot of Chevrolet trucks and SUVs.
  • Timing belts: Surrounding the pulleys, timing belts make sure camshafts and crankshafts maintain the right timing.
  • V belts: V belts can be found on older cars, which may have up to five.

Belt problems we look for

Belts are among the items our technicians inspect during the courtesy check. A digital vehicle inspection is performed at oil changes and when other car maintenance is needed.

We keep an eye out for a few serpentine belt problems that can develop from daily use. Worn belts eventually need to be changed. If the grooves are looking more like a “u” rather than a “v”, it may be time to have a new one put in.

Another factor is that drive belts can start to crack. A belt was recommended for a Nissan Rogue because the ribs were cracking across the belt.

Glazed drive belt on a Lexus GX470.

Glazed drive belt on a Lexus GX470

Whether a vehicle needs a new belt also depends on the manufacturer’s guidelines for how many cracks a belt may have per inch.

Our technicians look for glazed belts during their inspection, as well. Discolored belts are an indicator of oxidation, which is a result of heat and friction.

Oil and coolant leaks are other issues that can lead to serpentine belt replacement. Belts could move or not work as designed if they are contaminated with fluids.

How often the serpentine belt should be changed

Manufacturers have recommendations for how often a vehicle’s belt should be replaced. 

Typically, they last about 100,000 miles, depending on the quality of the belt, the usage of the vehicle, and the environment that it’s in. 

For drivers who live near the ocean, where there’s a lot of salt in the air, the belts may only last 30,000 to 50,000 miles.

Serpentine belt.You need to check not only the belt but the serpentine belt tensioner. Not enough pressure on the belt can cause it to wear. The ribs can wear down on the belt, which can actually start to slip.

If you get too many cracks within an inch, then it’s definitely time to change it, no matter what the mileage is.

Other repairs or maintenance could result in swapping out the belt, too. An auto repair shop may suggest installing one if a component it goes around is being replaced.

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.