We hope everybody is getting through this time of staying home. We know it’s been tough on a lot of people.
As people are starting to go back to work over the next few weeks, it’s a good idea to go out and check your car. There are some car problems you can expect.
Car problems to be aware of
Dead car battery
Vehicles have a lot of electronics on them, including the radio, clocks, alarm systems, and computers. Over a two week period, that can drain the battery. These are other factors that can cause a car battery to fail.
Jump start your car using jumper cables or a jump box have it run for at least 30 to 40 minutes.
Low tire or TPMS light on
Having a low tire or flat tire, or the tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light turning on are some other issues that could come up.
While a vehicle is sitting, its tires can lose air over time, or there may be a small leak that wasn’t noticed before.
TIP: Be careful when using gas station air pumps. Most of the time, the gauges are wrong.
Brakes
Once you get on the road, you might notice a rotating grinding noise, especially when you step on the brake. Most likely, this is from rust building up on the rotors and drums. Most likely, it will go away between 12 and 15 minutes. If it doesn’t, you may want to have it looked at.
Check engine light
The check engine light could also turn on. We have been getting a code for the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP) and finding that the gas cap seals are the culprit. We recommend clearing the code, top off the car with some fresh gas, replacing the gas cap, and driving it to see if the light comes back on. If it does, we know that we need to do check engine light diagnostics.
Cabin air filter
We also suggest having your vehicle’s cabin air filter changed — not just because of the Coronavirus, but because of pollen season.
This is a perfect time to change the filter, which purifies the air that goes into the front of a car.
Part of our replacement service includes using BG Frigi Fresh, a disinfectant that gets rid of viruses and bacteria.
If you have any problems, call Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire at (703) 670-8005.
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.