Stratford Auto Repair

The coldest season presents significant challenges especially pertaining to your car. The cold temperatures, ice, snow, and slush are all detrimental to your vehicle. If you want a safe driving experience and your car to survive the winter, it is crucial to prepare for it. The following are tips to help you prepare your vehicle for the winter: Check Your Tires Because of the frigid temperatures, your tires will be severely affected during winter. The air inside them will contract, so it is essential to ensure they are properly inflated during winter. Low tire pressure will affect your handling, making it more difficult to steer in the snow. Poorly inflated tires also make it challenging to stop the vehicle. It would be best to get winter tires that are more appropriate for the season. Replace any old tires before winter. Get A Tune-Up Your vehicle will have to work harder during winter so getting a tune-up is an excellent idea. Start by checking the wiper fluid levels in the eng ... read more

The Do’s and Don’ts of Defrosting Your Car With temperatures dropping quickly in New Jersey, we thought we’d share our best (and worst) practices when it comes to defrosting frozen windshields and windows. You might be in a rush to warm up your car, SUV, or truck in the morning, but you should know the difference between the Do’s and Don'ts. Otherwise, you could severely damage your car. DO - Use the Defrosters This feature is a significant life-saver, and you should use it to your best advantage. As soon as you turn on your car, turn on the heat and the defrost setting. It can cause the frost on your windshield to melt in as little as a couple of minutes. DON’T - Use Boiling Water When you’re running late out the door, it may be tempting to use methods that are out of this world. One of those methods that people try is boiling water. However, there is such a drastic temperature change between 32 degrees (or below) and 212 degrees that this j ... read more

Your car is one of your most valuable possessions. It is also mostly depended on. Maintaining it in its best state and ensuring it lasts for as long as possible must be your top priority. It is crucial to stay on top of its maintenance schedules, including wheel rotations and oil changes. However, how you handle and drive your car can make or break your car's performance and longevity. Here are some of the common driving habits that can hurt your vehicle. Carelessly Slamming Into Potholes At one time, you might have to drive on the road with many terrible potholes. You might ignore them and hit them head-on when driving at high speed. This takes a great toll on the steering, suspension, and alignment and might damage or even blow out your vehicle tires. If you cannot effectively steer away from a pothole, you should slow down and avoid potential damage. Riding the Brakes Avoid placing your foot o the brake pedal when approaching stop-and-go traffic or if driving down a steep h ... read more

Do you detect any issues with your brake pedal? Are you unsure if these symptoms indicate low brake fluid? For both your safety and the safety of other motorists on the road, having a solid pair of brakes is crucial. What causes low brake fluids? Your vehicle might end up having low brake fluid levels if there is; Damaged brake pads The brake pads may be impacted by low levels of brake fluid. Because brake pads are a crucial component of a vehicle's braking system, having insufficient brake fluid might cause the pads to malfunction. Pools of leaking fluid Leaks in the system can significantly lower the hydraulic pressure needed to slow and stop a vehicle. Brake fluid leaks can be found by looking for residue left behind after a car is parked or by inspecting the fluid reservoir beneath the hood. Signs of low brake fluids If your car shows any of these symptoms, you might need to have it fixed; ABS Activates with brake system's odor Your Anti-lock Braking System light ... read more

You’re driving, and it feels like any ordinary day. But lo and behold, you are welcomed with a bright yellow light on your dashboard – the check engine light. This warning indicator is so dreaded by many drivers because of the many things it can mean. It is important that you stay informed so that you can avoid panic. Furthermore, you should take the light as a sign to have a professional troubleshoot the problem.   Here are the top reasons why a check engine light illuminates: BAD OXYGEN SENSOR - The O2 sensor plays an integral role in the exhaust system. It measures unburned oxygen levels and communicates with your car’s computer to make adjustments to rebalance the air-to-fuel ratio. When the sensor is corrupted or worn, it will trigger the check engine light instead. WORN SPARK PLUGS - These components ignite the fuel and air combo in the combustion chamber to power the engine. Newer vehicles don’t require new spark plugs as often as older cars ... read more

Saving money on gas is possible, and you can do it in various ways. While some methods may require more effort than others, all of them will help you save at the pump. Read on to learn seven easy tips for cutting your fuel costs. 1. Drive More Efficiently One of the simplest ways to save money on gas is to be a more efficient driver. This means keeping your vehicle in good condition, obeying the speed limit, and avoiding aggressive driving behaviors like hard acceleration and braking. 2. Find the Cheapest Gas Prices There are a number of apps and websites that can help you find the lowest prices for gasoline in your area. This way, you'll know where to fill up your tank so that you can save some cash. 3. Use Public Transportation When Possible If you live in an area with good public transportation options, take advantage of them! This can help you save money on gas and wear and tear on your vehicle. 4. Carpool ... read more

If you have an upcoming road trip for the Fourth of July or during the summer, we highly recommend having your car, SUV, or truck inspected. A pre-trip check up can help you avoid costly repairs or breakdowns that can take away precious vacation time. At Desi Auto Care, we care about you. A well-maintained vehicle ensures you arrive at your destination safely. Check out some of the things we typically check during a pre-trip inspection: Battery It is good practice to have your battery inspected and tested at least once a year. Aside from checking for a proper charge, you need to make sure the battery connection points are free of corrosion. If you have no experience with doing this, bring your car to our auto repair shop soon. Fluids Car fluids can quickly jeopardize vacation time if they are low, contaminated, or both. You can avoid all the trouble with proper auto maintenance. We can make sure you’re topped off on coolant, brake fluid, oil, and more. Additionally, we can re ... read more

Like most people, you probably don't know much about car fluid leaks. Unless your car has recently sprung a leak, you may not even think about them. However, car fluid leaks are something that every driver should be aware of. There are several different types of car fluid leaks, and each one can have other consequences for your car. Let's learn more. Oil Leaks The most common type of car fluid leak is an oil leak. Oil leaks can happen for various reasons, but they usually occur when the seals or gaskets that keep oil contained in the engine wear out. Oil leaks can also arise from a crack in the engine block or an oil pan. You'll likely see a dark brown or black liquid dripping from your car if you have an oil leak. The leak will be most noticeable when your car is parked on a level surface. Oil leaks can cause engine damage and should be repaired as soon as possible. Coolant Leaks Another type of car fluid leak is a coolant leak. Coolant, also known as antifreeze, help ... read more

Overheating engines is a common issue during the summer months. Many people think that turning on the car heater will help cool down an overheating engine. However, this might be the case. The car heater actually pulls warm air from around the engine and circulates it through the cabin of the car. Ways To Cool Down An Overheating Engine There are a few things you can do to help cool down an overheating engine. Turn on the car's heater. This may seem counterintuitive, but the heater will actually help to circulate coolant through the engine. Turn on the car's fan. The fan will help to move air around the engine and cool it down. Open the hood of the car. This will allow heat to escape from the engine and will help to cool it down. Pour water over the radiator. This will help to cool down the engine by providing a source of cold water. Turn off the car's air conditioning. The air conditioning system puts a strain on the engine, which can cause it to overheat. Pull ove ... read more

If you're planning a road trip, it is important to make sure your vehicle is ready to go before hitting the road. The last thing you want to do is run into trouble in the middle of a road trip. Here are some pre-trip checkup points to go over before you make your way. Check all fluids - Make sure all of your vehicle's fluids are full and clean. Several fluids should be checked, including antifreeze, engine oil, power steering, brakes, transmission, and windshield wiper solvent. Check hoses and belts - A quick belt check can help you avoid a costly breakdown. A belt that snaps or cracks can cause failure in a number of different systems. Belts and hoses is a quick inspection for your local mechanic and replacing a belt or hoses before it breaks or snaps will actually save you a ton of money. Check the tires - Your tires should be properly inflated before any trip and should also be well balanced and aligned. If you notice excessive wear on one or more of your tires, your loca ... read more