New Orleans Auto Repair

 Our suspensions are tested to their limits on the uneven streets of New Orleans. One of the most common suspension failures we find is Torn Control Arm Bushings. Control arm bushings are large thick pieces of rubber that keep your suspension in place but also give it the ability to flex and move over bumps.    Control arm bushings work in concert with your struts, springs, and ball joints. They give your vehicle comfort and traction control while driving. Control arm bushings wear over time from the rubber flexing, absorbing impact, and dry rotting from age. While small cracks in the rubber bushings are acceptable, large tears indicate the beginning of a safety concern. Worn struts or shocks can shorten the lifespan of control arm bushings.  So, when is it time to change your Control Arm Bushings? At Tim’s we check your bushings at every service as part of our Digital Vehicle Inspection.  🟢 We consider bushings with ... read more

One of the main structural pivot points of your suspension is its Ball Joints. They are a wear item and their lifespan will vary depending on the road conditions the vehicle is driven on. As you can imagine, the pothole-ridden streets of New Orleans can take a toll on your vehicle’s ball joints!      Symptoms of worn ball joints often include: 1) A rattling or looseness when driving down an uneven road 2) A grind or groan noise when turning at low speeds 3) Excessive slack when being measured by a professional  If you notice a rattle or clunk noise when traveling down a rough road, that could be an indication of slack in ball joints. The vibration created by the rough terrain transfers to the joint with excessive slack. That can create a low clunk or rattle. If you notice a grind or groan noise from the front wheels when turning at low speeds, that could be an indication of ball joints with excessive slack ... read more

Have you noticed that your car is bouncy when you go over bumps or potholes? Your vehicle’s suspension is supposed to provide comfort and control while going over terrain. It can wear over time and become less effective, especially if driven on the bumpy streets of New Orleans.  Some causes of a bouncy vehicle can be:  1) Worn Struts or Shocks  2) Excessive Wear in the Steering Linkage  3) Excessive Wear in Ball Joints or Control Arms The weight of your vehicle is supported by springs on all four wheels. Struts and/or Shocks are used to lessen the bouncing or stagecoach sensation that springs would create. They are charged with oil and gas to reduce the bounciness of the springs. A symptom of worn or leaking shocks and struts is a bouncy ride down the road. Steering Linkage is a series of ball and socket joints. They allow the vehicle to transfer the left and right steering output of the rigid vehicle to the f ... read more

Have you ever been curious about the Do-It-Yourself A/C refrigerant charging kits? It may be tempting when you are cruising around in a hot car, BUT it is NOT a good decision.  Here are 3 Reasons to Say NO to DIY A/C Charge Kits:1) They are a very inaccurate way of adding refrigerant.  A/C systems are made to operate with a very specific amount of refrigerant and oil in them. Adding refrigerant out of a spray can with a hose till it "feels right" can lead to an incorrect charge in the system. Your A/C system can be damaged by being used with too much or too little refrigerant. The temporary relief may be causing bigger problems! 2) They almost always contain a Stop Leak chemical.  Your A/C system was not designed to have Stop Leak in them. A/C systems have very small passages in some areas and very delicate moving parts in others. The Stop Leak will restrict the small passages and gum up the moving parts. Th ... read more

Many people ask if their car’s A/C needs more Freon to help it cool better. Freon is a brand name for A/C refrigerant (the Kleenex of refrigerant). Having a low level of refrigerant can be a reason for an underperforming A/C, but it is also a symptom of a problem.      Here are 3 signs that your vehicle may need refrigerant: 1) If you notice that your A/C isn't blowing as cool as it used to, that could be a sign that your refrigerant is low and needs to be re-charged. Low refrigerant levels cause your vehicle's A/C components to not work as effectively as they are designed. 2) If you notice a hiss or high-pitched hum noise from under the dash, it is possible that the A/C has low refrigerant. When there is not enough refrigerant in the system some vehicles will make an audible noise under the dash. This noise is from a low level of refrigerant rushing through the vehicle's expansion valve. 3) If you can see vi ... read more

The compressor is an essential part of your vehicle’s A/C system. It has the job of turning your refrigerant from a low-pressure gas into a high-pressure liquid. Without a functioning compressor, your A/C system will not work properly. Here are Some Signs of a Bad A/C Compressor: 1) Lack of Performance from Your A/C System If you notice your A/C is not cooling the way it used to, it is possible that your compressor has either electrically failed or is internally worn. 2) A Sharp Tapping Noise Under Your Hood when the A/C is On If your vehicle makes a fast sharp tapping noise, only when your A/C is on, it is possible that your A/C compressor has failed. It may have some metal-on-metal contact internally. 3) A Burning Smell from Under Your Hood when the A/C is On If you notice a burning smell from under the hood of your vehicle only when your A/C is on, it is possible that the compressor clutch has failed. It may not be able to en ... read more

After months of cooler weather it can be a surprise, on that first warm day, when you realize your car A/C isn't blowing cold. What happened?! What causes your A/C to blow hot air? It could be many things – the refrigerant level, a fan failure, a compressor issue, or a variety of other concerns. If any part of the system is not working properly, your A/C will not function to its potential, leaving you hot in your vehicle. At Tim’s, we start with our A/C Performance Check. It is an all-inclusive service that we offer to determine the source of the problem. Here is what we do: We evacuate the refrigerant out of your vehicle in order to see how low the charge was. We then hold the system under a deep vacuum to test for any large leaks. After that we allow the system to sit under vacuum to check for smaller leaks. We also use UV dye so that we can use a black light check for very small leaks. We then charge your A/C system by weigh ... read more

   Your Cabin Air Filter helps improve the air quality inside of your vehicle.  It also protects parts in your a/c system from becoming clogged or coated in dirt and dust. But when do you need to change your cabin air filter? Cabin air filters become restricted or clogged once they have become full of particles.   How often your filter needs to be changed depends on the conditions your vehicle encounters: • Vehicles that are driven off-road or on construction sites are exposed to lots of dust and debris • If you park under or near a tree we also find that leaves and pollen make their way into the cabin filter • If you regularly transport pets you will also find that your Cabin Air Filter will become full of pet fur All of those conditions may cause your Cabin Air Filter to need changing more frequently.  The mechanics at Tim’s will check the condition of your Cabin Air Filter at every service. If your filter is clean ... read more

Engine Air Filters help protect your vehicle. It filters contaminants in the air that can clog and damage your vehicle's A/C system and internal engine components.  All Engine Air Filters wear out in the same way. They get clogged and restricted after they become full of particles that they removed from the air. But when do you need to change them? The answer is… it depends. Depending on the conditions the vehicle is being operated in, as well as where the vehicle is parked.  If you drive off-road or through construction sites, you may need your filter replaced almost every time you get an oil change. Also if you park your vehicle near or under trees, your cabin air filter may become restricted much sooner. Vehicles that are parked in garages or far from trees, and drive in less dusty conditions will see much longer life from their filters.  At Tim’s, we check your Engine Air Filter at every service. We take pictures, give ratings, and will let yo ... read more

There is often confusion when it comes to Cabin Air Filters vs. Engine Air Filters. Both do the same job of filtering out dust, pollen, and particles in the air. They are just located in different parts of the vehicle.     Cabin Air Filters are often in the interior of your vehicle. They are used to remove particles from the fresh air being brought into the cabin. They also filter air being re-circulated by your climate control system. A clean cabin air filter helps with odor and air quality inside your vehicle. It also protects parts of your climate control system from becoming clogged and coated with dust and particles.  Engine Air Filters are almost always accessed under the hood of your vehicle. They are used to remove particles from the air entering your engine. A clean engine air filter ensures optimal performance and fuel economy for your vehicle. It also protects internal engine parts from scarring and wear from contaminan ... read more