New Orleans Auto Repair

As our vehicles age sometimes they develop unique noises. Rattles, pops, shakes and sometimes a hum. Does your vehicle make a humming noise while driving down a smooth street? Do you sometimes get the sensation that you are driving over a metal grate when driving on smooth roads?  Here are 3 possible reasons for a hum and vibration sensation while driving.Uneven tire wear can cause a hum noise.  If tires wear or are not properly rotated the bumpy serration in the tread or lack of tread on the tire can cause a hum. Wheel Bearings that are beginning to fail can cause a hum noise.  Weather it is age and mileage or water intrusion wheel bearings wear and can fail over time. The roughness caused by wear in wheel bearings can cause a hum noise while driving on smooth roads. A differential that is failing or worn can cause a hum noise.  If you notice your vehicle only makes a hum noise when the accelerat ... read more

Tune Ups usually consist of replacing Spark Plugs, Filters and an Intake Cleaning. Tune ups are part of a good Preventative Maintenance schedule. Here are 3 signs that your car may need a Tune Up: 1. If you have noticed a decline in your Fuel Economy and a lack of acceleration.    2. If you have a Check Engine Light that is on or flashing. 3. If you are due by time or mileage. We recommend an intake cleaning every 3 years or 30,000 miles. Replacing filters as needed and changing spark plugs every 5 years or 60,000 miles.     At Tim's we can help with all maintenance and repair needs. Let us look at your car and let you know if a tune up is needed! We are not your average Auto Repair Near Me, we truly care about  keeping you in safe and reliable transportation. Let the mechanics at Tim’s keep you vehicle running smooth and safe! Make a re ... read more

Warning lights on the dash of your vehicle are never fun. Warning lights are your vehicle's primary way of letting you know there is a failure. One of the lights on your display is a red battery, What does it mean when the red battery light is on? Here are three possible causes for a battery light on your dash. 1. It is possible that your battery has failed. It is always a great idea to start with testing the battery on a vehicle that has a battery light on. Age, heat, and starting/ charging system problems can cause a good battery to fail. 2. Alternator failure is another common reason for the battery light. Your alternator's job is to keep your vehicle in a positive state of charge. If your vehicle can not keep itself in a positive state of charge the battery light will come on. 3. A wiring or module problem could cause your battery light to come on. Many newer vehicles use on of the onboard computers to control the vehicle c ... read more

After a month of near-record heat and some of the driest conditions we have experienced in years, we are really suffering in New Orleans. High temperatures are hard on people and pets but it can also stress our vehicles. Heat can cause many temperature-related failures on your vehicle. Here is a list of five things that you can check to make sure your car does the best it can in the heat!1. Check your coolant level.  Be sure to consult your owners manual and never open your cooling system while hot! Low coolant levels can cause your engine to overheat especially on high heat days. 2. Check your engine oil level.  Your engine oil not only lubricates your engine it is also one of the ways it dissipates heat. Watch our video on how to check your oil.  3. Check your transmission fluid level.  Many new vehicles need either a special tool or to be on a lift so check your owners manual. If you can check ... read more

Yes, the heat can absolutely affect your car’s battery! Just like you and I get cranky and sluggish when New Orleans feels like the surface of the sun, so does your battery! The chemical reaction inside of your battery is stressed in extreme hot and cold conditions.     Batteries are most often placed under your hood in the hot engine bay and they are exposed to engine operating temperatures. During the summer they are also baking under the hood of the vehicle even when not in use. All batteries are stressed in the heat, a battery that is marginal can be stressed to the point of failure.  Consider trying to parking in the shade or in a carport / garage. It can help protect your vehicle from the heat of direct sunlight. The mechanic's at Tim's will check the capacity and cold-cranking amps of your battery at every visit. We can determine if a battery is weak before it fails. All batteries installed at Tim's come with a 3-year full replacement wa ... read more

Sway Bars, also known as Anti-sway Bars and Stabilizer Bars are a very important part of most vehicle suspensions. Your sway bar works together with other parts of the suspension to give your vehicle a comfortable and safe ride.  Sway bars are most often U-shaped tubular pieces of spring steel. Sway bars are mounted to the subframe or frame of the vehicle and connected to the strut of the left and right wheels. Sway bars prevent the vehicle from leaning too far while making a turn. Excessive lean or body roll can cause the vehicle to shift too much weight to one wheel. That can cause the driver to lose control. Sway bars allow your vehicle to transfer the force from one front wheel of the vehicle to the other. A functioning sway bar gives the driver better control while maneuvering: 1) At high speeds 2) In wet conditions,  3) On uneven or loose terrain    The design of the sway bar varies by the ... read more

Fuel economy is front of mind for many drivers. It just makes sense to try to get as many miles out of every gallon of gas used. Not only is getting the best fuel economy cost-effective, it is also the environmentally friendly way to drive!  5 Tips to Help Get the Most Miles Per Gallon1) Proper Tire Inflation It is simple but overlooked aspect of fuel economy. An under inflated tire creates more rolling resistance more heat inside of the tire. Inflating your tires to the recommended pressure (found inside of the driver's door frame of your vehicle) will boost your fuel economy and help keep you safe on the road. 2) Driving Conservatively Observing all speed limits will help you get maximum fuel economy. Gentle acceleration and limiting wide-open throttle events will save you big time at the pumps.  3) Avoid Extended Vehicle Idling When your engine is running it is using gas! Avoiding hanging out i ... read more

    In this video, Tim will show you how to check your car's engine oil level. He will help you locate the dipstick and interpret the oil level markings. We want to give you the knowledge and confidence to monitor your engine oil, to help you keep your car running smooth and happy for many years!​ If you have any concern about your vehicle's engine oil level, let the mechanics at Tim's help! Make an appointment today!You may also be interested in: When Should I Change My Oil?

    The two main factors of battery life are frequency of use and conditions the battery is used in.  Batteries in vehicles that sit for weeks at a time and are infrequently used will often have a shortened life. Batteries used in extreme hot or cold temperatures will typically have a shortened life. We see many batteries fail when the seasons change and we have temperature swings from hot to cold and from cold to hot.      Tim’s feels that there are 3 reasons you should replace your battery before it dies: 1) Safety and Reliability.  Replacing a battery before your vehicle lets you down and does not start, can be safer than waiting for the battery to totally fail. 2) It is better for the vehicle.  Your car depends on the battery to power up the electrical systems and to have the power to start your engine. A low amperage or poorly performing ba ... read more

It could be because your vehicle’s Under Hood Cooling Fan isn’t working. All vehicles have one or more large under hood fans. They are used to draw air in from the front of the vehicle to help keep the engine and transmission cool. They also make the vehicle's A/C work effectively.  Especially with the summer heat upon us, we are seeing more engine overheating and vehicle A/C system problems due to a cooling fan issue.     Cooling fans are cycled on and off by the electrical controls of the vehicle. When your engine gets warmer the fans will kick on to help regulate the engine temperature. They will shut off when the temperature has been lowered. Cooling fans will also be turned on when the vehicle’s A/C system is on. During the summertime your cooling fans get a workout!  Not properly functioning fans can lead to engine overheating and poor A/C performance. If you are noticing your engine is running warmer than norm ... read more