New Orleans Auto Repair

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