New Orleans Auto Repair

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

Have you ever wondered if you needed a wheel alignment?      Symptoms of a vehicle being out-of-alignment: 1)  Pulling or drifting while driving 2)  If you notice while going straight down the road the steering wheel is off center 3) If you notice your vehicle is handling oddly           Other reasons your vehicle may need an alignment: 1)  Tires were replaced 2)  Any suspension or steering parts were replaced 3)  A front wheel drive axle or front or rear wheel bearings were replaced Bonuses to having a properly aligned vehicle: 1)  They will NOT prematurely wear suspension components or tires 2)  They are safer to drive. Traction control systems work best on properly aligned vehicles 3)  They are more intuitive to handle and help keep the driver more in control   Let the mechanics at Tim’s check out your vehicle and let you ... read more

Maybe someone has told you that your vehicle needed a wheel alignment, but what is it? In simple terms, when a vehicle is out-of-alignment, it means that all the wheels are pointing in different directions. That can cause a variety of issues for your vehicle such as premature wear on your tires or suspension. It can also cause your car to pull or drift while driving. That can be a safety concern. Wheel alignments are performed on a specialized vehicle lift called an alignment rack, using specialized equipment called an alignment machine.  They use multiple cameras that take detailed pictures or videos of targets that are mounted to the four wheels of the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle being aligned, both front or all four wheels are being adjusted. Many vehicles can adjust your suspension and steering on 3 planes. Every vehicle has different alignment specifications. Let the mechanics at Tim’s help you keep a smooth ride and your vehicle driving straight down the road ... read more

Are you wondering if your vehicle's suspension is bad? Suspension systems wear out with normal use of your vehicle. Time and mileage, paired with the bumpy streets of New Orleans, can cause your suspension to wear or fail. A properly functioning suspension provides comfort, traction, and control while driving your vehicle.      Some signs of a bad suspension are: 1) A bouncy ride 2) A clunk or rattle noise over bumps 3) A pull or drift while driving 4) An uneven tire wear  Bouncy Ride When your suspension is worn, you will often feel an overly soft or bouncy sensation while driving. When driving over bumps, particularly at low speeds, your vehicle will bounce 3 or 4 times. The change from a normal feeling ride to an overly bouncy ride can either occur suddenly or gradually over time. The bouncy sensation you are feeling is a lack of spring dampening by the shock absorbers or struts on your vehicle.  Clunk or Rat ... read more

If your check engine light or "service engine soon" light is on, that is your vehicle's way alerting you. It is telling you to bring it into a repair facility as soon as possible.      Check engine light can come on for many different reasons. It could be on because of an evaporative emissions leak that can be caused by something as simple as forgetting to tighten your gas cap. It could also be on for a more complex engine or drivetrain problem.  Your check engine light can light up in two different ways. It can either stay on solid or flash. When it is on solid it is less urgent than when it if flashing.  We recommend getting your vehicle in as soon as possible, but you do not have to suspend use of the vehicle or have it towed in.  It is not a good idea to ignore your check engine light. Even if you think the light is not on for a serious problem, more problems can develop. The mechanics at Tim's can preform a Level On ... read more

Does your car battery keep draining? A drained battery, especially if it happens more than once, is often a sign of a problem. A jump start may get you driving for that day, but more often than not there is something that needs attention.  A vehicle with a battery that is frequently drained is likely:  1) A failed battery  2) Having a problem in the starting and charging system 3) Experiencing a parasitic draw Failed Battery The easiest and most likely cause of your battery draining is that your battery’s internal chemical reaction is getting weaker. A result of the weak reaction is it can not store the energy needed to start your vehicle after it is sitting unused for a few hours.  An un intrusive battery load test is the best way to determine the strength of your battery. We can measure the strength of your battery and compare it to what the battery should have.  Starting and Charging System Problem A ... read more

Have you ever wondered if it was ok to drive with your check engine light on? Your check engine light is your vehicle's way of letting you know a malfunction is occurring. While there is a very large range of problems that can cause a check engine light your vehicle does offer some help in categorizing.  Your check engine light can be lit in 2 different ways: Flashing check engine light Solid check engine light Flashing Check Engine Light A flashing check engine light is more urgent. It is not recommended to drive a vehicle with a flashing check engine light very far. The check engine light event that is occurring could be damaging your catalytic converter. We recommend you stop using the vehicle – immediately drive to your Auto Repair Shop or have it towed. Their mechanics winn need to do some diagnostic work to find the cause. Solid Check Engine Light When a solid check engine light comes on, that is your vehicle ... read more