New Orleans Auto Repair

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

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?

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

    Synthetic Oil vs. Conventional Oil – what is the difference?! We get this question a lot. Most modern vehicles require synthetic engine oil, but where does it come from? Most importantly, why is synthetic oil the right choice for your vehicle's oil changes if it is required?  Synthetic Engine Oil uses a synthetic base stock. Many times the beginnings of the base stock comes from crude oil but that is just the beginning. The base stock goes through a much more involved process where the molecules are broken down and then re-built into uniform shapes. Additives, friction modifiers and cleaners are added to the synthetic base stock and it is ready for use. Synthetic oil does a superior job of reducing friction, limiting wear and being able to lubricate in tighter tolerances (less space). Conventional Engine Oil uses refined crude oil as its base stock. Crude oil is cleaned, filtered and held under pressure and heat and one ... read more

Have you noticed your vehicle needs to be jump started after sitting overnight? The chemical reaction inside of your battery that makes it able to hold a charge can weaken over time, causing it to not be able to start your vehicle. Extreme cold and hot can also cause an internal failure in your battery. Battery failures may not be caused solely by the battery. A faulty starter, alternator or a parasitic draw can be some other causes of a failed battery. All batteries should be tested before being replaced. We also highly recommend a full starting and charging system check to ensure that another lingering problem is not present. Batteries are wear items, the national average life for 12 volt car batteries is 30 months. All batteries at Tim’s come with a 36 month full replacement warranty with unlimited mileage. Let the mechanics at Tim’s help check your battery, starting and charging system and get your vehicle back to being reliable