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

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

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

    Wondering if you need to have your vehicle aligned after buying a new set of tires? The answer is YES and here is why.  New tires are an investment in your vehicle and more importantly an investment in your safety. Wheel misalignment will cause your new tires to wear prematurely and drastically shorten the life of your new tires. Normal use of your vehicle (especially on the rough roads in the greater New Orleans area) will cause your vehicle to become misaligned. Starting fresh with a newly inspected suspension on a properly aligned vehicle will give your tires what they need to serve you for the long haul! We recommend alignments on all vehicles getting new tires. A freshly aligned vehicle combined with our Tire Protection Plan is the best way to keep your tires on your vehicle for as long as safely possible.   We can help you with tires and ... read more

Does your car pull to the right? Your vehicle should travel straight when you drive on a smooth flat road. If you notice that your car is pulling or drifting to the right when driving, this could be an indication of a tire problem, an alignment problem or a braking system problem. Tire Problem A tire that has developed a very irregular wear or a slipped belt can cause your car to pull. As tires age the bond that holds the steel belts and tread to the tire carcass deteriorates, this can cause a section of the tire tread and belt or the entire tire tread and belt to shift and cause a pull in the vehicle or a bump sensation and a pull. Tires with slipped belts are unsafe and should be changed. If changing all four tires it is also recommended to align the vehicle afterwards. Alignment Problem Problems with your alignment can cause your vehicle to pull or drift to the right or left or both. It can also be ... read more

Figuring out what kind of tires your vehicle needs can be confusing. Tires are a major wear item on your vehicle and they not only wear by use but also by age. Buying tires is often a cost vs. benefit decision, so the tires you choose for your vehicle should: 1. Be the proper speed rating and size for your vehicle 2. Fit your road condition needs 3. Fit your mileage needs 4. Fit your budget needs     Size Every vehicle has a white and yellow sticker inside of the driver’s door jamb. This sticker is called the tire placard and it states the acceptable size / sizes of tires, the required speed rating and the recommended tire pressure. We recommend following your vehicle's guidelines for tires. Having the right size, type and air pressure in your tires will not only ensure your vehicle performs as designed, it will also help make sure your traction control system works and will help you as much as possible during emergency maneuvers ... read more

Tires are part of the regular maintenance of your vehicle. Since proper tire rotations, balancing, alignment and inflation will help you get the full life out of your tires, we recommend purchasing tires at the shop you use for regular maintenance. That way they can take care of your tire maintenance and repair while taking care of your vehicle’s other needs. Buying tires from a repair facility that is familiar with your driving habits will also help choose the right tires for your needs. For example, If you drive your vehicle 10,000 miles per year or less, in five years you will have no more than 50,000 miles on your tires. If you had bought 80,000 mile tires, in five years you would be left with tires that still had a large percentage of usable tread left, but it would be too old for us to recommend using. Another thing to consider is the level of expertise of the company installing the tires. Most big box stores do not inspect your vehicle's suspension for safety and wea ... read more

When should you replace your tires? Tires are a wear item on your vehicle, they provide traction to help accelerate, stop and keep your vehicle in control. Tires should be replaced if they have under 4/32 of an inch of tread or if they are more than 5 years old. Tires with low tread can cause the vehicle to have an increased stopping distance and cause the vehicle to be more likely to hydroplane in wet weather. Old tires need to be changed because the rubber and the chemical bonds that keep the layers of the tire together deteriorate over time. Old tires are far more likely to separate, overheat and cause a blow out than new tires. Some signs of a worn tire are a wobble or shake, a hum or buzz noise while driving. Any large defects or injuries in the tread or sidewall of a tire may also be a reason to replace the tire.   Since your safety is our priority, we include checking tires in our digital inspection, we will check the age, tread depth and condition of your tires at every ... read more