Automobile Electrical Systems

Your automobile's electrical systems are very much like the nervous system of your car.

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What Makes Up An Electrical System in a Modern Car?

What are the components of your car's electrical system, and how does your car's electrical system work?   From How Cars Work:

"The electrical system of a car is a closed circuit with an independent power source the battery. It operates on a small fraction of the power of a household circuit. Current flows along a single cable from the battery to the component being powered, and back to the battery through the car's metal body. The body is connected to the earth terminal of the battery by a thick cable. This type of circuit is called an earth-return system any part of it connected to the car body is said to be earthed.
The strength of the current is measured in amperes (amps); the pressure that drives it round the circuit is called voltage (volts). Modern cars have a 12 volt battery. Its capacity is measured in amp/hours. A 56 amp/hour battery should be able to deliver a current of 1 amp for 56 hours, or 2 amps for 28 hours. If the battery voltage drops, less current flows, and eventually there is not enough to make the components work." [READ SOURCE ARTICLE]

So remember, that you want to make sure that your battery is in good condition, particularly in Arizona's extreme environment.   Your car battery can literally have the moisture baked out of it, which causes batteries to have a much lower life cycle than batteries in other parts of the US.    As a rule, you have to replace your battery every three years in Arizona.  However, your battery is only one part of your electrical system.  You also have to deal with your alternator as well.

Your Alternator:  Three Strikes

One auto electrical problem you may encounter is only partially connected to your battery.  A lot of times, your alternator can mimic a battery problem.  Sometimes, the way that you can tell is that your alternator will go bad after three or four battery replacements.  Your auto's electrical system is complex.  It could be something as simple as a bad wire, or it could be something more.

Whatever the problem is in your electrical system, unless you know what you are doing, make sure you take your car in if it is acting up.  Your best bet is to get to an auto repair shop in Phoenix.

Transmission Center
4020 N. 75th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85033
623-849-9392

Is It Oil Change Time For Your Car (Contd)

Oil changes are necessary for your car, however, what you don't know is that sometimes, there is a culture of deception regarding oil changes...

Change Your Oil Every 5,000 miles | 623-849-9392

The 3,000 Mile Oil Change Lie

One of the most stubborn beliefs that people hold onto is the idea that you have to change your oil every 3,000 miles.  This is not even remotely true anymore.  Most automakers nowadays call for oil changes between 5,000- 10,000 miles, and the time frame  can go as high as 15,000 miles in some cars. There is supporting information out there regarding oil changes.  Oil experts, automakers, and mechanics have put out tons of material out there.  With all that information, why do people still believe that they have to change their oil at 3,ooo mile intervals?

Part of the problem is that engines have gotten more and more complex, making them all but incomprehensible to most drivers. Look inside the hood of your car.  There is a bewildering mas of plastic caps, wires, hoses, and printed labels.  And in a lot of cases, some of the access points are covered, leaving the oil cap the only thing that most people can find.   Adding to this issue are people that aren't ethical, such as fly by night auto repair shops.  Looking to make a quick buck, a lot of these places preach the 3,000 mile oil change lie.  Feeling pressured, even normally sharp car owners are changing their oil much more than their service manuals recommend.  And do you know who one of the most guilty culprits is where oil changes are concerned?  Repair shops in auto dealerships.

Go to a Auto Repair Shop You Can Trust

Auto dealer repair shops are great places to get your car repaired...while you're under warranty that is.  With the right warranty coverage, your auto dealer will do backflips and fix almost everything for free.  However, once you pass either your mileage limit, or time limit, that's when you really have to watch out.  Not only will they advocate changing your oil more often than you should, they will most likely charge you way too much for the privilege.  In a lot of cases, car dealer  service departments have been caught by special reports as falsifying the label to indicate the time for your next oil change.

So remember, you're smarter than that.  As such, look over your owner's manual.  That way you will know for sure when it is time for an oil change in Phoenix.

Transmission Center
4020 N. 75th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85033
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Is It Oil Change Time For Your Car

Is it time to change your car's oil?  It may be, depending on a lot of different factors...

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Oil Changes: They Still Need to Happen

Older cars needed a lot of oil changes.  In the olden days, cars needed oil changes every 1,000 miles.  If that doesn't sound like much, consider that if you live in a major metropolitan area such as Phoenix, you can easily put that many miles driving around town and in just a couple of months. Because of changes in lubricant technology, the timetable of oil changes changed to every 3,000 miles, which while an improvement is still a very low number with driving.  Modern cars, however, are currently at or around 5,000 miles.

The real danger that you can run into with oil changes is to believe that because of the changes in technology, you no longer need to change your car's oil.  Wrong! If you don't change your oil, your car's engine will start to work too hard, until finally the oil that is in your engine not only burns off, it loses its viscosity, then instead of shelling out a few bucks for an oil change, you're shelling out thousands for a new engine.  So remember, change your oil every 5,000 miles.  And you have to be careful, because a lot of car makers still propagate the myth that you have to do your oil change at each 3,000 mile mark.

Oil Changes: Don't Be Fooled

Oil technology has changed a lot  in recent years, but a lot of people are still suckered into believing that an oil change has to happen every 3000 miles.  As a result, they are wasting money as well as contributing to environmental problems.  While 5,000 is a good area to shoot for, some cars nowadays can wait until the odometer hits 15,000 miles.  Why are people so easily suckered into getting unnecessary oil changes?  Well, if knowledge is power, than the lack of knowledge would seem to indicate that a person is easily taken advantage of.  Automakers and oil companies know too well that most people never even crack open their owner's manuals. This is a great shame because your owner's manual is a source of incredibly valuable information.  What trips people up is that your owner's manual is not supposed to be read, it is a reference book.

So, don't be deceived. Make sure you get yourself an honest mechanic who knows how often you should change your oil.

Read More About Oil Changes...

Transmission Center
8882 W. Bell Rd.
Peoria, AZ 85382
623-875-9500

Transmission Repair in Phoenix: The Sounds, Sights, and Smells of Trouble

How can you tell if you have transmission problems?  Transmissions can exhibit quite a few warning signs...

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The Sounds and Sights of Transmission Problems

First off, let's take sound.  A transmission that is starting to go often will make a grinding or popping sound.  If your vehicle lurches when you accelerate or when you put it into gear, you probably have transmission problems.  You want to make sure that you do a couple of things with this symptom.  First off, check your warranty to see if your transmission is covered.  Some manufacturers have a limited warranty on power trains up until a certain mileage.  The next thing you want to find out is whether or not your auto mechanic can work on your transmission in house, or whether or not he will have to farm it out.  The more your car changes hands, the higher your repair bill will be.  That pretty much covers the sounds a bad transmission will make, but what visual clues are there for transmission problems?

First off check your transmission fluid.  Transmission fluid should be reddish in color.  If your transmission fluid is dark to the point of being black, it may be time to have your transmission serviced.  If you also notice any drips of transmission fluid on your carport or your garage it could mean that you have a broken seal somewhere.  Unlike motor oil, transmission fluid should stay about the same level.  If you find that your transmission fluid is low, it is a sign of a leak somewhere.  That covers the sights of transmission problems, but what about the smell?

Transmission Issues:  You Can Sometimes Tell by the Smell

Transmission fluid has a sickly sweet smell, and as such, that is what it should smell like when you check your transmission fluid.  If, on the other hand it smells burnt, and appears dark, you probably have a problem in your transmission somewhere.  So remember, that transmission repair is based on a combination of sights, sounds, and smells.  Regardless of how you determine that there is something up with your transmission, you don't want to delay on getting it fixed.

The longer you ignore a transmission problem, the worse it will get.  Sooner or later, your car is just going to break down, and transmission repairs are not cheap as a rule.  So remember, take care of your car.  Look, listen, and take a whiff.  And get your car into a transmission repair shop in Phoenix.

To read more about this subject, please click here.

Transmission Center
4020 N. 75th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85033
623-849-9392
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Auto Repair: Some Final Thoughts to Ponder

There are some final things to consider about finding an auto repair shop.  Even though it may sound complex it is actually quite simple really.

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Auto Repair in Phoenix AZ: Play Nice

In addition to reviews and certifications, another thing to look forward to in a mechanic is their basic people skills.  Customer service or soft skills is one of those qualifications that can't be emphasized enough.  Let's face it.  Unless you're going in for a scheduled maintenance job, when your car isn't working, you are probably stressed out.  The last thing you need is a surly or hostile mechanic, or worse yet, one who is condescending regarding your situation.  There are certain universal service skills that even a mechanic should have when dealing with customers.

Without these skills in place, the shop in question is a primary target for a bad online review at least, but more importantly, they will start to lose customers.

First off, an auto mechanic should listen to what the problem is, or the reason you are in the shop to begin with.  If you are in there for scheduled maintenance,  you're going to have a different set of requirements than someone who is coming in with problems with their engine.  There is an art to listening.  First off, patience is key.  

Patience, Knowledge, and Time:  Skills of a Good Mechanic

Let's take a look at a visit to an auto repair shop.  If the guy behind the counter is rude and interrupts you before you can tell him what the problem is,  then you're probably going to make a mental note of it.  It's important to provide great service, not just fast service.  Good customer service means attentiveness and competence, not "take a number and stand in line."  It also means that even in the case of a busy repair day, the guy behind the counter should greet you when you come in.  That's just good manners. The final thing to consider is the most precious commodity we all have:  our time.  That's why a mechanic should do your repair in a timely manner and not "when he gets to it."  You also want the repair done right in one visit.  A bad mechanic will make you come back again and again for a repair that should have been done all at once.

So remember, when it's time to find someone to work on your car, do a bit of research and trust your feelings. Then you know you not only have a mechanic, you have a mechanic that you can trust.

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Transmission Center
4020 N. 75th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85033
623-849-9392
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