Auto Repair in Tempe

Identifying car problems based on symptoms is a great skillset to have. One of the easiest signs to identify is colored exhaust smoke. You can diagnose many common car problems depending on the smoke color. Black Smoke If your car is emitting black smoke, this is a sign that the air-fuel mixture in your engine is running rich. Gas engines are designed to run on balanced amounts of air and gas, and improper amounts can cause problems. Your car runs rich when there is more gas than air. Your car can run rich for many reasons, including a dirty or clogged air filter or leaking injectors. It's also worth checking if your ignition timing is proper, and to see if your sensors and fuel pressure switches are working. Blue Smoke If your car is emitting blue or grey smoke, this means that your car is burning oil. Having well oiled parts is important for your engine to function, but there's no circumstance in which oil should be burning in the combus ... read more

What is a summer without road trips? A family road trip can be made with lots of fun if you incorporate games along the way. If you ever get bored on a long drive, try out these games to pass the time. Would You Rather While it is technically not a win or lose game, Would You Rather is a great game to get conversations started. You and your passengers can strike up discussions and learn something new about one another.  This game is loved by many, old and young.  20 Questions 20 Questions is another classic, and it can be played by people of all ages. One person in the car gets to pick something, a person, place, thing, idea, etc., and keep it to themselves, while the other people in the car have twenty questions to ask and guess. Trivia Crack You may have heard of this game before, as it was all the rage several years ago. To play this game, you’ll need a mobile device to get the app. It is a great way to stay preoccupied, and you can challenge your friends in Pv ... read more

Being a good driver starts with patience and caution. Practicing healthy driving habits can increase safety and vehicle longevity in the long run. The following list is a good refresher of tips and advice that can make you a better driver.  Read the owner’s manual Every vehicle comes with a thick handbook with all the information you’ll ever need to know as a driver. Reading the manual is an essential task because the automakers outline all the maintenance that your car may need. Stop distracted driving Distracted driving is one of the most prevalent problems for car accidents today. So next time you get behind the wheel, please remember to put your phone away and shift complete focus to the road. Your hands should be on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road. Stick with your maintenance schedule If you want your automobile to run at peak performance, you should always be on time with your factory-recommended services. This includes oil changes, tire mainte ... read more

We've all been there – it's time to move, and every square inch of vehicle space counts. You invite some friends over and start trying to work out how exactly that futon is going to wedge in between three boxes of clothes and all your dishes. Nothing can make moving completely painless, but these three key tips you can follow to make sure you (and your vehicle) pull things off without a hitch. Prepare Your Car Before you start loading your vehicle with your worldly possessions, take a few moments to really prepare your space. Clean out the car, removing any garbage or knickknacks. Fold down any seats you can. Take a moment to have your vehicle serviced, too – there's nothing worse than car trouble when you're in the middle of a move, especially if the car in trouble has all your stuff inside. Plan Your Packing Once your vehicle is certified ready-to-go, it's time to plan how you're going to load everything up. Ta ... read more

The truth is you don't need to be a certified technician to understand how the timing belt works. Truthfully, the more you know about it, the better chance you'll have at keeping your engine parts healthy. Read on to learn more about the importance of your vehicle's timing belt.   What Does the Timing Belt Do Your vehicle has multiple belts and hoses that play key roles in running your car. Today, we're going to be talking about the timing belt in particular. The timing belt is directly related to your engine's operation. It is in charge of synchronizing the rotation of your crankshaft and camshaft. In other words, the timing belt allows the valves to open and close at the appropriate times. The rubber teething on the belt allows accurate timing. Over time, the connection becomes weak, and the belt will deteriorate. And if a vehicle owner does not change their timing belt on time, the pistons will likely strike the valves, damaging the motor.   Signs ... read more

At Hyland Auto Repair, we proudly service fleet vehicles. We understand the importance of how your fleet vehicles run your tasks or business. Maintenance is key to keeping these vehicles running safely and reliably. Here are five essential maintenance items that your fleet should regularly have done: Battery Tests Vehicle batteries generally need to be replaced every three years, give or take. After that, the battery will wear down and not hold a charge. To ensure your fleet doesn't break down, you should regularly test its battery. Brake Inspections To ensure your fleet drivers are always safe, you need routine brake checks. During a brake inspection, the Hyland Auto Repair team can measure the brake pad wear, replace the brake fluid, and inspect the surfaces on the rotor. Coolant Flushes The last thing you want your fleet to go through is engine overheating, which is not uncommon in summers in Tempe, AZ. There's a lot of stop-and-go driving when it comes to driving a fl ... read more

Your vehicle relies on various systems to run safely and efficiently, and one of the most notable components is the transmission. The transmission is responsible for carrying engine power to move the vehicle's wheels the way you want them to. The transmission also helps to regulate engine speed. Below are some common ways to tell that there's something wrong with your transmission: Whining or Grinding Noise These unusual sounds typically occur after you shift gears, and they almost always indicate transmission trouble. Sometimes it can suggest that you're low on transmission fluid. To be sure, please bring your vehicle to the transmission specialists at Hyland Auto Repair for an inspection. Incapable of Staying in Gear If your transmission can't smoothly go into gear or just remains in neutral, you should definitely have it checked out. This can be extremely dangerous in certain conditions, as you can lose complete control of your vehicle.  Burning Smell The ... read more

Does the air coming out of your car vents stink? You're not the only one. It's happened to the best of us. There are a few reasons your car vents smell bad that have nothing to do with hygiene.   Why Do My Car Vents Smell? The most common reason is bacteria and mold buildup inside your air conditioner vents. This is especially the case where vehicles are stored or driven in hot and damp climates.   If you want to have your car vents serviced or, if you suspect that something other than build-up in your air vents is causing the issue — contact our certified auto shop for advice.   Can you remember what happened right before you noticed the smell? Did you turn on the air conditioner or heater? Answering these questions will help your mechanic make an accurate diagnosis of the problem.   Dirty air filters are another culprit that can cause a foul smell to come from your vents. Mechanics normally replace dirty air filters when you ... read more

Are you planning a holiday road trip soon? If your answer is yes, why not spice up the car ride with your family by playing some holiday tunes? Before you embark on your holiday journey, look at our list of both timeless classics and newer renditions of your favorite holiday songs. Here is Hyland Auto Repair's list of the top holiday songs to play on your winter road trip: All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. (obviously!) Rockin Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. Last Christmas by Wham! Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney. It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas by Michael Buble. (or his entire Christmas album) It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams. Winter Wonderland by Bing Cosby. Blue Christmas by Elvis. Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt. Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys. Mistletoe by Justin Bieber Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Sam Smith. A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Iv ... read more

At some point in time, every pet owner faces the hassle of cleaning up your furry friend's shedding hairs. Your fur-ball may be adorable, but the accumulation of stray hairs may be a very unpleasant sight to see every time you get in the car.  If you allow the pet hair to collect over a long period, pet hair can cause more problems than a dirty appearance. It can cause allergies, skin rashes, asthma, and even throat infections for individuals with sensitivities. Therefore, removing pet hair from your car is sometimes not a choice but a must. If you've been looking for easy and reliable methods to get the job done, you've come to the right place!   Vacuum This one is obvious, but sometimes it doesn't make sense to drag a big household vacuum. Given the space constraints of the average vehicle, a small-sized hand-held vacuum cleaner with a brush or a bristle attachment would be the best investment for your car. Portable vacuums are smaller, so you're mor ... read more