Nevada and North Carolina Auto Repair

The ringed panel found between the cylinder head and the engine block is a head gasket. It prevents the engine fluids from leaking to the cylinder head. Besides that, it blocks oil, water, and lubricant channels from mixing. When the fluids mix, the engine can become defective. At times, the head gasket in your car may fail to perform effectively and blow. Below are some of the symptoms of a blown head gasket: The Start-up Process When starting up your car and you notice white fumes coming from the exhaust, it's a clear indicator of a blown head gasket. This occurs when a vehicle runs high-powered operations such as hauling a heavy load uphill. When you see white smoke, cool the cylinder head to help the engine operate smoothly. Don't wait until the issue becomes severe. Quick actions will help prevent spending on advanced repairs your car engine needs. Blue Exhaust Fumes A blown head gasket can also trigger blue exhaust fumes. The blue fumes indicate the engine is burnin ... read more

A bad or dirty fuel injector can significantly impact your vehicle processes, mainly your gas mileage and engine performance. This is because they play a vital role in delivering fuel to your engine to achieve optimum combustion. Achieving a desirable gas mileage may become a challenge with a faulty fuel injector. This is why it's necessary to take your car into our shop for regular maintenance, so our certified mechanics can spot these signs early and repair your fuel injectors.    A worn fuel injector can usually be repaired by a thorough cleaning of the fuel injection system. A minor malfunction in one of your fuel injectors can impact the entire operation. Therefore, if you experience the following warning symptoms, you should take your car to The Car and Truck Guys for a fuel cleaning service! Engine Stalling  If your car or truck often sputters and rocks when you are idling, this is one major sign that your fuel injector is the culprit. Engine stalls occur ... read more

Fluid maintenance is at the core of preventative care. Similar to how we need water, your car, SUV, or truck relies on various fluids to function and stay healthy. Suppose your vehicle fluids aren't frequently inspected and refreshed; your automobile will experience weak performance, lower gas mileage, diminish in value, and a higher risk of a breakdown or collision.    The 6 Essential Fluids There are six fluids that most automobiles depend on: engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid. 1) Engine Oil Engine oil, or motor oil, is the most necessary (and most frequently serviced) fluid of all. As you may know, engine oil is responsible for lubricating your engine's components and drawing away excess heat from the core. There are three different varieties of engine oil: conventional, semi-synthetic, and synthetic. To find which one your vehicle takes, please refer to your owner's manual. 2) Transmiss ... read more

Nothing's more annoying than having to hear your car or truck squeal at you whenever you try to come to a stop. Besides this ear-piercing sound, you should interpret it as a signal of something going wrong within your brake system. Brakes are a vital safety feature of your vehicle, but they can pose many safety hazards without proper care.   Not all noises coming from your brakes are bad. For example, they may screech when they are not warm or newly replaced. They may also squeal when you brake when their components get wet from the weather. Besides these reasons, they should not make any lingering sounds.   What Can Cause Your Brakes to Squeal? Worn Out Pads Worn-out brake pads are the most common reason for the loud squealing sounds you may be experiencing. The sounds you hear are a warning to replace the pads before they cause damage to the brake rotor.   Braking Too Hard Sometimes you may have no other choice than to slam on your brakes for your and ever ... read more

As a car owner, it's imperative to understand the value of regular maintenance and the responsibility of vehicle ownership. Besides your owner's manual, license, and registration, you need a few other items in your car or truck to prepare you for the worst. You'll need these items on hand in case of a breakdown or other emergencies.    First Aid Kit You never know when an injury can happen. A first aid kit is necessary for those situations and can be best stored in your glove compartment. Please do remember in the case of a significant accident to call emergency personnel should immediately.   Spare Tire One of the most unfavorable circumstances you can encounter on the road is a flat tire. To be extra precautious, you should always store a spare tire in your vehicle. To repair a flat, you'll also need peculiar tools, such as a lug wrench and jack, to restore your tire.    Tire Pressure Guage This little gadget may be more beneficial th ... read more

If you've owned your car for a while now, you probably know what kind of gas it takes. However, you'd be surprised to know that some people have no clue what the differences between regular and premium gas are. Some people associate their names or numbers with quality and performance; however, that is a common misconception.   What Is The Difference in Octane Levels? Octane is the measure of gasoline's ability to resist igniting before the spark plug goes off. Both fuel and air are compressed in the engine's combustion chamber. When the pressure in the chamber reaches a specific point, the gas will combust. You want your spark plugs to ignite the gasoline at precisely the right time. When your gas combusts prematurely, you will hear knocking sounds which usually signal damage.   All gas stations supply three octane grades, and the law states that they have to be listed as premium, midgrade, or regular. Some places even have their 93 octane top-tier fuel l ... read more

A complete functioning air conditioning system in our cars is a MUST-HAVE for us in Summerlin, Nevada, as temperatures near and exceed 100F. To say we depend on our A/C is an understatement. Now imagine getting into your vehicle on a hot, summer day only to find that it only cranks out hot air. What a miserable experience!   "Why is my A/C blowing hot air?" you might ask. The root of the problem can be simple or complex. So let's examine some of the possible deductions why your air conditioning isn't blowing cool air anymore.    Low Refrigerant Levels - This is the most common explanation of weak A/C. If there is an inadequate supply of refrigerant, also known as freon, circulating through the system, then the excess heat won't be properly extracted from the air. Typically, the only cause for low refrigerant levels is some kind of leakage.    Blocked or Broken Condensor -  If the condenser is blocked by debris or is damaged, the ... read more

Your car will not start, and you are beginning to panic. Is it the alternator or battery? That is an excellent question considering these 2 parts work almost identically yet each has its own job. Here is a rundown of both the alternator and its functions as well as the battery and its functions. How to Find Out Why Your Car Will Not Start Between the alternator and the battery, you should begin the diagnosis with the battery. The reason, this is more often than not the cause of the vehicle not starting.  The Battery The battery will typically last 3 to 5 years. Also, it is not meant for this part of the car to continually be charged. As you drive, the alternator performs its job and recharges the battery. The battery is an essential part of the automobile. It provides an electrical charge to the electric components of the vehicle when it is not running. Over time, the parts of the battery will corrode. Signs of a Dead Battery A low whine will come from the vehicle when you t ... read more

Brake rotors play a critcal role in your vehicle's braking system. They are the very components that physically stop your wheels when brake pressure is applied. They work with your brake pads to ensure that your vehicle can come to a full, complete stop. Yet like many other car parts, they are subject to wear and tear over time. Knowing when to get them inspected by a professional mechanic can help save your entire braking system. There are symptoms of brake rotor failure you need to watch out for. The first sign that your brake rotors are warped is when you start to notice that some parts of your brake rotors are slowly ebbing out. Some of the metal components may even become raised while other parts, such as your brake pads, start to wear thin over time. This is due to massive amounts of heat exposure that happens every time you step on the brakes. The release of heat warps your brake rotors by coating them in a glaze. This happens when the material from your brake pads wears o ... read more