Posts by dakotaridgeauto

You probably have a cabinet in your kitchen filled with pots and pans. Your vehicle has one very important pan in it as well. It’s the pan that holds oil for your engine called, naturally, an oil pan. The oil pan is a very important, though simple, component of your engine’s lubrication system.  The oil…

Maintaining your car or truck will make it more efficient.  It works the way it was designed to and that means it uses less fuel:  And you save money. To help organize our discussion, let’s think of things that rob us of fuel economy in two ways: increased friction and inefficient fuel combustion. Friction.  Anything…

Question I was told I need to have my transfer case serviced.  What is that? Answer On a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle, power needs to be transferred to both the front and rear axles.  The transfer case is the mechanism that makes that happen.  There are many drivetrain configurations out there, so we’ll just talk in…

You’ve probably noticed a lot more vehicles being offered with diesel engines.  Diesel is a very popular choice in much of the world.  North America is just starting to close the gap between gas and diesel engines.  Because we are generally less familiar with diesel engines, it would be wise to review emissions related issues.…

Help your fuel pump last longer. One pump killer is contamination in the fuel tank. Sometimes this comes from the fuel itself. Buying fuel at a reputable Littleton station will help make sure you are putting clean fuel into the tank. Older vehicles tend to have more sediment in the tank from years of rust…

Every year, your vehicle needs to be ready for our CO winter. The last thing we Littleton drivers want is to get stranded out in the cold in CO. We need our vehicles to be safe and reliable. It’s a good idea to get caught up on any neglected maintenance items anytime – but the…

At Littleton full-service automotive service center, profit margins are a lot narrower than many people imagine. Cars are far more complex, thus the tools and diagnostic equipment are also more complicated and diagnosing why your Check Engine light is on may require a machine that costs $18k. Ask a senior technician how much he/she has…

Some drivers don’t worry at all about their vehicles and neglect taking them in for service.  Here are six warning signs that it’s time to head over to your NAPA AutoCare Center and get things checked out. Warning light is on. Vehicles have warning lights for everything from engine troubles to brakes to battery issues.…

Howdy, Littleton drivers. Let’s talk about your brakes. Basically, the power brake system helps you provide braking power so that you don’t have to do all the work with your brake pedal. The brakes themselves are applied at the wheel using hydraulic pressure. When we step on the brake pedal, we create pressure in the…

Question: When should I replace my windshield wipers? Dakota Ridge Auto Answer: Well, most Littleton drivers wait until they fail. The problem with that is that you find out they have failed when you actually need them most – a little too late. Wiper blades are really a safety system for Littleton drivers. As you…