Posts by dakotaridgeauto

You’ve just taken your vehicle in to figure out why the air conditioning isn’t working.  You remember a friend of yours just had to get a new evaporator, and your service advisor has told you it’s the same part that needs to be replaced in your vehicle.  But when you hear the estimated price for…

Hello, Littleton! Today’s Dakota Ridge Auto auto care topic is the serpentine belt. Your serpentine belt is a long belt that’s driven by your engine. It winds around several accessories that power important automotive systems. Let’s go over them. First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. Next, the belt powers the alternator. The…

Most Littleton drivers are aware that manufacturers have service intervals for your car. The engineers that design our vehicles have tested the various systems and components to meet durability and safety standards. Some of these standards are self-imposed and others, like those for emissions components, are government mandated. The maintenance schedules are designed to achieve…

Ever get musky odors coming from your car’s air vents? It’s fairly common for Littleton drivers. Moisture can accumulate in the air conditioning/heating ventilation system allowing mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria to grow. Disinfecting and deodorizing is a process. Depending on how bad the problem is, there are a couple of approaches Dakota Ridge Auto…

Question How do I know when I should get my tires rotated and balanced? Answer The interval for tire rotation could depend on a recommendation from either the tire manufacturer or the vehicle maker.  The interval is typically around 5,000 miles but could range from 3,000 to 8,000 miles.  The background question is why do…

You’ve probably seen auto parts delivery trucks in Littleton making their rounds. Every part has a story behind it. Unfortunately, some of the stories are tales of repairs that could have been prevented. One stop may be to deliver an engine air filter and a mass air flow sensor for a customer’s pick-up. His service…

You may not know much about transfer cases, but if you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you’ve got one.  It makes sure you have power available for both the front and rear axles.  For example, if you have a rear-wheel drive SUV, power goes to the rear wheels until you need 4-wheel drive.  That’s when…

If your vehicle has a few years on it, you’ve no doubt had your tires rotated a few times. That means, of course, that a technician has loosened the lug nuts (which hold the wheels on) to remove the wheels and then put them back on.  Many vehicles have lug bolts that go through the…

You try to take real good care of your vehicle. But there is something that you may be overlooking: wheel bearings on your trailer. Whether it’s a small utility trailer or toy hauler up to a big work trailer, boat or camp trailer, they all have wheels with bearings that need to be serviced from…

Simple Answers Service Intervals Question: My water pump went out and it cost much more to replace than ones I’ve had replaced in the past. My Littleton technician said it’s because of where it’s located. Why is that? Dakota Ridge Auto Answer: Some water pumps are driven by the serpentine belt and are bolted on…