Posts by dakotaridgeauto

Simple Answers Service Intervals Question: My water pump went out and it costs 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…

The axle assemblies in your vehicle transfer power out to the drive wheels.  On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, there is an axle shaft that goes from the differential in the center of the axle to each rear wheel.  On a front-wheel drive vehicle, the axle shafts go from the transmission to each front-wheel.  All-wheel drive…

A lot of people are excited about the new diesel engines that are becoming available in passenger cars and SUV’s and they’re curious about the preventive maintenance requirements.  People may not know that diesel engines have long been used extensively in Europe and Asia.  In fact, in some markets, there are nearly as many diesel-powered…

When your vehicle doesn’t start, the first thing you think of might be the battery.  That may be the culprit, but it also might be that your alternator has gone bad. An alternator sends power to your vehicle’s electrical systems and accessories like your entertainment system, charging ports, and so on.  Any extra electricity goes…

We rely on our brakes to safely slow and stop our vehicles. You’ve probably had the experience where you’ve slammed on your brakes and started to skid. When your wheels are locked up, you are just sliding over the road. And if the road is wet or slick or covered with gravel – you really…

Suspension systems should continue to operate effectively for many years and tens of thousands of miles/kilometers, holding your tires’ foot print on the road. Eventually components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive. As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth CO highways,…

Today at Dakota Ridge Auto we’re going to talk about windshield wiper blades. Now that may seem like a pretty mundane topic but think about how important your vision is: We protect our eyes. If we need contacts or glasses, we taken care of them too. And, well, wiper blades are critical to our vision…

Thanks for visiting the Dakota Ridge Auto, auto care blog. Today’s post lists 5 important reasons Littleton drivers should follow recommended maintenance schedules. Be Safe A well-maintained car doesn’t put you and your passengers at unnecessary risk. Think brakes, headlamps, tires. Get Better Fuel Economy Regular maintenance is an investment in optimum fuel economy. Inadequate…

Racing legend Richard Petty once said, “If you’ve got good brakes you can stay out of a lot of trouble.” If you’re hearing unusual sounds when you brake or if your brake pedal is feeling squishy or too hard, have us do a disc brake inspection for you. We’ll tell you if there’s something wrong…

Heard of synthetic motor oil but would like to learn more information?  Well, synthetic motor oil is a substitute for conventional oil. Synthetic doesn’t gel or gum-up like conventional oil and it doesn’t vaporize as easily.  It protects better in severe driving conditions like stop and go driving as well as in very hot or…