Posts by dakotaridgeauto

I need new tires. How do I know which tires to get? Dakota Ridge Auto Answer: Let’s look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value. Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: weather conditions, terrain, temperatures, etc. New family vehicles sold in CO come with…

Signs of brake problems often fall into one of two categories for Littleton vehicles: making noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal. Let’s start with the noise. Most brake pads have an audible brake wear indicator. This is a small piece of metal that rubs on your brake rotor when the brake pads are…

You can make your vehicle tires last longer with regular tire rotation and wheel balancing. Let’s start with tire rotation. In normal driving around Littleton CO, your front tires wear more on the shoulders because they handle much of the cornering forces in turns. Front-wheel drive vehicles have even more force on the front tires.…

DAKOTA RIDGE AUTO: Let’s talk about cabin air filters. There seems to be some confusion about them in Littleton that we should be able to clear up. Much of the confusion starts because cabin air filters are relatively new. Not all vehicles in Littleton have them, so some people confuse their cabin air filter with…

The function of a fuel filter is pretty self-explanatory.  It filters your fuel.  The fuel filter is in the fuel line somewhere in between the fuel tank and the engine.  Both gas and diesel vehicles use fuel filters. There’s not a lot of dirt in the fuel supply, but there is enough that you want…

DAKOTA RIDGE AUTO: The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some and is totally ignored by just as many.  Just what it means is a mystery to most of us. First, if your check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic…

Ever wonder where they came up with the term “dashboard” for that part of your vehicle that sits behind the steering wheel? That name began back before cars were even invented.  People used to travel by horse and buggy, and streets weren’t as well built as they are today.  On a muddy road (which was…

DAKOTA RIDGE AUTO: New tires are a big ticket item for most Littleton drivers. You’re not only concerned about the price, but you want to know that it’ll be a long time before you need to buy new tires again. And of course there’s the safety aspect as well. The tires do a lot of…

DAKOTA RIDGE AUTO: Regular oil, also called conventional oil, comes from dead dinosaurs. Conventional oil molecules are long hydrocarbon chains of various lengths. Imagine a bunch of pencils – some used and some brand new. Synthetic oil is often more highly refined petroleum-based oil. The molecules are shorter and closer to the same length. Think…

At Dakota Ridge Auto, we recognize that many drivers in Colorado have never operated a car without power steering. That’s because power steering has been a standard system in cars for about 50 years. Without power steering, driving would be a tough workout. Be sure to maintain your car’s power steering parts to avoid unnecessary…