Posts by dakotaridgeauto

What’s the harm in putting off replacing my engine air filter a little longer? It’s a question we hear often. According to our Dakota Ridge Auto experts in Littleton, this is a fair question because the harm takes a while to manifest. What an Engine Air Filter Does The air all around us contains dust,…

You know that long belt that snakes around the front of your engine? It’s called the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt is driven by the engine as it turns. It powers your alternator, air conditioning compressor and power steering pump. On some vehicles, it also runs the water pump, radiator fan and power brakes. Sounds…

If you’re old enough, you’ve heard the term “fan belt.” Back in the day, the radiator fan in your vehicle was turned by a belt driven by the engine. There are still belt driven fans, although most are now driven by the serpentine belt. But most vehicles now have electric fans that draw fresh air…

If there’s something wrong with your car and it needs repair, you might think about skipping the mechanic and saving a few bucks with used auto parts. When you take on such a big task as tinkering with your car engine, it’s vital that you look in the right places for quality parts, especially if…

An oil change at Dakota Ridge Auto in Littleton, Colorado sounds simple, but there are some pretty important things to know about preventing oil sludge. Oil eventually starts to turn into jelly, literally: petroleum jelly. Sludge clogs up oil passages and keeps oil from getting to some areas of the engine, causing parts to wear…

Today, Dakota Ridge Auto talks water pumps for vehicles in Littleton, Colorado. The engine is cooled by coolant/antifreeze mixed with water. This mixture circulates around the engine, absorbing some of the heat. The coolant then flows through the radiator where air cools it down for the return trip back through the engine. Your vehicle’s water…

Today, Dakota Ridge Auto in Littleton wants to talk shocks and struts. Shock absorbers and struts last a long time for Littleton drivers and wear out pretty slowly for most vehicles. They’re easy to take for granted, but your shocks and struts do a very important job so you need to pay attention to them.…

The thermostat is part of your cooling system. Littleton residents’ vehicle thermostats perform a similar function to the thermostats in their homes. At home, you set your thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature range. When your home gets too hot, the air conditioning kicks on and when it gets too cool, the heater turns on.…

At Dakota Ridge Auto, we’d like to dispel the maintenance free myth. Sure, quality surveys report fewer problems with new Englewood cars than ever before. So does that mean that modern vehicles have become maintenance free in Colorado? Back when cars spent more time in the Littleton repair shop, Colorado drivers were more mindful of…

Question: My friend just had a very expensive transmission repair in Englewood. How can Littleton drivers avoid transmission trouble? Dakota Ridge Auto Answer: Next to your engine, your transmission is the most important component in your vehicle – so you and your fellow Littleton drivers want to do all you can to avoid transmission repairs.…