Posts by dakotaridgeauto

The oil and fuel in your vehicle give off vapors that are very harmful to the environment.  Evaporative emissions control systems – EVAP for short – are mandated in all cars and trucks.  The job of the EVAP system is to capture these vapors and direct them into the engine to be burned – a…

Let’s review some things that Littleton drivers can do to improve fuel economy. The bottom line,  the better you maintain your vehicle, the less fuel you will use. It all adds up in a big way. For example, replacing your dirty engine air filter will pay for itself in fuel savings before your next oil…

After they’ve had an accident, some people wonder why their airbags didn’t go off. Movies and television lead us to believe that airbags go off with the slightest bump. The reality is much more complicated. First, airbags come out with great force and speed. Now getting hit in the face with an airbag is way…

Used vehicles are certainly an economical choice for budget-conscious Littleton drivers. But how can we know we’re getting a good used vehicle and not just inheriting someone else’s problems? There are good used vehicles for sale in the Englewood area. Cars are sold when families upsize when families downsize or even when someone just wants a…

Question: What is a power brake service and why do I need to have it done? Answer: Imagine: you pour a tablespoon of water in your hand and throw it as hard as you can.  Now, suppose you suck up a tablespoon of water into a syringe, push the plunger and squirt it out.  Which…

In the sloppy weather months, many drivers rely on protective mats to keep moisture, grime, ice, and snow from making a mess of a vehicle’s interior. But if your vehicle has a mat it could become a hazardous mat if you don’t follow some safety precautions. Here are some things to avoid with your vehicle’s…

When the weather gets cooler, you want the cabin of your vehicle to stay warm.  When you switch on the heat, you may find the air that comes out of the venisn’t hot. The problem could be a part of the heating system that not that many people understand.  It’s called the coolant vacuum valve…

Flats, blowouts, skids, and longer stopping distances can all be the result of driving around CO on underinflated tires. Now, it’s hard to tell when a radial tire is underinflated but your friendly and knowledgeable Dakota Ridge Auto can help you. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds – which is significantly…

Let’s face it, vehicles are complex machines, and hats off to the NAPA AutoCare technicians who can diagnose and repair them when things go wrong.  Here are four tips to follow when you take your vehicle in, according to service advisors and technicians. Describe the problem thoroughly and accurately.  When you tell friends how your…

Question:  What benefit will I get out of a fuel system cleaning? Answer: Well, the dirtier your fuel system is, the bigger the improvement you’ll see in performance and fuel economy.  But don’t wait until your engine is running poorly, you’ve wasted hundreds of dollars in gas or maybe even damaged your fuel injectors and…