Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro on New Car Maintenance Costs

When the time comes to buy a new vehicle, new or used, you should always take the time to look into the maintenance costs of the car or truck before you complete the purchase. 

The cost to properly maintain one vehicle may vary greatly with another make or model.  The Columbia, SC Auto Repair Pro is here to help guide you in making an auto purchase based on facts and figures.

Calculating Maintenance Costs

Auto maintenance costs cannot be determined by comparison to a similar make or model.  While one vehicle may run a few hundred for the first few years’ maintenance and upkeep, while another may cost over a thousand!  That is a fairly significant difference if you ask me.  And you cannot take maintenance shortcuts either.  Many automobiles have a strict maintenance schedule that is required to be maintained in order to keep your warranty intact.

Some auto makers will offer buyers a full maintenance package.  It may even be included in your purchase price. This is great for buyers as you will have no out of pocket maintenance costs, making it easier for you to actually get proper maintenance performed on the proper schedule.

There are a lot of places where you can compare automotive maintenance costs.  Consumer Reports is always a top choice.  They regularly assemble maintenance costs on a variety of cars and trucks.  Consumer Reports usually offers a wide range of information on the subject, in addition to being more current than some other sources.

 

More than Maintenance: Other Costs to Consider

A budget conscious buyer usually has more than the maintenance costs to consider with their new auto purchase.  These buyers will likely want to calculate expenditures like average costs of auto repairs and even the depreciation of the vehicle over a set number of years.  Either of these could be a surprise cost if you have not bother to check it out beforehand.

The Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro always encourages handling easy auto repairs and auto maintenance tasks at home if you possess the proper information and skills to do so, but when you are looking at meeting the requirements to keep your new auto warranty in effect, D-I-Y is not usually allowed.  

If you need the assistance of an ASE Certified Master Mechanic with a great reputation, come straight to our auto repair shop or call 803-735-7902. Sanford’s Automotive Service has proudly served the greater Columbia, SC area since 1989.  Sanford’s offers the experience and skill you need with the superior customer service you deserve.

Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro on Bench Testing Your Ignition Coil

The best way to accurately test whether your ignition coil is really going bad is by using a multi-meter.  The Columbia, SC Auto Repair Pro directs you on how to test the ignition coil and offers more on why a multi-meter is the way to do it.

Why a Multi-Meter?

To understand, you have to learn a little bit about the ignition coil. Inside are two coils on top of one another. These are called windings.  There are both primary and secondary windings. Each of them has a specific function too.  Your primary winding builds up power to create the spark.  The secondary winding then sends that spark on to the distributor.  If either of the windings does not function correctly, it may cause the ignition coil to stop working correctly or at all.

If there is no spark at all, you know your ignition coil needs replacement.  In other cases though, it may be going bad but not actually dead yet.  In cases like this you may get a weak spark. Too weak a spark is inadequate, causing your auto to run very rough.  To take the speculation out of the ignition coil diagnosis, you should remove the coil. Using a multi-meter will provide actual data that will determine the coil’s condition.

How to Use a Multi-Meter to Test the Ignition Coil

First check your vehicle service manual for resistance specifications for your specific ignition coil.  You must have this information to proceed. If you cannot find your manual, an internet search on your make, model, year and the word manual will typically find it for you easily.

How to Test the Primary Winding

Your primary winding receives the battery voltage.  Using a multi-meter, you have to test the primary winding you find in the ignition coil.  If you have a traditional round coil, place the meter’s leads on the small outside poles.  With the newer type of enclosed ignition coil units, the leads need to be placed on the indicated poles.  Check your reading to establish whether it is within the specified range.  If so, you are fine. If the reading is even modestly out of spec, you want to go ahead and replace the coil.

How to Test the Secondary Winding

The secondary winding transfers the spark to the distributor. The distributor then sends it on to the spark plugs.  A secondary winding going bad can have no spark at all or it could be transferring only a weak spark.

Attach one of your multi-meter’s leads to the outer 12-volt pole.  The other will be at the center pole where the main wire is connecting to your distributor.  Use the meter to test your resistance. If it is within your owner manual’s specified range, great.   Even a minute irregularity points to needing the ignition coil replaced. 

If you would like for us test your ignition coil for you, contact our auto repair shop in Columbia, SC at 7917 Wilson Blvd. To get here, take Exit 71 off I-20.  Our ASE Certified Master Mechanic will take care of your every auto need. We offer top quality auto repairs on foreign and domestic autos as well as superior customer service.  Sanford’s Automotive Service has proudly served greater Columbia, SC and surrounding communities since 1989.  At Sanford’s Automotive Service, your auto repairs are always fixed right the first time!

Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro on How to Fix a Broken Exhaust Strap

We have all seen a car, barreling down the highway, muffler sparking as it bumps along the road.  It is an ugly thing, not to mention terribly dangerous.  If you even hear your muffler making that clunk, clunk bounce as you ride along, you need to see what the problem is.  You are likely looking at a broken or badly worn exhaust strap (also called an exhaust hanger).  An exhaust strap is a lot like a heavy duty strength rubber band.  Over time, that rubber begins to deteriorate and stretch.  As it begins to lose elasticity, it slowly loosens its grip on the muffler.  If your exhaust hanger has broken completely you get a dragging muffler.  Lucky for you, replacing an exhaust strap is an auto repair that you can do yourself.

First, you will need to find the exhaust straps on your automobile.  Start at the tailpipe and work backwards toward the muffler.  You will find one or more thick, black, rubber exhaust straps, or exhaust hangers.  If one of them is totally broken it will be pretty easy to see.  Check the hangers to see if they are tight. When you determine which one or ones are the problem, you’ll need to remove and replace them.   

To get an exhaust strap off you will remove it from the top mount attaching it to the car and the mount to the muffler itself.  Keep in mind that the strap may be in more than one piece if it was badly deteriorated.  Be sure that you remove all of the pieces.

Now it is time to install your new exhaust hanger or exhaust strap.  You should start by attaching the side that mounts right to the car.  Just let the strap hang where it is for now while you are prepping to attach the muffler.  This is where having a helper comes in handy.  If you are working alone, be sure to check out the mechanic tip below this section.  Have your helper hold the muffler in place so you can attach the new exhaust hanger. 

Mechanic Tip: When you are working solo and need to replace an exhaust strap, you will have to slip the muffler into the hanger at the same time you are securing the muffler in place. To install the new exhaust strap using only one hand, use a crescent wrench as your helper.  Grab a crescent wrench with a large hole and slide the handle’s end through your exhaust hanger.  Next place the hole in the handle over the exhaust mount.  Now just slide the exhaust hanger over the mount!  And you thought you needed a helper…

And you are done!  It is as simple as 1, 2, 3!  Locate the bad exhaust strap, remove the faulty exhaust hanger and replace it with a strong, new strap.  No more clunking! 

If you do not have the time to complete this auto repair on your own, we would love to help you out.  Drop by our Columbia, SC Auto Repair Shop , contact via web or call us at 803-735-7902 to set an appointment.  We have been proudly serving the greater Columbia SC area for nearly 30 years!

Changing Headlights with the Auto Repair Pro of Columbia SC

Replacing a Headlight

We are all looking to save money, especially on auto repairs.  For beginners or people not confident in their own home mechanic skills, deciding whether to take on an auto repair can be a difficult choice. 

Do it myself vs. Auto Repair Shop 

 

Some easy auto repair jobs can easily be completed by anyone with enough time and patience to read and follow basic tutorial instructions. Naturally, if you still lack confidence after seeing the instructions, you should always bring your vehicle to the auto repair shop for a professional to safely complete the job at hand.  Always remember: On the highway, lack of safety can cost lives, so it is always better to play it safe than be sorry!

All headlights will eventually burn out. Luckily, this is a pretty easy fix.  While you could pay to get this done for you, you really don’t have to.  Most of the halogen headlight systems out there today have bulbs that are easy to replace since they are loaded right into the back of the lens.

Step 1: Wiring Harness Removal

 

This is usually a no tools needed job.  With your hood opened and secured, do a quick check behind your burned out headlight to locate the bulb holder.  Coming out of it should be a trapezoid shaped plug with three wires. This is your the wiring harness, and you will have to remove this.  The plug is secured using either a metal clip, plastic catch, or in some cases, a screw cap.  With a metal clip, just pull it up and off.  Keep a good grip on it because if it drops, it will likely never be seen again.  With a plastic catch, there will be a little lever that extends from the top of the plug. Using your thumb, just depress the lever while pulling the plug out.  If happen to have a screw cap, simply unscrew the cap turning it counter-clockwise.

Step 2: Removing the Burned Out Headlight Bulb

 

With the wiring out of the way, you can now remove the old burned up headlight bulb. Holding the base (where your wiring harness had been plugged in) pull the bad bulb out. it should slide out pretty easily, but there may still be a few requiring you to rotate the bulb a little bit in order to release it.

Mechanic Tip: 

You really should handle the new bulb very carefully.  Be sure that you use a clean rag or cloth when touching the bulb.  If they touch the glass bulb, the oils in our skin can cause your new bulb to burn out VERY quickly. You should only touch the glass bulb when necessary and using a rag, tissue or cloth to prevent transferring these oils.

Step 3: Installing a New Headlight Bulb

 

Holding the bulb by only the plug end, insert it into the back of the headlight where you  just removed the old one.  Be sure it has been completely inserted and that your bulb’s rubber gasket is no longer visible.  Everything should now be lined up as it should be.

Step 4: Re-Securing your Headlight Wiring Harness

 

You’re now ready to plug the wiring harness back in.  Remember how simple it was to remove? Simply re-attach the plug and replace the clip, catch or screw top.  It is as easy as reversing the removal directions above.  Once that is all finished, you are too!  All that is left is to turn those lights on, stand back and admire your work!

Like I said earlier, if you lack confidence in your auto repair skills, do not attempt to perform auto repairs yourself.  Safety (should) always come first. If you don’t feel secure in your ability to make a repair, do not try it.  

For questions or for us to perform this auto repair for you, get in touch now and schedule your appointment.  Sanford’s Automotive Service cares about our customers: we are always here to serve all of your vehicle maintenance and auto repair needs.