Memphis Auto Repair

It's important for Memphis drivers to know battery basics. First, let's talk about which is harder on a battery – hot or cold Tennessee weather. Most Memphis area drivers think it's cold weather because that's when we call on our batteries to have enough power to start a cold vehicle engine. However, heat does more damage to a battery than cold. Truth is, our batteries start to die a little from day one. Keeping a full charge slows the process, which is hard with short Memphis trips because the alternator doesn't have time to fully recharge the battery from starting the engine. Memphis drivers can top off the charge with a computer controlled battery charger – say, once a month in the summer and every three months during the winter.As far as how long a battery will last, statistics show that 70% have given up the ghost within four years. By that time, they aren't capable of taking a full charge like they used to, a ... read more

The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and where the engine oil lives. The crankshaft is connected to the pistons that power the engine. When you are diving around Memphis, fuel is burned in your vehicle engine, it pushes the pistons down and the crankshaft rotates and sends power to the transmission. Some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase.Now this gas is about 70% unburned fuel. If it were allowed to remain in the crankcase, it would contaminate the oil and quickly turn it to sludge. Sludge is like Vaseline and clogs passages in the engine, leading to damage. Also, the pressure build up would blow out seals and gaskets. So in the old days, there was just a hose that vented the crankcase out into the air. Obviously, not good for our air quality in Memphis, Tennessee.Enter the PCV valve. It's a small, one-way valve that lets out the gases from the crankcase and routes them back into ... read more

All those automotive fluids can be confusing for Memphis drivers. Recent years have brought new grades of engine oil, types of transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid. The right fluid protects your vehicle and helps it perform at its best. The wrong fluid won't work as well and could even cause damage.In addition to new grades of engine oil, many vehicles now leave the factory with synthetic oil. People in Memphis should always use the grade recommended by their manufacturer. All coolant, also called antifreeze, used to be green. Now there are several other colors of coolant sold at Allen's Automotive Center in Memphis. Each type is designed to protect the cooling system components that are particular to your vehicle. The wrong stuff can void your vehicle cooling system warranty and could even cause engine damage.Most passenger vehicles on Memphis roads today use either DOT 3, DOT 4 or DOT 5 brake fluid. Yo ... read more

  How do Memphis drivers know if an odometer is telling the truth?Well, back in '86, Congress passed the Truth-in-Mileage Act to protect Tennessee consumers against mileage fraud. It says a Tennessee seller must certify the mileage reported is the actual mileage.To have your odometer checked in Memphis, Tennessee, stop by Allen's Automotive Center: Allen's Automotive Center1195 WINFIELD AVE.Memphis, Tennessee 38116   If it isn't, the seller must say why; for example, maybe the odometer is past its mechanical limits. Some older odometers only go to 99,999 and then start over at 0. Or, the odometer has been tampered with, broken or replaced.If the seller tells you the mileage isn't accurate, there's not much chance of putting a good number to it. And there's the unscrupulous seller who claims the reading is true, but it isn't. What can Memphis vehicle owners do?You can go to www.CarFax.com, where, for a smal ... read more

Power steering is standard on nearly every vehicle in Memphis, Tennessee, these days. Now there are some exotic, new types of power steering systems, but for the most part, the general setup is a pump that's driven by a belt powered by the engine. Contact the automotive professionals at Allen's Automotive Center in Memphis for questions about your power steering. The pump generates power that assists drivers as they steer their vehicle around Memphis, Tennessee. Power steering systems use hoses to move pressurized fluid back and forth. These hoses can develop leaks so it's a good idea to have Allen's Automotive Center inspect them at every oil change. A check of the power steering fluid level is on the list for every full service oil change at Allen's Automotive Center because low fluid can damage the power steering pump. And the fluid needs to be compatible with the hoses and seals, so it's important to use the correct type – ju ... read more