West Columbia Auto Repair

One vehicle component that is often overlooked is the engine air filter. A clean air filter equates to a clean engine. This filter helps the engine run smoothly and seamlessly by blocking out external impurities like dust and debris. Whenever this filter gets clogged, you may experience various issues with your vehicle and its performance. Signs That You Need to Change Your Car Air Filter Filter appears dirty Check engine light comes on Decrease in engine power Lowered fuel economy Exhaust smoke  Unusual engine sounds Clean air plays a crucial role in the combustion process. If contaminants get into the engine chamber, it can cause significant damage to your engine parts. You may also struggle to accelerate your vehicle. To avoid having your engine working overtime, please remember to periodically change the air filter. How Often Should I Check and Change the Air Filter? On average, you should check the air filter on your car at least once a year. Depending on your car ma ... read more

A wheel alignment is an essential service to uphold the integrity of your vehicle. However, it is also necessary to ensure you're safe. Driving with misaligned wheels can significantly increase your chances of an accident or collision. Normal wear and tear or poor driving habits (hitting curbs, potholes, and more) can knock your wheels out of place; as a result, you may need to take it into an auto shop for a correction.    The alignment process ensures that the wheels on your car are parallel with one another and perpendicular to the street. This explains why your misaligned wheels may cause excessive tire wear and lack of vehicle handling. Turning your vehicle may be more challenging, causing you to exert more effort to steer. One common symptom that misalignment causes are vehicle vibrations.   As mentioned before, a vehicle with improper wheel alignment will likely experience premature tire wear. If the problem goes unnoticed (or you neglect to fix it), you w ... read more

Driving at night is dangerous because of poor visibility. Many people fear driving cars at night because of the horror stories about night journeys. Driving at night is challenging for both new and seasoned drivers. Fatal accidents are likely to occur at night when compared to daytime. You see less of the road at night; therefore, you have minimal time to react and stop the car. Although the lights are essential during darkness, they can create glares for you and pose a hazard for an accident. Here are helpful tips for helping you stay safe at night. Avoid Driving While Drunk Driving while under the influence of drugs poses a risk during the day, but it is worse at night. Alcohol impairs your brain and inhibits cognitive functioning. You will find it difficult to see the vital traffic signs at night, leading to an accident. Put your defensive-driving instincts on high alert and take the back seat. Take Care of your Eyes Schedule an eye checkup annually to ensure you have excellent ... read more

Lift kits are a convenient way to enhance the look of your vehicle. Lift kits increase the height of your SUV or truck, but they offer a wide range of benefits as well, including: Increases clearance Enables you to drive through rougher terrain Provides you a smoother ride Gives you better visibility of the road and other smaller cars Makes towing a simpler process Most of these kits will raise a vehicle by 1-3 inches using spacers between the body and frame. Another method to boost your truck is suspension lift kits, and these can go beyond 3 inches. If you're considering lifting your vehicle, here are some things to consider and how to go about the installation. Go to a Professional for Installation A lift kit will ultimately change your driving with night and day differences. You should know that the ride, the steering, and the handling will all change. That is why if you improperly install a lift kit at home, you can damage the suspension, the frame, or the body, leadin ... read more

No matter what kind of car you drive, an oil change is an essential service you need to get. It is also the most frequent service that your vehicle receives. It is typically required every 3-6 months or 5000 miles, but these numbers can vary depending on your car. Your vehicle's owner's manual is the best resource to understand your oil changes.   You might be wondering why engine oil is so important anyway. To start, engine oil, or motor oil, has the utmost importance of keeping your engine parts lubricated and clean. However, it tends to wear down faster than the other fluids inside your vehicle. If you are due for an oil change soon, please do not put it off! Skipping an oil change has terrible consequences. Here are some of the reasons: Ignoring an oil change can lead to severe engine damage (and engine overheating), which can be expensive to repair.  Running on old or poor-quality motor oil can lead to lower fuel efficiency.  Skipping an oil change can ... read more