The Poway Auto Repair Guide for Poway Drivers: Alignment Inspection

Uneven tire wear, the automobile pulling to one side or a steering wheel that is off-center are signs for Poway drivers that their wheels may be out of alignment.

When doing an alignment inspection, the service professional will inspect your tires for uneven wear as well as suspension and steering parts for signs of wear or damage. He’ll also compare your current alignment with the car maker’s settings.

Your vehicle owner’s manual will have a recommendation for when to check alignment. Of course, this recommendation is based on normal driving. If you have been in accident, hit a curb/pothole, frequently drive off-road around Poway, or notice any symptoms of misalignment, have your Poway Auto Repair technician complete a key alignment check.

Give us a call

Poway Auto Repair
(858) 748-0561
13907 Poway Rd Suite A
Poway, California 92064

Poway Auto Repair Smart Car Care Videos: Signs of An Alignment Problem

When properly aligned, all of your wheels are pointed in the same direction. Your vehicle will track true and handle the way it is designed. Poway drivers often associate our wheels being “knocked” out of alignment with an event like an accident, hitting a pothole, curb or some other object.

While these can certainly take your wheels out of alignment, the bumps and bounces of everyday Poway driving take their toll on wheel alignment as well.

Additionally, your vehicle  can lose alignment over time with just normal driving. When your wheels are out of alignment, Poway Auto Repair in Poway can return your wheels to the auto manufacturer factory settings. Most owners’ manuals suggest an alignment check every year or two. 

Give us a call

Poway Auto Repair
(858) 748-0561
13907 Poway Rd Suite A
Poway, California 92064

Line Them Up: Wheel Alignment Service At Poway Auto Repair

Hello Poway drivers! Let’s talk about alignment. One of the most important parts of preventive maintenance for your vehicle is keeping the wheels in alignment. Poor alignment causes your tires to wear unevenly, which can significantly reduce their lifespan. This means you will have to replace them more often, which can be costly in Poway.

It can even damage your suspension system, which is a costly repair. But even more importantly, uneven tread wear can lead to blowouts on the road, a dangerous and potentially deadly safety risk for Poway motorists and their passengers.

It may not take an accident or bad driving habits to “knock” your tires out of alignment. Tires can go out of alignment with just everyday California driving. Poway road hazards, pot holes, uneven or gravel roads, even the bumps and bounces of normal Poway expressways and surface streets can gradually put your Vehicle tires out of alignment.

So it’s good auto advice to have your Vehicle ‘s alignment inspected periodically. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will have recommendations on how often you should get an alignment check: usually every year or two. But if you think your Vehicle tires might be out of alignment, you should take your Vehicle into Poway Auto Repair now.

When you take your Vehicle in for an alignment in Poway, your Friendly Poway Auto Repair tech will start by inspecting the steering and suspension systems. If something is broken or damaged there, it will need to be fixed in order to get good alignment of the wheels.

If all looks good in the steering and suspension departments, the Vehicle will then be put on an alignment rack where an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels can then be aligned to the automobile manufacturer’s specifications. The ideal alignment for any vehicle is set by its engineers and may vary from vehicle to vehicle.

There are three types of essential adjustments that may have to be made to correctly align a vehicle’s tires. The first is called “toe.” This refers to tires that are out of alignment because they point inward or outward at the front of the tire. Think of a person who is pigeon-toed or splay-footed, and you get the idea.

The second adjustment is the camber. This adjustment affects the angle at which the tires meet the road. Think of a solid building in contrast to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The last adjustment is the castor. This adjustment measures the angle of the tire in relation to the front axles. So, a piece of auto advice that just might be good for life as well: keep everything in alignment, and you’ll be able to steer where you want to go in Poway . Drive safely.

Power Steering Service At Poway Auto Repair In Poway

Many Poway auto owners have been hearing about technological advances in power steering, specifically, electric power steering. Some very high-end cars have been featuring electric power steering for a few years now. An electric motor directly provides the power assist to make steering easier. Undoubtedly we’ll see much more of this in Poway as full electric cars and electric hybrids become more common.

The vast majority of cars and trucks serviced at Poway Auto Repair in Poway use a hydraulic power boost system. With hydraulics, fluid is pressurized by a pump which actuates a hydraulic cylinder to reduce steering effort. Some of these pumps are powered by an electric motor. Most pumps are powered by the serpentine belt driven by the engine.

Power steering fluid has the necessary hydraulic properties and the ability to lubricate the internal parts. The power steering fluid also protects Vehicle components from rust and corrosion.

Poway car owners should be aware that auto manufacturers recommend that the fluid be replaced on schedule. At Poway Auto Repair , the old fluid is drained and the system cleaned thoroughly. Fresh fluid is then installed.

Unfortunately, many Poway car owners don’t realize how vital it is to service their power steering, and some may not even know that it’s necessary in the first place. A neglected power steering system can develop leaks that will shorten the life of the pump.

Poway motorists should be aware of warnings that indicate possible power steering problems: the need to constantly add power steering fluid, a loud whining from the pump, erratic power assist or high steering effort. If you’re experiencing any of these problems, have your power steering checked out at Poway Auto Repair in Poway.

In addition to the pump and hydraulic system, there are key mechanical parts in the steering system. The rods, arms, joints and knuckles that actually turn the wheels can become worn or damaged. A standard alignment service at Poway Auto Repair includes an inspection of steering components.

If you notice any play in the steering wheel, that the steering wheel is off center, or a noise coming from your front wheels, especially when turning, have your Friendly Poway Auto Repair service professional do an inspection so the problem can be corrected. Waiting too long could cause uneven tire wear and may even lead to steering failure. Call Poway Auto Repair today at (858) 748-0561 .

Trip Inspection at Poway Auto Repair in Poway

Poway drivers love their cars. And one of the most enjoyable things about them is taking a road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it’s great! But there’s nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.

Now Poway motorists can’t always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined on your trip. The first step is to look at your trip plan from your vehicle’s perspective. What kind of roads will you be traveling – winding California byways or expressways? Purple mountain majesties or fruited plains? What weather conditions are you likely to encounter? How many miles will you travel each day? How much weight will you be hauling – passengers and luggage. Pulling a trailer, roof top carrier, or ATVs? Will it be dusty?

Prepared with answers to these questions, you can schedule a trip inspection at Poway Auto Repair in Poway to help you prepare your Vehicle  for your big adventure. A lot of our Poway customers prefer to go through this exercise with their Friendly   tech to get their input and make sure they haven’t overlooked anything.

A great place for Poway auto owners to start is with the tires. Inspect them for tread wear and proper inflation. Is it time to rotate your tires? Replace them? Are they up to the job – you wouldn’t want to drive regular highway tires on a muddy off-road adventure on Poway rock-crawling trails.

Shocks and struts play a major role in both driving comfort and safety. If they need to be replaced, you’ll really be glad you did once you hit the road. Is it time for a wheel alignment? Fighting a car that’s pulling to one side all day can be tiring and dangerous for Poway auto owners.

And don’t forget your brakes, Poway motorists. Any strange noises, grabbing, soft or hard peddle feel? If there is any doubt, get a brake inspection at Poway Auto Repair in Poway before you leave.

Moving under the hood, have a belts and hoses inspection. If something is excessively worn or near failure, the stress of a long road trip might just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Talk to your Friendly Poway Auto Repair technician.

Your engine air filter will be important. For every gallon of gas you burn, your car will filter and use 12,000 gallons of air. If the filter needs to be changed, you’ll notice improved fuel economy on your trip.

How close are you to your next oil change? Will you be able to complete your trip before it’s due? If not, just get it taken care of before you go so that you don’t need to interrupt your trip. In fact, a full service oil change at Poway Auto Repair is a great idea because they will top off all your fluids and check to see if any other vital maintenance items are due, such as transmission or cooling system service.

Do you notice any unusual odors in your Vehicle ? If so, it could as harmless as a dirty cabin air filter. But if it’s an exhaust leak it could be fatal for Poway drivers and their passengers on a long trip. Of course you’ll want to be comfortable, so get an air conditioning service if you aren’t getting the cold air you used to.

Are your wiper blades still working well? If not, that is quick and inexpensive to fix for astute Poway drivers. Headlamps are often overlooked when planning for a trip. If you haven’t changed the bulb in six months or so, replacement bulbs will really light up the night on your trip and provide the necessary after-sundown visibility.

All the items mentioned are part of any good vehicle maintenance plan. These are things that you want to take care of anyway, but they all become more critical as you plan for your trip.

They will always save you income in the long run and may prevent inconvenient and costly delays on your trip. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss the world’s largest ball of string, would you?