Posts by Mountain View Automotive

The thermostat is part of your cooling system. Thornton residents’ vehicle thermostats perform a similar function to the thermostats in their homes. At home, you set your thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature range. When your home gets too hot, the air conditioning kicks on and when it gets too cool, the heater turns on.…

When all a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment.  Hitting a road hazard or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday driving can cause your wheels to be out of alignment.  This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear. Here are some alignment…

In cold weather, you may notice your windows fogging up. Then you can’t see where you’re going, and suddenly you and those around you are in danger. So, what causes your windows to fog up in cold weather, and how can you stop it? Fog is simply moisture condensing on a cold surface. When the…

Funny how the mind can play tricks on you when it comes to your vehicle’s service.  If you’re not keeping track closely, time can slip away. A driver recently took his 10-year-old vehicle into his AutoCare Center for an oil change.  Knowing the colder weather was approaching, his technician took the opportunity to check out…

Question I remember my dad having the shop “pack the bearings” on the family car.  Is this something I need to have done? Answer That’s a good question.  At one time, all wheel bearings were “serviceable” and needed to be taken care of from time to time.  It’s a little trickier these days. First off,…

Today’s vehicles are rolling computer networks with multiple processors, sensors, and miles of wiring. The mechanical elements from the suspension to the engine valve train are extremely sophisticated.  Diagnosis and repair are more exacting than ever before.  Even a simple tire rotation may involve resetting the tire pressure monitoring system. Our technicians train hard to…

When your check engine light comes on, you may be torn between utter panic and just wanting to ignore it and hope it goes away.  That’s perfectly understandable.  That same check engine light could come on for anything from a serious engine or transmission problem all the way down to a loose gas cap. There’s…

Modern vehicles usually have four wheels, a steering wheel, and an engine, just as they have for decades.  But an awful lot has changed since the days of carburetors and drum brakes.  The addition of computers to so many automotive systems has been a game changer, enabling safer braking systems, stability control, and better fuel…

Most drivers in Thornton, Colorado know ball joints are an important part of the suspension system. Visualize a ball attached to a spindle with the ball enclosed in a cup. This allows the joint to move in several directions, kind of like how your hip works. Most vehicles have two or four ball joints on…

Simple Answers Service Intervals Question: I’m really confused about auto service intervals for various items on my car. Help! Mountain View Automotive Answer: The simple answer for Thornton residents is to follow the vehicle’s recommended service intervals listed in your owner’s manual or in your service center’s database. But the team at Mountain View Automotive…