Posts by Mountain View Automotive

You’ve probably seen them lying around at the side of the road: someone’s outside rearview mirror that’s been knocked off by a driver’s not-so-perfect driving.  And you realize the person who owns that vehicle now has lost an important safety feature.  Having functional mirrors enhances your safety and that of drivers around you. You probably…

So you’ve bought a “new” used vehicle. How do you know what you’re getting? It is hard to know what you’re getting because Thornton drivers sell cars for different reasons. Think about why you’ve sold cars. Did you just want something new or were there problems that you wanted to run away from? Maybe it…

Question: My car has a bad odor when I run the heater or air conditioner.  My friend said I might need a new cabin air filter – what’s that? Answer:  A cabin air filter is a special filter that cleans the air that comes into the passenger compartment – or cabin – of your vehicle. …

Question: My check engine light is on and my boyfriend thinks he can get the code read and know what part to replace to fix my car.  I say it’s not that simple.  Who’s right? Answer: Good news – you are!  Just look at it logically: there are hundreds of things that can go wrong…

If you’re old enough, you’ve heard the term “fan belt”. Back in the day the radiator fan in your vehicle was turned by a belt driven by the engine. There are still belt-driven fans – although most are now driven by the serpentine belt. But most vehicles now have electric fans that draw fresh air…

If you’re old enough, you’ve heard the term “fan belt.” Back in the day, the radiator fan in your vehicle was turned by a belt driven by the engine. There are still belt-driven fans, although most are now driven by the serpentine belt. But most vehicles now have electric fans that draw fresh air across…

If you feel your vehicle vibrating when you’re braking, or if you don’t stop in as short a distance as you used to, it may be time to have your brakes checked. All newer vehicles have disc brakes in the front, and more manufacturers are using disc brakes all around (instead of an older technology…

We’re going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair.  Unfortunately, every profession has some bad actors that hurt the reputation of everyone else.  In the automotive world, industry associations and professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards. Yet some people are uncomfortable with automotive service and repair.  If we understand…

Question: I need new tires. How do I know which tires to get? MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE Answer: Let’s look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value. Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: Colorado weather conditions, Thornton terrain, Thornton temperatures, etc. Most new family vehicles in Colorado come…

Question: My water pump went out and it costs much more to replace than the ones I’ve had replaced in the past. My Thornton technician said it’s because of where it’s located. Why is that? MOUNTAIN VIEW AUTOMOTIVE Answer: Some water pumps are driven by the serpentine belt and are bolted on out in the…