Morgan Automotive Repair

There will likely come a point in time when you notice your vehicle is vibrating.  If you are like most drivers, you will temporarily shrug off the problem, assuming it is the result of an uneven road.  However, if the vibration continues on a flat road, it is cause for concern.  There are all sorts of different reasons why your vehicle might be vibrating.

There Might be a Problem With the Suspension

The vehicle’s steering system is connected to the suspension system.  The vibration might be the result of a misalignment.  Contact with a pothole or curb has the potential to cause suspension problems.  If you notice the presence of such vibrations at varying speeds, there is a good chance your vehicle is out of alignment.  There is also a chance loose suspension bearings or components are the cause of the vibration.  In fact, the simple wear and tear of suspension components can cause vibrations when traveling at a high rate of speed and also when applying the brakes.

The Wheels Might not be Properly Balanced

Vibrations stemming from the wheels are typically felt directly through the steering wheel.  If the wheel bearings are damaged or worn, they must be addressed sooner rather than later.  If the steering wheel shakes as you round a curve, there is also a good chance the ball joints or tie rod ends are worn.  There is also the potential for wheel runout to occur.  This term means the wheels have deviated from a circular spin.  Wheel runout is measured with the use of a dial indicator here at our auto repair shop.

The Brakes Might be Faulty

If your vehicle vibrates when you press the brakes, it might have a warped or worn brake rotor.  Our team is here to analyze the rotor to determine if it needs replacement.  There is also a chance the brake caliper pin is rusted or worn and also requires replacement.

Engine Issues Might be the Underlying Problem 

If the engine is not receiving sufficient fuel or oxygen to operate as designed, the vehicle might vibrate.  In particular, insufficient fuel, spark or oxygen will likely result in the vehicle shaking when it picks up speed.  If this is the case, the spark plugs must be analyzed and possibly replaced.  Furthermore, the air filter and fuel filter should also be inspected to determine if they are dirty or completely clogged.  If the vehicle vibrates when you are stopped at a red light or stop sign, the engine mounts are likely the problem.  If the engine mounts are damaged or worn, they will have to be replaced.

Morgan Automotive is at Your Service

Our automotive experts are here to help in the event that you get into an accident or simply have car trouble.  Contact our auto repair shop today to schedule an appointment.  Our auto repair team will get your vehicle back in tip-top shape without delay.  You can reach our car repair shop by dialing (209) 836-4909.

Being out of alignment can negatively affect your steering and braking systems, as well as cause premature wear on your tires. Therefore, a vehicle alignment is recommended after certain events to ensure that your car runs well at its highest potential. When you get new tires, adjust suspension parts, lower or lift your vehicle, get into an accident, driven over a big pothole, notice off-center steering, install new tires, or it’s been a year since your last alignment. If you travel on rough roads, check your alignment every 6 months. Here are 5 reasons why you should get a vehicle alignment.

#1: An alignment gets you the most from your tires.

Wheel alignment checks can correct issues like an incorrect toe angle, which can wear down your tires. Since cars usually go out of alignment slowly, you may not notice how it gradually affects your tires’ performance. Day by day, your tires will have its tread worn down in disproportionate areas which will decrease their lifespan. By fixing their alignment, you can get the longest lifespan out of your investment.

#2: It increases your vehicle’s mileage.

Bad alignment decreases your tires’ tread and makes your car work harder to reach the same speeds. Due to your car’s decreased efficiency, you use more gas to do the same work compared to when your car was in alignment. 

#3:You get a smoother ride.

If you’re experiencing the nuisance of pulling the steering wheel to one side while driving or an off-center steering wheel, it’s difficult to drive comfortably — especially when you have a long commute. When an incorrect alignment is causing the issue, fixing it will grant you a smoother, more pleasant experience while driving.

#4: An alignment benefits your vehicle as a whole.

When an alignment fix corrects atypical tire wear, you fix other problems like vehicle vibrations and also reduce the strain on other systems like your vehicles’ suspension. Overall, having good alignment keeps all your car’s parts in better condition since they are not under strain. 

#5: You get better tire tread and a safer ride.

When you achieve proper alignment, the angles of your tires are adjusted to make the closest contact with the road. Therefore, fixing uneven tread wear increases your vehicle’s stability, steering balance, and cornering abilities. When your car’s tread is as it should be, your tires have the best traction that can make the difference between driving safely during a downpour or hydroplaning.

No one wants their car to have issues. However, when problems arise, you need to be prepared. Taking your car to an auto repair shop is vital in determining what is going on with the vehicle. From there, a car repair shop will provide you with an estimate to fix your vehicle. If desired, you can obtain estimates from multiple shops to help you find an affordable company for repairs. Knowing what should be included on a car repair estimate can help you ensure you are getting complete estimates and properly compare one estimate to another. 

What Is Going On With the Automobile 

Anytime you are obtaining an estimate for automobile maintenance or repairs, the estimate should always state what is going on with your automobile. For example, the estimate may state that you need a regular oil change or that your vehicle is stalling and you need to determine why. If the problem has diagnosed, the estimate should include the exact issue with your automobile, such as diagnostic testing revealed bad spark plugs. 

What the Remedy Is For Your Problem

An automobile estimate should also include a remedy for the current issues. This may be running a diagnostic test in the beginning to determine what the issues are, or listing what parts need to be repaired or replaced based on the results of a diagnostic test. The remedy for the issue should be as detailed as possible. For example, instead of simply stating they need to fix the brakes, the estimate should state that the remedy is to replace brake pads and resurface the rotors. You want to know exactly what the shop is doing prior to authorizing work. 

The Estimate For Parts and Labor Costs

An estimate should also break down the specific costs associated with your repairs. For example, if you need a brake repair, the estimate should list a price for new brake pads, a cost to resurface the rotors and the estimate labor cost for doing the work, rather than a flat price. This allows you to see what you are being billed for and compare parts prices and labor expenses as you look at various estimates. 

When the Repair Shop Will Contact You

Finally, an estimate should always include a clause about going over the estimate and contacting you. Some estimates state that the shop will contact you and authorize work if the price of the estimate changes in any way. Other estimates give the repair shop some leeway, stating the shop will only contact you for additional authorization if the work exceeds ten percent or $100 of the estimated price. Always carefully read this clause to find out if you have to authorize additional work or more expensive parts, or whether the repair shop can do additional work or change up unavailable parts to more pricey options without notifying you until you receive the final bill. 

Do you need auto repair for your vehicle? Here at Morgan Automotive Repair, with locations in Tracey, Manteca, Stockton and a new location opening soon in Sacramento, CA., we can help to diagnose and repair your vehicle. Whether your car is running rough, failing to start or the check engine light is on, bring your car to us and let us prepare an estimate for you. 

Bad gas can have a negative affect on your automobile. Unfortunately, most people have no idea that gas can go bad, or what can happen if gas does go bad. You can encounter bad gas when pumping new gas into your car, after refueling your car with gas from a sitting gas can, or simply because gas has been sitting in your car for a prolonged period of time. Here is everything that you need to know about bad gas. 

How Does Gas Go Bad?

There are numerous ways that gas can go bad. Too much water can be mixed with gas, causing problems. This can occur due to improperly mixing the gas at the refinery, humidity in the air where the gas is being stored, or water mixing with gas when it rains due to an old or failing gas container. Gas also degrades as it mixes with air. As such, gas can simply go bad due to its age. Most gas will begin to degrade within two to three months if it is not mixed with a fuel stabilizer. 

What Are the Signs That Your Gas is Bad? 

If you are looking at gas that is bad, you may notice that the gas is darker in color when it is bad. Gas that is bad may also have a sour smell to it that you can smell as you pour the gas. Once the bad gas is in your car, your car may not run as smoothly as it once did. Your car may have trouble starting up, your car may be running rough, or your vehicle may even begin stalling out. You may also notice that you get far fewer miles per gallon with bad gas than you do with gas that has not gone bad. 

What You Should do If You Have a Bad Tank of Gas in Your Car?

You should try to use any gas in your car within two to three months and avoid filling your car with gas from a gas can to prevent bad gas from being in your car. However, if your bad gas came from a gas station, you may be wondering what you can and should do. You do not need to go to an auto repair shop simply because you have bad gas. You can pour a fuel stabilizer into your fuel tank to help stabilize the fuel you have. From there, you should attempt to drive frequently to burn off the bad fuel as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to mix bad fuel with good fuel. Burn off the bad tank of gas as low as you can go before you re-fill your fuel tank. 

In most cases, simply burning off the tank of gas you have and filling your car up with fresh gas will solve the issue. Unfortunately, there are other auto repair problems, such as a clogged fuel injector or sediment in the fuel tank that can mimic the signs of bad gas. If you have filled your tank with fresh gas and are still experiencing issues, you should have your vehicle checked out by a car repair shop. Here at Morgan Automotive Repair, we can diagnose and repair your vehicle. Call to schedule an appointment with us now. 

Your automobile has a temperature gauge. While most of us know what this gauge is, we do not pay much attention to it. Fortunately, it is not something you really need to watch, unless you see that the gauge is indicating that your car is starting to run hot. When this happens, your car may be overheating. If you continue to drive your car while it is overheating, you can sustain engine damage that can be costly and time consuming to repair. If this happens to you, you will want to pull over and have your car towed to an auto repair shop. Here are a few common reasons why your car may be overheating. 

There Are Issues With Your Car’s Coolant System

One of the most common reasons why an automobile may overheat is because there are issues with the car’s internal coolant system. The internal coolant system, also sometimes referred to as the internal cooling system, helps to carry coolant from the radiator to the engine where it needs to go. Problems with the internal cooling system may include a blockage or hole in one of the hoses that carries the coolant, a coolant leak, or having the wrong mixture of water and coolant in your vehicle. If you are running low on coolant, your car may also overheat. 

There Are Problems With Your Radiator

Another common reason why your car may overheat is because there are issues with your radiator. Your radiator houses the coolant and is primarily responsible for cooling the engine. Common problems with a radiator that can cause your car to overheat include cracks in the radiator or the fans in the radiator not blowing properly. In turn, this heats up the radiator and does not allow it to cool the engine as it is designed to do. A cracked or failing radiator must be replaced to solve the issue. 

You Have a Broken Water Pump

The final common reason why your automobile may overheat is because you have a broken water pump. Many water pumps simply fail due to age and wear and tear. The water pump is a small pump that helps to push or pump water out of the radiator, into the coolant system, where the fluid can reach the engine. If the pump is failing or not working, coolant may not be pushing from the radiator out to the engine, and ultimately, it can cause your engine to overheat. Replacing the water pump is the only way to solve this issue. 

If your car is overheating, you want to determine why it is overheating and solve the issue to prevent it from overheating. A car repair shop is the best place to bring your car to be inspected and repaired. Here at Morgan Automotive Repair with locations in Tracy, Manteca, Stockton and a new Sacramento location opening soon, we can help you with all of your auto repair needs. Call us today and let’s take a look at your vehicle. 

When you place your key in the ignition of your vehicle and turn it, you expect your engine to start up. Unfortunately though, there may come a time when your car does not start up. There are numerous reasons why your car may not start. Read on to learn about the common reasons why your car may not start. 

The Battery Is Dead

One of the most common reasons why a car may not start is because of battery issues. Your battery may be dead due to age or the battery may be dead due to you leaving the headlights on. If you left the headlights on, jumping your car will solve the problem. If the battery is failing due to age, replacing the battery will fix your problem. Auto repair shops can test a battery and tell you if your battery may be nearing the end of its lifespan. 

You Have a Faulty Starter

Another common reason why your car may not start is because you have a faulty starter. One of the tell-tale ways to determine if you have a dead battery versus a faulty starter is to turn on your headlights and radio. If your battery is dead, your headlights and radio may be weak or may not work at all. If the starter is bad, your headlights and radio will work, your car will not turn over and start. 

The Alternator is Going Bad

An alternator going bad can also cause your car not to start. The alternator is responsible for charging your battery. As such, it can be hard to differentiate between a battery or an alternator problem the first time your car dies. However, if the alternator is encountering issues, your car will likely be fine after it is jumped, but then fail to start after shutting your vehicle off. If you have to jump your car after you turn it off repeatedly, the alternator is likely the issue. 

There is a Clogged Fuel Filter

The finally common reason why your car may not start is because you may have a clogged fuel filter. If your car is out of gas, it will not start. A clogged fuel filter can trick your car into thinking it is out of gas, as the clog may prevent gas from flowing properly, which in turn, may prevent your car from starting. If you have a clogged fuel filter you may smell the scent of gas as you try to start up your car, your car may not start, and if your car does start, it may sputter and feel like it is going to stall. 

If your car is not starting, it may be caused by one of these reasons or something completely different. An auto repair shop or a car repair shop can take a look at your vehicle and diagnose what the problem is. In some cases, small issues such as battery corrosion can be causing the issue, while in other cases, larger problems like a bad alternator or starter may be present. If your car is not starting, or not consistently starting, bring it to us at Morgan Auto Repair and let us help you fix the problem.