Most Elko drivers know that braking means slowing or stopping a vehicle. The mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake system and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.

Let’s step back. A car or truck rolls brand new off the showroom floor at a local Elko dealer. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and the power assist are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the sedan tires are brand new, with full tread. Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance.
 
Now, as your drive from Elko to Elko and back, the miles start to add up. Most Elko car owners tend to focus on the brake pads. In the Elko automotive service community, the pads, and shoes on drum brakes, are called the friction material. That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the sedan. The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life – it’s not until they are worn so thin as to be out of spec that they lose stopping effectiveness.

The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while stopping the sedan. Over many miles, these wear and get gummed up. They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail. That’s why a regular brake inspection is important. At Clack Automotive Repair, we can test the operation of the brakes and see if any parts need cleaning or replacing.

That leads us to brake fluid service at Clack Automotive Repair. Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the sedan fluid system are depleted over time. That and moisture building up in the system deteriorate the performance of the brake fluid. Brake fluid replacement at Clack Automotive Repair includes flushing the brake system to clean out deposits, water and dirt. Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.

The tires are what connect the sedan to the road. The stopping force is ultimately dependent on the traction provided by the tires. The better they grip the road, the quicker you’ll stop as you drive around Elko.

For questions about brakes, brake pads, chassis lubrication, transmission service, or tires, talk to Clack Automotive Repair  manager John Clack.

Give us a call

Clack Automotive Repair
775.738.8106
475 14th St
Elko, NV 89801

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Your sedan cooling system’s job is to keep your engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it’s cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the cooled mix circulates back through the sedan engine to absorb more heat.

Coolant, or antifreeze, is specially formulated to keep your engine safe in a wide range of environmental and operating temperatures in Elko.

Without coolant, the sedan’s metal engine parts would expand so much that the engine would seize up and stop running.  Expensive parts could be broken or warp so badly they would have to be replaced at Clack Automotive Repair in Elko. It could even be so bad that the whole engine is ruined and has to be replaced.

Also, if it’s freezing outside in Elko, the water in your engine could freeze while your vehicle is sitting out in the NV cold. This is why you check coolant levels frequently and have your cooling system inspected for leaks. Also your manufacturer has a maintenance requirement for draining and replacing your coolant. These recommendations can vary widely, so check your Elko owner’s manual or ask your service advisor at Clack Automotive Repair in Elko.

The reason you need to change the coolant is that it has additives in it to protect the cooling system. As you can imagine, with all the heat, the cooling system’s a pretty harsh environment. The additives keep the fluid from becoming corrosive and damaging the radiator and other Elko cooling system components. Over time, the additives are depleted and the coolant just has to be replaced. A simple pH test can measure the coolant’s acidity.

You may have noticed that there are different colors of antifreeze at Clack Automotive Repair: it is very important that you use the correct type.  The different coolant types are different colors so you don’t mix them up.  Manufacturers use different materials to make the cooling system, and they require different types of antifreeze to protect them.

So check with your understanding Clack Automotive Repair service advisor or owner’s manual for the right kind because using the wrong coolant can void the warranty for your sedan cooling system.

Ask us about safety inspection, transmission service and tune up.

Give us a call

Clack Automotive Repair
775.738.8106
475 14th St
Elko, NV 89801

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Clack Automotive Repair’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Clack Automotive Repair Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Clack Automotive Repair Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Clack Automotive Repair gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Elko and on Elko freeways, by the way.

Clack Automotive Repair Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your understanding Clack Automotive Repair advisor for information.

Clack Automotive Repair Inspections: Elko drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Elko. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Clack Automotive Repair may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Clack Automotive Repair Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Elko auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Clack Automotive Repair PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Clack Automotive Repair Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Clack Automotive Repair technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Clack Automotive Repair Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Clack Automotive Repair before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Clack Automotive Repair Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Elko motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Clack Automotive Repair Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Clack Automotive Repair Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Elko.

Give us a call

Clack Automotive Repair
775.738.8106
475 14th St
Elko, NV 89801

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

With front-wheel drive being so common in Elko these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Elko folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive sedan differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for NV people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many sedan differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Clack Automotive Repair technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Clack Automotive Repair service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Elko four wheel drive sedans need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Clack Automotive Repair at different intervals.

Your Elko service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your sedan owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Clack Automotive Repair
775.738.8106
475 14th St
Elko, NV 89801

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. Next, the belt powers the alternator.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. In some sedans, power steering may have an electric drive and power brakes can be vacuum driven.

And, on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump (on some cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt).

Your Clack Automotive Repair service technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Elko drivers should be aware that there’s a special, spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley and sometimes an extra pulley call the idler pulley. Their job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. That’s why it’s often recommended that the tensioner, and the idler pulley if so equipped, be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your sedan. And it’s not that expensive to replace at Clack Automotive Repair – so it’s good to do so before it fails.

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

In addition to just wearing out, Clack Automotive Repair customers need to know that suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your sedan manufacturer and Clack Automotive Repair recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your Mountain City service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around Mountain City. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your sedan dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into Clack Automotive Repair for a suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other sedan suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well. If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at Clack Automotive Repair.

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at Clack Automotive Repair because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

To move water out of the way so the tire has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you’ll see channels that run around and across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

The deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet roads.

Consumer Reports and other advocate groups think that a good standard of replacing tires when the tread is worn down to four-thirty-seconds of an inch. That’s 3.2 millimeters.

When tires are worn to two-thirty-seconds of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out tire – and that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet roads. A safe stop from freeway speeds with four-thirty-seconds of an inch of tread could result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to four-thirty-seconds of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline; it’s time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the sedan engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.

These hot gases are about seventy percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion in your sedan. At high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.

Deeth car owners need to know that over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won’t work well. That can lead to all of the problems I’ve already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and wasted gas.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to test the PCV valve and quick and inexpensive to replace it at Clack Automotive Repair. Even so, it’s often overlooked because many Deeth drivers don’t know about it.

Check your sedan owner’s manual or ask your Clack Automotive Repair advisor. If this is the first time you’ve heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a PCV valve replacement.

Please ask us about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs.

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Now when you hear “severe service”, you may think it doesn’t apply to you because you don’t feel your driving conditions are severe or extreme – it’s just normal everyday driving around Elko. At Clack Automotive Repair, we discuss the conditions that manufacturers classify as severe so that you can make the judgment on your own driving.

• Most trips are less than four miles
• Most trips are less than ten miles and outside temperatures are below freezing in Elko
• You drive in very hot NV weather
• Driving at low speed most of the time (under 55 mph)
• Stop and go driving
• Operating your vehicle in dusty, polluted or muddy conditions
• You tow a trailer, regularly carry heavy loads or carry a car-top carrier on your sedan

Most Elko drivers operate under severe driving conditions at least some of the time. How do you know which schedule to follow for your sedan?

Carefully think about your driving conditions and decide if you should do your preventive maintenance closer to the severe service recommendation or the regular recommendation. Of course, your Clack Automotive Repair advisor can help you with your decision.

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet Elko conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That’s called hydroplaning. At Clack Automotive Repair we want our customers to know that if it’s really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet Elko roads.

So that’s why it’s so important for Elko drivers to replace the tires on their sedans when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out tire.

And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet roads. A safe stop from NV freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

You’ve probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount.

Of course, tires are a big ticket item for Elko car owners. Most of us want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.

At Clack Automotive Repair in Elko NV (89801) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 775.738.8106. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.