Engine Repairs We Can Provide
Engine maintenance is vital to keep your car or truck operating at peak performance. It also impacts the longevity of your vehicle's engine. Trust the experts at P & A Smith Auto Maintenance to help you protect your investment. Call us at 919-467-7016 or visit our shop in Cary for expert engine maintenance.
Here is a comprehensive list of the engine maintenance services we offer:
Check Engine Light
No one likes to see their car's "Check Engine" light come on. The light could mean a costly problem, like a bad catalytic converter, or it could be something minor, like a loose gas cap. At P & A Smith Auto Maintenance, we can pull the code and diagnose the problem for you. Give us a call at 919-467-7016 or stop by the shop for our expert assistance.
Diesel
Although diesel engines don't require tune-ups and tend to last longer than gasoline engines, they do require regular maintenance. Typical maintenance tasks include:
- Changing the oil & filter
- Changing the air filter
- Changing the fuel filter
- Bleeding the fuel system
- Draining the water separators
- Refilling the urea injection system
You can count on the experts at P & A Smith Auto Maintenance to help your diesel engine last a long time.
Fuel Injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an engine. Since 1990, fuel injectors have completely replaced carburetors as the primary means of getting gasoline into the engine. A fuel injector atomizes the fuel by forcibly pumping it through a small nozzle (under high pressure). Failure of the fuel injection system means poor performance and ultimately destroys the engine.
Ignition
Your vehicle's ignition system is responsible for starting the engine by delivering an electrical spark that ignites the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Issues can involve a worn ignition switch, a faulty ignition coil or broken or corroded wiring. These problems can lead to symptoms like the engine failing to start, intermittent stalling, dashboard warning lights, or even complete power loss while driving.
Ignition Wires & Cables
These vital parts transfer the spark from the ignition coil to spark plugs that ignite the mixture of fuel and air. The mixture starts the engine. Over time, ignition wires and cables get weak and break down. This makes it impossible for the spark to reach the engine cylinders. This results in the engine misfiring. Common symptoms of faulty ignition cables and wires are: poor gas mileage, engine misfires, engine light is on, and engine vibration.
Oil, Lube, and Filter
To keep running smoothly, your car highly relies on oil, lube, and oil filters. Oil helps in lubricating, cooling, and cleaning the internal engine components. With time, motor oil becomes contaminated. Your car needs an oil, lube, and filter change every three months (or 3,000 miles) in order to function optimally.
Spark Plugs
A spark plug delivers electric current to the combustion chamber from the ignition system. Spark plugs that haven't been changed for a long time can cause ignition problems. At P & A Smith Auto Maintenance, we have automotive experts who will check and replace your spark plugs. For all your spark plug repair or replacement needs, call 919-467-7016 or visit P & A Smith Auto Maintenance today.
Timing Belt
A timing belt is a part of your car's internal combustion engine. The belt synchronizes the camshaft and the crankshaft rotation so that the engine valves open and close at the correct timings. Also, the belt prevents the piston from striking the valves in an interference engine. A timing Belt is a rubber belt that usually features teeth on the inside surface, while a timing chain is a metal roller chain. Most cars we drive now have timing belts instead of timing chains and gears. Although different manufacturers have their recommended mileage, you need to have your car's timing belt checked regularly. To have it checked by experts, contact P & A Smith Auto Maintenance today.
Transmission Flush
Although most manufacturers recommend a transmission flush every 30,000 miles or every two years, some symptoms may indicate that you need a transmission flush sooner. Some of the symptoms that indicate that your car needs a transmission flush sooner are: transmission grinding or strange noises, problems shifting gears, slipping gears, surging of the car, and delay in vehicle movement. Flushing the used fluid from the transmission washes away tiny particles of dirt, clutch material, and metal shavings. For all your transmission flush needs, call 919-467-7016 or visit P & A Smith Auto Maintenance today - we are transmission experts.
Spark Plug Related FAQs
How do you know when a spark plug needs to be replaced?
The most common sign a spark plug needs replacing is the feeling that the car's engine is hesitating when accelerating, but other signs may include misfiring at start up, rough idling, sluggish acceleration, declining fuel economy and engine knocking.
What else should I replace when replacing spark plugs?
If you are considering having your vehicle's spark plugs replaced, there's a high probability that your spark plug wires need changing as well. Ignition wires become brittle over time. Old ignition wires can break and cause misfires or declining fuel economy.
Serpentine Belt Related FAQs
How do I know if I need to replace my car's serpentine belt?
If your serpentine belt is failing, you may notice performance issues with your vehicle. The vehicle may frequently overheat. Your air conditioning or power steering may fail to work or not work properly. You may notice your vehicle battery failing to recharge if the alternator is affected by a bad serpentine belt. If you start to notice any of these issues we encourage you to bring your vehicle to P & A Smith Auto Maintenance as soon as possible to avoid bigger problems and breakdown.
Check Engine Light FAQs
What could cause a check engine light to come on?
Come by P & A Smith Auto Maintenance and we can diagnose the reasons for a check engine light turning on. It can range from something serious like a faulty catalytic converter or potential engine failure to something simple like a loose gas cap or the need for a simple 50K or 100K mile manufacturer maintenance check.
Is it okay to drive with the engine light on?
The short answer, "No." The longer explanation is the light may indicate a serious engine failure and continuing to use your car as if nothing is wrong could result in a very expensive repair bill. The check engine light means you should stop driving and have your car looked at as soon as possible by a professional at P & A Smith Auto Maintenance in Cary.
What is the most common problem with my check engine light?
A loose gas cap is the most common cause of a check engine light coming on. But the best method to determine why the check engine light is on is to have a professional at P & A Smith Auto Maintenance read the diagnostic code in the car's internal OBD computer.
What does a solid check engine light mean?
A steady check engine light indicates a non-emergency issue. Come by P & A Smith Auto Maintenance and we can help.
What does an intermittent flashing check engine light mean?
Flashing check engine lights warn of severe situations requiring immediate attention. Get your vehicle to an auto repair shop as quickly as possible or get it safely parked and call a tow truck to take it to your preferred auto repair shop.
To learn more about our Engine Maintenance services, call us at 919-467-7016 or request a quote by clicking below:
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04/22/2024
The "Check Engine" warning light came on, so I left my Matrix for diagnosis and repair. They fixed it so quickly that they had time to give the whole engine compartment a thorough inspection and reported that all was well. The windshield wipers had been needing replacement for some time, but I just hadn't gotten around to it. They noticed that and did it for me. Much appreciated! P&A are extremely easy to work with, especially if you have an older car, and have very reasonable rates.
Chip Davis
06/21/2022
They are the only people that I trust to work on my Volvo after having a bad experience at the Volvo dealership!! They're great at what they do and don't try sell you services that you don't need. They were able to change the timing belt on my car with short notice so that I felt confident taking it on a road trip. They are my go to for all services for my car!
Colleen Roache
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What our clients are saying about us
We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!
We have trusted P&A with all of our cars for years! Great customer service!
P & A Smith Auto were incredible to work with. My late model Volvo needed significant diagnostic work and Bobby went above and beyond to solve the problem. I was kept informed in a professional, timely, courteous manner. Highly recommend P & A Smith for any car maintenance concerns.