Auto Repair In Fairbanks

There are times when it may seem like you can feel every single bump and crack on the road when you are driving. If you are feeling this more often than not, then you are probably dealing with a suspension problem. You can also treat this symptom with other repairs, including wheel alignment, brakes, and tires, so it's a good idea to have your vehicle inspected by a professional technician. Our expert team at University Chevron can get to the root of the problem quickly.   When it comes to suspension difficulties, it is often relatively minor. When your ride starts feeling bumpy or shaky when you drive (present at low or high speeds), it's worthwhile to have your car examined by someone who can correctly identify the problem. Some of the most common issues we see at our shop include a loose component or a hydraulic fluid leak. Often, you can check underneath your vehicle and see that the shocks or struts look greasy and dirty. "Oily" or wet shocks and struts is ... read more

Brake failure can bring about horrific vehicle accidents and even fatalities. As a result, we stress routine brake checks, maintenance, and repair. Your brakes must always be full-functioning to ensure a safe ride. As a vital car component, there have been significant improvements in the braking system over the last several decades. However, the most prominent types of brakes today are drum brakes and disc brakes.   Drum Brakes Drum brakes are a more old-fashioned version of brakes that feature a simple design with low production costs. They are usually made out of cast iron and function by applying two arched shoes. Whenever you apply these brakes, brake fluid is pushed into the drum brake constraining the pistons to press against the surfaces. This movement slows down the wheels and eventually brings your car to a complete stop.   Disc Brakes Disc brakes are more modernized in design and have more features than drum brakes. They are commonly used today. Disc brakes ha ... read more

Your tire tread is very telling on how your tires are holding up. If you notice that your tire wears in the center, edges, or on the outer, they need to be corrected somehow. By inspecting your tires frequently, you can catch any problems and determine whether you need service immediately. To help you interpret your tire tread, here is a short guide on the five most common types of wear patterns.   Patchy Wear Patchy wear usually suggests that your wheels may be out of balance. Regular tire rotations can also prevent a patchy tire. These maintenance services can prevent the wear from worsening in the future. As soon as you catch this on your tires, reach out to one of our mechanics for a consultation.   Center Wear If your tires look to be worn in the center, your wheels may be over-inflated. Overfilling your tires is strongly discouraged because it will make your tires wear faster. If you catch this, you should check the tire pressure. It would be best to match the pre ... read more

A significant number of car owners ignore taking their vehicles to an auto care shop for wheel alignment. It's a necessary safety precaution because bad alignment can be costly. After all, you'll have to replace your tires frequently due to uneven wear. Additionally, you risk causing an accident because the vehicle will pull to one side. The next time you notice such red flags, contact our automotive technicians to inspect them and align the wheels. The primary benefit of a wheel alignment is that you avoid unnecessary costly repairs because of uneven tire wear. With routine wheel alignment and balance, you'll protect your vehicle's brakes, suspension, and steering system. Below are other benefits of wheel alignment. Improved Fuel Efficiency Wheel misalignment means that the rims aren't moving in the same line. The power transmitted to each wheel will vary, causing the engine to work extra hard to meet the increased power demands. As a result, you'll need to ... read more

Whether yours is an old or new model, every vehicle needs a tune-up at one time or the other. Mostly a tune-up service involves you dropping your car at your trusted auto repair shop for a thorough inspection and preventative maintenance service. The inspection covers a visual check of the entire engine system, including the spark plugs, fuel pump, injectors, filters, engine fluid, among other components. This is to ensure that everything is in great shape and running smoothly. Suffice to say, the ultimate tune-up service will depend on the inspection report and may include anything from oil to spark plug and ignition timing replacement. So, How Can You Tell When Your Car is Ready for Tune-Up? You can save yourself a lot of trouble by understanding the common indicators that your car needs tune-up services. Some of them include: Engine Light Illuminates the Dashboard While these little engine lights do not always mean impending danger, they point to one thing - you need to drop you ... read more

There is nothing worse than a stuttering engine, especially in bad weather. Yet, many things can cause that stutter, and one of them is an old spark plug. It throws all the other spark plugs out of sync eventually too and the car may choke off until the spark plugs are professionally replaced. Spark plugs are a necessary part of the vehicle and should not be neglected. Taking care of essential parts of a vehicle will not only save the owner time but also money, and regularly servicing the vehicle and changing old spark plugs is no exception. That faulty spark plug could mean the difference between making it to an important meeting or not, picking the children up after school, and many other scenarios. It is better to take care of problems before they arise in order to ensure everything in the vehicle is in good running condition. If spark plugs are faulty, a driver can expect reduced gas mileage as dirty spark plugs will make the car burn more fuel. The engine can also misfire as the ... read more

Have you taken a break to check your brake fluid recently? There are many different fluids in your vehicle that keep it running smoothly and safely. One of the most important fluids in your car is the brake fluid. Essentially, the brake fluid is what moves the different parts of your vehicle's braking system. Brake fluid helps to deliver the force necessary to stop your wheels when you hit the brake pedal. Without brake fluid, your brakes don't work. Making sure that your car has the proper amount of brake fluid is an easy way to stay safe on the road and avoid unexpected accidents. There are several signs that indicate your car is low on brake fluid. 1. Your Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) light turns on. In a modern car, your dashboard will light up with the ABS light. This is the easiest way to tell that your brake fluid needs to be changed. 2. Your brakes aren't responding like they used to. If your brake pedal feels firmer or softer, it could indica ... read more

On-board diagnostics (OBD) is a vehicle's capability to self-diagnose and report problems. This diagnosis ability allows mechanics to access the vehicle's sub-systems to see which systems are experiencing issues, so they can be corrected. Why is OBD Essential? On-board diagnostics is essential because it helps mechanics better understand the issues your car is experiencing, helping them to correct the problem at its source. OBD has a variety of benefits. What Are the Benefits of OBD? Quick Testing One of the most popular benefits of on-board diagnostics is quick testing. When it comes to vehicle maintenance, you may plan ahead to leave your car overnight or for a few days to have the necessary repairs performed. OBD testing is quick and easy to perform, making diagnosing car problems quickly, so mechanics can move on to the repair process. Fault Codes If you have a newer model car, you have the advantage of fault codes. These codes are s ... read more

Have you ever experienced the terror of your car turning sideways and felt like you had no control over your vehicle? Here are some tips to help you drive safely in winter weather. 1. Slow Down Whether rain, snow, wind, or fog, the most important thing you can do is lower your speed. Not only are you usually visually impaired in rough weather, slowing down lessens the chances of sliding on rain or snow and also keeps high winds from pulling the steering wheel out of your grasp. 2. Leave Plenty of Room Between the Car Ahead of You Even if you're driving safely and slowly, bear in mind the person ahead of you might not have the same mindset or experience with the weather situation. They may start to slip and slide and you want to have as much room as possible to come to a safe stop. 3. Plan Ahead Leave early for your destination so that you won't be prone to drive too fast. Scrape ice or snow off your windshield. Let y ... read more

Road safety and well maintained braking systems go hand in hand. Break failure can cause catastrophic road accidents. Regular brake checks, maintenance and repair, is vital to ensure they function correctly. As an essential car component, there have been significant improvements in the braking system over the years with the development of new technologies that have made advancements in the braking system possible. The most prominent types of brakes are drum and disc brakes, which differ significantly. Brake Drums Although drum brakes still exist in some vehicles today, they were an older version of brakes that features a simple design with low manufacturing costs. They were mainly made from cast iron and functioned by forcing the two arched shoes placed within the drum. Whenever the driver depresses the brake pedal, pressed brake fluid is forced into the drum brake constraining the pistons to press against the drum sides. The friction results in slow spinning of the wheels and even ... read more