Colorado Springs Auto Repair

LightHouse Automotive opened in Colorado Springs almost exactly 16 years ago. It was back in October of 2003 when an experienced local auto mechanic, Rylan Blair, and his wife, Tia—who brings a great mind for business management and marketing—decided to open their own automotive repair shop in their beloved hometown. Together, they have built something truly special with the help of their amazing team of employees. Independently Owned. Family Operated. Since the beginning, LightHouse Automotive has been proud to be an independent, family owned and locally focused auto shop serving the needs of Colorado Springs residents and anyone in the surrounding El Paso County communities.  NAPA Knowhow Without the Chain Store Limitations We are an affiliated NAPA AutoCare Center ... read more

Patty has had her Dodge Durango for many years, so it's needed plenty of maintenance and repairs for as long as she's owned it. Recently, she was having some cooling system problems, so she took it to the Colorado Springs auto repair shop she trusted. Patty has been to LightHouse Automotive in the past, so she knew she could count on Rylan Blair and our team to get the job done right. "I have had my 2003 Dodge Durango in Rylan's shop a couple of times," Patty writes in her recent Google review. "They are always professional and honest." When an older vehicle like Patty's comes into the LightHouse Automotive shop, we always want to give it a little extra attention. We look everything over carefully to make sure there are no potential problems and that the ... read more

Every vehicle has four primary types of filters that perform very simple, yet important functions. As the term implies, they filter out dirt, debris and impurities that can otherwise contaminate vital automotive components and hinder performance. Here's what you need to know about your vehicle's different filters, according to the Colorado Springs auto repair experts at LightHouse Automotive: 1. Oil Filter This is probably the filter that most car owners are most familiar with because it needs to be changed the most often. When a standard oil change is performed, the oil filter will be replaced along with any oil in the reservoir. This ensures that fresh oil is running through the engine components and providing the necessary lubrication and cooling properties. It's important to change the oil fil ... read more

We often take our cars for granted, but owning a vehicle is a big responsibility. Whether you bought a cheap used car or have an expensive vehicle that you got brand new, it needs regular maintenance to keep it running right. At LightHouse Automotive, we call it "preventative maintenance" because it is done to help prevent major automotive damage while improving vehicle performance and driver safety. Here are 8 of the most important vehicle maintenance tasks that need to be done regularly, according to our top mechanics at LightHouse Automotive: 1. Oil Changes Motor oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Without enough clean oil flowing through all the different fast-moving engine components, major internal damage can happen. That's why it is so vital to change the oil and the oil filt ... read more

Charissa's car was due for an oil change. Rather than one of the quickie lube places or the expensive dealership, she decided to give LightHouse Automotive a try this time. She couldn't have been happier with the experience. Just check out her recent online review! "I got my oil changed at LightHouse Automotive, and all around, it was a wonderful experience," Charissa says. "I really appreciated the job well done, but also the staff is so kind and thoughtful." Whether you are visiting LightHouse Automotive for major auto repair needs or a preventative maintenance service like an oil change, tire rotation or brake service, we treat you and your vehicle with the respect and care you deserve. We want to get you in and out of the shop as quickly as we can, so you can get ... read more

Though it's something we hope you never experience, there's no worse feeling than when you try to start your car and it won't fire up. Whether it's struggling to start up or the engine won't turn over all, it's time to seek professional help from a mechanic that can diagnose the problem and make the necessary repairs. Sometimes it's a simple part that needs to be replaced. Other times, it's something more significant. Here are some of the most common reasons why a car won't start, according to the Colorado Springs auto repair experts at LightHouse Automotive: 1. Starter/Ignition System There are different types of ignition and starter systems found in vehicles made throughout the years, and each has different components that can fail. Problems to look for may be a failing ignition switch, starter motor, ignition coil, distributor cap or spark plugs. The ... read more

Other than maybe the engine itself, there is nothing more important in a car than the transmission itself. It transfers the power from the engine to the wheels, essentially controlling all forward or reverse motion. To put it simply, your vehicle wouldn't move at all without a working transmission. Transmission Service That's why your transmission needs regular maintenance just like everything else in the vehicle. The most common transmission maintenance procedure is what we'd call a standard transmission service. It is often referred to by auto shops as an "automatic" transmission service, as well. However, it applies to all types of transmissions, including manual, automatic and continuously variable transmissions (CVTs).  A standard transmission se ... read more

Steven bought a used 2012 Dodge Ram 5.7 Hemi from a local car dealership in Colorado Springs. Unfortunately, they neglected to tell him about certain mechanical issues that the truck was having. It was still under warranty, but Steven still experienced problem after problem and nothing was ever quite fixed properly. "I took my truck in several times throughout the warranty length, but they fixed nothing," Steven says. "I brought my truck to LightHouse and Rylan [Blair, owner] made sure everything was taken care of from there." We do not want to put any local dealerships or other auto repair shops down, but this is not the first time something like this has happened to one of our customers. Sometimes, someone else just isn't able (or willing) to get to the root of the proble ... read more

Though they are small and relatively simple in design compared to other automotive components, spark plugs play a very important role in the overall health and performance of your vehicle. If any of the spark plugs are dead or not working right, your engine will struggle and it may not fire up at all. Spark plugs need to be changed out periodically and tested regularly to ensure they are doing what they are supposed to do. Here are 5 of the most common signs that you need new spark plugs, according to the Colorado Springs automotive repair specialists at LightHouse Automotive: 1. The Car is Struggling to Start This is an obvious problem that you will want to get looked at. It may be a failing spark plug or something wrong with the ignition, fuel system, alternator ... read more

With Labor Day Weekend behind us, it's hard to believe the summer is officially over and kids are already back in school. Hopefully, you enjoyed a fun and active summer season with your family. Whether you took a family road trip or just stayed around town shuttling them to and from sports and other activities, odds are your family car has been through a lot this summer. Now that things are getting somewhat back to a normal school year routine, it's actually a great time to take care of any automotive needs that you may have been putting off the past few months. If you are in the Colorado Springs area, LightHouse Automotive is here to help. Automotive Repairs Obviously, if you know that your vehicle is in need of repairs—big, small or you aren't quite sure—you probably shouldn't want ... read more