Colorado Springs Auto Repair

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

Shanna was enjoying her family vacation until their car's air conditioner went out while they were visiting Colorado Springs. It's been a warm summer around here and a healthy A/C system makes all the difference when it's so hot outside. Shanna called around to a number of local auto repair shops, but none of them had any appointments available until the following week. That's not how we do things at LightHouse Automotive. We always try to make time for customers in need. "Very grateful we found this repair shop," says Shanna, "Temperatures were triple-digit and needless to say we were miserable. Finally we found LightHouse Automotive. I was totally prepared to be given a ridiculous price to fix our A/C since we were traveling and needed help fast. That was not the case at all. They got us in that same morning we called and gav ... read more

Do you own a classic car? Whether it's an old cruiser, a rare import or a brawny muscle car, we all dream of having a cool older vehicle to drive around in and tinker on in the garage. Classic Car Care It takes a lot of love and effort to care for a classic car like this, and it's really easy to get in over your head. Replacement parts can be hard to track down and working on the old school mechanical components can bring unique challenges. You'd think the simpler the mechanics, the easier things would be to troubleshoot and fix. However, it's not always that way. The LightHouse Automotive Difference That's why a lot of classic car owners throughout the Colorado Springs area count on Rylan Blair and his team at LightHouse Automotive. From preventative maintenance services to major repairs, we deal with a number of older vehicles and we know what it ta ... read more

The brakes in our car are often something we take for granted as drivers. We know that when we need to slow down or come to a stop, we can press on that little brake pedal and the vehicle will do what it's designed to do. Unfortunately, a lot of car owners ignore their brakes and let them get really worn out before finally doing something about it.  What Happens if Your Brakes Are Bad If your brakes aren't working properly or the brake pads/rotors are getting too worn out, it can be cause for concern. Your vehicle won't handle right and you might find it difficult coming to a quick stop when you need to. That puts your safety at risk. You may also hear unpleasant sounds like screeches and squeals. Last but not least, you could be doing damage to other a ... read more

Teresa wanted to help her son get his first car once he earned his driver's license. Fortunately, they already had an old Mitsubishi Montero that would fit the bill. Unfortunately, it was a bit neglected in recent years and it was due for a lot of repairs. Teresa wasn't worried, though. She knew she could count on the team at LightHouse Automotive to get it running great once again for her son. "I would like to give a HUGE shout-out to LightHouse Automotive in Colorado Springs!" Teresa says. "They did a superb job of getting our ol' Montero up and running and safe for my sone to have as his first vehicle." When Teresa brought the Montero in, it clearly needed a lot of work. Some of it was just standard maintenance like changing the oil ... read more

Your car has various belts under the hood that perform different functions, such as running the cooling system and air conditioning fans. The most important belt in any vehicle is typically the timing belt. This keep's the engine's camshaft and crankshaft turning at the correct rate. In turn, the camshaft opens and closes valves for the intake and the exhaust. This is all done with precise timing to allow the engine to run efficiently. That's why it's called the "timing belt." What Happens When the Timing Belt Wears Out or Breaks? Since the timing belt is composed of lightweight rubber materials, it is prone to get worn out over time. It can begin to slip on the gears its controlling or the material itself can begin to crack or fray. It could even snap completely without warning. This is especially careful to monitor here in Colorado ... read more

Whether you live in Colorado or are just visiting, there are few things more enjoyable than exploring the vast countryside and splendor of the Rocky Mountains. This is truly God's country, with beautiful mountain views and scenic vista points around every corner. However, it's important to be smart when venturing off into the mountains or other rural parts outside of Colorado. That's why LightHouse Automotive in Colorado Springs offers these helpful driving and auto care tips to keep you safe on the back roads. 1. Keep the Gas Tank Full Gas stations can be sparse the further you stray from the towns and uphill driving will burn a lot more fuel than flat or downhill stretches. Keep your tank filled up to prevent running out of gas in the mid ... read more

Jon drives a Chevy truck and has recently been dealing with some exhaust system issues. He was traveling through Dallas, where he had to get some emergency repairs made. However, he experienced several complications during his drive home to Colorado Springs. Thankfully, Jon knew he could trust the team at LightHouse Automotive to make it right. "This shop is 100% all legit," Jon says. "I took my truck to a shop in Dallas and got the catalytic converter replaced. I got about two hours outside of Dallas and my check engine light came on. I pulled into the nearest Chevrolet dealer and they made some adjustments. 10 minutes later back on the road all I could hear was an exhaust leak. I made it back to Colorado Springs and brought my truck to LightHouse." ... read more

Other than a weak battery, bad wiring is the most common cause of electrical problems in today's cars. In some cases, a frayed wire or corroded/loose connection is just a minor nuisance. It can cause your electrical components to malfunction and act strange. In other cases, bad wiring can be quite dangerous. Just as you don't want faulty wiring in your home, you won't want it in your vehicle. It can spark electrical fires and do a lot of damage. Signs of Auto Electric Problems The first sign of auto electric issues is when you notice that your electronics are acting up. Perhaps your power windows or door locks aren't working consistently. Maybe your car stereo, GPS system, onboard computer or phone charger plug-ins are causing proble ... read more