Colorado Springs Auto Repair

At LightHouse Automotive, brake inspections and repairs are among the most common services we perform for our customers. After all, everyone wants their brakes to be working properly! We often get questions about the differences between the primary brake components. This article will help explain the various parts and talk about the importance of brake maintenance for your vehicle's safety and performance.  Brake Components Most vehicles on the road have disc brake systems. We do work on a lot of classic cars with drum brakes here at LightHouse Automotive, but we're going to keep this topic focused on disc brakes. There are four primary components to disc brakes, including the caliper, caliper support, brake pad and brake rotor. Brake Pads vs. Brake Rotors Brake pads are attached to the calipers, which are essentially clamps that close when you press on the ... read more

Mathew was in a tough situation. He had tried to work on his own car, an older-model Lincoln, but ended up hitting a wall. By the time he had a lot of it taken apart, he realized he wasn't equipped to make all the necessary repairs himself. Mathew needed professional help and he also wanted the repairs done quickly, which is why he turned to LightHouse Automotive in Colorado Springs. "Rylan and his team were great," Mathew writes in his recent review on Google. "I dropped them off an older Lincoln that I had torn apart and just did not have the mechanical expertise to finish up. They were quick to get it into the shop as I told them I needed the car ASAP." Sometimes it can be tricky when someone tries to make their own repairs and then brings it into ... read more

If you own a car or truck, you can expect to need repairs at some point. Beyond just standard preventative maintenance, minor and major automotive repairs are just a regular part of life for most of us. It’s important to have an auto repair shop in town you can trust. That’s why people throughout Colorado Springs turn to the automotive repair experts at LightHouse Automotive. We often get asked what the most common automotive repair services are. We’ve compiled this list of the Top 10 so you know what to expect when it comes to caring for your vehicle. These are some of the repairs we perform most often at LightHouse Automotive: 1. Brake Pads and Rotors You want your brakes to be working correctly at all times ... read more

Most vehicles will rely upon a water pump system to keep the engine cool and maintain consistent running temperatures. It’s vital to prevent overheating. There are air cooling systems, as well, which require their own maintenance and care. In this article, however, we want to focus on water pumps. Modern vehicles that use water pumps have more sophisticated cooling systems that are designed to last longer. This is pretty true with all modern vehicle designs. However, no car is exempt from something going wrong and it always pays to know what to look for in case of a failing water pump. Obviously, the older your vehicle is, the more concern you should have for your water pump. When it fails, your engine will overheat and it could lead to more significant en ... read more

Alex recently took his car into a quick-lube oil change shop, and one of the technicians there noticed that some transmission fluid was leaking. A leaking transmission is never a good sign, but Alex wanted a second opinion before any work was done. He is a student on a limited budget, so he knew it was worth having the vehicle looked at by a local transmission repair expert. After doing his research on dependable Colorado Springs auto repair shops, Alex decided to call LightHouse Automotive. Alex shared his feedback about his LightHouse Automotive service experience on Google: "The oil change guy claimed my transmission was leaking and these guys [LightHouse Automotive] gave me an honest quote," Alex says. "They even brought me into the shop to give me an up close and per ... read more

Colorado winters can be tough on your vehicle's battery. The cold weather, wet road conditions and increased use of electrical components such as the heater, defroster, headlights or windshield wipers will put additional strain on your battery and entire electrical system. You want to make sure your battery is running at full strength. If it is dying or dead, you could be left stranded and that's not a good thing. Recharge vs. Replace In some cases, a battery can just be drained and will benefit from being recharged. In other cases (especially if it's a recurring failure), it needs to be replaced with a new battery. Trust an experienced auto repair technician to test your battery and provide an accurate recommendation on whether your battery should be recharged or replaced. Signs of a Bad Car Battery There are a few common symptoms that will ... read more

When it comes to the exhaust systems of modern gas-powered or diesel-powered vehicles, the catalytic converter is one of the most important components. It is vital to convert very harmful emissions gasses and fumes into less harmful exhaust. If it is not performing properly, it's bad for the driver and passengers, bad for the environment and bad for your vehicle itself.  Does Your Vehicle Have a Catalytic Converter? This may depend on the age of your vehicle because catalytic converters weren't a requirement until 1975. Some older vehicles may still have one, but a lot of older cars and trucks may not. Colorado emissions requirements are very strict and will affect all cars older than seven (7) years. Whether your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter or not, it must meet the state's emissions/smog testing requirements ... read more

David recently visited LightHouse Automotive in Colorado Springs for the first time. He had yet to find a local mechanic that he could trust for ongoing service. However, his recent review of our shop indicates that he is already a big fan of owner, Rylan Blair, and the LightHouse Automotive crew. Here's what he wrote on our customer reviews page: "I give my highest recommendation to LightHouse Automotive," David says. "I have been looking high and low for an honest mechanic, and I found one in Rylan. He not only performed the tasks we had agreed upon, but he went above and beyond to make sure the repair was done correctly." We always love hearing this kind of feedback from our customers at LightHouse Automotive. It's important for us t ... read more

This is the time of year when your vehicle's heater and defrosters are ultra important. Fog, rain, sleet and snow can all impact your safety and visibility while driving on Colorado's roads throughout the winter months. You want to make sure your heater, AC and defroster(s) are all working correctly. It's cold outside, so you want to stay warm inside your car or truck. You also want to be able to see out the windows while driving. Remember other drivers will have the same limited visibility you do on bad weather days, so you always have to be extra vigilant while on the road. Here are some of signs that you could have issues with your vehicle's Heating/Air Conditioning system: Air Not Warm Enough It may take a few minutes for your car to warm up and thus start blowing hot air into the passenger cabin. However, if it is not getti ... read more

Winter is such a neat time of year here in Colorado Springs. The snow begins to fall and holiday cheer takes over our wonderful community. The entire staff of LightHouse Automotive would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Reflecting on 2017 2017 has really been a great year at LightHouse Automotive. It has been a true pleasure to serve our loyal customers. Many visited our shop for the first time this year while others have been regulars for years. From routine oil changes to custom installations to major automotive repairs, Rylan Blair and the technicians at LightHouse Automotive have seen and done just about everything this year. Every day is full of excitement and challenges, and you know our team is always up to the task ... read more