Posted on 8/7/2019
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
Posted on 7/31/2019
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
Posted on 7/24/2019
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
Posted on 7/17/2019
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
Posted on 7/10/2019
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
Posted on 7/3/2019
The muffler is just one part of a vehicle's exhaust system and it plays an important role as harmful gasses are expelled from the engine, burned off and then ultimately sent out through the muffler and tailpipe. The primary purpose of the muffler is to muffle the sounds being produced by the engine, just as the name would suggest. It's also kind of the final gatekeeper to keep the most harmful exhaust fumes from leaking out. If your muffler is going bad, you will want to get it repaired or replaced before it develops leaks that can cause health or safety risks. Any damage within the exhaust system can also affect the engine itself, so look out for any signs that there is an exhaust problem. When it comes to a failing muffler specifically, though, here are some of the warning signs you m ... read more
Posted on 6/26/2019
Seth drives a Nissan Pathfinder and he depends on his vehicle every day. Twice a week, he has to drive over 100 miles from Colorado Springs to La Junta for work, so it's important his vehicle is always running right. Recently, Seth visited LightHouse Automotive on two different occasions to deal with two different emergency repairs. "LightHouse Automotive is a top notch establishment!" Seth says in his Google review. "Rylan [Blair, owner] has helped me out of a jam twice now. First time, after a wheel bearing went out on my Pathfinder on my way home from La Junta. I called Rylan at LightHouse on recommendation from my cousin, Craig. They got me in and fixed up by the next day." On his first visit, Seth had a damaged ... read more
Posted on 6/19/2019
Many drivers don't realize the full importance of wheel alignment. They think it's just a minor inconvenience when the car pulls left or right on a straightaway or drifts some when making a corner. It's true that the wheels being slightly out of alignment is not a big deal at first, but the problems can compound and lead to other significant issues with your car. LightHouse Automotive wants you to understand some of the things that can happen to your vehicle if you don't address the wheel alignment regularly. Tire Damage When the wheels are not aligned properly, it will really put extra stress on the tires and they will wear out very unevenly. Even if you get your tires rotated regularly, they simply won't last as long without the wheel alignment getting ... read more
Posted on 6/12/2019
You never want to see fluid leaking from your car. However, some leaks may be more concerning than others according to the Colorado Springs auto repair experts at LightHouse Automotive. Here are some helpful tips for identifying a fluid leak and how to deal with it. 1. Look at the Color Different automotive fluids have different colors. For example, transmission fluid is usually red while engine oil is typically gold/brown. Check out our past article on different types of vehicle fluids to help you identify where the leak might be coming from. 2. Look at Where the Leak is Coming from Another way to identify the source of a fluid leak is to see where the leak is coming out under the vehicle. The engine and cooling system are in the front while the ... read more
Posted on 6/5/2019
Markiss knew he needed to get new brakes on his car, so he began shopping around at auto repair shops throughout Colorado Springs. He first looked at some of the bigger chain stores, but he wasn't too excited when they quoted him pretty high prices to replace the brake pads and also to completely replace the brake rotors. Then, Markiss found LightHouse Automotive. "I had to get my brakes and rotors done and everyone is just trying to make a buck," Markiss says in his recent online review. "Found this place and had them just look at it and come to find out that my rotors were still able to get resurfaced." Brake rotors can be tricky. At a certain point, they may be so worn out that they need to be replaced. However, a really good brake repair shop will have the ability to resurfac ... read more