Colorado Springs Auto Repair

Donald drives a MINI Cooper, but recently he was having trouble starting his car. The engine was cranking, but wouldn't fire up. Donald does most of his own auto repairs and maintenance at home. However, this time he wasn't able to determine the problem and he decided to turn to LightHouse Automotive for professional help with his vehicle. "Brought in my MINI Cooper," Donald writes in his online review. "It would crank, but wouldn't turn over. Had tried fixing it myself, but couldn't track down the issue." There are any number of reasons why a vehicle may be struggling to start. There could be an issue with the ignition/starter system, the battery, spark plugs, fuel ... read more

The exhaust system is one of your vehicle's most important systems. It expels harmful gases from the engine, allowing it to "breathe" and run better. The most important component within your exhaust system is the catalytic converter. It burns off these gases and pollutants for safer emissions. If your catalytic converter is damaged or clogged, you can usually still drive the vehicle. However, it will potentially lead to some more significant issues. You will generally lose fuel economy. Exhaust leaks can develop. Worst of all, engine damage can occur and it probably won't be cheap to repair. At the first sign of catalytic converter failure or any other exhaust system issues, you will want to bring your vehicle to a professional auto repair shop. Colorado Springs' own LightHouse Aut ... read more

Imagine this scenario. You are driving along in your car like you do every day. A car stops suddenly in front of you at a traffic light, so you step on the brake pedal as firmly as you can. However, your car isn't coming to a quick and complete stop. It slows down just barely enough to avoid disaster, but it sure was a close call.  This kind of scenario is not out of the ordinary, but what amazes us is that someone will still wait to get their brakes checked even after a near-disaster like this. When it comes to your safety as a driver, the safety of your passengers and the safety of drivers and pedestrians on the road in front of you (not to mention insurance premiums and repair costs if you are actually in an accident), it's important to get your brakes checked and serviced at the first sign of trouble. In most cases, it's just the brake pads that need to be replaced. They get worn ... read more

Brian was in the market to buy a used car, and he had his eyes on a Subaru Outback for sale here in the Colorado Springs area. However, he is a smart consumer who knows his rights as a pre-owned vehicle buyer. Brian wanted to get the Subaru properly inspected by a professional automotive shop—a neutral third-party expert—before he committed to purchasing the vehicle. He wanted it done while he was in town looking at the SUV, so he called LightHouse Automotive. "I was looking for a place that could give my potentially future Subaru Outback a pre-purchase inspection on short notice," Brian says. "I was thankful LightHouse was able to squeeze me in SAME DAY!!" If you are thinking about buying a used car, it's always a good idea to have a pre-purchase ... read more

There are some people who like to get a new vehicle every few years, whether they are on dealer lease programs or they trade-in and purchase a new or used car. Then, there are those of us who buy a vehicle and want to drive as long as it will keep running. We are proud when that odometer rolls over past 100,000 miles and maybe even 200,000 or 300,000 after many years of dependable driving.  Sometimes, you can get really lucky with a vehicle that lasts a long time. However, the best way to ensure that a car lives a long and healthy life is by performing proper preventative maintenance and taking care of minor problems before they turn into major repair jobs.  Here are 10 tips to extend the lifespan of your car, according to the Colorado Springs auto repair team at LightHouse Automotive: 1. Change the Oil This is the most common and most important preventative maintenance procedu ... read more

Because of today's manufacturing standards, a lot of auto manufacturers will leave plenty of room for improvement with most cars that roll off an assembly line. They use affordable, standardized parts to fit a large quantity of mass-produced automobiles. They aren't concerned about maximizing each vehicle's performance, especially when it comes to torque and horsepower. This is why many vehicle owners opt to install aftermarket exhaust systems. It's one of the best way to boost horsepower, torque and other performance factors. In addition, a custom exhaust designed specifically for your car and your engine can improve things even more than a bolt-on kit. Here are 7 reasons why you should consider installing a custom exhaust system, according to the Colorado Springs auto repair experts (and custom exhaust specialists) at ... read more

Edmund appreciates having a local mechanic in Colorado Springs that he can trust. He recently visited LightHouse Automotive for some auto repairs, and he was nice enough to share his feedback in a Google review. "Great service that you most definitely wouldn't see at any standard mechanic," Edmund writes. "LightHouse Automotive is the best mechanic I've been to since living here in Colorado Springs. They actually talk to you about what is wrong with your vehicle—about things other than how much it is going to cost." The most important thing to us at LightHouse Automotive is making sure our customers understand exactly what is going on with their vehicles. We listen to their concerns when they bring in their cars, trucks or SUVs. Then, we'll perform a thorough ... read more

When people do their own vehicle maintenance at home, the engine air filter is often one of the most overlooked items. It's easy to remember changing the oil and oil filter or rotating the tires based on specific mileage driven, but the air filter isn't quite as memorable because its need for maintenance will fluctuate. However, it serves a very important function and it needs to be replaced periodically. When to Change Your Air Filter How often you should change your air filter can vary depending on a number of things. The general rule of thumb is somewhere between every 15,000 and 30,000 miles. How you drive the vehicle, the air quality where you drive, the age of your vehicle and several other factors can play into how much work your air filter has to do. It's a good idea to check it any time you are changing the oil or getting other maintenance done. Once it gets too dirt ... read more

Rotating the tires on your car may seem like a silly maintenance task that you have to do every once in awhile. However, it actually makes a big difference in how long your tires will last and how well they will perform. Without rotating your tires periodically, you will find that one or more of them will wear out more quickly than the others. It ends being a lot more costly when it comes time to replace them because changing out one tire a time is definitely more expensive than buying a whole set and having them installed at the same time. How Often Should I Rotate My Tires? Most mechanics will tell you that tire rotation should be done every 5,000-6,000 miles. Some may even push that number to 10,000. At LightHouse Automotive, our general rule of thumb is to coordinate tir ... read more

Jasper recently visited LightHouse Automotive in Colorado Springs to get some work done on his car. This was the first time he had been to our shop, and he walked away very happy according to his Google review. "I'd give this repair shop a big fat 10 stars!!!!" Jasper wrote. "They worked with me in every way they could, which was very, very helpful. Got my car fixed as fast as they could and it's been running great." One issue that Jasper did run into was coordinating his personal schedule with our business hours. At LightHouse Automotive, we understand that our customers live busy lives. They don't always have time to deal with auto repairs because of work, famil ... read more