Sacramento and Elk Grove Auto Repair

If your vehicle fails its required smog test, do not fret - Prestige Auto Works can help. As a Californian, you may know that our state is rather strict regarding vehicle emissions. As a result, California residents dread their smog inspection every other year. However, if you take your vehicle to a test and repair station, you already have an advantage in the case that your vehicle fails its test.   During the testing stage, your car's exhaust is checked out. The inspector examines some components, including the catalytic converter, evaporative emissions charcoal canister, fuel cap, oxygen sensor, EGR system, PCM, and purge control valve. If any of these components are hazarded, your vehicle will fail the smog check.    There are many reasons why your vehicle can fail a smog inspection. Here are some of the most common issues we see at our shop when a doesn't pass the test: Catalytic converter breakdown Clogged/dirty air filter Old, overw ... read more

If you own a Cadillac XTS, Fiat 500, Ford Transit, Dodge Challenger, or RAM 1500, then you boast having the latest auto AC technology featuring the R-1234YF refrigerant. The air conditioning system is gaining traction among vehicle manufacturers, and a few years from now, all vehicles will have the new air conditioning technology. What is R1234YF AC Refrigerant? A distinct aspect of the R1234YF is that it is a synthetic hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant with ultra-low global warming potential (GWP). It combines three elements: hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon, although the carbon atoms contain a double bond. That makes its composition quite unique, releasing negligible levels of greenhouse gases that destroy the ozone layer—its GWP rating is less than 1. Auto AC refrigerant technologies have drastically evolved throughout the years. From the early 30s through to the 90s, vehicles featured R12 or Freon AC refrigerants. By the mid-90s, 134a refrigerants replaced the R12. It ... read more

If your car fails to start, it may mean that your starter system has problems or your battery is not charged before you point an accusing finger on the starter check whether your battery is charged. If so, then the problem is most likely with your car starter. But how can you be sure? Check out the following signs. 1. Funny Sound When Starting The Car The sin that you have a bad starter is when you hear a clicking sound whenever you push the starter or turn the starter key. A deteriorating starter may alert you of its impending death with a grinding and whirring sound. Some dead starters don't produce any sound, so have your car regularly checked by a trained technician. 2. The Dashboard Light Is On, But Nothing Happens When starting the car, the dashboard should light up, followed by the engine starting to run. But in some instances, the dashboard may light up, but the engine fails to power up. This is an indication that the starter has problems. 3. Engine Failing To Crank S ... read more

Fluid exchanges are an integral part of the general vehicle maintenance routine. However, most drivers only think about engine oils and transmission fluids when it comes to fluid flushing. They fail to understand that power steering fluid also plays an important role and that it needs changing as per the manufacturer's instructions. With time, your car's power steering fluid breaks down and becomes filled with sludge and grit. Grit features sand-like particles that get lodged in pinion seals and racks, eventually causing damage. Without flushing out the fluid, you'll end spending money replacing racks. Do I Need a Power Steering Flush? You can tell whether your power steering pump requires a flush by checking the color of the fluid. Car fluids acquire a darker shade when old. Therefore, if it acquires a deeper red shade, that shouldn't be an indicator of a bad fluid. It would help to go through the manufacturer's manual to know the fluid flushing routine. It is ... read more

The shocks and struts on your vehicle help to stabilize its movements. They also aid control when you turn or when you have to brake or accelerate. You won't notice the uneven road surfaces as much when this part of your car is working well. And they help to keep the tires in contact with the pavement at all times. If your shocks or struts were missing, your vehicle would be much more bouncy. Since this part of the vehicle gives you a smooth, comfortable ride, it's important to take note of the signs that occur when they are going bad. Here are a few to watch for: That Bouncing Feeling You know how your vehicle normally drives and if you feel it bouncing down the road instead of giving you a smooth ride, there's likely something up with the shocks and struts. You want to smooth things out before any damage is done. Vehicle Tips When Turning If you feel like your vehicle is tipping further when you are trying to turn, it might be the sh ... read more

Have you noticed an unusual amount of wear and tear on your car tires lately? There are a few things that could be causing this. In this article, we talk about four things that can cause premature wear-and-tear on your car tires -- and how to avoid them. Let's start by looking at tire pressure issues. Tire Pressure Issues Can you remember the last time you checked the air pressure in your car tires? According to Nationwide Insurance and the National Transportation Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "driving on under-inflated tires is one of the primary causes of tire failure in vehicles on the road today". It's important to maintain your tire's air pressure according to the vehicle and tire manufacturer's instructions to avoid premature wear-and-tear or tire damage. When your tires are under-inflated, this causes the tires to work harder and can lead to a rapid breakdown of your tires. Refer to your owner's manual or an automotive service ... read more

Your vehicle's water pump functions as the heart of the cooling system. It regulates the flow of coolant and circulates it throughout the cooling circuit. Water pumps are most commonly driven externally by a pulley/belt combination. If the water pump is damaged, the engine can eventually overheat. Water pumps are designed to last a fair amount of time, but it can break down as you add on miles with other vehicle parts. When it's time to replace the water pump, it will start to display some warning signs. Below are four signs that indicate water pump failure.  There's a coolant leak. The water pump has multiple gaskets and seals that hold the coolant and are consistently delivered to the engine. Over time these seals and gaskets can degrade and wear out. If these seals are dry up and crack, coolant can leak and puddle on the ground. Coolant is usually green or red and will typically be near the front of your engine.  There ... read more

Your brakes are put to the test every time you drive your vehicle, so they must stay in top condition. A healthy brake system gives a type of peace of mind that most drivers take for granted during their routine commutes. Brake maintenance is essential because neglecting the brakes can impact your vehicle's response time. Failing brakes can be a matter of life and death. The brakes aren't designed to last forever; they have a natural life span that causes them to wear over time. Your brakes will alert you when they need to be serviced; you just need to be aware of the signs. To help you identify whether it's time to have your brakes serviced, below are three signs, it's time for professional maintenance.   Your car takes longer to stop.  Brake fade is the technical term when your brakes start to wear over time, causing your vehicle to take more time to slow down. There are different types of brakes fade; the most common types are a friction fade and bra ... read more

Headlights are essential, and without them, driving becomes increasingly dangerous. If your high beams are working, but the low beams aren't, several reasons can be the cause. While it's easy to assume this may be due to a bad bulb, if changing the bulb doesn't help, a deeper issue may be the culprit. Don't neglect this problem by choosing to drive in the daytime. Driving without headlights is not just hazardous; it's illegal. You may find yourself coming out of pocket for a fix-it ticket. Below are 3 of the most common issues that can illuminate the high beams while leaving the low beams inactive.  The Relay is Damaged In layman's terms, a vehicle's relay is a switch that operates electronically. If the relay has gone bad, it may be receiving the electricity but cannot complete the full circuit. This will require a new relay. Some vehicles have different relays for their high beams and low beam lights. If one relay goes bad, the other one ... read more

If you’re a commuter, gas may be an expense you’d like to keep as affordable as possible. Gas prices are incredibly volatile, and changes occur almost in the blink of an eye. Even with the instability of gas prices, you can still do some things to increase fuel economy. Below are a few helpful tips to improve gas mileage and save money in Elk Grove:   Remove the Extra Weight  A car holding a heavy load or extra packed weight makes it challenging to get the required traction it needs from all four tires. If the tires can’t make efficient traction, fuel efficiency decreases. Excess weight doesn’t just affect traction; it also forces the engine to use more power to attain and sustain a certain speed. Removing any extra weight in your vehicle will create significant improvements in fuel economy. Use the Correct Fuel Most drivers assume that no matter what type of vehicle they’re driving, premium gas is the be ... read more