A-1 Auto Tech Inc

Your Vehicle's Battery

Your Vehicle’s Battery

A-1 Auto Tech has seen many failed batteries in our 25 years in business, so we thought we would share a little information regarding your vehicles battery.  

We have experienced the hottest summer in 75 years in 2011.  When the mercury rises, a car battery’s strength goes down.  Extreme heat outside combined with high temperatures under the hood, accelerates corrosion of car batteries.  Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, breaking down the battery grids.  Weak batteries can struggle on for months, turning over the engine, while it’s easy to start and generate a charge; the real test comes when the temperature drops. 

A weakened battery has to overcome cold temperatures and a harder-to-crank engine because the cold weath er has thickened the engine’s oil.  The heat’s attack has lowered the starting power of your battery.  This is when one morning you will go out to your vehicle and get a “click, click, click” or perhaps nothing at all.  

With every oil change, A-1 Auto Tech does a 60 point safety inspection which includes a load test on your battery.  What is a load test? Glad you asked. 

            You load test a battery at half of its rated CCA (Cold Cranking Amps: is a    rating used in the battery industry to define a battery’s ability to start an engine in cold temperatures.) This, should not drop below 9.6 volts.

When a battery is new, generally the load volts are 10.3, we recommend at 9.5 or lower that your battery be changed.  This will prevent you going to your vehicle and getting a “click, click, click”.

Give us a call to discuss maintenance service for your vehicle, we will be glad to help.  (650) 964-7844.

How Do You Avoid Expensive Repairs? Enjoy Our Mountain View Resources!

Maintaining your car on a regular maintenance schedule is a great way to avoid expensive repairs. It is also very important to pay attention to your cars current condition. Doing so will help you catch any potential problems in-between service visits. If you want to learn more about proper vehicle maintenance, then take a look at the resources below. Better yet, don’t hesitate in calling you favorite auto repair shop in Mountain View. | A-1 Auto Tech | (650) 265-4085 |

• Take a look at this article from Consumer Reports to learn what to do if your check engine light comes on.
• Read this CNN article for more reasons why your check engine light comes on.
• Learn all about the on-board diagnostics system in your car at OBDII.com.
• Check out this article from How Stuff Works to learn more about car computers.
• Read this blog about auto repair mechanics to learn about the importance of proper vehicle maintenance.

For more information, call A-1 Auto Tech, Inc. at (650) 265-4085.

Why Does Your Check Engine Light Turn On?

One clear sign that your car needs maintenance or repairs is the activation of the check engine light. Most people don’t know what sort of problems will make the light turn on. This warning is known in the automotive industry as the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL). The MIL is connected to your car’s computer, which activates the light when one or more of its sensors are triggered. Here is a quick look at some common reasons for seeing the check engine light:

• Loose Gas Cap- A loose gas cap is an incredibly common reason for the check engine light to turn on. This means that the cap for your fuel tank is loose or missing. This allows your fuel to evaporate quickly and reduce your perceived gas mileage.
• Bad Spark Plugs- Spark plugs are used to ignite the mixture of gas and air in your engine, producing the combustion that powers your car. If a spark plug is broken, the gasoline inside the combustion chamber, will not combust. This can cause serious damage to the entire exhaust system. Do you need new spark plugs? Feel free to contact A1 Auto Tech in Mountain View.
• Faulty Oxygen Sensor- When your car’s oxygen sensor fails, it registers the wrong information about the amount of unused gasoline coming through the exhaust system. This can alter the air-to-gas ratio and make the vehicle less efficient. A faulty oxygen sensor could make a bad spark plug difficult to detect, opening the opportunity for expensive exhaust damage.
• Clogged Exhaust System- Another problem that might activate the check engine light is a clog in the exhaust system. A serious clog could cause back pressure, reducing the engine’s power and efficiency. Back pressure problems can become very serious in a short period of time, so it is important to pay attention to the MIL (aka: Check Engine Light).

If your check engine light is glowing on your dash, then come to A-1 Auto Tech, Inc. in Mountain View, California. We would be happy to inspect your American or Japanese made vehicle. We provide excellent service, parts, and maintenance for all of your automotive needs. For more information, call (650) 265-4085 or contact us online.

How Does an Electronic Fuel Injection System Work?

Many parts in today’s vehicles are controlled electronically with the help of advanced computer systems. One area of vehicle performance that benefits greatly from a computerized control system is the fuel injection system.

This video demonstrates the basics of electronic fuel injection technology. The narrator explains two different types of electronic fuel injection systems. The video also pinpoints the major components that work with the fuel from the tank, the pistons, and the computer that controls the whole process.

Call A-1 Auto Tech, Inc. to make sure that your fuel injection system is in great condition. We will make sure the rest of your vehicle is running as well as it should be. Feel free to contact us online or call (650) 265-4085 for more information about our auto repair services in Mountain View.

Do You Know How Computerized Auto Diagnostics Work?

In today’s world of ultra-fast computers and high-tech gadgets, even auto mechanics use a variety of computerized systems. One such system is focused on vehicle diagnostics. Here is a brief guide to how on-board diagnostics systems work:

• Sensors- An on-board diagnostics system uses a series of sensors embedded in the vehicle to take readings of various components and processes. These sensors collect information about the vehicle’s health in areas like emissions, efficiency, and electronics. The information collected is then sent in the form of simple codes to a connection point in the passenger compartment. A friendly reminder, do you need your American or Japanese car diagnosed? Don’t hesitate and call A1 Auto Tech at (650) 265-4085.
• Connection- In order to make the information gathered from the various sensors easily accessible and readable, the data is routed to a computer with a connection point under the dash. This is one of the greatest advancements of the OBD-II diagnostics system. Earlier versions required multiple connections under the hood to get simple diagnostic readings.
• Readout- The data collected from various components of the exhaust system, drivetrain, and other areas is presented to an auto repair mechanic in the form of codes. The codes are delivered to a specialized device. A mechanic may use a variety of devices to translate any error codes and learn what needs to be fixed.
• Repairs- Using computerized diagnostics allows a mechanic to make quick and efficient repairs, focusing on only what needs to be repaired. This saves a lot of time over a trial-and-error type of diagnostics process.

If you want to make sure that your car is running at its very best, then come to A-1 Auto Tech, Inc. Have one of our auto repair technicians run a computerized diagnostics test for your vehicle. For the most basic maintenance to the most intricate repairs, feel free to contact us online or by phone at (650) 265-4085.