Walnut Creek Auto Repair

Regenerative braking is another energy-saving feature that hybrids and electric cars (EVs) have in addition to running on electricity rather than gasoline. When a driver brakes, regenerative braking recovers the energy that is ordinarily lost as heat. In friction-based braking systems, all the energy expended to propel the vehicle forward evaporates into the brake pads as heat, causing brake pad wear. These conventional systems use braking rotors and brake pads, which come into contact with the wheels and road when the pedal is depressed, to generate stopping friction. Regenerative braking systems employ the motor of an electric vehicle to recapture the kinetic energy lost during braking and store it in the battery of the vehicle. When it accelerates, stored electrical energy is utilized rather than exerting more effort to use up its own energy stores. In order to generate more electricity, the motor works as a generator. The entire efficiency of regenerative brakes can be determined ... read more

Your tires will endure more use Tire rotation has many advantages, one of which is that it can increase the lifespan of your tires. You can ensure that the treads on each tire wears equally over time by occasionally moving them to different locations. Assures safety and smoothness The handling of a car with properly rotated tires makes for a considerably safer ride. Additionally, it makes for a lot smoother ride. Driving a car with irregular tires is never comfortable. Better consumption of fuel Improved fuel efficiency is a significant advantage of having your tires rotated. You may not need to refill as frequently which saves you gas costs. The engine of your car has to work a little bit harder as your tires start to wear down to have a decent traction on the road, which makes it burn fuel more quickly. By more uniformly distributing the weight, rotating your tires will increase friction, which will improve traction. Less vibration Your car starts to vibrate because of irregul ... read more

When it comes to smog checks or emissions testing, there’s nothing more frustrating than taking time out of your day to have it done. Most people don’t think about the bigger picture of why the government requires smog checks for specific vehicles. Today, we will discuss the goals and purpose of smog checks and why it is important for your car to pass.   If you’re a California resident, you know that our state takes emissions very seriously. Unfortunately, we are one of the most polluted states in the country. To keep emissions down to the best of our ability, our state government requires all hybrid vehicles and gasoline-powered vehicles that are 1976 or newer to undergo a smog check every 2 years. However, gas-powered vehicles eight years old or newer and electric vehicles are exempt.   All in all, the purpose of emissions testing is simple: to improve air quality, protect our environment, and to extend the life of your car. If emissions aren’t m ... read more

Is your driving style to blame for costly vehicle repair bills and excessive fuel consumption? Unfortunately, poor driving habits can wreak havoc with your vehicle, as well as result in very low mpg. Read on to discover the bad driving practices that could be aging your car or truck prematurely, in addition to increasing its running costs. Misusing the brakes Frequent, heavy braking, or riding the brakes rather than using a lower gear when your vehicle is traveling down a hill both lead to faster brake pad wear. It may also mean that you're accelerating faster than you need to. Rapid acceleration doesn't just burn more fuel, it also increases engine stress, meaning malfunction (followed by a repair bill) is more likely. Choppy driving Fast acceleration followed by hard braking is an inefficient way of driving that burns fuel unnecessarily. It also results in a jerky driving experience that is uncomfortable for passengers. Smooth acceleration and gentle, sustained braking is ... read more

There's no bigger headache than a car that won't start. Unfortunately, this can be a symptom of a failing alternator or battery. If your car is having issues starting, it's important to diagnose the issue and bring your car in for repairs. Luckily, there are some telltale symptoms of a faulty alternator that you can look for. Signs Your Alternator Is Failing Dead battery — when your car's battery is dead, it can look like your alternator is failing. The key difference is that the battery starts your car, while the alternator keeps the battery running. To figure out if it is the battery or alternator that is failing, you can jumpstart your car. If the car continues running, your battery needs replaced. If the car dies shortly after, then the alternator is failing. The car dies because it isn't producing enough power to keep the battery running. Dashboard warning light — If the battery warning light in your car is lit up, there could be an issue in the ... read more