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Monthly Archives: August 2014

Talk To Northtown Auto Clinic About New Shoes For Your Vehicle

Custom wheels are one way that North Kansas City folks express themselves and personalize their SUV. But they aren’t as cheap and easy as sticking decals on your back window. There are several essential factors need to be considered, including cost, the fit of the wheel, modifications that will have to be made to the SUV, how the new wheels and tires will affect the operation of the vehicle, your driving habits, and, of course, the style of the wheels. Most North Kansas City auto owners start with the last factor: the style of the wheels. But that should be the last thing we choose. When considering custom wheels, you should first carefully consider your budget. Some wheels may require costly adjustments to your SUV suspension system, brakes, or traction systems. You need to know what you can afford before you start shopping in Kansas City or get your heart set on a particular type of wh ... read more

Categories:

Tires and Wheels

Smart North Kansas City Drivers Protect Against Overheating

Engines get hot when they run. This heat can build up and damage vital engine parts, so engines need a cooling system to keep them running. Cooling system failure is the most common mechanical failure in vehicles. This is unfortunate, because these failures are usually easy for North Kansas City auto owners to prevent. The radiator is the best-known and most recognizable part of the cooling system. Hoses filled with coolant (also known as antifreeze) connect the radiator to the engine. The coolant draws heat from the engine, and then flows to the radiator. Air passing through cooling fins on the radiator cools the coolant. The coolant then cycles back into the engine to start the process over again. The most critical component of the cooling system, however, is the coolant itself. A mixture of water and coolant/antifreeze helps keep it both from freezing and from boiling away. Either can result in serious engine damage. Different engines requi ... read more

Categories:

Cooling System

Northtown Auto Clinic On Your Serpentine Belt

Today we’re going to be talking about serpentine belts for our North Kansas City, Missouri customers. Let’s start by talking about the accessories that are driven by the serpentine belt. First is the alternator. That’s the essential device that makes electricity to power the SUV and recharge the battery. Then there’s the air conditioning compressor that makes cool air for you while you’re driving around Missouri in the summer. The power steering and power brake pumps are driven by the serpentine belt in most North Kansas City car owners’ vehicles. Those pumps provide critical pressure that assists your steering and braking. In many SUVs, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt. The water pump is what circulates the coolant that protects your engine. In some cars around North Kansas City, Missouri, the water pump is driven by the timing belt. The radiator cooling fans on some SUVs are also driven by the serpentine b ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance