Archive for December 2023Emergency! (Vehicle Emergency items)Posted December 31, 2023 11:37 AM"I never expected it could happen to me." Countless drivers have said that after they've had an emergency turn their lives upside down. So before that happens to you, let's thinking about planning ahead for an emergency with a few things you should keep in your vehicle.
Other things like basic tools, a first aid kit, a space blanket and jumper cables are also good ideas. Many service repair facilities offer these items for sale, and you can ask your service advisor for suggestions. While it's fresh in your mind, plan a shopping trip and put together your own emergency kit now. Sure, you can put it off, but you may find yourself stuck in a difficult situation, saying to yourself, "Only if…" Hans Imports When Your Air Bag Light Comes On (Illuminated Air Bag Light)Posted December 24, 2023 4:26 AMThere are some dashboard lights you should pay more attention to than others. One is the air bag light. If it's on and your vehicle is in an accident, your air bags probably won't do their job. Automakers began installing air bags in the late 1990's since they were mandatory in the United States, and manufacturers have included them in Canadian vehicles as well. Safety experts say using a seat belt in combination with an air bag gives passengers the best chance of surviving a crash and minimizing serious injury. The air bag warning light takes a few different forms. Some look like a picture of a belted passenger with an inflated air bag from a side view. Or there may be a warning light that says something like "Air Bag," "SRS" (for supplemental restraint system), "Airbag Deactivated" or "Air Bag Off." Different things cause the air bag light to come on. Your vehicle may have been in an accident during which, while the air bags didn't inflate, crash sensors were activated. Some of them may be connected with your vehicle's seat belts. A technician can reset the air bag if this has happened. Fuses can also blow which will cause the air bag light to come on. Another possible cause? A sensor that tells the vehicle's computer whether or not there is someone riding in the passenger front seat may be malfunctioning. Air bags are not for the do-it-yourselfer. They are sophisticated systems that require specialized training and equipment to diagnose and repair. If an air bag light is on, take it to a qualified service repair facility. One more thing: remember that safety experts have designed air bags to work in conjunction with seat belts for maximum protection in accidents. So always wear your seat belt. Hans Imports Rotation Explanation (Tire Rotation Patterns)Posted December 17, 2023 9:27 AMYou may notice that when you get your vehicle's oil changed, your service adviser may recommend that you have your tires rotated at the same time. The reasons are simple. That will allow your tires to wear more evenly and reduce the noise your tires make as you drive down the road. There are different ways of rotating tires. If your vehicle has non-directional tires and the same size wheels at each corner, here are the different rotation patterns. For all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles, one is called the rearward cross pattern. The rear tires are moved to the front and stay on the same side of the vehicle, and the front tires are moved to the rear on the side opposite of where they were on the front. For all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles, use the X pattern. The rear tires are moved to the front on the opposite side of the vehicle, and the fronts are moved to the rear on the opposite side of where they were on the front. For front-wheel drive, there's the forward cross. The front tires are moved to the rear wheels on the same side of the vehicle as they were on the front and the rear tires are moved to the opposite side of the vehicle than they were on the rear. If you have directional tires (they only can be mounted in one direction) and the same size directional wheels, the rear tires are moved to the front on the same side of the vehicle where they were, and the front tires are moved to the rear on the same side they were on the front. And if you have tires with different sizes of non-directional tires and wheels on the front and rear, rotation will be from one side of the vehicle to the other. If you have a spare, it's put into the rotation using a forward cross or rearward cross. Yep, that's a lot to keep straight. So, we suggest letting your service advisor recommend the right rotation pattern for you at the interval your vehicle's manufacturer specifies. Hans Imports Go With the Flow (MAF Sensor Replacement)Posted December 10, 2023 12:37 PMA driver brought her vehicle into the shop the other day and told us how she was getting lousy fuel economy and that the engine was running rough. Plus, the Check Engine light was on. Our technician checked the code the engine had generated (why the Check Engine light was on) and found the problem. It was a faulty Mass Air Flow sensor, MAF sensor for short. This MAF sensor is an important part of your vehicle. What it does is calculate the amount of air going into your engine. As you may know, air is taken into your engine where it's mixed with fuel. Then, the spark plugs fire, that explosive fuel/air mixture detonates, and all these sequential explosions together provide the power to get your vehicle moving down the road. It makes sense that if the MAF sensor isn't sending the engine's computers the correct information on the amount of air going in the engine, the fuel/air mixture isn't going to be right. It will either too rich (too much gasoline for the amount of air) or too lean (not enough gasoline for the amount of air). In this driver's case, the MAF sensor was damaged and needed to be replaced. Another thing that may cause the MAF to give an incorrect reading is if its wires are dirty or faulty. So, replacing or cleaning the wires important as well. Other symptoms that your MAF sensor is bad? If your engine hesitates when you step on the gas, it stalls, or your vehicle is jerky when you accelerate. A malfunctioning MAF sensor is not just bad for performance. Driving with your vehicle in that condition can cause more damage to your engine. When you bring your vehicle in for us to check, a technician will thoroughly examine your engine to make sure all issues are taken care of. Hans Imports Bad Vibes (Disc brake rotor problems)Posted December 3, 2023 7:39 AMIf you were to name the most important safety feature on your vehicle right now, what would your answer be? A lot of driving experts would agree that it’s your brakes. Most newer vehicles use a well-engineered and efficient style of brakes called disc brakes. The name disc brakes comes from one of the components: a disc attached to the wheel hub that is squeezed by parts called calipers. If you’ve ever ridden a bicycle with hand brakes, you probably have seen how they squeeze against the rim of the bike wheel to stop the bike. It’s similar to the way your vehicle’s calipers squeeze against the disc rotor, with added parts called brake pads attached to the calipers that are what create the friction and stop your vehicle. Here’s why disc brakes need regular maintenance. Over time, that friction creates wear and tear on the brake pads and the rotors, and you’ll start to see the signs. Your brakes may have one of the 3 “S” sounds: squeaking, squealing, or scraping. The sound is usually the first sign of brake pad wear which can lead to rotor damage. Soon you may notice a pulsating or vibration when you brake. That’s because your once smooth and straight rotor disc is warping from the heat generated from friction. Or it may be due to wear. Eventually, your brakes will take a longer distance to stop your vehicle, and the rotors can have grooves carved into them. When you start noticing any of these signs, it’s a good idea to have them inspected by a trained technician. They will measure the rotor thickness, check wear patterns for grooves and heat discoloration, and see how much of the brake pads remain. They will also check to make sure all brake components are moving freely, check your brake fluid, and look for corrosion. Most vehicle manufacturers require worn or damaged rotors to be replaced, not resurfaced. It’s all part of a complete brake job, replacing pads and the brake hardware parts along with the rotors. It reduces the chance of premature failure. How often you will need your brakes serviced depends on the manufacturer’s recommendations, your driving habits, and the environment you live in. Your service facility can recommend the best replacement parts based on those factors. Regular maintenance and attention are vital for keeping your brakes performing like they are designed to. Remember, your brakes are your vehicle’s most important safety feature. Hans Imports | ||
SearchArchiveApril 2016 (16)May 2016 (5) June 2016 (4) July 2016 (5) August 2016 (4) September 2016 (4) October 2016 (5) November 2016 (4) December 2016 (4) January 2017 (5) February 2017 (4) March 2017 (4) April 2017 (4) May 2017 (5) June 2017 (4) July 2017 (5) August 2017 (3) September 2017 (3) October 2017 (5) November 2017 (4) December 2017 (3) January 2018 (5) February 2018 (4) March 2018 (4) April 2018 (5) May 2018 (4) June 2018 (4) July 2018 (5) August 2018 (4) September 2018 (5) October 2018 (4) November 2018 (4) December 2018 (5) January 2019 (5) February 2019 (4) March 2019 (5) April 2019 (4) May 2019 (3) June 2019 (5) July 2019 (4) August 2019 (4) September 2019 (5) October 2019 (4) November 2019 (4) December 2019 (5) January 2020 (5) February 2020 (4) March 2020 (5) April 2020 (4) May 2020 (5) June 2020 (4) July 2020 (4) August 2020 (5) September 2020 (4) October 2020 (4) November 2020 (5) December 2020 (4) January 2021 (6) February 2021 (4) March 2021 (4) April 2021 (4) May 2021 (5) June 2021 (4) July 2021 (4) August 2021 (5) September 2021 (4) October 2021 (5) November 2021 (4) December 2021 (4) January 2022 (6) February 2022 (4) March 2022 (4) April 2022 (4) May 2022 (5) June 2022 (4) July 2022 (5) August 2022 (4) September 2022 (4) October 2022 (5) November 2022 (4) December 2022 (4) January 2023 (5) February 2023 (4) March 2023 (4) April 2023 (5) May 2023 (4) June 2023 (4) July 2023 (5) August 2023 (4) September 2023 (4) October 2023 (5) November 2023 (4) December 2023 (5) January 2024 (5) February 2024 (4) March 2024 (5) April 2024 (4) May 2024 (4) June 2024 (5) July 2024 (4) August 2024 (4) September 2024 (5) October 2024 (4) November 2024 (4) December 2024 (2) | CategoriesTires and Wheels (2)Maintenance (9)Alignment (5)Fuel Economy (4)Exhaust (5)Service Standards (2)Headlamps (4)Safety (2)Fluids (6)Auto Safety (5)Fuel System (4)Alternator (4)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (2)Air Conditioning (6)What Customers Should Know (59)Battery (10)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (2)Wheel Bearings (1)Customer Detective Work (1)Windshield Wipers (2)Oil Change (5)Tire Rotation and Balancing (2)Shocks & Struts (1)Check Engine Light (2)Steering (5)Timing Belt (2)Safe Driving (1)Brakes (11)Older Vehicles (1)TPMS (3)Drive Train (2)Service Intervals (2)Cooling System (2)Automotive News (2)Tires (6)Transmission (3)Spark Plugs (2)Dashboard (1)Inspection (1)Winter Prep (2)Cabin Air Filter (1)Suspension (1)Differential Service (1)Brake Service (3)Fuel Pump (1)Engine Air Filter (1)Shocks and Struts (2)Winter Tires (1) |
What our clients are saying about us
We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!
My 2012 Audi didn’t pass inspection and I was getting really fed up with service from other shops. Someone recommended Hans and I feel like I hit the lottery with Omar. He was kind, thorough, honest, and accommodating. My old girl passed inspection and runs better than when I bought her! TY, TY, TY to Omar and Dave, you’ve restored my faith that there are good people out there and not everyone is looking to screw you over just because you have a European car.
Excellent shop. Thorough and honest. I've had all sorts of repairs and routine maintenance done on my older (2006) Subaru. My car is old enough to vote and it runs flawlessly thanks to Omar and his team. Work is consistently high quality. If you care about your vehicle this is the place to bring it.