AUTONET TV

Ball Joint Replacement

Think about this the next time you’re driving.  Your front wheels can steer your vehicle and, at the same time, the wheels can move, even with all the irregularities in the road moving them up, down and in different directions. Pretty amazing engineering, wouldn’t you say?

What allows that are parts called ball joints.  Most vehicles have them only in the front, but there are some vehicles that have them in the rear as well.  When you consider all the bumps and turns your wheels are subjected to, it’s not hard to imagine the wear and tear these ball joints endure. After any vehicle has put on many months of road time, these ball joints will start to wear out. 

You may find your vehicle’s front wheels clunk when you are on the road, it may not hold the road as well when you go over a bump, or you may feel vibration in your steering wheel and your tires may start to wear unevenly.

When you start to notice any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to bring it in to have one of our technicians look at what’s going on. If you keep driving with worn out ball joints, you can cause your tires to wear out more quickly.  And if you go even longer, you might find your suspension can collapse, meaning you won’t be able to keep your vehicle under control.  

Many vehicles have upper and lower ball joints, depending on what kind you are driving.  The upper ball joints usually don’t bear any weight while the lower ones do.

When our technician replaces your ball joints, they’ll take your wheels off, then remove the control arm(s).  After replacing the ball joints, they’ll inspect the rest of your suspension to make sure there aren’t any other components that need attention. In some cases, you’ll also need to have your wheels aligned after this service. 

So, when you hear those clunks or feel those vibrations, they may be signs your steering and control over your vehicle aren’t as good as they need to be for dependable, safe driving.  Heed the warning signs and keep your steering and suspension performing the way they’re designed to.  

McPherson Automotive
1 E Park St
Du Quoin, IL 62832
(618) 542-9203
www.mcphersonautomotive.net

Today’s Headlights: Brighter, Smarter… and Harder to Replace

Maybe you’re old enough to remember when headlights were essentially all the same on every vehicle.  They were so cheap and easy to replace, most people could do it themselves.  Those days are gone.  Now, headlights put out more and better light and are more efficient.  Those all contribute to better visibility for you, the driver.  But those improvements mean they’re more complicated and, therefore, harder to repair or replace. 
 
The new headlight technology basically takes two approaches, HID (High-Intensity Discharge) or LED headlights.  The LEDs put out a brighter light that can illuminate more of the road ahead.

Another new feature in today’s headlights allows them to turn when you turn your steering wheel.  The advantage is you can more clearly see where you are going.  They can dim parts of the beam so oncoming drivers aren’t blinded.  You’ll notice the difference most on dark, winding country roads.

Because these new headlights are far more complex than the previous generation, in most cases you can’t just unplug a lamp and plug in another.  Today’s headlights often come as a sealed assembly, and in some cases to replace it means taking off the bumper, the grille or the headlight housing. Some may require you to get a whole new assembly.

That, of course, raises the cost.  A new headlight assembly with LEDs, sensors and control modules may cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, especially on high-end vehicles. Plus, the installation is complex.

That’s why when it comes to modern headlight assemblies, it’s best to have a technician diagnose the issue.  What you thought might be a simple burned-out leadlight could be any number of things, such as a wiring problem or a failed module. Having a professional diagnose it helps make sure you get the correct repair, and you won’t be replacing parts that don’t need replacing.

McPherson Automotive
1 E Park St
Du Quoin, IL 62832
(618) 542-9203
www.mcphersonautomotive.net

How Far We've Come (Newer Vehicle Technology)

Automotive design has come a long way since the days of the Model T, especially when it comes to safety technology.  You can thank computers for a lot of the latest innovations.  Here are a few that have been making their mark in recent years.

Adaptive cruise control.  This is cruise control with a brain.  Not only will adaptive cruise control keep your vehicle going at a steady speed, it will also slow it down and even stop it if the vehicle ahead of you slows down and stops. 

Automatic emergency braking.  We've all been distracted while driving, and you've probably been in a situation where the driver ahead of you has suddenly stopped.  Or maybe your attention wandered for a minute and you looked up to see your vehicle closing in fast on the car ahead of you.  (After all, there are a lot more distractions in your vehicle these days.)  New systems that use cameras, lasers and other types of sensors will warn you to start braking.  If you don't heed the warning, they'll put on the brakes for you. 

Blind spot warning.  We all worry about hitting a car approaching from behind and on either side if we are changing lanes.  Rearview mirrors cover some blind spots but they're not foolproof.  Enter the blind spot warning system; it warns you with a noise or a light if a vehicle is in a spot you might not be able to see.

Lane departure warning.  We all try to stay in our lane, but sometimes our attention wanders.  If you start to drift out of your lane, new warning systems using cameras and other sophisticated sensors will tell you to get back in your lane.  Some send an audible warning, others use a vibration or warning light. Some will even steer your vehicle back into the lane. 

Rearview camera.  There was a time when trucks and SUVs were involved in horrible accidents because the drivers couldn't see what was behind them as they backed up.  Children and pets were among the tragic victims.  Now, inexpensive rearview cameras are required in the U.S. and Canada, saving lives and providing much more peace of mind for drivers of vehicles with rear visibility issues. 

It's important to make sure this safety technology is working correctly for these systems to be effective.  Your service facility can check and maintain these systems as the manufacturer recommends.

McPherson Automotive
1 E Park St
Du Quoin, IL 62832
(618) 542-9203
www.mcphersonautomotive.net

The Car Fluid Most Drivers Forget—And Why It Matters

Here’s an automotive part you might not be familiar with—the differential.  It’s a component that transfers power from the driveshaft to the wheels.  It’s called a differential because the left and right drive wheels travel at different speeds when you make a turn. During that turn, the wheel on the outside travels farther than the one on the inside, so the outside wheel is turning faster. 

Your vehicle’s differential works by having gears that regulate the whole process.  It has fluid inside to reduce friction between the gears. As you can imagine, those gears have a heavy load to handle, so this differential fluid helps reduce friction between the metal parts as they’re moving.  The fluid also carries heat away from the gears to keep temperatures down in the differential.

After a time, the heat and the loads take their toll on the differential fluid.  It starts to accumulate little metal particles from the gears wearing down.  After a while, your differential fluid isn’t as efficient in cooling and lubricating the gears.  The gears start making noise, aren’t as smooth as before and can reduce your fuel economy.  Let the fluid stay in too long and you can wind up having to replace the differential itself, an expensive repair.

The best way to make your differential last as long as possible is by having the differential fluid changed at intervals recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.  Your differential will not only last longer, it will make for smoother operation. It’s especially important if you use your vehicle for towing or do a lot of driving in stop and go traffic.  

It’s a fluid many drivers forget about, but maintaining your differential fluid will pay off in the long run. 

McPherson Automotive
1 E Park St
Du Quoin, IL 62832
(618) 542-9203
www.mcphersonautomotive.net