County Line Auto Repair

Keeping your engine cool is necessary to maintain your car's performance. If it gets too hot, you could end up with a vehicle breakdown on the side of the road. As a responsible car owner, you should do your absolute best to keep your engine at a perfect operating temperature by regularly monitoring its coolant levels.    You might hear people interchange the terms "antifreeze" and "coolant," but the trust is they are NOT the same thing. They may sometimes be interchangeable in a casual setting, but they are not identical to a mechanic. To avoid future confusion, the next time you take your vehicle to the auto shop, we will set the record straight with the difference between the two.   Antifreeze vs. Coolant Antifreeze is a thick, concentrated solution composed of ethylene glycol and silica. The chemical ingredients in antifreeze help the temperature of your engine.   The liquid that your mechanic will put into your car is coolant. You ... read more

The summer season is a time for many of us to hit the roads and get out of town. Whether to see loved ones from far away or to get a break at the beach, we greatly depend on our vehicles for the summer. Most of us dread the long car rides. A crowded car can be super boring or even stressful, but it doesn't have to be either this time around. We are suggesting a family sing-along to keep you and the kids entertained.    The first thing you need is to be able to connect your music to your vehicle's audio system. Most cars nowadays have Bluetooth capabilities, but you can connect your phone with an AUX cable if yours doesn't.     The next thing you will need is music (obviously). You can be old-school and use the radio or even CDs if available to you, but we highly suggest that you stream the music through your phone. Most of us are already paying monthly through streaming services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, anyway. With ... read more

Every vehicle has multiple parts without which it cannot properly operate. One of the most important parts is a car battery. The vehicle battery is responsible for providing the electricity required by certain car components to make them work. It also delivers voltage to the starter, therefore, if your car battery is dead, your car will not start! Unfortunately, car batteries do not last forever. If you want your car to be as reliable as possible, it is best to change out the battery before it is completely dead, otherwise, you may encounter plenty of embarrassing times when your car refuses to start. A good rule of thumb is to replace your car battery every 3 years. If you are lucky enough to always drive in ideal driving conditions, such as in a place that does not experience extreme temperature conditions or excessive humidity levels, your car battery can last up to 6 years. However, beware that if you wait 5 years or more, by this time the battery usually becomes highly unreliabl ... read more

When driving through rough roads, a pothole, or a bump, the struts and shocks cushion you from any shocks. Even though they are used interchangeably, shocks and struts are entirely different parts that are crucial to the stability and safety of your vehicle. What are shocks? Often referred to as shock absorbers, shocks are the main component of the suspension system. They absorb and control the impact of the movement of the vehicle's suspension and springs. Shocks ensure the tires are always in contact with the surface of the road. In the absence of shocks, the wheels of a car will vibrate and bounce off the road's surface erratically. The main components of a shock absorber include a coil, a piston, and hydraulic fluid. When your car hits a pothole, the shocks start a compression cycle. The piston presses into the hydraulic fluid that serves as a conduit to slow down the coil and relax back in place. This makes the ride feel less bumpy. There are three types of shocks; mono ... read more

What Vehicle Parts Can Potholes Damage? Potholes are very common especially during the wet season. They pop up at any point on the road and are sometimes inevitable to hit. This means that you will hit a pothole or two at one point or the other while driving. Unfortunately, these depressions may damage various parts underneath the vehicle, especially if you hit them at high speeds. Here are some of the car parts that potholes can damage. Tires Tires take in most damage from potholes. Note that potholes have hard, sharp edges that puncture the tire as the vehicle hits one. They may snap the threads that hold the tire together or slice the sides of the rubber. Unfortunately, when a tire gets a sideway bubble or a separated thread, you must replace it. Rims When potholes are particularly deep and huge, they can break twist rims from their strong impact. Vehicle rims are not designed to handle impact force from hard angles in potholes ... read more

You might be wondering why your engine oil gets dirty fast and why you need to replace it so often! Actually, the new oil that you are putting in the engine of your vehicle is keeping it smooth so that you can run your car smoothly. Plus, it's clean too! But, let's find out what happens to this clean oil that gets so dirty. What's Causing The Engine Oil To Be Dirty? Your engine oil gets dirty and you are wondering what's the possible reason behind it. Well, the following reasons are possible: Engine Oil Is Doing Its Job Yes, you heard that right! The engine oil is simply doing its job that makes it dirty. Think about the number of times the engine oil is moving through the car's engine. It gets dirty over time. Plus, the oil changes its color and viscosity overtime. No wonder you need to change it with a new one. Your Vehicle's Oil Filter Is Old The oil filter in your vehicle is responsible for catching the contaminants in the engine oil, but over time whe ... read more

Nothing is more nerve wracking than hearing the warning "ding", and looking down at the dashboard to see that the "check engine" light has come on in your car. Don't panic, and pull over to the first safe location that you see. The warning lights in your car are tied to the vehicles onboard diagnostic system. The problems that it detects are stored as trouble codes in your onboard diagnostic system, and the codes are read by a diagnostic computer that your mechanic will hook up to your vehicle. Those codes will tell your mechanic what the car issue was, when, and how many times it occurred. Usually the warning light doesn't signify an emergency situation, but sometimes it does. There are five incredibly common reasons for the "check engine" light to come on. The first is that the oxygen sensor needs to be replaced. A faulty oxygen sensor can lead to bad fuel economy, and it has a potential to cause spark plug and catylytic converter damage to you ... read more

Proper wheel alignment is an important aspect of vehicle maintenance, and you need it to ensure that you can continue driving your can safely and happily. Unfortunately, it is highly overlooked. A lot of drivers choose to live with the signs and symptoms of poor wheel alignment, nor aware of how easily the issue can be solved. Below is a rundown of some common signs that that should remind you that your car needs a wheel alignment. Your Car Pulls to One Side When Driving If you are driving on a straight road with little effort on the steering wheel, and your car seems to be pulling to the right or left, then you have to visit your mechanic for wheel alignment. The Steering Wheel Is Not Centered When you are driving on a flat road, the steering wheel should be sitting perfectly centered and straight. Of course, some degree of discrepancy is acceptable, but if the steering wheel is noticeably off-center on either side, it may be time for you to take your car for wheel alignment. The ... read more

Dirty fuel injectors can have some sneaky consequences. While you’re stopped at a red light, does the idle feel rough? Do you find yourself making frequent trips to the gas station? Dirty fuel injectors may be the culprit. Your vehicle has a fuel filter, pump, and injectors that work together to supply the engine with an adequate amount of clean fuel. Working together, they maintain a healthy mixture of fuel and air. If the fuel filter is dirty, a cleaning service is an easy way to restore power and boost performance. How do you know when it’s time to have the fuel injectors cleaned? Below are five common signs to look out for.  There’s a noticeable decrease in fuel efficiency.   There are a variety of issues that can impact gas mileage. If your tires are properly inflated and you aren’t carrying extra weight, you may want to check the fuel injectors. Dirty fuel injectors will limit the amount of fuel that reaches the engine.&nb ... read more

There’s nothing more off-putting than noticing a gas smell inside your car. If you just made a stop at the gas station, the scent may have lingered inside the cabin, but if you notice that the smell is coming from your vehicle, it’s time for an inspection. Gasoline and its vapors are toxic and, in some cases, constitute a significant fire risk. Under normal driving circumstances, you should not smell gas inside your vehicle. Below are three common reasons why the inside of your car may smell like gas.  There’s a Fuel Leak If the gas smell is coming from the engine compartment, there may be a leak in the fuel system. For most vehicles, fuel injectors spray a precise amount of fuel into the engine during each cycle. Over time the seals around the injectors can degrade or become worn and leak. A leak that develops in the fuel line will also produce a noticeable gas smell. Do not wait until you notice a fuel leak beneath your vehicle before you get an ins ... read more