Will Your Brakes Stop You Safely Every Time?

Your brakes are one of the most important safety features on your vehicle. Without
them, you have no way of stopping. Brakes allow you to lock down your car and keep it
from moving, especially the emergency brake. Brakes are found on just about anything
with wheels, including vehicles, trains, airplanes, and even non-motorized devices like
wheelchairs, walkers, and shopping carts.

Most people know what brakes are and how important they are… but many have no idea
how brakes actually work. While the concept is fairly simple, the actual science behind
brakes is quite interesting.

Basically, brakes dissipate the kinetic energy built up by your vehicle’s forward motion.
The faster your car is going, the more energy the brakes have to use to stop it. This isn’t
a simple formula, either—twice the speed doesn’t equal twice the power. Instead it’s four
times the power.

Higher speeds also increase the distance it takes for your vehicle to stop. The faster
you’re driving, the more space you need to come to a complete stop. This is one of the
many reasons for speed limits.
In most braking systems, the energy of your vehicle’s forward motion is lost when you
brake—it is transformed into heat from the friction of your tires against the pavement.
However, there is a type of braking called regenerative braking. This system actually
takes the energy and stores it in a capacitor or other device. It’s then changed into a
current by the alternator and stored in the battery. This type of braking can keep batteries
powered for much longer than normal.

So how do car brakes actually work? Well, when you press on the brake pedal, a fluid
carries the force of your foot down to the actual brakes on your car. This fluid also
multiplies the force from your foot to make it strong enough to stop the car. Without
multiplying the force, there’s no way you could stop a fast-moving car—even standing on
the brake pedal with all of your weight wouldn’t be enough to do it.

The force from the liquid is then sent down to the brake pads, which are inside the wheel.
The pads squeeze against the wheel, causing friction and slowing the wheel’s rotation.
This is the point at which the kinetic energy is transformed into heat and lost. This also
means that there must be some sort of vent around the brake pad in order to keep the heat
from building up.

Over time, of course, your brake pads are going to wear down. That is how they are
designed. When they do, you’ll start to hear a screeching sound that is the actual metal of
the pad pressing against the metal of the wheel. When you hear this, it’s important to get
your brake pads replaced as soon as possible since this can actually cause your car to not
stop as quickly – or not at all!

It’s so important to have your brakes checked regularly. Your life and the lives of your
loved ones and others depend on properly working brakes.

If you feel a sponginess when you apply your brakes or hear a grinding sound, like metal
against metal, call us at 940-382-1691 or click here to set up an appointment for a brake
inspection by our ASE Certified technicians.

Mention this article and we’ll give you 10% off of our regular inspection price.
We look forward to keeping you and your family safe on the road!

Does your automobile have difficulties shifting into gear? You might think your transmission is going out. Before you start looking for the funds to replace your transmission, you might want to take a closer look - it could just be low on fluid. 

You may have an automatic or a manual transmission. In either of these the lubricating fluids must be maintained at proper levels or the transmission could slip and burn. Over time, this may lead to having to pay for a rebuilt or new transmission – neither is inexpensive! 

Automatic transmission fluid is very different than the fluid for a manual transmission. It is always good to check your owner’s manual for the fluid type, amount and frequency. Some vehicle fluids should only be checked while the vehicle is in Neutral. Your owner’s manual should give this information, or you can look for these instructions on the transmission fluid dipstick. 

Automatic transmission fluid 

Checked your automatic transmission fluid by locating a dipstick that should be labeled "Transmission" toward the back of the engine compartment under your hood. It will look similar to dipstick that you check your oil level. If the dipstick is not labeled, be sure to check your owner’s manual for its location. 

Warm up your engine before checking your transmission fluid, and drive about 10 miles. Check the fluid while your engine is still running. Be sure your car is parked on level ground set your parking brake before checking your transmission fluid. 

If you pull the transmission fluid dipstick out you can look at the fluid on the dipstick and make a note of the *color and smell of the fluid. After wiping the dipstick clean with a clean rag, insert the dipstick back into the tube, wait 4 seconds and pull it out again. 

The markings on both sides of the dipstick are to indicate a hot reading one side and the other side, a cold reading. You will need to add transmission fluid if the fluid on the dipstick is in the “fill” area of the markings. Be sure to add fluid immediately - do not wait. But if the fluid is in the crosshatched area of the dipstick more fluid will not be needed. Secure the dipstick completed back into the tube and turn your engine off.

New fluid is added in the same place that your transmission fluid dipstick is located. Place a funnel in the dipstick tube. Usually you will only need to add a pint of fluid (transmissions only need to be 1 pint low to start showing problems). Do not add more than 1 pint at a time as over-filling the reservoir could cause other engine problems. 

After you add fluid, replace the dipstick and return to the driver’s position. Put your foot on the brake, move your gear lever to each position available for about 4 seconds in each driving position, (Drive-3,2,1, Reverse, Neutral, Park, etc)and then return to Park.

* New automatic transmission fluid looks pink and has a fresh “oily” scent. After the fluid has lubricated the transmission it changes to a dark red color. Red is a good color but Brown colored fluid means a technician should flush the transmission of its fluid. If the fluid is Black it means your transmission could need to be replaced. If the fluid is a Milky Pink color it could mean that other fluids are mixing with the transmission fluids and that the transmission may need to be rebuilt. The radiator should also be checked and may need replaced as well. 

If a certified technician finds metal debris in your transmission fluid your transmission probably needs to be rebuilt or replaced as soon as possible. .

Manual transmission fluid 

Your vehicle's manual transmission is checked underneath the vehicle, and the car must be as level as possible with the engine not running. There is a plug that must be taken off with tools (there is no dipstick). We recommend that a certified technician check and/or replace your manual transmission fluid. 


Your vehicle's manual transmission is checked underneath the vehicle, and the car must be as level as possible with the engine not running. There is a plug that must be taken off with tools (there is no dipstick). We recommend that a certified technician check and/or replace your manual transmission fluid. 

Advanced Auto Repair's ASE Certified Technicians are experts in transmission inspection, diagnosis and repair. If you suspect that something is not right with your transmission (your fluid is dark, you hear a clunking noise when your vehicle shifts gears, etc.) give us a call. You can be confident that your vehicle will get professional transmission service at Advanced Auto Repair! 

In your engine, valves over each combustion chamber open to allow fresh air in, close during the combustion event, and then other valves open to let out the exhaust. All of this happens over and over thousands of times a minute. The timing belt’s important job is to make sure that all of this happens as it should – at precisely the right time. If the timing is off, your engine won’t run efficiently or maybe not at all – so a&hellip» READ MORE

Tires are a steep purchase so knowing when tires should be replaced is important for Denton drivers. Tires will just wear out with normal use. The depth of the tread on your tire determines how well it will stop, start and steer, especially in wet conditions. 4/32th of an inch of tire tread is considered a safe amount of tread. Uneven tread wear can be a symptom of other problems and simply replacing your ....  READ MORE

Most auto makers recommend an interval for an air conditioning system inspection. The examination uncovers leaks, worn hoses and assesses the condition of the other components. Environmental laws in some areas require leaks to be fixed before refrigerant can be added. Also some parts manufacturers require other components to be replaced along with certain failed parts in order to maintain the new part warranty. This is because a given failure may be the result of another worn or&hellip» READ MORE

Your auto air conditioning system cools and conditions the air in your passenger compartment. It also removes moisture from the air to keep your windows from fogging up. A common A/C problem is contaminated refrigerant (the gas that cools the air). The inside of the A/C hoses breaks down over time and little parts of rubber obstructs passages. This makes the system less efficient and overworks various components. Leaks can ensue at seals and gaskets and&hellip» READ MORE

The serpentine belt tensioner applies pressure to the serpentine belt, maintaining optimal tension to drive the accessories like the alternator and A/C compressor. The service life of the belt tensioner is the same as the belt itself, so they should always be replaced together. A worn tensioner inhibits the accessories from spinning properly, leading to premature wear and noise. Your vehicle manufacturer has a recommended mileage interval for serpentine belt replacement. A complete accessory&hellip» READ MORE

Converter Problems?
Your vehicle’s catalytic converter is built to reduce environmentally harmful emissions caused by the burning of fuel. This piece of equipment converts these emissions into vapor and less toxic gases by removing hydrocarbons (HCs) and carbon monoxide (CO) from the exhaust of your engine’s operation. 

Sensors can become dirty and cause your automobile engine to run too rich (you might smell a "rotten egg" (hydrogen sulfide) odor from your vehicle’s exhaust). This results in overworking the catalytic converter and the converter can fail. 

Spark plugs that misfire may also increase HC emissions which then causes your converter to operate beyond its normal temperature range. These can lead to failure. Catalytic converters are known to get very hot and stay hot, long after your engine stops. (This is a good reason to refrain from parking your vehicle on top of combustible material.) 

Automobile owners can pay up to $1000 to replace a faulty catalytic converter. It is far more affordable to replace a sensor or a spark plug than a catalytic converter. 

ADVANCED AUTO REPAIR can help!
Our ASE Master-certified technicians are able to do expert inspection and diagnosis on your vehicle to make sure you save time and money. They are able to find and replace dirty sensors and faulty sparkplugs, as well as other possible problems, before they cause damage to your catalytic converter. 

Give us a call at 940-382-1691 to schedule an appointment, or come by and visit us at 612 Fort Worth Drive, Denton, Texas

Special-Offer

Owning a VW is an exciting and fun experience. Your VW investment is not only fun to drive, it probably has a lot of great features and can be economical to operate. In order to keep your Volkswagen running smoothly and driving safely down the road, it is important to make sure you give it regular maintenance and service.

Our ASE Certified Technicians at Advanced Auto Repair in Denton, Texas are VW experts! Not only do we know your VW inside and out, we understand every inch of its working parts and procedures. Our clean and well-stocked state-of-the-art shop is ready to give you the friendly, professional service that you expect and deserve! We provide expert diagnosis with up-to-date diagnostic equipment and years of Volkswagen repair and service experience.

Preventive Maintenance & Warranty Service

If you are looking for the most optimum performance from your Volkswagen, bring it to Advanced Auto Repair. We provide your VW with the same high-quality parts your VW was built with. Keep your VW running the way it was designed to run. Make sure your VW receives professional and quality maintenance and repairs.

Regular servicing and maintenance is important for the best operation of your VW. Besides keeping your VW running smoothly, our ASE Certified Technicians are experts at detecting small issues before they grow to be major expenses.

Is your VW still under warranty? Avoid high-priced new car dealership repair shops. Advanced Auto Repair can perform new car maintenance services that will maintain your new-care warranty. Call to make your warranty appointment today to keep your warranty service up-to-date.

Denton, Texas Volkswagen Repair Experts

The VW experts at Advanced Auto Repair understand that your time is valuable. Our Denton, Texas staff is dedicated to offering the best quality service to ensure that your VW gets the best service available anywhere.

Advanced Auto Repair is proud to be an AAA Approved repair facility. We offer 24 hour towing and roadside assistance, and meet strict AAA requirements regarding competency, reliability, cleanliness, timely repairs, convenient hours, fair pricing and expert customer service.

Safe & Reliable AAA Towing for your Volkswagen in Denton, TX.

If you and your VW need emergency repair, or have an accident, call us and we'll make sure a AAA truck will be dispatched to assist you. If towing is required, you can be towed back to the our auto repair facility or to any point of your choice along the direct return to any point of safety within a specific mileage from our auto repair facility.

We also provide testing & battery replacement service to get you going again. Our service technician can safely and accurately diagnose the condition of your VW battery. If it is determined that a new battery is needed we may be able to offer replacement products at a AAA member reduced price. If a new battery is purchased, the AAA roadside assistance call will not count against a AAA member's annual call limit.

For Expert Volkswagen Maintenance & Repair
Call
Advanced Auto Repair
940-382-1691

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Volkswagen- Save $20

Save $20 on your next synthetic oil change, or $35 off any services over $89

940-382-1691

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Advanced Auto Repair of Denton, TX is your neighborhood transmission experts, and automotive maintenance specialist. Our ASE Certified Technicians will accurately diagnose your transmission problems, and provide you with an accurate estimate. We have seen problems range from a blown fuse to reprogramming the software in the TCM (transmission control module). Check out our coupons for additional savings. Call 940-382-1691 or click here to set an appointment.

Transmission problems can make anyone cringe. They can totally disable your vehicle and drain your bank account as well. That's why regular recommended transmission maintenance is critical!

Just a Quick Story

Recently, we received a vehicle towed in with a costly transmission problem. Unfortunately the owner of this vehicle was not a prior customer of ours. It seems he had heard a "clunking" noise and took it somewhere else to be checked out. They told him they checked it out, added some grease to a joint and sent him on his way saying "everything was just fine."

Three weeks later he was looking to trade this vehicle in and during the test drive the dealer said the transmission was starting to slip really bad. So the vehicle owner got in to go home (thinking the dealer was crazy) and guess what? he couldn't get it to go in reverse! So there he sat.

It's not only important to go to a reputable repair shop for your regular maintenance, but also for trouble shooting new noises and other potential problems.

What Should I Look For?

If you're experiencing any of the 6 problems listed below, it's imperative you have your transmission checked out right away. Why? Because transmission problems don't go away? they only get worse (and more expensive to fix)!

  • Trouble shifting gears
  • Transmission seems to be slipping
  • Noise in the transmission (like a clunking sound)
  • Transmission fluid leaking
  • Check engine or transmission light is on
  • Vehicle is inoperative (when you shift into gear - nothing happens)

What Can be Done to Prevent Transmission Problems?

1. Check your transmission fluid, or get it checked by a qualified service professional regularly (a good time to do this is when you're getting the oil & filter changed).

2. If your vehicle is getting up there in miles, then it may need more frequent transmission fluid changes than newer vehicles because of worn parts. More severe driving conditions also require transmission fluid changes more frequently. Such conditions include towing a trailer, overloading, and driving in temperatures above 90 degrees for extended periods, plus extensive stop-and-go driving.

3. Change your transmission fluid regularly. You can find more information in your vehicles owners' manual about the service schedule. The condition of the fluid determines how well it's cooling and lubricating all of your transmission's internal moving parts. Temperature control is crucial in keep your transmission shifting like it should. Overheating breaks fluid down so it loses its ability to protect these moving parts.

4. Check your driveway for leaks from your engine and transmission. Detecting a leak early may help you to avoid further damage to your transmission. The best method for finding leaks is to park your vehicle on a clean, clear spot. Keep it parked for 24 hours. Then start it up and allow it to run until it reaches normal operating temperature. Now move your vehicle and immediately check the ground for leaks. Transmission fluid is usually red, pink, or light brown as opposed to engine oil which will be brown or dark brown.

5. Check under your hood, for loose belts and cracked hoses. Loose or worn belts and hoses can cause your vehicle to overheat. Remember, high temperatures can damage your automatic transmission. Keeping your belts & hoses in good repair can save you from bigger trouble down the road (possibly leaving you stranded on the side of the road).

6. In stopped traffic (ex. waiting for a train), shift into neutral or park. For automatic transmissions, sitting still for long periods of time in Drive with your foot on the brake keeps your transmission engaged. It also puts your cooling system under added strain. By shifting into neutral or park the gear is no longer engaged and the transmission develops less heat.
NOTE: The most common failure of transmissions comes from excessive heat. This may come from your fluid breaking down from not being changed as recommended.

7. Shift into lower gear, if your vehicle is constantly changing gears. This means that you are in a gear that is too high for the terrain or load you are carrying.

A final reminder about transmission problems? they don't go away. They only get worse. What was once a minor repair at first often requires a major overhaul in just a short amount of time.

Advanced Auto Repair

Located in the heart of Denton, Texas, our facility is equipped to handle your every maintenance and service need.

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