Not-So-Smooth Operator (Transmission Signs of Trouble)
November 26, 2023
You are heading down a flat, newly paved street when all of a sudden you feel it. Your vehicle jumps a little bit when you're accelerating and changing gears. You know it's not the surface of the road because it's smooth as silk. So what did you just feel? That kind of jumpingor grinding or sl... More
Fears and Gears (Signs of Automatic Transmission Problems)
February 26, 2023
Automatic transmissions rule. The old days of shifting your own gears are a thing of the past for most drivers. But automatic transmission trouble can be a big inconvenience for any driver if it comes at the wrong time in the wrong place. Here are some signs to look out for that may mean you ar... More
Combustion Choreography: Timing Belt Replacement at Auto Lab Livonia in Livonia
March 27, 2022
Have you ever seen a ballet performance? Have you wondered how all of those dancers manage to travel all over the stage jumping and twirling and never crash into each other? That's the job of a choreographer.Our auto engines are also highly choreographed. Pistons travel up and down inside cylinde... More
Automotive Tips from Auto Lab Livonia: A Broken or Damaged Timing Belt
May 30, 2021
The timing belt rotates the cam shafts which open and close the valves that allow air, fuel, and exhaust to flow through the engine as it powers your car when you drive around Livonia.An old timing belt can lose a tooth in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing bel... More
Transmission Service at Auto Lab Livonia in Livonia
April 18, 2021
Let's talk about transmission service. It can be easy for Livonia drivers to forget about getting their transmission serviced because it doesn't need it very often. It's easier for people in MI to remember to change the engine oil - you know, every 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But proper tran... More
Ask Auto Lab Livonia: What Happens When a Serpentine Belt Breaks?
February 28, 2021
The serpentine belt is aptly named since it snakes around under your hood. It may lack its namesake's fangs, but it sure packs a wallop when it breaks.The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine systems. It runs the alternator, which charges the battery; the water pump (on some vehicles), which co... More
Livonia Car Owners Ask: Why Do I Need to Change My Serpentine Belt?
November 17, 2019
Any Livonia driver who understands preventive maintenance knows that if it ain't broke, don't fix it is bad auto advice. Replacing a part before it breaks is much less costly for Livonia residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of this is ... More
Automotive Tips from Auto Lab Livonia: Timing Belt Overview
October 20, 2019
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 when you are driving around Livonia. The timing belts important job i... More
Smooth Shifting in Livonia, MI: Transmission Service
May 5, 2019
So you have some exciting plans for the weekend. You're going to take some of your friends out on the boat for some water skiing. Of course, you've gotten the boat all ready. And you haven't forgotten about your tow vehicle. You've gassed it up and even vacuumed it out. However, there is somethi... More
The Auto Lab Livonia Guide to Caring for Your Transmission
April 22, 2018
Most vehicles have automatic transmissions, yet a lot of Livonia drivers only have a fuzzy understanding about what a transmission does. Think back to the last time you rode a bike in Livonia. You started out in a lower gear and shifted to higher gears as you went faster. Down shift for hills, s... More