Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

Why did my car overheat? Your car could have overheated due to your coolant being low. When your vehicle does not have enough coolant then it will not keep your engine at the correct temperature. When this happens it can damage your engine. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather   Our specials can be found here - Specials - J & H Automotive, Inc Ready to make an appointment … Appointments - J & H Automotive, Inc Want to know more … About Us - J & H Automotive, Inc Would you like to join our merry band of misfits? Careers - J & H Automotive, Inc     ... read more

When did it happen? How long were you driving? Were you driving in stop-and-go traffic or on the highway? What was the weather like? Heatwave? Freezing cold?   These are a few of the questions you should expect when you call the shop. It could be something as simple as dirty fuel injectors or a clogged air filter. It could be a more serious issue like a failing fuel pump or engine sensor.   The only way for us to know for sure is to run tests and then go from there. Our goal is to get you back on the road to where your travels take you. Give us a call and let us take care of you.   Happy Adventures, Heather

When does your diesel lose power? If it is losing power while accelerating then it could be that your fuel filter is plugged. Your fuel filter catches debris in your fuel. This allows your fuel system to work properly and more efficiently. When your fuel filter is restricted then it caused the other components to work harder. We recommend your fuel filter be changed every 10,000 to 15,000 miles. If you're unsure of the quality of the fuel you're getting then it's better to change it more often. If you're having issues with lack of power with your diesel give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures, Heather   Our specials can be found here - Specials - J & H Automotive, Inc Ready to make an appointment … Appointments - J & H Automotive, Inc ... read more

The good news is that it cranks. Now to find out why it doesn't start. I know it's frustrating when you go out to your vehicle, and it will not start. It happened to me recently too. Let's chat about a few things that you can troubleshoot before you call the tow truck.   First, let's make sure that you have fuel. Check the fuel gauge to see how much fuel is in the tank. If it's on empty, then fill her up and try again. If the problem persists, then move on to the next step. Diesel engines do not like to run low on fuel and this could be one culprit.   Next, check all of your fuses and make sure they are not blown. A blown fuse can cause all sorts of problems, including a vehicle that won't start. If you find a blown fuse, replace it with a new one and see if that fixes the problem.   With a diesel that cranks and does not start that is about all you can do before you need to have it towed in. It could be a fuel delivery issue, where it is n ... read more

If you're like most drivers, you probably don't think about your transmission fluid until there's a problem. And that's completely understandable—after all, it's not exactly something that's easy to check on a regular basis. But just because it's out of sight doesn't mean it can be ignored. In fact, if you don't change your transmission fluid when it needs to be changed, you could end up with some expensive repairs down the road. So when is the right time for a transmission fluid change? The answer, unfortunately, isn't a simple one. The frequency with which you need to change your transmission fluid will depend on a number of factors, including the type of vehicle you drive and the conditions in which you drive it. That said, there are some general guidelines that can help you determine when it's time for a change. If you drive a manual transmission, it's generally recommended that you change your fluid every 30,000 miles or so ... read more

Most do. The water is coming from your evaporator core inside your dash. While using your air conditioner the evaporator core will create condensation. This condensation drains out the bottom of your vehicle through a drain tube. This is completely normal and how the system is designed to work. If you see water on the inside of your vehicle you may have a plugged drain tube or other problem. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather   Our specials can be found here - Specials - J & H Automotive, Inc Ready to make an appointment … Appointments - J & H Automotive, Inc Want to know more … About Us - J & H Automotive, Inc Would you like to join our m ... read more

Why does my car smell? What does it smell like? Is it a sweet smell or a stinky smell? A sweet smell could be from your cooling system. Coolant or antifreeze has a sweet smell. This could come from any of your cooling system components. If you have a stinky smell then it could be a mouse that went for a ride along. They will crawl inside your dash and make a nest. The good news is the nest is removable, and once it is removed the smell will go away. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather   Our specials can be found here - Specials - J & H Automotive, Inc Ready to make an appointment … Appointments - J & H Automotive, Inc Want to know more … About Us - J & H Automo ... read more

Why is my check engine light blinking? Your check engine light may be blinking due to a worn-out or faulty spark plug. When your check engine light is on and blinking it indicates that your engine has a catalyst damaging misfire. It can be caused by other issues other than your spark plugs. We would need to perform an engine diagnostic to know for sure that it is your spark plug and not a different component. We do promote replacing random parts to find out what is wrong. We prefer to know which part has failed and replace the correct part the first time. This saves you both time and money. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather   Our specials can be found here - Specials - J & H Automotive, Inc Ready to make an appointment … Appointments - J & H Automotive, Inc ... read more

Your air conditioning may smell musty due to condensation that builds up on the cold components inside of your dash. These cold components can collect dust out of the air. Over time the dust will build up, and combined with the moisture this will cause a musty smell. This musty smell is coming from mold and mildew from the dust. One way to prevent this from happening is to always run your air conditioning on recirculate. This will prevent the dust from entering the cab of your vehicle. We also recommend having your cabin air filter changed. Your cabin air filter collects the spores, pollen, and dirt from the air in your cab. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather

Who loves a good road trip? I know I do. When you are traveling you want your vehicle operating at its full potential. Here are a few things to keep your vehicle running properly. Changing the fuel filter will help your fuel mileage. When your fuel filter is clogged it does not allow fuel to flow properly. This will cause your engine to produce less power. Your charge air cooler boots should be checked for a boost leak. If you have a boost leak this will cause your turbocharger to struggle. This will make your engine consume more fuel and not run properly. Cooling system fluid service – poor quality coolant can cause damage to your engine’s internal components from corrosion or cavitation.   Checking your engine air filter – if your engine air filter is dirty or clogged it restricts airflow. That restriction is hard on your engine and turbocharger. A diesel loves a clean air filter. Rear differential fluid service – especially when towing your rear dif ... read more