What is the benefit of winter tires?

Winter Tires

Question:
What is the benefit of winter tires?

Answer:
This is a really good question. Most new vehicles in Grand Rapids come with all-season tires that work pretty well in the Ada winter conditions many motorists encounter. First, let’s talk about the things that dedicated winter tires do really well, touch on all-seasons and then you should have some information to help you in your tire selection.

The first thing about winter is that it’s cold. The rubber compound used in summer and all-season tires gets a bit hard when MI temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter tires, on the other hand, stay more pliable as the thermometer drops in Ada. This means better dry road traction in the cold.

Ice and snow is the next thing Grand Rapids motorists worry about during MI winters. Now some MI car owners live where there is a lot of snow, a lot of the time. Extreme winter condition snow tires have a tread design that cuts into and expels deep snow for maximum traction. These tires have a mountain and snowflake icon on the sidewall of the tire.

If you live in MI where the ice and snow are more moderate you can still benefit from winter tires. Their tread has many small “cuts” called sipes that really help them get a grip on ice.

Now, all-season tires are a year-round compromise between high summer performance and high winter performance. They just don’t handle either extreme as well as do dedicated summer or winter tires for MI driving. For example, winter tires offer 25% to 50% more traction than all-season tires. And studies have shown that all-season tires can take upwards of 40% longer to stop than winter tires. This could be enough difference to prevent getting stuck or in an accident.

So what’s best for you? You can meet with your Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service tire professional and reflect on the conditions in which you drive in MI throughout the year and how important performance is to you. For many Grand Rapids drivers that put a premium on handling performance, dedicated summer tires in summer and dedicated winter tires in the winter (for cold as well as ice and snow) are what they need to satisfy their performance needs. Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service will mount different tires depending on the season.

Your considerate Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service tire professional can help you elect a great all-season tire if that is what best suits your needs. No matter which route you take, remember that quality tires are not immune to the laws of physics – so it’s important to drive safely in all Ada road conditions.

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Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

What is the Heater Core?

Grand Rapids drivers may wonder where the balmy air in your passenger compartment comes from. Well, as your engine starts to warm up, it also warms the coolant/antifreeze that circulates around the engine and through the radiator. There is also a hose that conveys coolant/antifreeze from the engine to the heater core and another that takes it back into the engine. The heater core looks like a little radiator and lives in the air blend box behind the dashboard.

When motorists turn on the heat, air blows over the heater core, is warmed, and comes into the cabin. Some vehicles have a heater valve that transfers coolant through the heater core when the heat is on and bypasses the heater core when the heat is off. In other vehicles, the temperature of the air is controlled within the air blend box by how much air is directed over the heater core.

The engine cooling system, in a larger sense, also encompasses the heater core. Things that adversely sway, say, your radiator will also harm your heater core. The coolant/antifreeze contains corrosion inhibitors that coat the surfaces inside the cooling system, including the heater core. When the corrosion inhibitors are depleted, the cooling system can become corroded, filled with contaminants, and may even start to leak.

There are several important signs that warn motorists of a leaky heater core: First you may notice a sweet smell from your vents. This is coolant leaking out and getting into the air. You may even notice vapor coming out the vents and notice a film building up inside the windows. Of course, breathing coolant vapors is detrimental for you.

You may also experience coolant on the driveway. Furthermore, depending on the design of your vehicle, you may even get coolant leaking out into the foot wells of the cabin.

Coolant/antifreeze leaking out through the heater core means that the overall coolant level in the system will be low and the engine is in danger of overheating – which is typically the cause of a steep mechanical breakdown.

The good news is that the things you do to protect your cooling system also protect your heater core. Changing your coolant/antifreeze as directed by your auto manufacturer or upon the counseling of your Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service tech will help ensure your coolant has enough corrosion inhibitors working to protect this vital system. Also, quickly repairing any leaks and inspecting hoses for signs of internal breakdown will help keep any trouble from becoming an emergency.

Make sure you talk to with your considerate Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service service specialist about when a cooling system service should be performed.

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Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.459.8941

At Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service in Grand Rapids MI (49503) we install quality NAPA replacement parts.

Automotive Service for Grand Rapids: Check Engine Light

Some are simple and some are complicated

Question:
My check engine light is on and my boyfriend thinks he can get the code read and know what part to replace to fix my sedan. I say it’s not that uncomplicated. Who’s right?

Our Answer:
Good news – you are! Just look at it logically: there are hundreds of things that can go wrong with your sedan. Some are simple and some are quite complicated.

Let’s take a step back. Over 80% of engine functions are computer controlled. The computer receives important information from dozens of sensors. When a sensor reading is out of range, a trouble code is entered in the computer and the Check Engine Light is illuminated.

It’s a common misconception by Grand Rapids motorists that the trouble code will tell you exactly what is wrong. For any given trouble code, there are any number of faults that would trigger the code. For example, a code indicating a misfire on cylinder three could be due to a bad spark plug, a failed coil, ignition problems, compression issues, etc. Each of those possibilities requires additional vital diagnosis to confirm or rule out a cause. Once a trained Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service service professional with state-of-the art diagnostic tools and extensive research databases is able to nail down the problem, then he can set about getting it corrected.

A complicated diagnosis may take some time. Your boyfriend might be tempted to bypass a diagnosis charge by taking a trouble code reading with an inexpensive scan tool and start replacing parts. He might get lucky, but chances are you’ll end up spending more time and bucks than if you went to a professional with the right equipment.

A final word – a flashing Check Engine Light indicates that a condition exists that could lead to serious, pricey damage. Grand Rapids motorists should get to their service center or Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service in Grand Rapids right away. A steadily illuminated Check Engine Light is less urgent so you can get it checked at your convenience. But keep in mind that a minor issue today can become more serious for Ada drivers if left unresolved.

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Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.459.8941

I need a new serpentine belt but I don’t see any cracks in it. Does it really need to be replaced?

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Question:
My Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service technician said I need a new serpentine belt but I don’t see any cracks in it. Does it really need to be replaced?

Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Answer:
I appreciate your concern. Old style neoprene belts would crack with age, making it pretty obvious to Grand Rapids drivers when they needed to be replaced. Nowadays, serpentine belts are made from a different material that doesn’t crack or glaze the way neoprene did.

Stepping back, the serpentine belt transfers power from the engine to various important accessories like the alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioning compressor – even the power brakes and water pump on some vehicles. Modern serpentine belts have several grooves running their length. These grooves mate with the pulleys on the accessories. When the belt is within its useful life, it spins the accessories at the designed speed.

Over time, belt material is worn away. When as little as 5% of the material is lost, the belt can slip and not properly spin the accessories leading to detrimental stress and expensive damage.

Using a special tool, your considerate Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service technician can measure the material lost in your serpentine belt. He will identify if it needs to be replaced.

It’s critical for Grand Rapids motorists to understand that the serpentine belt is part of the accessory belt drive system which also includes the serpentine belt tensioner and any idler pulleys. The belt tensioner has the same service life as the belt itself, so if it is time to replace the belt, you should also replace the tensioner and idler pulleys as well.

A worn belt tensioner can cause belt slip and enough belt-slap to really hammer the accessory upstream from the tensioner. Running too long with a worn belt, tensioner, or idler pulleys frequently causes excessive heat at the accessory pulleys, resulting in inefficiency, expensive damage and premature replacement.

Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service in Grand Rapids can perform a diagnostic examination to see if your belt or tensioner is worn and should be replaced. Ask your service professional if it’s time for a serpentine belt system replacement.

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Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.459.8941

Gasoline Direct Injection- Grand Rapids Auto Repair

My new car has a “GDI” engine. What does that mean to me and other Grand Rapids drivers with this new type of engine?

Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Answer:

GDI stands for Gasoline Direct Injection. It’s a type of fuel injection system that is becoming very popular on modern engines.

Let’s talk about the two most common forms of fuel injection. Port Fuel Injection has been common in Grand Rapids for the last several decades.

With Port Fuel Injection, there is a small port just outside the cylinder on the engine:
• The fuel injector squirts a bit of gas into this area just before the intake valve opens
• When the valve opens, air enters the port and mixes with the gas and then flows passed the valve and into the engine
• The gas and air mixture is compressed by the piston
• The spark plug fires, igniting the gas which pushes against the piston thus powering the engine

With Gasoline Direct Injection the process is a bit different:
• First, there is no port outside the cylinder
• When the intake valve opens, air is drawn into the cylinder
• The air is compressed by the piston
• At the correct time, the engine management computer signals the fuel injector to spray gasoline directly into the cylinder (hence, Gas Direct Injection)
• The pressurized gas and air are ignited by the spark plug, powering the engine

So why did car makers move to GDI? Well, by injecting the gas directly into the engine, the management computer is able to time the injection event more precisely. Also the gas sprayed directly into the engine cools the compressed air enough to allow for better combustion. This adds up to more power and better fuel economy for a given engine size.

Now these two types of fuel delivery systems call for different kinds of fuel injectors. Port fuel injectors squirt their fuel at 40 to 65 pounds per square inch – that’s like the pressure in a bicycle tire.

GDI injectors operate at over 2,000 pounds per square inch. Of course it’s always important to keep your fuel injectors clean – but it’s even more vital for GDI injectors. When they become contaminated, the affect performance and fuel economy.

Speaking of fuel system cleaning, different cleaners and cleaning processes are required for GDI engines. Intake valves get a fair amount of carbon build-up over time. With port injection, some gasoline flows over the valve when it opens to let in the gas and air. This has a cleaning effect – which doesn’t occur with GDI. So pouring a bottle of fuel system cleaner in your gas tank will not reach the backside of those intake valves. A professional fuel system cleaning process at Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service in Grand Rapids will take care of that concern for Grand Rapids motorists.

So, GDI will continue to be more prevalent in MI on everything from compact cars to pick-up trucks. Ask your Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service service specialist if your sedan could benefit from a fuel system cleaning.

Give us a call

Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.459.8941

Auto Repair: Vent Cleaning

Auto Repair: Vent Cleaning

Ever get musky odors coming from your car’s air vents? It’s fairly common for Grand Rapids drivers. Moisture can often accumulate in the air conditioning/heating ventilation system allowing mold, mildew, fungus, and bacteria to grow.

Disinfecting and deodorizing is a doable process. Depending on how bad the problem is, there are a couple of approaches Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service may take to get rid of the unwanted smells. For mild situations (especially on newer vehicles), a special deodorizing disinfectant is introduced into the ventilation system. This may be an aerosol or a mist application.

The treatment kills the offending organisms and deodorizes the system. Sometimes in older vehicles, a good deal of mildew or other microorganisms can grow on the air conditioning evaporator, which is housed in the heating/air conditioning air blend box behind the dashboard. In cases like this the Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service technician fills the blend box with disinfecting foam that can eliminate stubborn organisms and return a fresh, clean scent. In all of this, don’t forget your cabin air filter. This is the essential filter that cleans the air coming into the passenger compartment of your vehicle.

Grand Rapids auto owners can ordinarily replace the cabin air filter to eliminate unpleasant odors. It is the first line of defense for Grand Rapids motorists. Changing the cabin air filter as needed can actually prevent further contamination problems downstream. If you are experiencing any unusual odors, sounds, vibrations, etc., talk with your considerate Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service service advisor. He can recommend the next steps to discover what the trouble is and what it will take to set it right.

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Spaanstra Bros. Auto Repair Grand Rapids-
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.459.8941

My friend just had a very pricey transmission repair in Ada. How can Grand Rapids motorists like myself avoid transmission trouble?

My friend just had a very pricey transmission repair in Ada. How can Grand Rapids motorists like myself avoid transmission trouble?

Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Answer:

Next to your engine, your transmission is the most pricey component in your vehicle – so you and your fellow Grand Rapids motorists want to do all you can to avoid costly transmission repairs.

Grand Rapids motorists may have noticed a trend of engines becoming more and more powerful in recent years. At the same time, fuel economy has been improving in nearly every motor vehicle segment in MI. More power and better gas mileage have always been at odds. Some of the improvement in fuel economy has been due to engine design, but most of the increases in gas mileage can be credited to auto manufacturers’ advances in transmission technology.

Every engine has a sweet spot in which it most efficiently makes power. This is often referred to by Grand Rapids technicians as the power band – the optimal engine speed (measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM). The computers that control what gear your automatic transmission is in try to keep it in the right gear in order to maintain optimal engine speed – whatever your Grand Rapids driving conditions may be. Modern automatic transmissions have anywhere between four and ten speeds. The more “speeds” your transmission has, the more time your engine can operate at peak efficiency. Needless to say, transmissions have become more sophisticated and costly.

Transmissions are cooled and lubricated by transmission fluid. This pressurized fluid is directed through small passages to effect gear changes. When transmission fluid gets old and contaminated, the small passages can become plugged which adversely affects shifts. The dirty fluid circulating in the transmission can eat away at vital gaskets and seals causing detrimental internal leaks that also hurt shifting. This is why some vehicle manufacturers recommend that transmissions be serviced from time to time. The interval varies by vehicle, so check your owner’s manual or with your considerate Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service tech about your transmission service recommendations.

Old, harmful contaminated fluid is removed and new fluid is installed. Keeping up with the auto manufacturer’s recommended service schedule helps prevent harmful internal damage that may result in a significant transmission rebuild. Let Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service help you extend the life of your sedan and prevent expensive repairs with recommended preventive maintenance service.

Give us a call
Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503