Longview Auto & Tire

Though a dirty cabin air filter doesn't directly affect whether your car can get you from point a to point b, you should never procrastinate on replacing it. Swapping out your cabin air filter is just as important as getting an oil change or rotating your tires. It is an essential part of routine vehicle maintenance, and ignoring the air filter will lead to horrible driving experiences.   Negative Side Effects of Dirty Air Filter Personal Health  A cabin air filter plays a vital role in keeping the inside of your car free of pollutants. However, if it is old, filthy, or clogged, it will not filter those contaminants. As a result, it will make it difficult for those who suffer from allergies or have breathing impairments to breathe. A new cabin air filter can block pollen from getting into a vehicle and provide fresh, breathable air.   Overworked HVAC System  A dirty air filter will make a vehicle's HVAC system work significantly harder, leading to an ... read more

The best time to buy a new car battery is before you have to. But, how do you know the time to replace it? Fortunately, there are a few signs that indicate that your battery needs replacing. Read on to find out. Battery Leak Leaking of the battery causes corrosion where the positive and negative cables are located. When this happens, you may have problems starting your car, and it is time to replace the battery. The new battery must be of the right type and size and should be of good quality. Slow Engine Crank If you notice that your engine is sluggish and is taking too much time to start, there is a chance that you have a flat battery. The battery may be damaged, needing you to replace it. Old Age Like any other car components, you have to replace your car battery after a while, usually a maximum of three years. You should also have it checked yearly to ensure it is in proper condition. Additionally, if your battery warning light goes on, there is a chance that the battery ... read more

Brake pads and brake shoes are equally vital to the safety of your vehicle. They each have separate functions, and yet they are both just as important to your brakes. Having them inspected for wear and tear is vital to the life of your braking system. With that said, what is the difference between brake pads and brake shoes? The first major difference is in the way they help your car stop. Brake shoes stop your vehicle by pushing outward. They are a major part of the drum system where they are inside rather than outside. This allows them to make that outward motion to stop your vehicle when you press slowly on the brakes. Friction then happens, resulting in your car coming to a smooth, complete stop without much ado. Brake pads, on the other hand, work from the outside going in. They sit on the outside of your wheels and are part of a disc rotor braking system, and they work together with the caliper to press together to stop your car at a safe distance. While brake shoes are a part ... read more

What Noise Does A Failing Transmission Make? Your car should not be making funny sounds as you drive. It is good to know what different sounds mean about the health of your vehicle. Some of the noises are an indication that the transmission is failing. When the transmission makes noises, it indicates a severe problem that the car requires the attention of an experienced mechanic. Here are some of the noises that come from a failing transmission system. Whining You may notice a whining sound coming from the engines as you drive the vehicle. Unfortunately, whining does not point to a particular problem with the transmission as different issues may produce the sound. However, you may narrow down to the exact cause by doing the following: • Try to engage the reverse gear. If the whining gets higher with the revere, it means that the fluid line of the transmission has been clogged. In most cases, a clogged fluid line points to a more significant is ... read more

It's a hot day outside and you must get out of the house. You're eager to get out in the car and get the air conditioner (A/C) blowing so you don't melt in the sun. You jump in, and you feel the cold air; you quickly notice an unpleasant smell along with the cold air and have no clue what's happening! Unbeknown to some, there are smells that can creep in your cars A/C. Here's what you need to know and what it can mean for your car. There's a chance that you're smelling something that's in the air around your car that's just filtering through you're A/C. In this case, driving away will resolve the problem. If you happen to smell gas, mold/mildew, vinegar, or burning you should be concerned. Gasoline Smell: Your car has a cabin air filter… it will do a good job filtering out a lot of harmful materials, but stronger smells like gas it may not get. If your car is leaking gas, there is a chance that gas will get sucked into y ... read more