If you are like many Americans, you love the scenic treats of nature that are all around us. The U.S. is full of relatively untainted nature preserves sitting just a few minutes away from all the conveniences of civilization. The warm weather invites travelers to take those road trips to national parks. Also, they can stay overnight in most of them for free if they have an RV. Experiencing nature up close and personal without having to pay huge resort fees leaves a lot of extra room in your vacation budget for driving around comfortably. You can ensure that your car is running in peak condition by considering the various aspects of the roadworthiness discussed below.
If you are going to be taking a long distance road trip, it always helps to have a quality set of relatively new tires. Tires that are more than 5 years old or sold at bargain prices online make the ride risky and harsh. A quality set of new tires will be like safely riding on a cloud to any destination because they cushion so much of the road vibrations. Of course, it is critical to keep your tires properly inflated to ensure optimal treadwear, gas mileage, and handling. If your vehicle doesn't track straight when you let your hands off the wheel or you notice uneven wear, these are all signs that you need to bring it in for service before setting sail.
Now that the warm weather is approaching, you will greatly benefit from a heavier oil. This oil provides more engine protection at higher temperatures. Because the higher numbers in an engine oil weight describe higher viscosity, you want to run a full synthetic oil like Mobil 1 that is rated anywhere from a 15w-30 up to a 10w-50. Using full synthetic oil and OEM-style oil filter with a bypass valve will make any road trip easy.
Installing a performance air filter in your vehicle may be just the trick to make that road trip a little more interesting. You'll be fascinated with how something so inexpensive and small can greatly improve throttle response. Whether you opt for a cold intake system or a simple high-flow cleanable air filter, you will be happy with the results and glad that you made the upgrade. Being able to push the pedal and knowing that there is still plenty of pedal left can help you merge confidently in congested traffic situations.
Being able to stop on a dime is a critical part of navigating new areas. The new roads and new traffic patterns that you encounter make stopping power critical. The majority of accidents that occur have something to do with speeding, tires, weather, alcohol, and/or bad brakes. It is easy to see how bad brakes can cause an accident even if you are paying attention.
Your brake system can suffer severe performance issues if the fluid hasn't been changed in the last two years. Along with that, it could also be from something as simple as a leaky vacuum hose in the engine bay. A leaky vacuum hose or seal affects braking power dramatically because vacuum boosters are installed in most power brake systems.
Various vacuum-powered systems are powered by the suction naturally created by your engine. The vacuum is inherently created during the combustion process when the airtight pistons drop down and create negative air pressure.
A lot of late-model vehicles have brake wear indicators. These indicators will emit acoustic vibrations when the brakes are worn severely and require replacement.
One symptom that many drivers suffer from, however, is warped rotors. Warped rotors will cause your steering rack and mechanical steering wheels to vibrate when you apply the brakes. Accordingly, if you feel a lot of front-end vibration when you brake at high speeds, you likely have warped rotors. This can happen even if you have brand new rotors and pads. This is because unprofessional mechanics do not torque lug nuts properly, which causes them to warp and wear out prematurely.
Before your next Road Trip, Give your friendly guys at Creech a call!
Due to their immense popularity, Honda vehicles are some of the most common that Creech Import deals with. These are all common Honda repair issues. We provide both standard maintenance and servicing along with serious repair for broken down and damaged Hondas. Consumers know that a repair on a Honda vehicle is a solid investment because these vehicles will drive well for many years with very few problems. We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality and most affordable Honda Repair in Raleigh.
The Honda Accord is a legendary vehicle due to its ability to run for so many years. In fact, the Accord is rated as one of the best vehicles in terms of the rate at which they maintain their value. Of the problems we see here at Creech Import with the Honda Accord, brake problems are the most common. Not only can we resolve brake issues and get your vehicle stopping consistently and safely, but we can also fix any other mechanical, engine, transmission, or electrical problems you may encounter while driving your Honda Accord.
The Honda Civic is also an excellent, long driving mid-sized car. Here at Creech Import, we most commonly see problems with the transmission of the Honda Civic. However, we can also handle engine, brake, electrical, and any variety of mechanical problems your Honda Civic may have.
Honda doesn’t just make excellent cars, their SUV’s have come to stand the test of time as well. The Honda CR-V is a small SUV that provides a great balance of maneuverability, gas mileage, and storage space. Our skilled mechanics at Creech Import have dealt with air conditioning, brake, drivetrain, wheel, hub, engine, and other problems with the CR-V. We consider ourselves to be one of the most experienced Honda repair teams in North Carolina and can provide any range of repairs and services to the Honda CR-V.
Honda also makes a minivan called the Odyssey. Its comfort, spaciousness, and longevity have served countless Raleigh families, bringing the kids to soccer practice and the groceries home from the store. Our mechanics have noted the steering problems the Honda Odyssey may face. Issues with brakes and electrical devices around the Odyssey are also fairly common.
Problem:
Air Conditioner doesn’t blow cold
Models affected:
2007 MDX 3.7
2003 – 2010 Odyssey 3.5
2005 – 2006 Pilot 3.5
2006 – 2008 Ridgeline 3.5
Diagnostic:
Compressor clutch relay bad. Over time and use the compressor clutch relay which is located in the engine compartment fuse/relay box will fail. The relay sends current from the battery to the magnetic clutch which is bolted to the front of the compressor. The clutch engages the compressor. This is a common honda repair issue.
Solution:
1. Using a scan tool look for A/C switch “ON” and A/C clutch “ON”. If the Engine Control Module (ECM) indicates the A/C switch is on and the A/C clutch is on, then check the A/C compressor clutch relay. The relay is located in the fuse box under the hood, and is the relay in the middle of 3 relays located together and has a snowflake picture on the cover of the fuse/relay box. Swap the relay with the blower motor relay to verify it is not a faulty relay
Problem:
The computer loses it’s idle learn memory
Models affected:
2005- 2013 Accord 2.4
2005 – 2007 Accord 3.0
2008- 2013 Accord 3.5
Diagnostic:
On these Honda vehicles, if the computer loses it’s idle learn memory for some reason like the battery was disconnected, throttle body cleaned, etc, the idle memory may be lost causing erratic idle speed.
Solution:
To correct this problem, first, verify that the throttle body and plates are properly cleaned. Then proceed with the idle relearn procedure. This requires the use of a scan tool and should be done by a professional.
The following models suffer from the same issue:
2010 – 2011 Honda Accord Crosstour 3.5 2005 – 2011 Honda Civic 1.3 | 2012 – 2013 Honda Civic 1.5 | 2005 Honda Civic 1.7 | 2006 – 2013 Honda Civic 1.8 | 2005 – 20011 Honda Civic 2.0 | 2012 – 2013 Honda Civic 2.4 | 2005 – 2013 Honda CR-V 2.4 | 2005 – 2011 Honda Element 2.4 | 2005 – 2013 Honda Odyssey 3.5 | 2005 – 2013 Honda Pilot 3.5 | 2006 – 2013 Honda Ridgeline 3.5