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Professional European Auto Repair Advice from The German Auto Doctor
How Long Does It Take to Replace Front Struts?
Is your ride taking longer than usual to stop? Is it oddly bumpier? Well, I think it’s time to change your struts because the symptoms clearly mean they have gone bad. Luckily, you can replace them on your own or get professional help. So, how long does it take to replace struts? Typically, it takes around one to two hours to change struts, according to most professional mechanics. Even if you...
Tire Balance Vs. Alignment: Which One Do You Need?
The yoga studio isn’t the only place where you’ll hear the words “balancing” and “alignment.” You’ll also hear these words mentioned when you take your car in for service. But what do balancing and alignment mean off the yoga mat? Both contribute to a smoother ride, but tire balancing and alignment are different services. A tire balance corrects the weight imbalance on your tire and wheel...
White Smoke From the Exhaust on Startup Then Goes Away (Causes and Fixes)
When using cars for a long time, the worse the engine quality is inevitable. If you do not know how to take care of the car, the internal components will fail, and you need to get serviced. One common phenomenon warning you that the car is having problems is white smoke on startup then disappears. This usually happens when there is a buildup of water inside the exhaust pipe. In addition, there...
How do I know if my timing belt is broken on my Luxury Vehicle engine?
The worst thing that we can think of is not being able to drive that beautiful BWM that you own because of a mechanical issue. Have you recently purchased a luxury brand vehicle new or used? And you don’t know when you should have your timing belt replaced, especially to those who purchased a used BWM. Most drivers don’t know when you should have your timing belt replaced. That is why we are...
Do you need a wheel alignment after tire rotation?
Let’s be real for a second here: is rotating your tires really all that important to your car’s maintenance? It’s such a simple task, and all four tires are always on the ground anyway, plus you tend to turn both left and right about the same number of times, so what good does it really do? Why Rotate Your Tires? Even though your tires are all in contact with the road constantly, they wear at...
What are the seven causes of low oil pressure?
Low oil pressure in your car’s engine can be caused by an oil leak, a blocked oil filter, using the wrong viscosity oil, or a faulty oil pump. Whatever the cause, you shouldn’t drive your car far if the low oil pressure light is on. Oil is essential for keeping the engine lubricated and a lack of oil will cause irreversible damage and can cause components like turbos to fail very quickly. 7...
How to Reduce High Beam Glare When Driving at Night?
Our vision changes drastically at night; we lose much of our depth perception, our ability to see colors and our peripheral vision. And our vision is further impacted by the glare of oncoming traffic after dusk. Glare is any light source that impairs our vision, such as other drivers’ headlights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received an increasing number of...
How Can You Judge Whether The Problem Is Due To Alternator And Not Due To Battery?
Almost all of us have experienced the problem where either your car battery or alternator just conks out, and you can’t make out which one to replace. It’s not easy finding out exactly which part of your car is giving you the trouble, but here are a few tips by which you can find out whether you have car battery problems or alternator problems. If your vehicle won’t start, it’s usually caused by...
What Causes Cracks Around The Bends Of The Hoses In A Car?
A belt or hose failure can cause an overheated engine, loss of power steering, and loss of the electrical charging system. If a hose leaks coolant or the belt turning the water pump snaps, the cooling system is inoperable. If the engine overheats, it can suffer serious internal damage that requires expensive repairs and can ruin a summer vacation. Overheating can occur anytime, but usually...
Why Is There Noise When Turning My Steering Wheel?
At The German Auto Doctor, there are a few questions we receive more than others. Many of them have to do with common noises that come from our customer’s cars. From squeaking brakes to ticking engines, we’ve heard it all (no pun intended). Today we’ll be talking about noises you hear when turning, their most likely causes, and what to do about it. When you make a turn in your car, you really...