When your car is out of service with an engine issue, it can have a negative effect on every facet of your life. Therefore, it's absolutely essential that you have car problems fixed immediately. If the repairs are straightforward, you may want to take care of them yourself. But for complex engine problems, let the mechanics at your local Cadillac dealer handle it.
3 Engine Problems You Should Always Fix at Your Cadillac Dealer
1. Worn Serpentine Belt
Most vehicles rely on a single belt, commonly known as a serpentine belt, to power the electric motors and pumps connected to the engine. This single belt system has many advantages and one distinct disadvantage: when the single belt fails, all the engine components fail too. It's easy to tell when a serpentine belt is wearing out because it will start making a loud squeaking noise when you start your vehicle.
Unfortunately, if you don't take heed to the warning signals and promptly replace the belt, it will eventually snap, leaving you stranded. Installing a new serpentine belt is a relatively simple process, however, the amount of tension on the belt must fall within specific parameters. To achieve this, you may need to purchase specialized tools. Thankfully, you can avoid these hassles with a quick trip to a professional mechanic.
2. Faulty Alternator
The alternator is a vital engine component, as it's responsible for converting the mechanical energy created by the engine into electrical energy. This electrical energy helps recharge the battery, and it provides power to all of the electrical devices in the vehicle. Alternators are made to withstand a lot of abuse, but even so, it's not uncommon for them to burn out after several years.
When an alternator goes bad it will cause the electrical components like the radio display and the headlights to flicker on and off or go dim and grow bright again. The steps for replacing an alternator are complex, especially if you're not used to working with electricity. In this case, it's best to play it safe by leaving the repairs to the pros.
3. Clogged Fuel Injectors
Until a few decades ago, nearly every vehicle with a combustion engine relied on a carburetor to achieve the optimal fuel-to-air mixture. Nowadays, however, the carburetor has all but been replaced by the fuel injection system. As the name suggests, this system uses small nozzles called fuel injectors to spray fuel into the engine's cylinders before it is ignited.
Fuel injectors are far less problematic and far more efficient than carburetors, but over time the minute fuel ports inside the injectors become clogged with sediment. This prevents fuel from being sprayed into the cylinders, and as a result, the engine will cease to function. In most cases, the injectors are very difficult to access, so you'll save yourself countless hours of labor by taking the vehicle to a repair shop.
Don't let engine issues keep you from fulfilling your daily responsibilities. Instead, come see us at Bayway Cadillac Southwest and let our highly-qualified technicians take care of the problem. And while you're here, be sure to check out our huge inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles.
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