GEORGE'S COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR Cape Coral Auto Repair

Every year on Earth Day, it is important to remember to do what we can to help preserve the environment. With so much to keep track of in our day-to-day lives, it can be easy to forget what is important. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind to help reduce your carbon footprint. Alternative Transportation We are all accustomed to hopping in the car every time we need to run an errand. Instead, try thinking about what tasks you can do using different modes of transport. For short trips, walking is a great way to get some exercise while producing zero emissions. Talk about a win-win scenario! A bicycle is another fun option for trips that are a little longer. You can even add a basket to your bike for small grocery trips, and a cute bell for a little flair. Public transportation can also step in when you have a longer trip ahead of you. Bundle Your Driving Naturally, there are going to be times when taking your own vehicle can't be avoided. Keep track of the different errands ... read more

The short answer to the question is: it means one or more of your tires have low pressure. This dashboard warning light is symbolized as a tire and exclamation mark inside it. It will light up once sensors pick up that your tire pressure has fallen below 20% of the manufacturer's recommended psi, or pounds per square inch.   Twenty percent is a significant amount of under inflation, and it is considered a safety hazard. You may experience a loss in handling. And your tires are likely going to wear unevenly. It also increases your chances of a tire blowout, ultimately requiring you to replace your tires.   Cape Floral drivers should never ignore a TPMS light. And more importantly, you should not use it as a method of monitoring your tire pressure. You should manually check your tire pressure at least once a month for the most accurate results.    How Much Air Should Go In My Tires? Before you measure or adjust your tire pressure, you ... read more

We guarantee that you probably have some road trips planned for 2022, and we'd love to help you to prepare for them. When it comes to road adventures, you always want to plan for the worst. Being far away from home can be scary, especially if you encounter a breakdown. To ease the anxiety and stress you may have, you should plan to pack an emergency kit with you. Let's go over some of the top essential items to bring with you to make your road trip a successful one: Jumper cables A spare tire, jack, and gloves   A first aid kit   Plenty of water and non-perishable food   A phone charger (preferably portable) Blankets Important paperwork (license, registration, and any other necessary vehicle information) Backup directions to your destination  Flares or reflective cones  Flashlight and batteries Multi-tool Compact Shovel Backup vehicle fluids (windshield wiper fluid, gasoline, oil, etc.) Vehicle manual These are our top item ... read more

If you're like every American, your wallet is probably taking a hit every time you go to the gas pump. With gas prices high, you should start changing your driving habits and prioritizing your car maintenance practices to save you some money. Here are 6 helpful tips on how to save money on gas: Method #1: Inflate Your Tires Correctly Paying attention to your tires and inflating them to the recommended pressure can do a lot to save you some fuel. Running on under-inflated tires can end up costing you more gas and cause your tires to wear down early. Method #2: Minimize the Weight of Your Vehicle Load Not only does cleaning your car give you newfound confidence and lift a weight off your shoulders, but it can lighten your carload. Excess weight in your vehicle can put more stress on its components, like the engines and brakes, and burn more fuel than necessary. Method #3: Avoid Idling Did you know that leaving your car idling for an hour will consume approximately almost a gall ... read more

You park your car at a store and go inside. When you come back you notice some sort of fluid underneath your car. Upon further inspection, you realize that said fluid is leaking out of your car and you're not exactly sure what to do next. The only thing you do know is that this can't be good. Fear not! Once you understand the different types of car fluid leaks, the easier it will be to rectify the situation. Keep reading on for the most common types of car fluid leaks to be prepared if this ever happens to you! Coolant Leak - If the leak coming out of your car is a vibrant orange, pink or green, chances are you're dealing with a coolant, also known as antifreeze. This isn't a massive issue if you're dealing with an older car, but if your car is considered 'modern', it may be worth looking into as these cars are built to prevent leaks. Oil Leak - If the fluid underneath your car is dark black in color, you're probably d ... read more

Does your vehicle have a bad, lingering odor or smell? Your first instinct will probably be to check for any food you may have forgotten in your car. Otherwise, your car may be dealing with other problems that are giving off that unpleasant scent. Here are some odd smells that may indicate an issue with your vehicle: Rotten Eggs - If you smell something similar to rotten eggs, it's most likely an issue with your catalytic converter. When your car overheats, it won't be able to transform certain gases, which is why you may catch this odor. Moldy - When you turn your A/C on, and it releases a musty smell from the vents, you've probably got mold or mildew growing in the system. Burnt Paper - The smell of burning paper, especially emitted when switching gears, might indicate that the clutch is burning and slipping. The increased contact burns the paper clutch surfaces.  Burnt Rubber - Old, slipping drive belts or loose hoses that rub against other components too much c ... read more

As you were probably taught in driver's ed, steering wheel hand position is an important consideration when you sit behind the wheel. With the proper hand placement, you can safely navigate your vehicle.   What Is the Proper Steering Wheel Hand Placement? The NHTSA advises that motorists should set their hands on the outside of the steering wheel, on opposite left and right sides. This is sometimes referred to as the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. In this state, your hands are correctly located to control your car, and the chances of injury are minimized. Additionally, it is recommended that you maintain a firm but gentle grip on the steering wheel. It would help if you used your fingers to control the steering wheel, keep your thumbs along the front of the wheel, and avoid turning the wheel while grasping the inside.   Tips for Holding Your Steering Wheel Properly Now, let's check the three things you can do to ensure you properly hold your steering ... read more

You already know that automobiles cannot function safely or reliably without healthy, sturdy wheels. What you may not know is that every one of your wheels has a wheel bearing. Wheel bearings are crucial for your wheels and their assemblies to work synchronically during your drive. Wheel bearings are usually prone to abuse, which is why it's necessary to know their warning symptoms.   What is a Wheel Bearing? To understand how the wheel bearings can go wrong, you'll need to understand better how it works. A set of wheel bearings are steel ball-like pieces held together by a metal ring called a race. A hub is a metal lump that you can find at the center of your wheels. And the bearings are tucked inside this hub, helping lessen the rolling friction of your wheels.    What Are the Symptoms of Bad Wheel Bearings? Ball bearings are one of the most preferred types of wheel bearings used today. The other type of bearings is called tapered roller bearings, which a ... read more

The battery is the heart of your vehicle providing the energy for everything from the starter and engine to the radio, but batteries are not a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. Most batteries last two to five years depending on the type of battery, the vehicle, and the climate in which you live. It's important to keep track of the date you purchase your battery and when it should be replaced, but sometimes your battery may start to die before the end of its expected lifespan. So, how can you tell if your battery is about to die and needs immediate replacement? When the battery is about to die, the engine will be slow to start instead of starting immediately when you turn the key. The vehicle won't start at all. When you try to start the vehicle, all you hear is a clicking or buzzing sound. When you visually examine the battery, if you notice corrosion on the battery or battery cable ends it could be an indication that the battery is leaking. You notice your headlights aren't ... read more

Nothing is more annoying than hearing your car squeal whenever you brake. Beyond this ear-piercing sound, it could be indicating that something is wrong with your brake system. Brakes are an integral part of your vehicle, but they can become a safety hazard without proper maintenance. Brakes will sometimes make noise when they are not warm or if they are newly replaced brakes. They will also occasionally screech in wet and slippery road conditions. But the sounds should not linger much beyond those circumstances. If you notice consistent squealing or grinding, then that calls for attention.   What Are the Common Causes of Squealing Brakes? Worn Pads Worn-out brake pads are the number one major cause of squeaking brakes. The sound serves as a warning to replace the pads before they cause damage to the rotor.   Slamming the Brakes too Hard You can never expect what you may encounter on the road. From time to time, we may need to slam on our brakes. Whenever this happens ... read more