GEORGE'S COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR Cape Coral Auto Repair

Since most of us use our cars every day, we know the ins and outs of how it drives. That is why vehicle sluggishness can be quickly spotted. If your car is running slow or quick-responding as it usually does, you may have a vehicle problem on your hands.   A laggy car can be annoying, but it can also bring about hazardous conditions. Below are several issues that can be linked to a laggy vehicle. Dirty Air Filter With a clogged filter, your engine will struggle to get a sufficient amount of clean air to perform the combustion process. It may falter when you try to accelerate as the air and fuel mix is unbalanced. Issues with Fuel System A challenge with your car's fuel system, including a faulty fuel pump or dirty fuel injectors, can mess with the flow of fuel. And if your engine doesn’t get the correct amount, your car may feel slower than before.  Clogged Catalytic Converter A malfunctioning catalytic converter can likely alter engine performance as the en ... read more

Although the car's battery receives most of the credit, it should be the alternator that gets the best award for keeping your vehicle powered while driving. The battery should only receive credit for getting your car powered while the alternator takes over in powering your car while you drive. The alternator converts the mechanical energy from the engine's rotating pulley into electrical energy to charge the car's battery. All the electrical system in your car depends heavily on the alternator. A faulty alternator will, therefore, interfere with your car's electrical features and might entirely drain your battery, leaving you stranded. The following are some signs to look out for when you suspect the alternator might be faulty: Electrical Failures When your car's alternator is faulty, you will notice a lag in the vehicle's electronic accessories. Features like power windows, windshield wipers, and power seat adjustments might begin to lag. Your headlight and d ... read more

Applying your brakes become second nature when you’ve driven your vehicle hundreds or thousands of times. When you step on the brake pedal next time and it vibrates, it may feel odd. The road is smooth, so what could be the problem?    Car vibrations can mean various things. Below are some common explanations for vibrations when braking: Off-balanced Alignment When the front wheels are out of alignment, it can cause vibration. There could also be suspension issues in addition to the imbalance as well. Either way, you should have your brakes, suspension, and wheels inspected to be safe. Worn Or Uneven Brake Pads Brake pads naturally wear out over time. When you apply the brakes with worn brake pads, you may feel shakiness and hear loud squealing. While it may not seem like a huge problem at first, it is worth having them replaced sooner than later. Warped Brake Rotors Like your brake pads, brake rotors don't last forever either. Your vehicle's braking sys ... read more

It can get pretty hot in Cape Coral, FL, especially during the summer, and the heat can take a toll on your car. With temperatures on the rise, you need to make sure your vehicle stays hydrated with all its fluids. If your car is not properly maintained, regardless of the age, make, or model, the heat can take a hit on your car.     Similar to the human body, your car needs to stock up on essential fluids. The same goes for your car. Your vehicle’s essential fluids include motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and coolant. These are lubricants that allow your car to run seamlessly without burning up.   Since your car warms up to high temperatures, these fluids can wear down quicker with the additional Florida heat. When you bring your car to our shop for proper maintenance, we’ll check all the fluid levels. We’ll top you off on fluids so that you can beat the summer heat.   Out of all the essential fluids, coo ... read more

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