May 17, 2012

Battery Replacement In Charlotte

Filed under: Battery — joeyst780 @ 9:30 pm

Battery Replacement In Charlotte

Car batteries wear out just like any other battery and need to be replaced. There are a couple of things Charlotte sedan owners should know when looking for a new car battery: one is cold cranking amps and the other is reserve capacity.

Let’s start with cold cranking amps. This can be thought of as the power output used to start a cold sedan engine. The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live around Charlotte, specifically how cold it is where you live. The two factors are that the colder an engine is, the more power it takes to turn the sedan engine over to get it started. It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend with. The other factor is that the chemical reaction in the battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient in the cold.

So the colder it gets in Charlotte, more power is needed, but the available power drops.

If you live where it’s cold, you need a battery with more cold cranking amps than you do where it’s moderate or hot. You should always get at least as many cold cranking amps as the manufacturer recommends, but may want to upgrade at Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. if you live where it gets real cold.

An important note: Batteries may also list the Cranking Amps – CA – number. It is the Cold Cranking Amps – or CCA – that is the important number here. CCA is the number to use in your comparisons.

Now with all this talk of cold temperatures in Charlotte, it’s important to note that heat is the real enemy of long battery life. In other words, the damage that’s done over the hot summer months in Charlotte shows up with the increased demands on the sedan battery when the weather turns cold.

Now on to reserve capacity: It’s a measurement of the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has at a given load. The number is more important these days because of parasitic drain. Parasitic drain is the battery energy that’s used when the key is off. So the power drawn by the sedan security system, the remote start system, even the power the sedan computers require to maintain their memory.

Reserves are also needed when you make very short trips around Charlotte. You’re not driving long enough for the battery to recover the energy it used to start the sedan engine.

So go with the minimum recommended by your manufacturer and upgrade if you need more. Talk with your friendly Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. service advisor about options. If you need more from your battery, a larger capacity battery may be called for.

Batteries are a big ticket item for most Charlotte motorists, so the warranty gives peace of mind. Be sure to ask about the car battery warranty at Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. so you know what you’re getting. At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc., we have been providing quality auto service in Charlotte for 13 years.

Give us a call

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.
2641 North Graham Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. in Charlotte NC (28206) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 704.372.3885. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 9, 2012

Viva la Differential At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.

Filed under: Differential Service — joeyst780 @ 6:16 pm

Viva la Differential At Joey's Truck Repair Inc.

With front-wheel drive being so common in Charlotte these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Charlotte folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive sedan differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for NC people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many sedan differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Charlotte four wheel drive sedans need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. at different intervals.

Your Charlotte service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your sedan owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.
704.372.3885
2641 North Graham Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. in Charlotte NC (28206) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 704.372.3885. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 1, 2012

Why Is My Check Engine Light On? Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Has Answers

Filed under: Check Engine Light — joeyst780 @ 5:52 pm

Why Is My Check Engine Light On Joey's Truck Repair Inc. Has Answers

The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some Charlotte drivers and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us in NC.

First, if your sedan check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. Get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at Charlotte highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. in Charlotte.

If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your Charlotte service advisor to get it checked out.

Some more information from Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative. Most of your sedan engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer. The computer is able to adjust many engine parameters for environmental conditions, engine condition and even the way you drive in Charlotte.

In order to make these adjustments, the sedan computer relies on a network of sensors to provide data. The computer knows the proper operating range for each sensor. When a sensor reading is out of range the computer runs some tests and may turn on the Check Engine Light.

The sedan computer will also try to make adjustments to compensate for some readings. If it can do so, it’ll then turn off the Check Engine Light.

If the problem can’t be resolved then the light will remain on and you should get your sedan looked at at Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.. Your friendly service technician will plug a scanner into the on-board diagnostic port and read the trouble code stored in the computer. The trouble code will give your Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. technician a starting place as he diagnoses the cause of the problem.

At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc., we also offer chassis lubrication and electrical system test.

Give us a call

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.
704.372.3885
2641 North Graham Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. in Charlotte NC (28206) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 704.372.3885. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 24, 2012

Deciphering The Menu Board At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.: F to W

Filed under: Making Your Vehicle Last — joeyst780 @ 7:14 pm

Deciphering The Menu Board At Joey's Truck Repair Inc. F to W

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Charlotte and on Alexis freeways, by the way.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your friendly Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. advisor for information.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Inspections: Charlotte drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Charlotte. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Charlotte auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Charlotte motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Charlotte.

Give us a call

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.
704.372.3885
2641 North Graham Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. in Charlotte NC (28206) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 704.372.3885. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 19, 2012

Getting The Right Wheels And Tires At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. In Charlotte

Filed under: Tires — joeyst780 @ 8:23 pm

Getting The Right Wheels And Tires At Joey's Truck Repair Inc. In Charlotte

A lot of people in the Alexis area want custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes they just don’t fit right: The tires rub in turns or over bumps. Consulting a tire professional at Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. in Charlotte can ensure you get the right fit for your sedan. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs and what you want in your new wheels.

Now, not every wheel can go on every vehicle. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside. If you don’t want to make any modifications to your sedan, you would need to focus on a wheel and tire combination that would fit. With trucks, some Charlotte people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Charlotte people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The sedan computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong sensor information. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your sedan vehicle control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc., we can give you information about control computer reprogramming.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Charlotte. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your Charlotte tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs – and the best way to do all this is to have your friendly Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. tire specialist see your sedan in person so mistakes are not made.

At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc., we also offer chassis lubrication and electrical system test.

Give us a call

Joey’s Truck Repair Inc.
704.372.3885
2641 North Graham Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

At Joey’s Truck Repair Inc. in Charlotte NC (28206) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 704.372.3885. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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