Doral Auto Repair

More than half of Americans are expected to travel at least once this summer, which is significantly more than summer 2020. If you plan to take a trip with your family this season, consider letting your furry friends tag along. We can guarantee they want in on all the fun too!    If you want to bring your pets, be prepared to do additional packing and preparation. Here are some of our tips for traveling with pets: Secure them safely in your vehicle. Your pet's safety is compromised if you leave him or her unrestrained in your car. Your animal could lean too far over the car window or attempt to jump out. Stopping too abruptly can also send your pet from one side of the car to the other. We suggest you bring a kennel or doggie car seat with you to keep your furry friend guarded. Additionally, you can find specific harnesses at pet stores that attach to your vehicle’s seat belt.    Remember to pack for your pet. There ... read more

In some instances t's normal to see things come out of your car, like when you see water vapor coming out of the tailpipe. But if you're driving and you start to see smoke coming out of the tailpipe or out from under the hood, you may not know what's going on but you know it's not good. Don't worry, though -- we're going to go over what the problem might be. Here is some information on what the cause is depending on what the smoke looks and smells like. Black smoke/smells like burning plastic: this could point to burnt wires. There are several hundred feet of wires under the hood of your car. If there's a short circuit, the wires could get burned and cause smoke to billow out of your car. It could also point to a defective fuel pressure regulator, a leaking fuel injector, or a failed engine sensor or causes incomplete combustion which can lead to unburned fuel leaking into the exhaust system and come out of the tailpipe ... read more

How does a car thermostat work? The thermostat in your car is actually an important component of your car's cooling system. Basically, its job is to regulate how much coolant is circulated back into your engine and how much is refrigerated through the radiator before being returned to the engine. The temperature of the engine and your battery are regulated by this thermostat. Once you start a cold engine, a valve (thermostatic valve) is opened, permitting the coolant around the engine to regulate the correct working temperature. It uses a wire that senses the temperature of the fuel and opens a sensor to allow only the specified amount of heat to be conducted through to the block. As the engine cools while running the temperature of the fuel decreases, and the sensor detects this change and opens a metal channel to allow the heat to flow through to the block. As the temperature of the fuel continues to decrease the channel is forced open slightly as more heat is allowed to flow th ... read more

If you're like most drivers, you probably don't think much about your brake pads. After all, your vehicle gets you where you're going and stops when you need it to, so worrying about your brakes is probably not at the top of your list. But, worry aside, knowing how often your brake pads should be replaced can save you money in the long run. Cause and Effect When you apply the brake pedal, the brake pads contract against the brake rotors with a high degree of heat and force. That causes high-intensity friction, and the brake pads absorb a great amount of the force, which brings the vehicle to a complete stop. When this is continually repeated, the brake pads eventually wear down to an insufficient level. Think of brake pads like the soles of your shoes. Over time, the soles get worn down so low that buying a new pair of shoes becomes necessary. Warning Signs A brake inspection should occur every 12,000 miles. That is the most proactive way to ensure that your brake pads ... read more

CV (Constant Velocity) joints connect the axles of front-wheel-drive cars to the wheels. The joints allow the wheels and axle to flex as you drive to account for uneven surfaces, turns, etc. The CV joint is the weakest point in this system, and that's why it needs proper care: lubrication and protection from rocks, dust, dirt, etc. If the CV joint gets damaged, contamination will take place, and the lubricant will leak out. The Constant Velocity is sealed by a boot. This boot may get damaged, and when this happens, the joint will wear out and eventually fail. If you drive a car with a damaged CV, the joint will disintegrate further, making driving impossible. You'll not be able to control the vehicle and may get involved in an accident. In short, it is advisable never to drive a vehicle if its CV joint is damaged. If your CV joint is damaged, let a mechanic repair it for you before it's too late. But how will you know that your CV joint needs repair? Look out for the fol ... read more