Meyers Auto Parts

Slotted vs. Drilled vs. Slotted and Drilled Rotors

There are three main types of brake rotors that you can get for your import car’s braking system. Find out more about what each type of brake rotor has to offer you to see which one would be the best for your import car.

Slotted Rotors

This type of brake rotor is found in import cars from the likes of BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen, which are geared towards high performance. They feature slots on the surface of the rotor that preserve maximum braking power by moving gas, water, and heat away from the brake rotors. When you drive a high-performance import car hard and repeatedly jam on the brakes, you can be sure that your slotted rotors will handle the stress better than drilled rotors. On the downside, however, these rotors wear out brake pads much faster than drilled rotors.

Drilled Rotors

The other type of rotor that is quite common on import cars is the drilled rotor. This type of rotor has holes in it, which means it has less power than brake rotors that have more surface area. But with that said, drilled rotors offer several advantages. For one, it reduces heat, gas, and water buildup, all of which fade the brakes and reduce stopping power. Although you won’t get the exceptional braking performance with drilled rotors that you would with slotted rotors, most drilled rotors offer pretty good performance and don’t cost as much to maintain.

Slotted and Drilled Rotors

Combining the best of both types, these brake rotors are designed to handle the intense amount of heat that comes with ultra-high performance. Unless you’re hitting the track with your high-performance import car, you probably won’t need the braking strength that slotted and drilled rotors have to offer. But if you’re willing to pay for it, it’s undoubtedly the top-of-the-line performance brake rotor for your import car.

To learn more about slotted, drilled, and slotted and drilled brake rotors, come to Meyers Auto Parts of Las Vegas or call us at (702) 431-8000 to get in touch with one of our import car experts.

Why Rotors Need to Be Turned and How It Works

If your import car’s steering wheel or brake pedal is shaking or vibrating, it is probably because your car is trying to tell you that it’s time to turn your brake rotors. To see what brake rotor turning is and why you should have it done for your import car, watch this video clip.

When your import car’s brakes have been used excessively, the pads will start to leave grooves and ridges. Brake can only be cut so much, which is why it is important to head to a car parts store and find replacement pads soon after your current brake pads start causing shaking or vibration during braking. Doing this will ensure that your brake rotors—which are much more expensive than your pads—do not incur damage.

To learn more about brakes and to get brake components for your import car, come to Meyers Auto Parts of Las Vegas. Give us a call at (702) 431-8000 if you have any questions, and visit our website to learn more about the car parts that we carry.

How to Replace a Turn Signal Bulb

It’s normal for your import car’s turn signals to go out at least once during the lifetime of the car. Fortunately, they’re inexpensive and easy to replace. Watch the video clip to see how it’s done.

First, head to an import car parts store and pick up the right bulb, a small screwdriver, a 1/4” ratchet, and some sockets. For details on which sizes your car needs, be sure to consult the owner’s manual. To install the new bulb, take off the headlight, disconnect the bulb from its harness, and plug in the new bulb. Just be sure that your car is off and that you wear the proper safety gear before you attempt installation.

To pick up a new headlight for your import car, come to Meyers Auto Parts of Las Vegas today. Call us at (702) 431-8000 for more information about replacing your turn signal bulb, and visit our website to find out more about our selection of import car parts.

Common Problems Exhibited by Different Vehicle Sensors When They Fail

Modern import cars have a wide variety of different sensors that are essential to the vehicle’s performance. To learn more about the different sensors and how to know if one of them has failed inside your import car, check out this guide to car sensors.

Oxygen Sensor

The oxygen sensor in your import car measures how much oxygen is in the exhaust that exits your engine. After taking this reading, the oxygen sensor sends the information to your car’s onboard computer, which then decides if the mixture of fuel and oxygen is at a good level or if the fuel mixture needs to be changed. If your oxygen sensor fails, your import car’s emissions output and fuel consumption will increase and your engine light will most likely illuminate.

Mass Air Flow Sensor

The MAF sensor in your import car is responsible for letting your car know the density of the air that is entering the engine. This information is then used by your import car’s onboard computer to regulate the air to fuel ratio for optimal efficiency and low emissions. If your mass airflow sensor goes out, you will probably see your car’s check engine light illuminate. You may also experience poor fuel efficiency and engine knocking.

Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor

A MAP sensor, found on import cars with fuel injection, takes measurements of the atmospheric absolute pressure and the pressure in the manifold vacuum. Your import car’s computer compares these two values and uses this information to adjust the fuel and spark levels inside your engine. A bad MAP sensor will make your import car’s engine light illuminate, and could negatively affect mileage and potentially cause engine problems too.

Intake Air Temperature Sensor

Your import car’s IAT sensor reads the temperature of the air inside of the intake. The computer in your import car uses this information to determine the proper amount of fuel to supply the engine. Of course, if the IAT sensor is malfunctioning, your import car will either use too little fuel or too much, which will result in engine problems or a decrease in fuel economy.

For replacement sensors for your import car, head to Meyers Auto Parts of Las Vegas. Our four locations in the Las Vegas area are locally owned and have a massive inventory of import car parts. Check us out on the web or call us at (702) 431-8000 for more information.

Take One Minute Out of Your Day for This Car Maintenance Routine!

Check out this great guide to keeping up with your routine car maintenance. These great tips will make sure you cover all the basics and is doable in under five minutes! Check out this great video to learn more.

Need replacement parts or fluids? Come see us at Meyers Auto Parts, or give us a call at (702) 431-8000.