Last updated 6 months ago
Your import car’s axle is responsible for transferring power from the transmission to the wheels. The constant velocity (CV) joints are the most fragile part of the axle—they’re the parts that connect the axle to the wheels and the transmission. To see if your import car is having issues with the CV joints, the axle, or both, use the following diagnostic tips.
Checking the CV Boots and Axle
A common CV joint problem that occurs is a crack in the CV boot, which is the protective cover of the joint. If the CV boot breaks, then grease will start to spill out and onto the inside of the wheels and the CV joint, eventually causing it to fail. To see if your import car has cracked CV boots, first turn your steering wheel all the way to one side. Then look behind your import car’s tires. The CV boots are located behind your tires and are made of plastic or rubber. If you see a crack, then you’ve caught the problem early, then you can probably just replace the boot and give the CV joint some fresh grease. If you see dark grease stains, then you may need to replace the CV joints or the entire driveshaft.
Listening and Feeling For Problems
A CV joint that has worn down significantly or a bad axle bearing will probably make a popping noise when you turn your import car’s steering wheel. If you notice this noise gets worse when you accelerate during cornering, then you should take a look at your CV joints and axle bearings as soon as possible. You may also experience some tightness or rigidity when you turn your car’s steering wheel. If you notice that this happens intermittently during a turn, then you could have an axle lubrication leak.
For more help in diagnosing CV joint and axle problems, call Meyers Auto Parts at (702) 431-8000 or drop by one of our four stores in Las Vegas.
Last updated 6 months ago
If you have recently serviced your E46 BMW and the service light is still on, then you’ll need to perform a manual reset to clear the dashboard of the service indicator light. Fortunately, it’s easy and takes only a minute.
First, put your finger on the left cluster button. While you’re pressing and holding this button, put your BMW key in the ignition and turn it to the first position, such that only one of the lights in the cluster illuminates. The illuminated part of your dashboard should have the word “reset” in the corner. Take your finger off of the cluster button and then press and hold it again. A few seconds later “reset” will flash. When this happens, take your finger off of the button and press and hold it once more. The word “reset” will disappear and your service indicator light will be reset.
For more service tips for your BMW, or to choose from a vast selection of top-notch BMW parts, come to Meyers Auto Parts. Get in touch with one of our import car experts at (702) 431-8000 to have your questions answered.
Last updated 6 months ago
Taking some time to learn about how your engine works can go a long way towards improving your driving experience. Proper maintenance and upkeep will more than likely help you prevent costly repairs down the road. Check out these great resources to learn more about proper upkeep of your vehicle.
If you have more questions or want to learn more come visit us at Meyers Auto Parts! You can also call us at (702) 431-8000.
Last updated 6 months ago
Performing your own car repairs can save you a lot of money, especially if you own an import car. To find out more about how to diagnose and repair your import car, visit these websites. And if you need high quality parts for your vehicle, be sure that you drop by Meyers Auto Parts or give us a call at (702) 431-8000 for more information.
Last updated 7 months ago
Working on your car is more dangerous than you might think. Aside from garage safety basics, such as always wearing eye protection and being mindful of flammable liquids, there are lots of other important safety procedures to follow if you want to be as safe as possible when working on your import vehicle.
Jack Up Your Car Correctly
The first rule of working safely on your import automobile is to be sure that you are working on a level, concrete surface. Your jack stand, supporting the weight of your car, will not hold up as well on asphalt or an incline. Second, be sure that you always use a jack stand under your import car—not a floor jack—because this is the safest way to work on your import car’s suspension, brakes, or oil. Lastly, don’t forget to use some blocks of wood to chock the wheels and prevent your import car from rolling.
Working Safely Under the Hood
If you’re working on the engine, radiator, or transmission of your import automobile, it’s essential that you know about the potential dangers of doing so. Before you begin your work, make sure that you give your car time to cool down, and that you disconnect the battery; doing these things will prevent a vast number of problems from ever occurring. Second, be aware that Volkswagens and other import cars may run the fuel pump when you open the driver’s door—this is a feature that is designed to help the car start quickly. And last but not least, always have a canister of flame retardant nearby.
Brake Dust
Import cars usually come with powerful, high-tech braking systems that end up producing a lot of dust as a byproduct. Before you work on your brakes, clean them. If you do a lot of work on car brakes, your lungs for the careful prep work.
If you’re looking for high-quality, inexpensive auto parts for your import car, come to Meyers Auto Parts of Las Vegas. If you have any questions, we are more than happy to assist you—just give us a call at (702) 431-8000 or visit our website to get the answers you are looking for.
