AUTONET TV

Your Well Trained Technician at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair

When your vehicle has a problem or just needs some routine service, you might get a little nervous. Your vehicle's so important to your life in Bristol, you need to get back on the road as soon as possible – with the problem fixed right the first time.

If you've ever checked into some of the technician training Economy Transmission and Auto Repair professionals receive, you may be surprised at how much specialized knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern car. For example: Today there are four cylinder engines that generate more power than the 1980s-era V-8's. I mean a new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket's Ferrari in a race to 60 mph/100 kph.

Our engines are more and more powerful and at the same time their fuel economy keeps inching up – even with steep Bristol gas prices. They are also amazingly reliable: Kudos to the automotive engineers. But the advances come at the price of simplicity. The modern vehicles driven around Connecticut are so much more complex from a mechanical standpoint that it makes your head spin – not to mention the electronics.

Some vehicles have several networked computers controlling most of the engine functions and many other vehicle operations as well. Bristol motorists take all of this sophistication for granted, but somebody has to fix it when it breaks. It's a real challenge for Economy Transmission and Auto Repair in Bristol technicians to keep up, but we work hard to stay ahead of the technology. It requires a high level of commitment on the part of the technicians and the Bristol service centers as well.

Economy Transmission and Auto Repair technicians receive training through a combination of formal classroom training, training provided at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair by parts and equipment manufacturers, online courses and home study courses.

In addition to the expensive training, there's the financial commitment for Economy Transmission and Auto Repair to purchase the diagnostic and repair tools.

There are many independent certifications held by the pros at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair. The ability to repair your vehicle requires a strong combination of training and resources. No one can know everything, so Bristol auto service centers subscribe to data services, technical libraries and even online communities that can help them when they run into a difficult problem.

It's like those medical diagnosis shows on TV. Here are the symptoms – what's the diagnosis and treatment? Diagnosis is every bit as much an art as a science. At Economy Transmission and Auto Repair, we want everything to be simple, straightforward and inexpensive – but sometimes it just isn't.

The next time you bring us your vehicle, don't worry. You're in good hands at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair.

Economy Transmission and Auto Repair
201 Terryville Road
Bristol, Connecticut 06010
(860) 589-1255

Economy Transmission and Auto Repair Maintenance Tips: The Belt Goes On

All Bristol service advisors know that without the alternator, the battery will go dead in a few miles.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. And on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it within normal operating temperatures. (On some vehicles, the water pump is powered by the timing belt instead of the serpentine belt.)

So you can see the serpentine belt does a lot of work. And it if breaks, it affects a lot of systems. That's why your vehicle manufacturer and your service advisor at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair have recommended that it be changed every so often so that it doesn't fail.

Your friendly and knowledgeable Economy Transmission and Auto Repair service advisor can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Your serpentine belt works in tandem with a spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley. Its job is to make sure there's a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn't slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. At Economy Transmission and Auto Repair in Bristol, we recommend that the tensioner be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

Economy Transmission and Auto Repair
201 Terryville Road
Bristol, Connecticut 06010
(860) 589-1255

Keep Your Cool in Bristol: Air Conditioning Services

Most Bristol drivers don't even think about their air conditioner.

Now here's a tip for Bristol vehicle owners: Run your air conditioner every so often during Connecticut winters. This circulates the lubricant to help keep the seals from drying out.

The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your vehicle windshield during Connecticut winters or during a rain storm, running the A/C on the defrost setting should help. Now on some Bristol cars you can't run the A/C at the same time as the defroster. Don't ask me why, but I suspect lawyers were involved.

Also, air and water can get into the A/C system. That can reduce the efficiency of the system and also lead to corrosion that causes damage. Bristol drivers should periodically purge the system and replace the refrigerant to remove the air and water.

Connecticut drivers would be wise to learn the early warning signs of A/C trouble: 1) The air's not as cold as it used to be. 2) It makes unusual noises when the A/C cycles on. Those are signs to get your vehicle into Economy Transmission and Auto Repair in Bristol before the damage gets worse.

By following the recommended service intervals in your vehicle owner's manual, you can help prevent mechanical failure of your air conditioning system. Your A/C system contains some components like the compressor, condenser, dryer, etc. Anything Bristol car owners can do to lengthen the life of their A/C is well worth it. 

Economy Transmission and Auto Repair
201 Terryville Road
Bristol, Connecticut 06010
(860) 589-1255

Suspension Service at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair in Bristol

During an inspection at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair in Bristol, your friendly and knowledgeable automotive service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Here's a quick rundown of suspension system components:

There are the springs which hold the weight of your vehicle. There are several varieties of springs. Springs are heavy duty parts that rarely break or wear out. Shock absorbers work in conjunction with springs to smooth out the ride and help keep the tires on the road. Good shocks are essential for handling performance and ride comfort.

You've probably heard of struts. They combine a shock absorber and a coil spring in one unit. Shocks and struts will wear out over time. If your tires develop a cupped wear pattern, your shocks or struts may be wearing out. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your vehicle dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you've stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it's definitely time to replace them at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit Economy Transmission and Auto Repair for a suspension inspection. Same applies if you've been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. If your vehicle suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so don't put it off.

When you replace your shocks, it's usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That'll give you more even handling. Talk with your friendly and knowledgeable pros at Economy Transmission and Auto Repair because you don't want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

There are different grades of shocks and struts. You always want to use a replacement shock or strut that equals the one that came as original equipment when your vehicle was new. But remember, they were designed to meet the expected needs of the broad range of Bristol people who buy that particular vehicle. Your needs may be more specialized.

For example, if you want increased handling performance, your Economy Transmission and Auto Repair service advisor can recommend an upgraded shock or strut specially designed for improved handling. If you haul heavy loads or trailers in Bristol, we can recommend some heavy duty shock absorbers.

Economy Transmission and Auto Repair
201 Terryville Road
Bristol, Connecticut 06010
(860) 589-1255