Stadium Automotive

Just about every day, we get asked if the “check engine” light or the ABS (anti-lock brake light) is really important. We have customers that come in and are not concerned about those lights. The “check engine” light tells so much, it just amazes me. Where else can you have something so complex as a vehicle tell you that something is malfunctioning or about to breakdown. We had a customer who came in this week for other repairs and said not to worry about the check engine light, he knew that he needed an oxygen sensor but didn’t feel it was important. I spent the time to point out many concerns that I had about this. First, the “check engine” light comes on when something is malfunctioning or about to breakdown. I could be one of about 100-200 different problems, not to be known until a scanner is hooked up. If more than one problem is present, the light doesn’t light brighter or ... read more

Save on pricy fuel with theses few tips Check tire pressure at least monthly. Tire pressures are found on the driver’s door jamb or in the owner’s manual. Pressures written on the tires are a maximum pressure, not the recommended pressure.  .  Low tire pressure can reduce fuel mileage by 5% and create a safety hazard. Always check tire pressure when the tires are cold or cool, not after freeway driving. It is best to have your own tire pressure gauge. They are under $5.00 Drive smoothly, anticipate traffic lights, and no quick starts. Act as if there is an egg under your gas pedal, and accelerate slowly. Watch the traffic lights ahead so you don’t have to use your brakes. Every time you use your brakes, you waste energy.  With a manual transmission, shift to a higher gear soon. With an automatic transmission, keep it in overdrive, even in town. Maintain your vehicle. Do the services that your vehicle needs. A restricted air filter ca ... read more

The Audi/VW 2.0 Turbo engines found in 2006-07 model years suffer early from a failure of the high pressure fuel system as well as the intake camshaft.  The mechanical high pressure pump is driven by the intake camshaft and can get damaged as a result of the cam lobe wearing onto the cam follower.   Symptoms to look out for are a check engine light on, a rough idle, low power, as well as a fuel cut at higher rpms just to name a few.  This is a design flaw that is around 60-80k; keep your eyes on your dash for a check engine light.   If your car is running rough and poor acceleration under a heavy load, please give us a call.                         

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVVlawb1guo  Please click on the link to You Tube to watch.  George Rode got to drive a Ferrari 458 from Dream Machines at the Las Vegas Raceway.  

I have been repairing cars since 1973, starting my auto repair business in 1975. Following the evolution of the advances in the automobile has been very exciting. When I first started, I would chat with some old timers who had been working on cars for years. I remember then talking about those new disc brakes and how they don’t like working on them. Wow, they are easier to work on the old fashion drum brakes. I remember going to lots of classes on new technology, electronic ignition, Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection and other high tech coming down the pipe line. One of the classes talked about the future that the transmission would “talk” to the engine to tell it, I’m going to shift. The engine would then reduce power by retarding the timing so the shift would be smoother. Vehicles have come leaps and bounds since that time; the communication between all the different components is increasable. All major composites now know what the others are doing. The control units of the vehicle ... read more