AUTONET TV

Technician Training at Triple A Automotive

Your vehicle is important to you, and keeping it running properly is important to your lifestyle. That's why you're smart enough to have it serviced regularly at Triple A Automotive in Clovis. And even though it may just be routine maintenance, you want it done right by automotive professionals.

It's also very important to your Clovis service center to keep you happy and on the road. You might be surprised at the amount of money our Clovis auto service center spends annually to make sure our friendly and knowledgeable technicians are properly trained.

Triple A Automotive offers a variety of automotive services for many kinds of vehicles. We need to be current on the latest techniques and parts so that we can give you quality service. Our Clovis service centers subscribe to data services that list the high quality parts and fluids recommended by your manufacturer.

And each service has a checklist of standard procedures. Triple A Automotive technicians follow these procedures so they can safely deliver a consistent level of high-quality service.

Some services at Triple A Automotive require the use of specialized equipment. Triple A Automotive technicians are trained extensively on this equipment so that they can service your car quickly and efficiently.

Classroom, video and hands-on training is provided by the company and outside trainers. It's not only important that friendly and knowledgeable technicians be able to perform a given task, they also need to be thoroughly trained in inspection and diagnostic techniques. One of the great services they perform is to detect potential problems before they become serious.

The automotive service industry has standards for classifying and communicating problems. For example, it's one thing to learn that your manufacturer recommends that you change your serpentine belt every 30,000 miles/48,000 km and another to learn that the belt is on the verge of failure. These standards help you understand the urgency of recommendations, letting you make better automotive service decisions.

CA folks may be interested to know that service technicians (including those at Triple A Automotive) are trained in compliance with federal and local Clovis laws and regulations, including environmental regulations regarding the disposal of used parts and fluids.

It's the goal of Triple A Automotive to provide fast, courteous service. You should feel free to ask your friendly and knowledgeable technician or one of the managers about your service or for more information about their recommendations.

At Triple A Automotive, well-trained service providers, established procedures, industry standards and, of course, great people, combine to give you the best auto service in Clovis.

Triple A Automotive
972 Barstow Suite B
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 299-9300
www.tripleaautomotive.com

What Is an EGR Valve? (EGR Valve Service)

If you've ever felt your vehicle hesitate, go, then hesitate again, you might think there's something wrong with the transmission.  After all, it's not moving smoothly  down the road.  But there are plenty of malfunctions that can cause those symptoms, one of them being something you may have never heard of: the EGR valve.

EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation. It's a system that channels small amounts of exhaust back into the engine to cool down the cylinders and reduce polluting gases.  Those include nitrogen oxides that can cause smog. The EGR valve regulates how much of the vehicle's exhaust gas is recirculated. After years and long distances traveled, that valve can get clogged or fail. Sometimes the EGR valve can stick open.  When the EGR valve isn't working properly, your vehicle can start releasing those nitrogen oxides and pollute the air.

The symptoms of a malfunctioning EGR valve include:

• Engine losing power
• Engine idling roughly
• Pinging and knocking sounds in the engine
• Stalling and hesitation
• Fuel economy decreasing
• Check Engine light illuminated

Depending on its condition, the EGR valve can be cleaned or it may need to be replaced.  Consult with your service advisor to see what options are recommended to you.

The EGR system is part of your vehicle's pollution and emissions control equipment. If you care about keeping our planet's atmosphere clean, you'll want to make sure it's doing its job—for everyone's benefit.

Triple A Automotive
972 Barstow Suite B
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 299-9300
www.tripleaautomotive.com

Steer Clear (Power Steering Pump Replacement)

When it comes to ease and precision of steering, today’s vehicles are engineering marvels.  One of the keys to just how good steering is lies in the refinement of power-assisted steering which we know simply as power steering.  At the heart of the system is an electrically or belt-driven power steering pump.  It can apply hundreds of pounds of hydraulic pressure to the steering gear so you can turn your heavy vehicle with little effort.

The more time and distance your vehicle travels, the more wear your power steering pump experiences. One sign your pump may be aging is that you hear a whining or groaning sound coming from your wheels when you turn. You also may feel a vibration through the steering wheel, or the wheel is harder to turn or responding more slowly than normal.  Another sign of trouble with the power steering pump is power steering fluid (reddish-brown) leaks on the ground around your vehicle.

If you encounter these symptoms, have us check your vehicle sooner rather than waiting.  If your steering fails, you may find the wheel may lock up or it may become extremely hard to steer.  Both scenarios can be dangerous.  A technician will check out your vehicle and recommend the necessary repairs.  

They’ll also evaluate the belts, hoses and fluids that are part of your power steering system.  A well-maintained power steering system can ensure that feeling of confidence and precision that makes driving safe, easy and a pleasure.

Triple A Automotive
972 Barstow Suite B
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 299-9300
www.tripleaautomotive.com

Air Conditioning Maintenance at Triple A Automotive in Clovis

Warm weather or cold, Clovis drivers still need to think about their vehicle's air conditioning. Most Clovis people don't service their air conditioning until after it fails. At Triple A Automotive, we can advise you on your vehicle manufacturers preventive maintenance schedules for air conditioning service, just as we do for transmission service, oil changes and so on.

Maintaining your air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the vehicle's air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can't cool the air as well. We see that a lot at Triple A Automotive in Clovis.

The refrigerant also contains oil that lubricates air conditioning components and keeps the seals resilient. Low refrigerant and lubricating oil means that the air conditioning parts will wear out prematurely, and all Clovis vehicle owners know that air conditioning repairs can be costly. At Triple A Automotive, we recommended that the air conditioner be run regularly, even during winter months, to keep the parts and seals lubricated.

Clovis drivers need to be aware that there's one more thing that isn't directly related to air conditioning service but does impact the quality of the air in your vehicle. And that's your cabin air filter. This filter cleans dust, pollen, pollution and other impurities in the air that come from the heater and air conditioner. The cabin air filter needs to be replaced when it's dirty. If you don't, it'll start to smell. Not all vehicles have one, so ask your Triple A Automotive service advisor to check your cabin air filter at the same time they're doing your air conditioning service.

Triple A Automotive
972 Barstow Suite B
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 299-9300
www.tripleaautomotive.com