FALCONER AUTO REPAIR

Your transmission is pretty important. What is a transmission? A transmission takes power from a car's engine, transmits it to the axle, and causes the wheels to move.  It is one of the most complicated systems in a vehicle. This engineering wonder combines hydraulics and computer-controlled electronics. And a whole bunch of parts.  You probably know that a vehicle either has an automatic transmission or a manual transmission.  With an automatic transmission, the driver only operates a gas pedal and a brake pedal. This is because the transmission changes gears on its own. A manual has both these pedals plus a clutch. With a manual transmission, the driver gets to change the gears. Or "has to" depending on whether or not you like to do it. What makes up a transmission? It is a long list:  Gear shifter Shift Rod Shift fork Clutch Planetary gears Torque converter Oil pump Hydraulic system Valve body Computer controls Governor Throttle ca ... read more

I was driving with my family last week when I noticed a car pulled over to the side of the road. There was a young woman in the front seat staring at her phone. She was about the same age as my daughter, and she looked perplexed. The area was remote and we figured she needed some help, so we pulled over. My two sons and I got out to see what we could do.  As I approached her car I noticed a flat tire. There was severe damage to the sidewall. The tire was ruined. I leaned down to the window and greeted her. "Need some help?" She said "Yes" with a sigh of relief. I asked if she had a spare. She said "No." Uh oh. Things just got a little more complicated... After some discussion, she decided that her mom could come and get her, and that they could then go down to the local tire store to get it replaced. "Sounds like a good plan" I said, and offered to remove the tire so she could be ready when her mom arrived. I asked if ... read more

When you feel vibrations in your automobile when driving on a smooth road, you might assume it's a tire or wheel issue. And rightly so. Since your tires are what connects your car to the road, they are the usual suspects when things start shaking. To fix the problem, you know you are going to need a wheel service. But which service do you need? Alignment? Balance? Wait a minute—is there a difference? Is wheel alignment the same as wheel balancing? There are many ways tires and wheels get out of whack. Depending on the issue, you might need a wheel alignment or a wheel balancing service. Or both. It's easy to get these two services confused. Let's break it down. What is a wheel alignment service? A wheel alignment is also called a tire alignment. However, both terms are misleading. It's actually the suspension system that is adjusted in this operation. Bu ... read more

Technology has touched every aspect of modern life. And the pace of innovation seems to speed up every year. In the foreseeable future, there will probably be a new iPhone released every week. Of course the auto industry is moving forward as well. Even economy automobiles have features like rearview cameras and high-end infotainment systems. Car Connectivity Is Transforming Auto Travel One innovation that is transforming driving is the ability of cars to connect to the internet. This technology brings all sorts of benefits to the driver. Route optimization saves car owners time and fuel costs. Online diagnostics detect problems before major (expensive) systems are compromised. Accident prevention systems offer the greatest benefit as they can actually save lives. What are the implications of all this data being transferred ... read more