Archive for December 2019Rear Window?Not the Movie! (Why Some Rear Windows Don't Go All the Way Down)Posted December 29, 2019 8:24 AMAlfred Hitchcock once made a mystery thriller film called "Rear Window." It had nothing to do with the rear window of today's cars, SUVs, CUVs and light trucks. But there is one thing that some drivers DO find mysterious. Why don't the rear windows in the second row of many of these vehicles go down all the way? You've probably seen or owned one or two. That rear side window only goes down about a third, a half or three-quarters of the way. Yet there are some similar vehicles where the window goes down all the way. What gives? There was the rumor going around that the restriction on how far those windows could go down was a child safety feature. The thought was that if those windows couldn't open up fully, a child (or pet) would be less likely to fall out. But it turns out the real reason is that the way the rear doors were designed, there was just no room for the window to go down all the way into. Many vehicles are configured so that the rear wheel arch continues into the rear door. That arch restricts the space that would accommodate the window, so they had to stop the window somewhere higher than bottom of the door. Seems buyers would prefer those back windows to go all the way down, so many manufacturers are changing designs to make that happen. Longer vehicles can have their wheels pushed further back so the wheel arch isn't an issue. Some have altered the position of the rear window track. If you have any questions about your rear side windows, you may want to consult your service advisor to check yours. If they ARE supposed to go all the way down and they're not, it could be due to a few problems: corrosion, broken or bent window regulator components, electrical issues, etc. But if they're not supposed to go down all the way? At least now you know for sure. Lakeside Certified Auto Give me a Brake (Light)!Posted December 15, 2019 8:54 AMIf that little brake warning light pops up on your dash, do you know what it means? Well, if you said no, you wouldn't be alone. You know it has something to do with your brakes, but exactly what? You're not sure. One of the reasons is that it could mean a lot of different things. It could be something simple, like you put your parking brake on and forgot to take it off. Easy fix, you're on the road in seconds. Or, it could mean there's something wrong with your anti-lock brake system. That is a pretty complex symphony of speed sensors, computers and wiring, and sometimes things get a little out of whack. You could have a defective sensor or some wiring may have gotten damaged or come loose. A trained technician at Lakeside Certified Auto with special equipment can sort it all out. It's also possible you have low brake fluid. That could be caused by a number of things. One simple reason is that your brake pads have worn down. Replacing them could solve the problem. Another possibility is that you have a leak in your brake system. That could be serious. If your brake fluid level gets really low, your stopping power goes down along with it, and a vehicle that can't stop is a safety hazard to you and others on the road. Of all the warning lights on your instrument panel, pay attention to the brake warning light. If it comes on, come on over to Lakeside Certified Auto very, very soon. A vehicle is great when it's moving. But if it can't stop, well, that is a disaster waiting to happen. We’d love to hear from you. Let us know if you have any questions. Lakeside Certified Auto Unlock the Secret (Malfunctioning Door Lock Actuator)Posted December 1, 2019 7:23 AMWhat a convenience power door locks are on a vehicle. The latest don't even require you to push the button on the key fob; all you have to do is have it with you. But sometimes there's a component of power door locks that can fail, especially when they are used several times each day. Those are called the door lock actuators. The actuator is an electric part that works with others (like motors and gears) to lock and unlock doors. You can hear them work, sometimes with the little whirr of the gear or the quiet clunk of the lock finishing its cycle. And it's good to pay attention to that sound because if it starts to sound different, it could be a signal that your lock is on the brink of failing. Another sign of a failing power door lock actuator is they start working intermittently or quickly and erratically. The driver's door is often the first to start acting up since it's the one that usually gets the most use. When you start to notice these signs, consider a visit to your service facility to get your vehicle checked out. If you wait too long, you may find yourself getting locked out of your vehicle. Many vehicles do have mechanical keys available as a failsafe so you are at least able to get inside. Some of them are hidden inside the key fob and you should know how to access them. Check with your owner's manual or ask your service advisor. It's extremely inconvenient to have to unlock your vehicle with the mechanical key, then get inside and unlock the other doors. It's even more inconvenient if you have passengers in the rear seats. And that doesn't even count having to go through the same thing to lock the doors when you arrive at your destination. There are many things that can cause power door locks to malfunction, but if it turns out to be a power lock actuator, the most common remedy is to replace it. Some are easier for technicians to reach than others, depending on your vehicle's design. But once your locks are working again, you might think you've found the "key" to happiness! Lakeside Certified Auto | ||
SearchArchiveJuly 2016 (17)August 2016 (4) September 2016 (4) October 2016 (5) November 2016 (3) December 2016 (5) January 2017 (5) February 2017 (4) March 2017 (4) April 2017 (4) May 2017 (5) June 2017 (4) July 2017 (5) August 2017 (4) September 2017 (3) October 2017 (4) November 2017 (5) December 2017 (3) January 2018 (5) February 2018 (4) March 2018 (4) April 2018 (5) May 2018 (4) June 2018 (4) July 2018 (5) August 2018 (4) September 2018 (5) October 2018 (4) November 2018 (4) December 2018 (5) January 2019 (5) February 2019 (4) March 2019 (5) April 2019 (4) May 2019 (4) June 2019 (5) July 2019 (4) August 2019 (4) September 2019 (5) October 2019 (4) November 2019 (4) December 2019 (5) January 2020 (5) February 2020 (4) March 2020 (5) April 2020 (4) May 2020 (5) June 2020 (4) July 2020 (4) August 2020 (5) September 2020 (4) October 2020 (4) November 2020 (5) December 2020 (4) January 2021 (6) February 2021 (4) March 2021 (4) April 2021 (4) May 2021 (5) June 2021 (4) July 2021 (4) August 2021 (5) September 2021 (4) October 2021 (5) November 2021 (4) December 2021 (4) January 2022 (6) February 2022 (4) March 2022 (4) April 2022 (4) May 2022 (5) June 2022 (4) July 2022 (5) August 2022 (4) September 2022 (4) October 2022 (5) November 2022 (4) December 2022 (4) January 2023 (5) February 2023 (4) March 2023 (4) April 2023 (5) May 2023 (4) June 2023 (4) July 2023 (5) August 2023 (4) September 2023 (4) October 2023 (5) November 2023 (4) December 2023 (5) January 2024 (5) February 2024 (4) March 2024 (5) April 2024 (4) May 2024 (4) June 2024 (5) July 2024 (4) August 2024 (4) September 2024 (5) October 2024 (4) November 2024 (4) December 2024 (1) | CategoriesBattery (7)Air Conditioning (8)Headlamps (3)Alternator (5)Timing Belt (4)Service Intervals (2)Tires and Wheels (1)Fuel Economy (5)Fluids (6)What Customers Should Know (58)Brakes (7)Steering (7)Auto Safety (4)Cooling System (8)Maintenance (7)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (2)Dashboard (1)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (2)Wheel Bearings (1)Tires (6)Fuel System (3)Exhaust (6)Suspension (1)Alignment (4)Customer Detective Work (1)Shocks & Struts (2)Winter Prep (2)Inspection (3)Oil Change (4)Service Standards (2)Older Vehicles (1)Spark Plugs (2)Drive Train (2)Water Pump (1)Safety (2)Transmission (2)Cabin Air Filter (1)Check Engine Light (2)Windshield Wipers (2)TPMS (1)Tire Rotation and Balancing (2)Trip Inspection (1)Shocks and Struts (1)Brake Service (1) |