Naples Auto Repair

When you buy a used car, it’s brand new to you. However, people sell cars for different reasons. Maybe they just wanted something new or maybe they just couldn’t wait to get rid of it. Maybe it was a little bit of both. So how do you know what you’re getting? Used cars with lower mileage are often lease returns, corporate program cars or former rental vehicles. When the car is newer—maybe new enough that it’s still under warranty—and its mileage is hovering between 25,000 and 35,000, it provides a sense of comfort and confidence. But there is still a burning question to be answered: How well was my “new-to-me” car maintained? If you plan on owning a car for a long time, keeping up with maintenance is important to keep from paying for expensive repairs down the road. On the other hand, those who plan to only own the car for a few years may not be so committed to regular maintenance. It’s easy to assume that a skipped oil change here and there won’t ruin a ... read more

Air quality affects us wherever we are. We have become more aware of how air pollution negatively affects our lives over the past few decades. But have you thought about the air INSIDE your car? Most vehicles model year 2000 and newer have cabin air filters. The filters take care of cleaning the air in the passenger compartment. They can filter enough particles to clean dust, pollen and most pollutants from the air inside your car. This is great news for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. If you aren’t sure whether you have a cabin air filter, you can take a look at your owner’s manual. If you do, there will be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty. If you live in an area where there is a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may wish to change it more often. When in doubt, ask your NAPA AutoCare Service Advisor! ... read more

Combating Blind Spots: Best Practices While this is a very common term and nearly everyone understands the concept, blind spots still contribute to about 840,000 accidents and 300 fatalities per year. You can greatly reduce your blind spots by simply adjusting your mirrors to give the widest view possible. Don’t forget to make the adjustment before you start driving. First, adjust your rear view mirror to give the best possible view directly behind your car. Don’t worry about getting a view of each side with this mirror—it should be used solely to see what’s behind you. Next, lean your head until it almost touches the driver’s side window. Adjust your left side mirror so that you can just barely see the left side of your car. Now, lean your head to the middle of the car and adjust the outside mirror so that you can barely see the right side of the car. With your mirrors adjusted this way, you will have the maxim ... read more

Question: What benefit will I get out of a fuel system cleaning? Answer: Obviously, the dirtier your fuel system is, the bigger the improvement you will see in performance and fuel economy after a fuel system cleaning. But it is important not to wait until your system is running poorly. If you do, by the time you get a cleaning, you’ve wasted hundreds of dollars in gas or even possibly damaged your fuel injectors and catalytic converter. Gasoline is a petroleum-based product and will leave some residue, gum and varnish along the way. Some of that can find its way into your fuel injectors and interfere with their job. The fuel injectors do just what their name suggests- inject fuel into your engine. They spray a precise amount of fuel, at a precise time, in a precise pattern, at a precise pressure. This process is very calculated and when your fuel injectors are dirty, it just isn’t possible. In turn, your engine can ... read more