A Faulty ABS System Can be Diagnosed at European Car Service Center of Dallas

Posted on | 21 Jun 2019 By Anita Gaal

Anti-lock brakes have quickly become a staple of modern automobiles. They are crucial in preventing skidding during braking and hydroplaning in situations where there is heavy precipitation.

With more cars on the road than ever, it is important to be able to brake quickly at high speeds in anticipation of the actions of other cars. With that being said, having problems with your anti-lock brakes can be extremely dangerous when cruising at high speeds on the highway. Your car may not be able to stop in time, causing excessive skidding and sliding and making deadly impacts with other cars or objects more likely.

It is important to be attentive to potential problems with your brakes while driving and figure out the best way to rectify the situation when these problems arise. A trusted mechanic with years of relevant experience working on European automobiles will be your best bet in any case. Let’s take a look at the ABS system and where to go for help.

Symptoms of a Failing ABS System

There are a few different symptoms that a failing ABS system may exhibit. The brake pedal may become unresponsive, causing the automobile to stop much slower than usual. The inability to stop your automobile in an adequate amount of time is an obvious problem, one that you will notice immediately and one that will require immediate attention from a trained mechanic. The brake pedal will only get more unresponsive with time if not attended to.

Another common sign that your ABS may be malfunctioning is the ABS light illuminating. This could be the check engine light, if the car is an older model. The ABS system might also need to be replaced if the brakes are exhibiting any locking up when driving at lower to moderate speeds. The ABS is only supposed to engage when traveling at high speeds or other heavy braking activity.

Additionally, an indication of an ABS problem is a wheel speed sensor fault, which monitors the speed of the wheel and relays this information to the ECU. If your ABS light is on, this could be a potential cause. A wheel speed sensor fault can affect other functions of the automobile, especially the ABS system. This will require a replacement.

What to Do In Case of an ABS Malfunction

In some cases, your car may still be safe to drive in the short term. If your ABS light is on, but you do not notice any other symptoms of ABS failure while driving the car, it is most likely safe to drive. However, if it stays on, or if the brake warning light comes on in addition to the ABS/check engine light, you should stop driving your automobile immediately and get it looked at.

You obviously cannot afford to take any chances on the open road with faulty brakes that may or may not work correctly. Your car may have negligible problems in the short term, but ideally you will want to prevent these problems before they get to be more costly or even life threatening.

Some drivers are under the illusion that ABS problems do not need to be fixed immediately, hoping to save their money until the problem gets significant enough that they cannot ignore it anymore. This perception is fed by the fact that many state vehicle inspections do not adequately test the ABS system or do not require the ABS to be in perfect working order to pass the examination.

Finding an Alternative to Your Dealership Garage

Many of us have had negative experiences taking our automobiles to the dealership for repair. Often times, the dealership experience feels rushed and impersonal and sometimes results in a more expensive bill as well.

Luckily for those who live in the greater Dallas area, Euro Automotive is just around the corner. Euro Automotive specializes in luxury European import makes and models, such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Jaguar, and many more. If your ABS system is experiencing any of the problems described above, and you live in the vicinity of Dallas, Garland, Arlington, or Fort Worth, you owe it to yourself and your automobile to come into Euro Automotive today.

We are conveniently located in North Dallas, easily accessible from the entire Metroplex. Don’t take a chance on a potentially serious problem with the brake system of your luxury automobile. Put your trust into the skilled technicians at Euro Automotive and drive away with peace of mind and a safe vehicle.

Importance of CV Boots & Joints Inspection for Audis in Dallas

Posted on | 4 Jun 2019 By Anita Gaal

Having a better understanding of your vehicle and how it operates is the first step in providing excellent care to your car so that it has a long and happy life. Through doing some basic research you can develop excellent clarity on the different components that make up your car. Over time this information can be helpful to know so that if you do run into a problem you might just know what the issue is and how to fix it. In luxury vehicles such as an Audi, it is extra important to make sure that you are providing quality maintenance. Otherwise, the repairs can get costly if left undealt with long enough.

Understanding CV Boots and Joints in Your Car

When you have a vehicle that is front wheel drive it will have a component called the CV joints. CV joints stand for Constant Velocity joints and they are located at either end of the drive shaft. There are inner and outer CV joints. The inner CV joints are what connect your vehicle’s drive shaft to the transmission. Outer CV joints are what connect the drive shaft to the wheels. In other types of vehicles like rear wheel drive and even trucks might also use CV joints.

The CV joints help to transfer torque from your car’s transmission to the wheels at the same speed and help to account for the movement of the suspension. In vehicles that are front wheel drive the CV joints help to transfer the torque when the wheels turn. When it comes to CV joints there are two primary types that are used. The first is a ball-type and are generally used on the outer CV joints. The other is a tripod-type and is typically used for the inner CV joints.

What Problems Can Occur with CV Joints?

CV joints play a fairly important role in your car, so when they get damaged it can cause some issues for you. Grease is used on the CV joints and they are sealed shut by a plastic or rubber boot, it is then held in place by clamps. Fortunately, CV joints do not need much, if any maintenance and are made to last for a really long time. Generally the only time you would need to worry about them would be if the boot gets damaged.

If the boot gets damaged or starts to crack, the grease will start to leak and will allow dirt to get in. If that happens, it will cause the CV joints to wear faster. When there is a problem with the CV joints, it will generally affect the outer CV joints because they have much more movement than inner CV joints.

What to Do About Faulty CV Joints

Since CV joints are not generally prone to failure, you likely will not need to worry about them too often. If you are taking your vehicle in for regular inspection the CV joints are something that your mechanic will be looking at. If they notice any problems with them, they will be sure to let you know so that you can have them repaired. If the problem is caught early enough, it is generally a simple job. All your mechanic will need to do is repack the CV joint with new grease.

However, if the whole boot needs to be replaced it can get pricey because of the work that is involved to replace it. Having it regularly inspected can help save you money in the long run to avoid problems from getting worse.

How We Can Help

Here at Euro Automotive, we can help you identify the severity of your issues with your CV joints, and our trained mechanics can recommend the best solution for repairs. Convenient to the residents of Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, Texas, we aim to provide excellent services to leave our customers satisfied. If you would like to schedule an inspection or a repair for your CV joints, or if you would simply like to learn more information about the services we offer, call our office or visit our website. Our representatives would be more than happy to assist you to find what service is right for you.