Cincinnati Auto Repair

Imagine this scenario… You’re driving in your car and the Check Engine Light comes on. What do you do? Panic?  No… Pull over?  Not unless you hear some odd noise or your car starts losing power. Blow it off?  Well, as tempting as it is...no, you shouldn’t blow it off either. When many drivers see the Check Engine Light, they will often consider the options listed above. We understand, you’re living a busy life and you don’t have time to deal with the dreaded Check Engine light. But, here’s what you should do. Contact your favorite auto mechanic, or the Avid Autowerx team, and set an appointment for an inspection. It’s kind of like scheduling an appointment with your doctor when you have a fever. Something in your body doesn’t feel right. You might put off calling the doctor’s office for a while. But over time, the fever doesn’t go away and you start to show other symptoms. If you keep blowing it off ... read more

You're driving along and see the light above illuminated on your vehicle's dashboard - what does this mean? Are my tires bad, do they need air, or does my tire have a puncture? The symbol shown above is your vehicle's TPMS warning light, or tire pressure monitoring system warning light. It can also look like a "TPMS" light, depending on the make and model of your vehicle.  The TPMS warning light is your vehicle's way of letting you know one of two things - either one or more fo your vehicle's tires are 25% below their recommended air pressure, or there is an issue with a tire pressure sensor. Regardless, the best thing to do when this light comes on is to bring your vehicle into Avid Autowerx for an inspection.  Driving with the proper tire pressure is so critical to your vehicle's performance and integrity. When you continue driving with low tire pressure, you are reducing your vehicle's fuel efficiency, wearing down your tires prematu ... read more

Just like you, your car needs the right levels of fluids to run properly. Unlike you, your machine can’t compensate for those fluids. It will try to give you warnings, but as it runs dry, costly damage begins. Avid Autowerx wants to remind you to keep these fluids in mind as things get busy in life, because they can be important and lead to expensive headaches down the road. And most can be monitored just with a quick look under the hood of the car once a month, giving you peace of mind and a sense of being sympatico with your primary means of transportation! Coolant/Antifreeze - This is the most important fluid to monitor. Service centers recommend keeping an eye on it every two weeks, especially in bouts of extreme weather. An engine head cracked because there was no antifreeze or coolant left is a dead engine. This is fairly easy to check in most models, because the radiator’s reserve tank is usually in an easy-to-see place. It should be flushed every ... read more

When you think of how your car gets its electrical power, you may automatically think of the battery. It's true, your car battery does provide the electricity needed to get your car started and stay running. But did you know that the alternator is also an important electrical component?  The alternator is a vital part of your vehicle's charging system, which means that it helps to keep the battery charged and running while you drive. It both distributes electricity and keeps the battery charged. Without a working alternator, your battery would quickly lose its charge and die out.  So, how does the alternator work exactly? The alternator is driven by the engine via a serpentine belt. the movement of the serpentine belt will in turn spin the alternator's rotor at a high speed. As the rotor spins, electricity is produced. There are magnets placed around the rotors which help to create a magnetic field. This magnetic field will produce the voltage necessary to ... read more

Today, we were driving around town and noticed we were following three newly-sold cars with the temporary tags. We were a little surprised, but after thinking about it, it makes sense why car purchases are ticking up lately.  For one, people who can’t afford car payments anymore due to layoffs are selling their used cars. For another, car dealerships are stuck with inventory they may not be able to move fast enough, so they are slashing prices on their new cars as well as their used car inventory. Lastly, some people have older cars that are less reliable, so they are taking advantage of all the cars entering the for-sale market. All these car sales bring up a valid point:  Pre-Purchase Inspections. What do they entail and why do they matter? Okay, if you are planning to buy a brand new car with a warranty, you don’t need to worry about a pre-purchase inspection. Or at least, you shouldn’t have to. You can skip the rest of this article if you wish. For ... read more

The 4th of July is a day of celebration here in the United States. It signifies our country's freedom and is a day to get together with friends and family. Although the current pandemic has likely changed how you are celebrating this year, there are still options to enjoy the day safely and according to local laws. Even with the likely cancellation of major firework events, there will still be an increase in vehicles on the road and an increase in people in public areas. This is why it is important to ensure that you stay safe during this July 4th weekend.  We recommend the following safety tips for this 4th of July weekend:  If you'll be outdoors, don't forget to protect yourself from the sun. Too much sun exposure can cause sunburns and can make you lose hydration quicker. Be sure to use ample sun protection on your skin and wear appropriate clothing, hats, and sunglasses.  Did you know that our Independence Day is one of the most dangerous days in the U ... read more

During a down-economy, extending the life of your tires will save you money. The data supports that regularly scheduled auto repair and proper tire maintenance reduces the risk of major repairs.  Reliable transportation is essential right now for a lot of people. Without a doubt, we have all faced some changes in our work lives and home lives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Shelter-In-Place ordinances changed the driving habits for everyone.  Even though you may be driving less, your family fleet of vehicles still require maintenance. After all, motion is lotion, and a vehicle needs to be driven at least once a week if it is to remain dependable. When you start your car, for example, the fluids circulate, the gears shift, the wheels turn, and the battery charges. Just like your body, when your car remains stagnant, it can become sluggish the longer it sits. But what exactly is “proper tire maintenance”? Proper tire maintenance consists of the correct ... read more

As a vehicle owner, it is important to understand the best way to keep your vehicle safe and reliable on the road. One aspect of owning a vehicle that isn’t as well taught as it should be is the idea of preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is essentially the idea that you should have certain small services performed on your vehicle periodically that will help prevent larger, more expensive problems from occurring. Preventative maintenance not only protects your vehicle overall, it will end up saving you lots of money over the years by avoiding those major repairs that can become costly.  One important part of preventative maintenance is vehicle inspections. A vehicle inspection is a quick, comprehensive look at your vehicle to determine if there is any obvious issue with a major component. It also looks at fluids to make sure that they are topped off and clean, as well as checking other parts su ... read more

Are you planning to keep your vehicle longer than initially expected, and want to save money over the life of your car? If so, then now is the time to invest in regular preventive maintenance on your vehicle. It is often said that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. If you like your vehicle and intend to drive it for years to come, this is a flawed idea for many reasons. Simply put, fixing a broken car is much more expensive than maintaining a running one. Reliable transportation is essential during this COVID-19 outbreak, and the last thing anyone needs is to get stranded on the side of the road. If you now realize that you may not buy that new car you planned on because of the economic downturn, then preventive maintenance is even more critical. Preventive maintenance is a pre-planned step that will reduce the costs of repairs and extend the life of your car. Vehicles are built today with tight tolerances, which means that the fluids you run in them need to stay clean. Oth ... read more

That distinct, often unbearable, smell of rotten eggs...we've all experienced and it isn't pleasant. However, it isn't typically something you smell in your car. Unless you've left a dozen eggs in your car for a week and forgot about it, a smell of rotten eggs in your vehicle is a sign that something isn't right. So, what causes this rotten egg smell? It is actually the scent of sulfur, which is present in a small amount in your vehicle's fuel. During the emissions process, sulfur is converted into an odorless sulfur dioxide. If you're smelling the sulfur, this indicates that something went amiss during this process.  Something happened during the combustion process that didn't convert the sulfur properly. Let's look at some of the most common mishaps that can cause this:  A failing catalytic converter - The catalytic converter is a vital component of the exhaust system. It ensures that harmful gases created during the combustion process ... read more