Cromwell Auto Repair

If you didn't know already, tire tread naturally wears down with use. But what happens when your tires wear down too much? Well - they are considered bald. Bald may mean no hair for humans, but it means there is little to no tread left when it comes to tires. What technically qualifies as a bald tire? Any tire with at least one ridge whose depth reaches 2/32 of an inch or less is deemed bald. Once your tires get to this state, you need to change your tires ASAP. What Does It Look Like? It's not difficult to spot a bald tire. But if you have to, you can check the depth of tire tread with a tread depth gauge. If you don't have one, don't worry; you can use a penny. All you have to do is hold the coin upside down on the groove. If you can still observe all of Abraham Lincoln's head, you have a bald tire.   In all honesty, you should replace your tires before they wear down to 2/32nds of an inch — more so around 4/32nds of an inch, to be safe. How Do ... read more

Basic automotive care goes a long way toward improving the safety and reliability of a vehicle. Whether you choose to do it yourself or visit a trusted and certified technician, we recommend taking care of these ten essential maintenance steps to help make sure your car, SUV, or truck is operating at its best before winter comes. Fall Car Care Month in October is the best of the best times to give your vehicle some extra love and attention before the harsh winter weather sets in. Taking a little bit of time for car care now can help you avoid the headaches and a pain in your wallet later on. Here are our top 10 items that should be inspected for fall car care month: Check all of your essential fluids. Your vehicle lives off of major fluids including engine oil, power steering, brake, transmission, windshield washer fluid, and antifreeze/coolant. Make sure these are topped off to save you time later. Check all hoses and belts (timing, serpentine, etc.) to make sure they are not cracke ... read more

Spark plugs have an essential purpose by providing the necessary spark to enable the combustion process. Without the spark plugs, your car's engine cannot transform the fuel into usable mechanical energy. Not only is it a vital piece, but they are constantly in use while you drive. Specifically, spark plugs fire at a rate of about 1,500 per minute of driving. If any sparks are old or failing, you'll often encounter a glitch or stumble in the engine's output. With such an important task, you should replace worn-out spark plugs as soon as you notice the symptoms of wear. Other than a sputtering engine, what other signs indicate you need a spark plug replacement?   Signs That Your Spark Plugs Need a Replacement Troubles starting engine Knocking sounds Engine misfires Rough idling Lowered fuel economy Difficulty accelerating It's critical to replace spark plugs as soon as they are old or worn out. If you neglect to do so, you can cause severe damage to other pa ... read more

Your car's clutches are used to transfer an engine's rotational power to the transmission and onto the wheels. Clutches work by disengaging the engine's power from the transmission to prevent the driveshaft from spinning. Without one, the only way to stop the motor from spinning your car's wheels is to turn the vehicle off. Clutches also support constant gear changes in both manual and automatic transmissions. With all that being said, a malfunctioning clutch makes it very difficult to drive your car, if not impossible.    These are the top three signs of clutch failure: Hard to Press Clutch Pedal Your clutch pedal is located on the floor to the left of the brake pedal. If you notice that it becomes harder to press the clutch pedal down or if it seems to get stuck to the floor, it's likely that the hydraulic linkage utilized by the clutch has failed. The solution can be a simple readjustment, but another possibility is that a hydraulic ... read more

It is no doubt that tires are essential vehicle components. With proper maintenance and regular servicing, they should last for a while before wearing out. However, there are times when your tires wear down prematurely, costing you so much to replace them, lest they cause accidents. Here are some of the reasons why your car tires wear down prematurely. Poor Wheel Alignment If your car is pulling or swaying to one side when driving, there is a chance that your tires need alignment. Poor wheel alignment causes tires to wear out unevenly due to the constant hitting of the road at improper angles. Worn Out Shocks and Struts Worn-out shocks and struts cause tires to wear out unevenly. They affect the wheel alignment of your car, causing the vehicle to vibrate excessively. Besides the tire wear, they also lead to a bumpy and uncomfortable ride. Your suspension parts must get checked regularly, and if worn out, our mechanic should replace them as soon as possible. Low Tire Pressure Lo ... read more