Fuel Injector Cleaning In Elmendorf Afb, Fort Richardson, and Anchorage

In very simple terms, a fuel injector is a valve that squirts fuel into your van engine. Your engine control computer tells the fuel injector how much fuel to deliver as well as the precise time it should be delivered. Of course this happens thousands of times a minute in every single fuel-injected car driving down Elmendorf Afb, Fort Richardson, and Anchorage roads.

Most fuel injectors for gas engines are known in the Eagle River auto industry as port fuel injectors because they deliver the fuel to a port just outside the cylinder. The fuel pump provides pressure needed to squirt the right amount of fuel into the engine.

A few auto makers have recently introduced gas direct injection systems on some engines. They are now available at some Eagle River dealerships. These systems inject the gas directly into the cylinders under very high pressure – many times the pressure of port injection systems.

Although more complicated, direct injection technology promises greater power with improved fuel economy for gas-poor Elmendorf Afb, Fort Richardson, and Anchorage commuters. AK motorists can expect to see more of it in the future.

High temperatures under your van hood and variations in Eagle River gas quality cause fuel injectors to be fouled with wax, dirt, water, additives and carbon. Injectors can become partially clogged, preventing them from delivering the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure.

When injectors are dirty, the fuel doesn’t burn as efficiently resulting in poor fuel economy and loss of power. So it’s important for Anchorage drivers keep their fuel injectors clean.

Your Anchorage Alaska Spring and Performance service center can perform a fuel system service for you in which the fuel injectors are cleaned so that they operate properly and deliver the right amount of fuel at the right time.

Proper maintenance of your van fuel system means that you will spend less on gas, enjoy strong performance and prevent costly Eagle River repair bills down the road.

Tracking True In AK: Wheel Alignment In Fort Richardson

Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy Fort Richardson and Anchorage car owners until serious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment from the rest by hitting a curb or pothole on Eagle River roads.

When a vehicle’s out of alignment, one or more of the wheels does not track true and pulls against the others. The tires will wear out very quickly and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to van suspension damage.

But the big issue for Fort Richardson, Anchorage, and Anchorage motorists is safety. When your van wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you’re out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at Alaska Spring and Performance in Anchorage.

At Alaska Spring and Performance, your vehicle is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings.

Adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in precisely the same direction.

Signs of alignment problems are: Your car pulls to one side. Also, your steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your Eagle River service center look it over. If you’ve been in an auto accident in AK that involved a wheel, you should get your alignment checked.

A big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but Fort Richardson drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.

That’s why your manufacturer recommends periodic alignment checks. If your van owner’s manual doesn’t specify, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with John Stoehner or your service advisor at Alaska Spring and Performance in Anchorage.

One thing’s for sure: the cost of the alignment at Alaska Spring and Performance is cheaper than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.

On Board Diagnostics For Anchorage Motorists

Some Anchorage motorists are confused by Alaska Spring and Performance charges for diagnostic services for a vehicle repair. Many services at Alaska Spring and Performance and other Anchorage automotive repair shops include diagnostic fees.

When you take your laptop into a Eagle River computer repair shop for a problem you’ll likely have to leave a deposit for diagnostics. When we visit our Elmendorf Afb doctor for a medical problem, we’re paying him to diagnose our ailment and of course for the tests that go along with it.

So receiving a diagnostic charge at Alaska Spring and Performance for a tricky automotive problem shouldn’t be a surprise. In the Eagle River area, automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range. If you hear a noise in your van brakes when you slow down in rush-hour traffic on a busy AK expressway, you pull off the next off-ramp and take a quick visual check. That is usually enough to know what needs to be done. If you’re having an intermittent problem with your van engine, Alaska Spring and Performance diagnosis may be much more involved.

Much of the Eagle River public’s confusion comes when the problem involves the check engine light. The check engine light comes on when the engine management computer has sensed a problem.

There’s a common misconception among Elmendorf Afb, Fort Richardson, and Anchorage drivers that the trouble code tells the Alaska Spring and Performance technician exactly what’s wrong. Why then is there a diagnostic charge, the scanner just gave the diagnosis?

Reality is more involved than that. The computer monitors many sensors throughout the vehicle. When one of these sensors has a reading that’s out of parameters, the computer will record a trouble code and turn on the check engine light.

The van computer's trouble code just tells the Alaska Spring and Performance technician what engine parameter is out of range – not what’s causing it. The technician needs to determine the underlying problem that’s causing the symptom.

There are many problems that could cause a troublesome sensor reading for Alaska Spring and Performance Anchorage customers. The Alaska Spring and Performance technician makes a list of the most likely causes and begins tracking down the source of the problem.

Eagle River service centers subscribe to databases that document possible causes for a given trouble code. They outline procedures for confirming a diagnosis and provide the documented fix. These databases are specific to each vehicle and engine combination.

Some diagnoses are quick and easy. Others are more involved and difficult. Of course Alaska Spring and Performance wants to figure out what’s wrong with your van and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

Keep Your Cool In Eagle River: Air Conditioning Service

Most Eagle River drivers wait for their air conditioning to fail before they service it at Alaska Spring and Performance. That’s because many Anchorage and Fort Richardson motorists don't really understand that automotive air conditioners need periodic service. Let me share some of the reasons why they fail.

First, like every machine, the van air conditioner parts need lubrication. The lubricant is actually mixed in with the refrigerant (that’s the stuff that makes the air cool). So sometimes, even though the air conditioner is still making cool air, the oil that lubricates the parts has just been used up: and unlubricated parts can fail in all AK cars.

Now here’s a tip for Eagle River drivers: You should run your air conditioner every so often during AK winters. This circulates the lubricant to help keep the seals from drying out.

The air conditioner actually removes some of the moisture in the air. So if you have trouble with fogging on your windshield during AK winters or during a rain storm, running the A/C on the defrost setting should help. Now on some Eagle River cars you can’t run the A/C at the same time as the defroster. Don’t ask me why, but I suspect lawyers were involved.

Also, air and water can get into the A/C system. That can reduce the efficiency of the system and also lead to corrosion that causes damage. Eagle River drivers should periodically purge the system and replace the refrigerant to clear out the air and water.

Anchorage drivers should be aware of early warning signs of trouble: One might be that the air’s not as cold as it used to be. You may hear an unusual noise when the A/C cycles on. Those are signs to get your vehicle into Alaska Spring and Performance in Anchorage before the damage gets worse.

So following the recommended service intervals in your van owner’s manual can help prevent mechanical failure of your air conditioning system. You’re A/C system contains some expensive components like the compressor, condenser, dryer, etc. Anything Elmendorf Afb and Fort Richardson car owners can do to lengthen the life of their A/C is well worth it.