Category: Uncategorized

Alignments

I get asked a lot about what happens during an alignment. To do an alignment properly, you first have to check the entire suspension. We have to check it to make sure no parts are loose or worn out. This can cause alignment failure. During the alignment, we measure three angles and adjust them if they are out of specification. The first and most important angle is the toe, and that angle is how the tires are straight from left to right. The second is camber and that is the tire standing straight up or vertical. Last is the caster and that angle is the pivot point axis during steering.

There are also three types of alignments. The first one is the basic front-end alignment. If you were to draw an imaginary line down the center of the vehicle, we align the front end only to that line. If the back wheels are not perfectly straight, your steering wheel will be crooked due to correcting for rear wheel alignment. The second one is the thrust alignment which is used on vehicles that have a solid rear-end with no alignment. Instead of aligning the vehicle to the center line, we align it to the rear-end position. This is called the thrust line. So the rear-end is at the thrust line and gets the steering wheel straight. Lastly is the one where we align all 4 wheels alignment. In this one, we align all 4 wheels to the center line of the vehicle.

In the end, how do you know if you need an alignment? The most common one is to see if the steering wheel is straight; does it pull or drift to one side and tires are worn off at an angle. If the vehicle has a pull or a drift just remember over 90% of the time pulls are caused by uneven tire wear. The alignment causes uneven wear, but the pull is caused by the tire. So, if you are correcting a pull, get an alignment then have tires rotated or replaced. Lastly, on a side note, alignments do not cause a vibration. If you have a vibration, it is caused by the tires, wheel balance, or other problems. A misaligned vehicle does not cause vibration. Come see us at White’s Automotive Center if you have any questions. You can reach us at (706) 323-1060 or visit our website at whitesautomotive.com.

Business Break: June

Three types of transmissions and how they work

Several times I have had a customer bring a used vehicle for me to inspect and they would complain about the transmission operation. After inspection, we found nothing wrong with the transmission. It just feels weird because it is a different type. Today, when it comes to automatic transmissions, there are three different types of transmissions.

The first one I want to discuss is the Conventional Automatic we have had for a century. However, the earliest transmissions were 2 or 3-speed transmissions. Nowadays, most are at least 6 and 8 speeds. These newer ones shift way more frequently than the ones from a few years ago. The newer ones can almost feel like it is hunting for the right gear, especially if you’re driving in traffic and your speed is going up and down.

The next is called a CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission. This is a new design transmission that changes the gear ration in one fluid motion. This transmission, as you accelerate the RPMs of the motor, stays the same as the transmission changes the gear ration to increase your speed. This transmission to me, feels like it is slipping the whole time, but it is increasing speed smoothly and you do not feel any gear shifting points.

Lastly is the DCT Dual Clutch Transmission. This transmission style is actually two manual transmissions built into one unit. One side operates gears 1, 3, and 5, and the other side operates gears 2, 4, and 6. The computer controls clutch operation for both sides and gear shifting. The computer will engage first gear and when it changes to the next gear it simultaneously disengages the lower gear and engages a higher gear for a smooth shift. The biggest difference I feel for this transmission is at the start. The transmission is actually in neutral, and you can feel the computer engage first gear. Sometimes that makes people nervous that there is a problem.

We’re here to help you at White’s Automotive Center if you need any assistance or have any questions. Check out our website at whitesautomotive.com or call us at (706) 323-1060.

Business Break: May

What is a Catalytic Converter?

What is a catalytic converter? I get this type of question regularly. The catalytic converter is in the exhaust and has a catalyst that looks like a honeycomb. This converter takes the fumes from an engine which is Hydrocarbon (fuel) Carbon Monoxide, and Nitrogen Oxide gases (smog), and cleans them. It uses the catalyst to break apart the molecules of water, Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrogen. It cleans the fumes from the engine and makes them safer.

I also get questions about why they cost so much. Well, one of the main ingredients of a catalyst is platinum. Also, it depends on what emission standard your vehicle was built for. The year, make, model, and location have a lot to do with what type of catalytic converter you have. For example, a vehicle that is legal in California or New York has stricter regulations than the rest of the country. Japan and China have tighter regulations than California or Canada. If a Catalytic Converter drops 10% efficiency, it is no longer good and will cause the check engine light to come on. Universal converters are already more than 10% less efficient than the original. So, the check engine light comes on again with a universal converter even though it is new. On these vehicles, you must purchase a factory model converter which is more expensive.

So, pay attention to the check engine light coming on. The check engine light comes on when the vehicle is producing an excessive amount of pollution, and this damages the catalytic converter. If the check engine light starts flashing, it can damage the catalytic converter in less than five miles. So, keep maintenance up to date and repair the vehicle quickly so you are not faced with the repairs plus $1000 to $3000 depending on what brand Catalytic Converter replacement you get. Come see us at White’s Automotive Center if you have any questions. We’re here to help you! You can visit our website at whitesautomotive.com or call us at (706) 323-1060.