Service
Engine Services
Your car is powered by an internal combustion engine that converts the energy from the heat released from burning fuel into torque that moves your wheels. More specifically, the fuel you put in your car is mixed with oxygen and ignited, via your spark plugs. That explosion is called combustion and is what moves the engine’s pistons up and down in cylinders that are connected via rods to the crankshaft. That’s how it works and here we’ll get into the various parts that keep your car running.
Caution
We recommend watching this part carefully and scheduling a service date to prevent any future problems.
Urgent
We recommend you bring your car in immediately. This repair is critical to saving you money & your life.
Routine
We recommend you keep this repair as recurring scheduled maintenance to keep your car healthy and running great.
How critical is my repair?
This ranking system’s purpose is to equip you with the information you need to make an informed decision.
Delaying car repairs is never recommended as it can be costly and at times dangerous. If you are experiencing car trouble please bring it to your local repair shop.
Parts and services
Cooling System
Your car’s cooling system keeps the engine at the right temperature to ensure efficient operation, not too hot, but also not too cold. The system includes a radiator, fan, thermostat valve, and a water pump. These components are all connected by a series of hoses that then connect to the interior passageways of the engine that have coolant running through them. The cooling system also houses parts of the interior’s ventilation system because heat coming from the engine is used to warm the inside of the car
Symptoms:
⇒ White smoke coming from under the hood
⇒ The temperature gauge rises quickly
⇒ You see a leak of bright green fluid
⇒ The coolant level is low
Urgent
1 day repair
Maintenance every 15,000 miles
Covered by warranty?
Transmission
The transmission, which is made up of five or six gears and a series of gear trains, ensures your car’s engine spins at the right speed and that the wheels get the right amount of power. The gears change depending on the speed of the car and how hard you step on the accelerator to keep the engine’s RPMs appropriately low.
Symptoms:
⇒ There’s a burning smell
⇒ Your car has problems shifting
⇒ Fluid leaking near middle of car
⇒ You hear a grinding noise
⇒ Your car shakes
Urgent
2 day repair
Maintenance every 30,000 miles
Covered by warranty?
Exhaust
Simply put, the exhaust removes the excess gases from the car’s engine to the outside of the car. These gases come from the tiny explosions that occur in your car’s engine during fuel combustion. The explosions produce power that then pushes against the pistons to keep your car running. The exhaust also reduces the toxic chemicals in the fumes, known as emissions, and lowers the noise that comes from the explosions. The exhaust comprises these components: exhaust manifold, oxygen sensor, catalytic converter, diesel particulate filter, exhaust pipe, and muffler.
Symptoms:
⇒ Your car’s muffler roars
⇒ You hear a rattling noise under your car
⇒ There’s a burning smell
⇒ You see black crust on your tailpipe
Caution
1 day repair
Maintenance every 45,000 miles
Covered by warranty?
Drivetrain
In short, the drivetrain connects your car’s engine to the wheels. It works slightly differently depending on what drivetrain you have: FWD, AWD, RWD, or 4WD. However, the basics of the system are that the drivetrain’s transmission controls the power while the driveshaft that connects to the transmission spins to transfer power to the differential that then distributes the power to the axles and then wheels. Cars with 4WD or AWD use more advanced controls to distribute power but the idea is the same. If you paid close attention, you now know the drivetrain is made up of the transmission, driveshaft, axle, and differential.
Symptoms:
⇒ Fluid leaking near middle of car
⇒ Your car has problems shifting
⇒ You hear a clunking noise
⇒ You hear a clicking sound
⇒ Your car shudders when accelerating
Urgent
2 day repair time
Maintenance every 15,000 miles
Covered by warranty?
Let’s get started.
Our approach is simple. We help you get the most out of your car by matching your goals and mileage to create a personalized plan.
1. Get your car tested.
2. See a list of repairs.
3. Choose what's fixed.
Car troubles?
Our difference
Community
Press
FAQs
Join Otto's car club:
Gain access to comics, jokes, & helpful car tips.
Come visit us
Our hours
Mon - Thurs:
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Join Otto's car club:
Gain access to comics, jokes, & helpful car tips.
Car troubles?
Our difference
Community
Press
FAQ
Come visit us
Our hours
Mon - Thu: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Let's get social:
