McKinney & Bonham Auto Repair

If you want to keep your car, SUV, or truck running smoothly, you need to pay attention to any weird smells. While it may sound funny, certain car odors can signal car troubles. Therefore, you should never ignore any unusual smell. Read on to learn more about automobile odors and what they could mean: Burning Carpet The smell of burning carpet often signals that you have brake problems. If you notice this scent, please be sure to have your brakes inspected soon. Rotten Eggs The odor of rotten eggs is quite strong, so you won’t miss this. This smell means that your catalytic converter has gone bad. The catalytic converter is responsible for turning toxic fumes into sulfur dioxide. When it doesn’t work as it should, the stench will reek. Syrup When you catch a sweet syrupy smell, it is typically a sign of a coolant leak. You should especially have your cooling system checked out because your car can overheat soon thereafter.  Burning Rubber If your car emits a bu ... read more

A car's system requires sheer caution lest you want to be going to the mechanic day in and day out. It's a complicated system that unanimously works together towards running the engine and controlling the vehicle. Everyone who has driven a car, whether manual or automatic, knows the importance of the dashboard signs. Minor negligence of a warning sign could lead to even more severe damage that might require a complicated mechanical overhaul. Its aftermath is undue expenditure on repair and compromise of the efficiency of the vehicle. Power Steering System Warning Every time you see a red or yellow warning sign in the shape of a steering wheel and an exclamation mark on your dashboard, something is cooking with your hydraulic, and you have to stop. The first indicator of the warning light is a problem with your car's hydraulic system. The hydraulic fluid in the system might leak and make your steering inefficient. If you neglect the signs and continue driving, you risk ramm ... read more

Depending on your state and local driving laws, you may be required to have an emission test performed along with your vehicle inspection. Whether or not your car needs ones can depend on your vehicle's age and make/model. So, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Read on to learn why emissions testing is important. Gas-powered engines can emit an abundance of harmful gasses over time. With millions of them on the Texas roads, emissions testing will only do us a favor. The emissions test helps ensure our vehicle's emission components are working the way they should. It is also a way to limit the pollution our car puts out. For your vehicle to pass the test, it needs to meet safety standards by limiting the amount of exhaust it emits. Certain conditions will lead to an immediate failure of the test, like a lit check engine light. Here are some more conditions that will prevent you from passing the TX emissions test: Faulty oxygen failure Clogged or failing catalytic conve ... read more

Regularly inspecting and cleaning your battery terminals will ensure it lasts you a long time. Otherwise, corrosion can eat away the battery life and necessitate a premature battery replacement. Fortunately, you can clean your battery connection points right from your driveway. Here are the six steps on how to clean your battery: Step 1: Find the Battery Most car batteries are located under the hood, with the exception of a few being in the trunk. It is a square-like structure that you can't miss. If you have difficulty finding it, you can always refer to your owner's manual. Step 2: Remove the Terminal Covering The terminals on a battery are typically protected by a plastic or rubber covering. You must remove them to access the connection points. At this point, we recommend putting on a pair of gloves so that you don't get corrosion on your fingers. Step 3: Disconnect the Battery Remove the clamps that are held by nuts and bolts. Start with the negative one first, th ... read more

Each dashboard light has different meanings, and one you should never overlook is the engine/coolant temperature light. When glowing read, it warns you that your engine is on the brink of overheating. Allowing your vehicle to overheat can lead to devastating consequences, such as costly and time-consuming engine repairs. What Does the Engine Coolant Over-temperature Alert Mean? Not all cars have this particular temperature warning light; some vehicles only have a temperature gauge, which has a needle pointing in between "H" = hot and "C" = cold. However, for those with the special light, it looks like a thermometer dipped in coolant fluid. Regardless of the appearance of this cautionary light, the message means that your car is overheating. You should never ignore the engine temperature warning light. If the light comes on your dashboard, you should immediately pull over to a safe area and turn off your engine. You should call for roadside assistance to get your ... read more