Rohnert Park Auto Repair

Drive axles are axles on engine powered vehicles that transfer energy from the engine and torque from the transmission on to the front, rear or all the wheels. Drive axles respond to the input they receive from the steering wheel to determine how power will be distributed to the wheels. Drive axels run from the differential into the wheels and are an essential for any automobile to be able it to move. Several other systems interface and interconnect with drive axles to power them and control their movement A Complex Piece Of Equipment Too many, drive axles seem like a simple, solid object. In actuality, it's a complex piece of equipment that's made up of two half axles connected to the differential and universal joints. Drive axles have several important parts. Those parts include: Axle Constant Velocity (CV) Joints Drive Shaft Differential Universal Joint Axle Housing ... read more

If you’ve been driving for any length of time, you know how important your steering system is. Without this component, you wouldn’t be able to stay in control of your car. When it’s working the way it should, you probably don’t think about your steering wheel. However, if something goes wrong and it’s incredibly difficult to steer your vehicle, then all you can think about is getting it fixed. Finding out why it’s hard to turn your wheel is important and should be taken care of as soon as possible. Taking it to a professional is in your best interest, as they’ll be able to quickly and accurately determine what is wrong and fix it. There are many different reasons why your power steering system might be hard to move, and the most common are listed below. Low Power Steering Fluid Levels One of the most common reasons why you may find it hard to turn your steering wheel is because your vehicle is low on power steering fluid. This fluid is needed to ... read more

An aligned wheel steers fluidly. Making turns should be seamless. A driver should never be battling their own vehicle and physically have to force a turn. For purposes of safety, comfort, and practicality, as a driver you need your wheel alignment to be intact so your steering functions effectively and easily. Unfortunately, it is easy to disrupt the functionality of your steering wheel, at which point it is critical to professionally service your car to identify what type of realignment needs to be performed. Misalignment Common Causes The possible causes that can affect your wheel alignment are very common daily driving occurrences. In fact, the act of driving itself is a cause because wear and tear on your tires can progressively influence your wheel alignment. Some other specific potential influencers include: Potholes Speeding over speed bumps Road accidents Worn out parts Hitting a curb ... read more

Are you starting to notice green fluids on the ground when you drive away? Or that your temperature gauge has been getting hotter and hotter? Chances are that you’re coming close to the overheating of your car—if it hasn’t happened already—and you will want to make sure you are prepared when it occurs. Continue reading to find out why your car is overheating and what to do once it happens. Indicators of Radiator Issues When the temperature gauge on your dashboard reads high, or a temperature warning light comes on, you have a cooling system problem that may be caused by a radiator leak. Some radiator leaks are easy to spot, i.e. a hole from road debris, but others not so much, as in the case of a pinhole-size leak. And because leaks can occur in many different parts of the radiator and can be difficult to find, we don’t recommend trying to repair a radiator leak on your own. The proper functioning of your cooling system is vital for your car, and it’s eas ... read more

Automotive Excellence is a full-service auto repair shop serving Rohnert Park CA. One of our specialties is suspension repair and maintenance. If your vehicle’s suspension system is compromised in any way, you’re not only experiencing a less comfortable ride, you have less control of your vehicle, which can put your safety at risk. So, enough suspense, let’s look at how auto suspension systems work, and get to know the numerous components that may need to be serviced or replaced to maintain the smoothness and integrity of your vehicle’s suspension performance. The How & Why of Auto Suspension Systems The main job of your car’s suspension system is to structurally support for your vehicle while it maintains a comfortable riding condition. It does this by using suspension system components built to help tires maintain firm even contact with the road. Vehicle suspension compensates for bumps, potholes, dips, and sudden turns. Components include ball joints ... read more