Month: March 2022

Where Can You Fix Your Audi’s Erratic Lights In Los Angeles?

Audi Interior Lights

Audis can develop problems with their lightning system. One such problem includes erratic lights, which have led to many road accidents and even major car malfunctions. Despite their reputation for luxury, high performance, and longevity, Audi owners can run into this problem as their car ages or if there is an electrical issue.

Recognizing Erratic Lights

Erratic lights can take the form of flickering lights on the dashboard and other parts of the car. When any of your Audi’s lights begin to pulse, flicker, stay on, or turn off unbidden, it is considered to be erratic lighting.

These flickering lights could be the way your Audi is telling you it needs servicing, since this could mean it has electrical problems or sometimes even bigger issues that could eventually cost you much more than you planned.

Below are few reasons why your Audi might be experiencing erratic lights:

  • Car Starter Issues: The car starter is one of the most important parts of the car. It’s what turns on the engine to allow it to move. When the starter begins to malfunction due to age, it can lead to erratic lights in your car. This might be hard to diagnose, but after a proper check-up by professionals, the issue would be rectified.
  • The Alternator: The alternator’s function is to provide the car with electric needs. It sends all the electrical currents to the devices in the vehicle to keep it moving with the help of the battery. When the alternator begins to malfunction, it usually shows up in the form of problems starting the car and dim headlights or dashboard malfunctions.
  • Misplaced or Wrongly Screwed Bulbs: Just like a normal bulb used in your home, if the bulb in your Audi is wrongly screwed in, it wouldn’t work properly. It might eventually burn out or the fuse will blow if the issue isn’t rectified.
  • Additional Issues with the Electrical System: The fundamental operations of your Audi are made possible by electricity. As a result, electrical system problems such as defective wiring, a faulty connection between the car’s battery and a bulb, and malfunctioning fuses can all cause your Audi’s lights to become erratic.

Easy-to-Spot Warning Signs

Although certain vehicle faults are more difficult to detect, issues with your Audi’s lighting are fairly obvious because they are among the most prominent features of any vehicle.

  • Interior Lights: When your Audi’s interior lights fail, they may flash, which is normally due to faulty wiring. If the lights on the dashboards are flickering or flashing at odd times, it could be a sign of an electrical problem. Nevertheless, it’s vital to keep in mind that, in cases of interior erratic lights, something completely unrelated to the car’s electric system may be the source of the problem. Also, if the lighting on your Audi’s dashboard is entirely gone, it must be replaced as a unit.
  • Headlights: When we talk about your Audi’s exterior lighting, we could be talking about one of three areas: low beams, tail lights, or headlights. If your Audi’s headlights are flickering, it doesn’t mean there’s absolutely a problem with the bulb or that changing it will fix the problem. The most common cause of a flickering headlight is a bad connection between the bulb and the battery. This is usually a simple and inexpensive remedy.
  • Tail lights: If your tail lights are blinking, flickering, or simply don’t turn off, it’s likely that your Audi’s brake switch is damaged and needs replacement.
  • Daytime Lamps: Your daytime running lights may flicker or flash if they aren’t functioning correctly. Because there are various probable causes, diagnosing the underlying issue may take a bit more time. A blown fuse, defective wiring, or a burned-out bulb are the most prevalent. Melted wiring in your Audi could be the cause in more serious circumstances.

Carotech Automotive For Your Audi

Do your lights flicker, pulsate, or Audi Fuse Checkrefuse to turn off? Issues like this may appear to be minor annoyances at first, but they should be addressed as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. If you detect issues with any of the areas listed above, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with Carotech Automotive. We are easily accessible to many areas in Los Angeles, California. Stop by today or call us to easily diagnose and repair the problem.

When to Replace the Head Gasket of a Mini by Certified Mechanics in Los Angeles

MINI Coolant Warning

Mini Cooper, founded in 1969 and owned by the luxury automotive brand BMW, is a popular British automotive manufacturer that is known for producing high-quality small cars. Minis may experience head gasket issues that, if left untreated, can result in significant problems for your vehicle. You may wonder how you are supposed to know when to replace the head gasket of your Mini Cooper. The expert certified mechanics in Los Angeles are here to help!

What is a head gasket?

The head gasket of a Mini was designed to provide a tight seal between the cylinder head and the engine block, two extremely important parts of the engine. The cylinder head plays an extremely important role in the function of the engine as it houses more moving parts than any other engine component while the engine block itself is designed to support the weight of all engine components combined.

Without a properly functioning head gasket, combustion gases, oil, and coolant can escape resulting in a loss of pressure within the combustion chamber and an overall loss of power to your vehicle.

Experts have not yet said that a vehicle cannot be driven without a properly functioning head gasket. However, it is not recommended. A damaged or broken head gasket will leave you with a vehicle that is unable to emit an adequate amount of power to continue running smoothly, and it can damage your engine.

Common Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Failed Head Gasket

A damaged, faulty, or blown head gasket will produce a wide variety of symptoms. Damage may occur as the result of extreme pressure, exposure to excessive amounts of heat, a flaw in the design, deterioration, or an improper installation.

Commonly reported warning signs to include:

  • Bubbling sounds coming from the radiator and/or coolant reserve tank.
  • While smoke is emitted from the exhaust pipe as a result of antifreeze leaking into the cylinders and being turned from a liquid form to smoke.
  • An unexplained loss of coolant from the coolant reservoir when there are no leaks present.
  • Overheating within the engine due to the coolant escaping through the space created from the damaged head gasket being unable to properly cool the engine.
  • Discoloration in the engine oil, specifically a milky white color from the coolant entering into the oil tank and causes contamination.
  • An obvious loss of power stems from a decrease in pressure within the combustion chamber.
  • Lastly, and most obvious, your Mini will not start as a result of there not being enough combustion pressure to ignite the engine.

Automotive experts recommend that the head gasket is replaced at least every 100,000 miles if you properly maintain the engine oil level, engine oil services by draining and replacing the old and/or dirty oil, as well as proper coolant maintenance.

While several mechanics agree that a head gasket is designed to last drivers approximately 100,000 miles, it is important to know that this intricate part can fail at any time even though it is made of extremely durable material.

Call the European Automotive Maintenance Experts for Help

Carotech Automotive has been helping drivers in the Los Angeles, California area for more than MINI Head Gasket Replacement 50 years. We service popular domestic, Asian, and European makes and models including but not limited to:

Our team at Carotech Automotive is made up of highly-trained, ASE-Certified technicians with years of automotive maintenance experience. As the go-to European automotive maintenance service center in Los Angeles, we will help with all of your vehicle needs.

We offer special financing options on qualifying purchases as well as a 24-month/24,000-mile warranty on qualifying parts and labor. Your warranty coverage can be extended to 36 months or 36,000 miles, should you choose to utilize your NAPA AutoCare easy-pay credit card that offers exclusive discounts and no annual fee. Give us a call today!