The Most Common Issues Found During Car Inspections in Greenwich, CT

No car part undergoes as much wear and tear as the tires. It's best to keep a close eye on the condition of your tires and have them replaced before they put you at risk of a skid or blowout. Here are five indications that a tire is on its last legs and you'll need new tires. If you're in any doubt, you can always ask for a second opinion at your local Lexus dealer in Greenwich, CT. Losing Too Much Air It's recommended that every driver checks their tire pressure once or twice a month. Optimal tire pressure for Lexus vehicles is usually between 32 and 36 pounds per square inch. But this figure depends on your model, so check your owner's manual to be sure. more While periodically checking your tire pressure, you'll notice any loss of air. If one tire persistently loses more air than the others, it might point to a hidden puncture. This makes it unsafe to drive on. Inflate Tires at Your Local Lexus Dealer If you don't have an inflation kit at home, you can use the compressed air dispenser at your nearest dealership. All gas stations also have an air dispenser, which you can sometimes use for free. Embedded Objects Tires can sometimes pick up objects from the road, such as screws, nails, and pieces of broken glass. If you find such an object embedded in your tire, remove it at once. Any hiss of escaping air or subsequent pressure loss means the object went deep enough to create a puncture. Blistering Rubber It might not be obvious, but a blister in the rubber often also indicates a hidden puncture. In this case, bumping over a curb, rock, or pothole has damaged the inner tubing of the tire.   Air has escaped the punctured tubing, becoming trapped under the outer rubber layer, causing the blister to form. A tire damaged like this might blow out while you're driving and should be replaced. Deep Cuts or Cracks Tiny hairline cracks or cuts in the treads or sidewalls of a tire are usually harmless. But if you find a cut or crack that's over an inch in length and also deep enough to see the layer beneath, then the structural integrity of that tire is compromised. Low Tread Depth Tread depth naturally wears down over time. You can slow the excessive tread depth wear of any one tire with periodical tire rotation. But eventually, all well-used tires reach dangerously shallow tread depth.   Once a tire has a tread depth of 2/32 of an inch, it must be replaced by law. A tire this worn no longer has sufficient traction on most road surfaces. If you're driving on winter roads, it's unwise to drive with tires under 5/32 of an inch. Schedule a service today to have your tires inspected, rotated, or replaced at DARCARS Lexus of Greenwich. We strive to offer all our customers a buying and servicing experience as luxurious as our vehicles.

Brake failure accounts for five percent of car crashes in the US every year. The most important piece of your braking mechanism to keep an eye on is the brake pads, which wear down a little each time you touch the pedal. So let's look at how often you should head to your local Lexus dealer for pad replacements. Follow Your Lexus Manual and Warranty First and foremost, it's best to follow the guidelines for pad-replacement intervals specified in your car manual, as each Lexus model differs. Also, on rare occasions, braking pads are covered by the car's warranty. If you should be so fortunate, follow the warranty's stipulations for having pads replaced. more Every 30,000 to 70,000 Miles In general, Lexus pads last for 30,000 to 70,000 miles. This primarily depends on your daily driving conditions. Regular stop-and-go traffic requires an excessive amount of braking, for example, as does driving on mountainous terrain with many steep downhill segments of road. Ask Your Local Lexus Dealership for Advice It can be difficult to judge the kind of conditions you regularly find yourself driving under. It's a good idea to ask at your local dealership. The technicians there should know the local conditions well.   They'll also be inspecting your brakes each time you go in for servicing. After a few visits, they'll be able to give you an accurate estimation of how often you'll need new pads. Pay Heed to Signs of Worn Out Pads No matter how recently you've replaced your pads, it's crucial to respond promptly to any sign that your pads have worn too thin. Here are the most common indicators of braking pad trouble: Squeaking Sounds Whenever You Brake Modern pads are cleverly designed to emit a high-pitched squeaking or squealing sound when the upper friction layer has worn down too thin. Any such sound is a surefire signal that it's time for new pads. Vibrating Pedal or Steering Wheel The most common cause of damage to braking mechanisms is overheating from too much continual use. The resin in pads can sometimes begin to melt when overheated. This melted resin dries on the rotor and creates odd vibrations that can be felt through the steering wheel or brake pedal. Any such vibrations shouldn't be ignored. Sluggish Braking The clearest and scariest sign of brake trouble is sluggish braking. Needless to say, this is very dangerous. Your brakes will need to be examined and your pads will most likely need to be replaced right away. Have experienced technicians inspect or replace your pads today at DARCARS Lexus of Greenwich. We're committed to providing a customer experience as luxurious as our vehicles, whatever your needs may be.

An engine diagnostic is a comprehensive electronic investigation of your car's engine, transmission, and other systems. As your Lexus dealer in Greenwich, we connect your car's computer to our diagnostic system. This system runs a full investigation of your car and can reveal any hidden problems that need to be checked. These are a few of the systems it can diagnose. Engine Problems A diagnostic can show any potential problems in your engine. Sensors are installed throughout your car, and they monitor all of the key systems and components for signs of trouble. These sensors can detect even the smallest change in the behavior of the component that they're attached to. Any change in a component's behavior can signal a problem. more Your first warning is usually when the check engine light comes on. This light signals a problem but doesn't show the cause or location of the problem. The diagnostic system will show exactly what's going wrong so our technicians can fix it. Transmission Problems The transmission is a very complex piece of engineering, and a failure by one small component can affect the entire transmission. Slight wear on the transmission pan seal, for example, can start a leak. Transmission fluid can slowly leak out, and your transmission will start to malfunction. A diagnostic will pinpoint this leaking seal so we can replace it.   Other potential problems, like overheating transmission fluid, a blocked transmission filter, or damaged gears can also be identified. Catalytic Converter Problems Your converter is responsible for converting dangerous chemicals in the combustion residue into less harmful ones. It uses heat and high pressure to change chemicals like carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide into carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. A problem in the converter can cause misfiring, low engine performance, and a host of other problems.   A failed oxygen sensor, for example, can send incorrect readings to your car's computer. These reports are used to control the timing and fuel-air ratio in the engine. A failed sensor may not be obvious, but it can cause damage. Our diagnostic system will find this problem, and we can replace the sensor. Brake Problems The braking system is essential for your safety, and any problem can lead to an accident. The brake fluid, calipers, pads, rotors, and all the other components can start to fail. The longer a problem with your brakes remains unnoticed; the more dangerous driving will become.   These are just a few of the possible problems a diagnostic can reveal. A diagnostic also saves large amounts of time and can reduce the cost of any repairs. Schedule a service for a speedy diagnostic at DARCARS Lexus of Greenwich, or discover more blogs about maintaining your Lexus today!