Automotive Services

Your car or light truck’s air filter is critical in keeping unwanted, engine damaging dirt and debris out of your engine. What you may not know, is that a dirty, plugged air filter can cause big problems with power and fuel efficiency. 

A properly maintained air conditioning system can help keep you comfortable on hot summer days. Did you know that a properly functioning A/C system is also instrumental in helping to defrost your windshield on those cold, damp winter days as well?

A vehicle alignment brings the car's suspension into the proper vehicle manufacturer's specification by adjusting components so that the wheels are aligned with each other and the road surface. A proper alignment squares the car's wheels and axles with each other so that they are moving in the same direction.

Most people know that it is the battery that allows your vehicle to be started when it is not running. Many people are not aware that once your car is running, your alternator takes care of running all of the systems on your car that require electricity. 

Your battery supplies the electrical service to start your car when it is not running. It also serves as a reserve capacitor to protect sensitive electronics on your car from voltage spikes originating from the alternator. 

Your vehicle’s belts and hoses play a critical role in the proper operation of your cooling system, air conditioning system, charging system and more. Old hoses can become cracked and dry rotted, causing them to squeal or break. 

Your brake system transmits the force you apply to the brake pedal, down hydraulic lines to the pistons in the brake calipers and wheel cylinders at your wheels.

Your car’s cooling system is designed to bring your vehicle up to operating temperature quickly while preventing it from running too hot. Your vehicle uses antifreeze to absorb heat from the engine and move it to the radiator where it can be cooled. 

Many trucks and cars today use engines that run on diesel fuel. While these engines are generally more fuel-efficient and reliable than their gas counterparts, they do require specialized maintenance to keep them running smoothly. 

Most modern cars and light trucks have a differential. All-wheel drive vehicles need a differential between each set of wheels as well as a differential between the front and back wheels because the front wheels travel a different distance through a turn than the rear wheels. 

The check engine lamp can signal a variety of issues. The lights you should pay close attention to are check oil/oil level low, oil pressure low, and check engine. However, if any dash lights continue to stay on after you start the engine it is time for you to contact us for an engine diagnostics service. 

At Big Sky Tire & Auto, we know how inconvenient a flat tire can be. Tires can lose air for many reasons including a punctured tire, a corroded rim, a leaky valve stem, or a cracked wheel. 

In order to keep your vehicle running smoothly, it is important to check your fluid levels regularly. It is important to check fluids such as coolant, engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid.

Many of today’s cars and light trucks employ the use of all wheel drive or four wheel drive. While each manufacturer may have a different system for providing power to all four wheels, they all use some sort of differential or transfer case to get the power from front to rear and left to right. 

Lifting your truck, sport utility vehicle, jeep, etc. a few inches can really help in certain situations like off-road trails and can add a unique and appealing look to your vehicle. Giving your truck a small lift can help improve performance and power. 

Your exhaust system takes the used-up fuel and air charge from your engine, cleans it of its hazardous pollutants, and silences it before pushing it out the back of the vehicle. Common components of the exhaust system are the exhaust manifolds, catalytic converters, flexible sections, center pipes, exhaust resonators and mufflers

Your oil removes heat from the engine and lubricates its moving parts. Changing your vehicle’s oil routinely is one of the most important things you can do to promote long term vehicle performance. As you drive, the oil pump circulates oil into your oil filter and throughout your engine. 

Many parts on your vehicle (including fluids, spark plugs, brake pads and rotors) have a limited service life and need to be serviced at pre-determined intervals. Regular preventive maintenance is likely the single most important thing you can do to keep your car running safely and efficiently. 

Your vehicle’s steering and suspension are designed to create maximum traction between your tires and the road. This provides steering stability, proper handling, and good comfort.

When your car rolls down the road, it is imperative that your tires be in proper balance. Out of balance tires will wear quicker and possibly cause symptoms such as vibration or a shaking sensation in the seat or steering wheel. 

Tires are no longer just rubber and oil. Instead, they are made up of several layers of materials, each playing its own role in how the tire functions. Today's tires last longer and are less prone to dangerous blowouts than older tires. 

Your tire pressure monitoring system, often referred to as TPMS, is an electronic system designed to monitor the air pressure in your tires. This system uses real-time tire pressure information to alert you if there is a tire pressure problem. 

While you drive, your tires wear at different rates due to steering. The most notable wear occurs on the front tires. Regular tire rotation can keep the wear on your tires even, improving fuel economy, ensuring proper handling, and extending the life of your tires.

Your tires connect you directly to the road surface and are the single most important safety item on your vehicle. Today’s tires are designed specifically for certain types of vehicles, road conditions, and weather conditions. 

Today’s transmissions are both better and more complex than ever before. They are electronically shifted and computerized to produce better fuel economy, smoother shifting, and more reliability. They are so sophisticated that they have become fully integrated into the engine performance system. 

 Things like spark plugs, distributor points and condensers, valve adjustments, timing adjustments, and carburetor adjustments were needed on an annual basis. It was this qualified need that prompted the industry to coin the phrase “tune up”. 

Regular vehicle inspections have the potential to save you hundreds, or even thousands, on costly repairs in the future. If you are concerned about the safety and road worthiness of your car or light truck, schedule a maintenance inspection today at Big Sky Tire & Auto.

The process of aligning wheels on a car involves adjusting the wheels, so they roll straight and are true to the center line of the vehicle. Misaligned vehicles will exhibit accelerated tire wear along with other possible concerns like a crooked steering wheel, pulling to the left or right, or a condition of wandering down the road without tracking straight. 

Your wiper blades are critical in helping to remove rain, snow, and debris from your windshield. Over time, the tiny rubber wiping edges will harden and crack, or rip and tear, causing them to perform poorly at the most crucial times. In cold winter climates, most wiper blades will need to be replaced at least yearly to maintain proper wiper operation.