St Marys and Kingsland Auto Repair

While Volvo began phasing out their diesel engines several years ago, Volvos are well-known for being reliable, long-lived cars, so there are quite a few diesel Volvos still on the road today. With that in mind, it makes sense that someone might accidentally put the wrong fuel in their car. Whether they’re used to driving a gasoline-powered vehicle and the diesel Volvo isn’t their usual car, or they just happen to pull up to the wrong pump, there’s no denying the instant sense of dread as soon as you realize what you’ve done. If you happened to put the wrong fuel in your Volvo, what might you expect to happen? What’s the Difference? There are two main differences in how diesel and gasoline vehicles operate and use their fuel that will determine the symptoms your car experiences. First, diesel engines do n ... read more

Unlike other faulty components with several indicators, an illuminated airbag light on the dashboard is the only warning a driver gets for a defective airbag system. You don't want to be without the airbags during a collision. Although KIA's airbags have a long lifespan and can last more than 10 years (as your vehicle is not involved in a crash) some factors could still cause the airbag's failure. Causes of an Illuminated Airbag Light First, let's look at how an airbag works: The crash sensor sends a signal to an ignitor during a collision, which activates the airbags to cushion the vehicle occupants. The collision sensor is triggered based on the severity of the collision. After the airbag has been inflated, the airbag warning light pops up on the dashboard to alert the driver to have t ... read more

The Intermediate Shaft Bearing (IMS) failure is a common problem among many Porsche models including the 911, Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, and Panamera. Many owners are uncertain about what causes IMS bearing failures. This specific issue, which is expensive to repair, can be prevented with basic maintenance and inspections. The IMS Bearing The intermediate shaft bearing is a dual-row ball bearing located behind the timing chain cover. The IMS bearing helps turn the camshafts by spinning off of input from the crankshaft. When oil pressure drops due to a lack of lubrication or excessive heat build-up, the bearing can fail. If this occurs while you are driving at highway speeds, your car will immediately go into limp mode, and you will no longer be able to accelerate or maintain speed ... read more

Jaguar is known for luxury, confidence, and exceptional quality. The brand has remained a top name in the world of luxury cars for decades. Their evolution over the years has resulted in highly stylized, well-crafted models that demand care and maintenance. With the clamour for reduced vehicle emissions, Jaguar engineers have taken several measures to ensure that their vehicles are safe for the sustainability of the environment. Prior to the introduction of electric vehicles, the exhaust manifold gasket was one of such measures employed by auto manufacturers to reduce vehicle emission. What is an exhaust manifold gasket? An exhaust manifold gasket bolts the exhaust manifold to the cylinder head, thereby preventing exhaust leakage out of the connection. This also ensures that all exhaust gas flows through the catalytic converter for toxic waste treatment. The manifo ... read more

Jaguars are reliable and luxurious vehicles, but one problem that many Jaguar owners face is ABS accumulator failure. This is a component of your vehicle that is vital to the safety of both you and any other drivers on the road, so it’s important to know what to look out for that will tell you when it might be malfunctioning. Read on to learn more about what the ABS accumulator is, what causes it to fail, and how to get it fixed when it does fail. The Purpose of the ABS Accumulator The ABS accumulator in your Jaguar functions as part of the vehicle’s braking system. More specifically, it is where the hydraulic pressure required by the brake’s hold-release-reapply cycle is stored. There are many different components of the ABS accumulator, but one of the most important is the rubber diaphragm, which builds up the pressure using nitro ... read more

The clutch is one of the most formidable working parts of any car with a manual transmission. Your clutch engages and disengages whenever you start, stop, and change gears. The more you use the clutch pedal to drive your Mini, the more friction is created between the clutch dish, pressure plate, and flywheel, resulting in the hottest section of the clutch. This makes the clutch wear out. Signs of Clutch Failure in a Mini Cooper When your Mini is experiencing a clutch malfunction, there are some signs that you may observe. If you detect these signs early on, bring your vehicle to our Mini experts to help you check and repair it. Listed below are signs of a clutch failure: ●      Poor Acce ... read more

A Land Rover is a powerful SUV with incredible off-roading capabilities. With a four-wheel drive, Land Rovers seem almost unstoppable. In some cases, you might hit a snag when the serpentine belt is damaged. Fixing it yourself is definitely not an option. You should bring it to our qualified mechanics for replacement. However, there are things you can do to prevent such a situation from occurring. Signs of a Serpentine Belt Problem First, we need to know the signs of a failing serpentine belt: ●      Squealing noise: Whenever your Land Rover starts making a squealing noise from the front of your vehicle, it could be a result of a misaligned serpentine belt. What you should do in this case is to quickly drive to our ... read more

Drivability is a phrase used to describe the characteristics of a car that a consumer is considering purchasing. However, it more particularly refers to a general assessment of the vehicle’s powertrain capabilities performed by a skilled mechanic, as well as whether or not this has an impact on a person’s overall ability to drive a car. This word is more than a definition; it describes a real-world occurrence with major implications for cars and drivers. If your car’s drivability is a problem, you will notice it firsthand while driving the affected vehicle. Once your car is misfiring, shaking, stalling, or the check engine light comes on, it could be a sign of a bigger problem with the car’s drivability. The faults are pinpointed and rectified with adequ ... read more

  HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It is the climate control system in your BMW. The blower performs the simple function of blowing out heat when using your BMW’s heater and blowing cool air when using the air conditioner. If the blower is not working properly, you cannot use the heater or the air conditioner in the vehicle. This can lead to great inconvenience, especially if it is a particularly hot day. Signs of a Faulty HVAC Blower ●      Lack of Airflow: If the HVAC blower is not functioning properly, the air in your cabin may not be as hot or cold as desired. There will also be a lack of airflow from the vents. ●      Strength of Air Flow: If the strength at which the air blow ... read more

Bushings are the rubber pads that serve as shock absorbers in your Volvo's suspension systems and they seldom last the whole lifecycle of the car. They are very important parts of the suspension system as they provide a barrier between the car's cabin, divots, and bumps. Your Volvo is easier and smoother to drive thanks to the suspension bushing. You can find suspension bushings at every point that a joint has been formed all through the suspension system. They protect the joints from the wear and tear that comes with grinding. Whenever the bushing around a joint begins to weaken, it loses its ability to absorb road shocks and its noise-absorbing capabilities. Some places burn through bushings more quickly than others. The drop-link, anti-roll bar, mounts, control arms, and shock abs ... read more