Sparks Auto Service

12/03/2021

The thermostat is like a valve that opens and closes as a function of its temperature. The thermostat isolates the engine from the radiator until it has reached a certain minimum temperature. Without a thermostat, the engine would always lose heat to the radiator and take longer to warm up. Once the engine has reached the desired operating temperature, the thermostat adjusts flow to the radiator to maintain a stable temperature.

11/29/2021

Too Quality Service! Got a recommendation from Hill Top Collision and couldn’t be happier. Gary was my initial poin...

11/15/2021

The entire front end had to be removed from this Audi in order to service the cylinder head and replace the timing chain.

11/11/2021

Sparks Auto Service will be closed on Thursday November 25th for Thanksgiving and Friday November 26th for observation; We will return Monday November 29th for normal Business Hours.

11/11/2021

11/09/2021

What does a Catalytic Converter do?

A catalytic converter uses a chamber called a catalyst to change the harmful compounds from an engine's emissions into safe gases, like steam. It works to split up the unsafe molecules in the gases that a car produces before they get released into the air.
Incidences of catalytic converter thefts from cars showed a dramatic increase in 2019 with the year’s total around 10 times higher than in 2018. We still hear about this kind of theft all of the time.

11/02/2021

What is a PCV system in a car?
“PCV” stands for “positive crankcase ventilation.” It is a one-way valve attached to the crankcase. ... In order to prevent oil sludge from clogging up vehicles' engines and to protect the environment from toxic gases, the PCV valve was created.

What happens when PCV valve goes bad?
As the PCV valve starts going bad, the performance of your vehicle will get worse. This can be exhibited by a buildup of pressure in the exhaust or the engine could stall out. ... When this happens, the fuel and air mixture is diluted causing your vehicle to run poorly and lean out.

PCV valves are often times replaced during preventative maintenance;

10/28/2021

The timing belt (not to be confused with a serpentine drive belt) is there to make sure that the movement of the camshaft or camshafts is synchronized with the movement of the crankshaft. Some vehicles have a timing belt, others have a timing chain; Timing belts have recommended mileage intervals for replacement, timing chains are usually "lifetime" but can stretch/break over time/mileage.

10/21/2021