Air quality affects us wherever we are in Montgomery. Many decades ago, Montgomery residents began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects health. But what about the air inside your vehicle?

Cabin air filters are now coming on most new carss since the 2000 model year. These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment. They can filter particles down to three microns, so that’s good enough to clean out dust, pollen and most pollutants. If you suffer from allergies in Montgomery, this is very good news.

You can look in your cars owner’s manual to see if you have a cabin air filter. If you do, there’ll be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty. If you live where there’s a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may need to change it more often. You can also ask your personable and caring service advisor at Broadway Automotive in Montgomery.

How hard it is to change a cabin air filter depends on your vehicle. Some are quite accessible; others take some doing to get to them. They’re usually in the cars engine compartment or under the dashboard.

Because cabin air filters are so new on the scene, some Montgomery motorists haven’t heard of them – even people who have cabin air filters. Broadway Automotive service advisors report customers complaining of an unpleasant odor in their vehicle and it turned out to be a dirty cabin air filter.

An important note for Montgomery hybrid owners: there is a special air filter that cleans the air that cools the hybrid battery pack. This filter should be inspected every time the cabin air filter is inspected and replaced if it is dirty so that the battery pack doesn’t overheat.

Give us a call

Broadway Automotive
334.277.9664
5840 East Shirley Lane
Montgomery, AL 36117

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

A lot of Pike Road drivers get custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes, once they’re mounted, they just didn’t fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don’t want that.

Consulting a tire professional at Broadway Automotive can ensure you get the right fit. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs in Pike Road and what you want in your new wheels.

At Broadway Automotive, we advise Pike Road tire buyers that not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub.

If you don’t want to make any modifications to your cars, you need to focus on the wheels that fit. With trucks, some Pike Road people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Pike Road people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s, like the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The cars’s computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong speed. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your cars’s engine control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. For information on reprogramming the engine computer, call us at 334.277.9664.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Pike Road. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your Broadway Automotive tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs.

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Most Montgomery drivers know that braking means slowing or stopping a vehicle. The mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake system and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.

Let’s step back. A car or truck rolls brand new off the showroom floor at a local Montgomery dealer. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and the power assist are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the cars tires are brand new, with full tread. Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance.
 
Now, as your drive from Montgomery to Prattville and back, the miles start to add up. Most Montgomery car owners tend to focus on the brake pads. In the Montgomery automotive service community, the pads, and shoes on drum brakes, are called the friction material. That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the cars. The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life – it’s not until they are worn so thin as to be out of spec that they lose stopping effectiveness.

The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while stopping the cars. Over many miles, these wear and get gummed up. They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail. That’s why a regular brake inspection is important. At Broadway Automotive, we can test the operation of the brakes and see if any parts need cleaning or replacing.

That leads us to brake fluid service at Broadway Automotive. Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the cars fluid system are depleted over time. That and moisture building up in the system deteriorate the performance of the brake fluid. Brake fluid replacement at Broadway Automotive includes flushing the brake system to clean out deposits, water and dirt. Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.

The tires are what connect the cars to the road. The stopping force is ultimately dependent on the traction provided by the tires. The better they grip the road, the quicker you’ll stop as you drive around Montgomery.

For questions about brakes, brake pads, air conditioning service, CV joint repair, or tires, talk to Broadway Automotive  manager Amos Broadway.

Give us a call

Broadway Automotive
334.277.9664
5840 East Shirley Lane
Montgomery, AL 36117

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some Montgomery drivers and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us in AL.

First, if your cars check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. Get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at Montgomery highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to Broadway Automotive in Montgomery.

If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your Montgomery service advisor to get it checked out.

Some more information from Broadway Automotive on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative. Most of your cars engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer. The computer is able to adjust many engine parameters for environmental conditions, engine condition and even the way you drive in Montgomery.

In order to make these adjustments, the cars computer relies on a network of sensors to provide data. The computer knows the proper operating range for each sensor. When a sensor reading is out of range the computer runs some tests and may turn on the Check Engine Light.

The cars computer will also try to make adjustments to compensate for some readings. If it can do so, it’ll then turn off the Check Engine Light.

If the problem can’t be resolved then the light will remain on and you should get your cars looked at at Broadway Automotive. Your personable and caring service technician will plug a scanner into the on-board diagnostic port and read the trouble code stored in the computer. The trouble code will give your Broadway Automotive technician a starting place as he diagnoses the cause of the problem.

At Broadway Automotive, we also offer air conditioning service and CV joint repair.

Give us a call

Broadway Automotive
334.277.9664
5840 East Shirley Lane
Montgomery, AL 36117

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Car batteries wear out just like any other battery and need to be replaced. There are a couple of things Montgomery cars owners should know when looking for a new car battery: one is cold cranking amps and the other is reserve capacity.

Let’s start with cold cranking amps. This can be thought of as the power output used to start a cold cars engine. The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live around Montgomery, specifically how cold it is where you live. The two factors are that the colder an engine is, the more power it takes to turn the cars engine over to get it started. It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend with. The other factor is that the chemical reaction in the battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient in the cold.

So the colder it gets in Montgomery, more power is needed, but the available power drops.

If you live where it’s cold, you need a battery with more cold cranking amps than you do where it’s moderate or hot. You should always get at least as many cold cranking amps as the manufacturer recommends, but may want to upgrade at Broadway Automotive if you live where it gets real cold.

An important note: Batteries may also list the Cranking Amps – CA – number. It is the Cold Cranking Amps – or CCA – that is the important number here. CCA is the number to use in your comparisons.

Now with all this talk of cold temperatures in Montgomery, it’s important to note that heat is the real enemy of long battery life. In other words, the damage that’s done over the hot summer months in Montgomery shows up with the increased demands on the cars battery when the weather turns cold.

Now on to reserve capacity: It’s a measurement of the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has at a given load. The number is more important these days because of parasitic drain. Parasitic drain is the battery energy that’s used when the key is off. So the power drawn by the cars security system, the remote start system, even the power the cars computers require to maintain their memory.

Reserves are also needed when you make very short trips around Montgomery. You’re not driving long enough for the battery to recover the energy it used to start the cars engine.

So go with the minimum recommended by your manufacturer and upgrade if you need more. Talk with your personable and caring Broadway Automotive service advisor about options. If you need more from your battery, a larger capacity battery may be called for.

Batteries are a big ticket item for most Montgomery motorists, so the warranty gives peace of mind. Be sure to ask about the car battery warranty at Broadway Automotive so you know what you’re getting. At Broadway Automotive, we have been providing quality auto service in Montgomery for 17 years.

Give us a call

Broadway Automotive
5840 East Shirley Lane
Montgomery, AL 36117

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Today’s Broadway Automotive article focuses on the effect of tire tread depth on braking. When Montgomery and Montgomery drivers talk about stopping power, they tend to focus on their brakes. But our tires are where the rubber meets the road. We have to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power.

Let’s concentrate on stopping in wet Prattville conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water. That’s called hydroplaning and it is a factor in many AL auto accidents. If it’s really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

Your cars tires have channels for water to flow through. The deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet AL roads.

That’s why it’s so important for Montgomery and Pike Road motorists to replace their tires when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of replacing tires when the tread is worn down to 4/32 of an inch. That’s 3.2 millimeters. By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn to 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible.

And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet Montgomery surface streets and Montgomery highways. A safe stop from AL freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

You’ve probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount. And if you have uneven tread wear – have us check it out at Broadway Automotive. It could be a problem with your steering or suspension components or a wheel alignment problem. If you need new tires or have any concerns about your brakes, give us a call today at 334.277.9664.

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the cars engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.

These hot gases are about seventy percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion in your cars. At high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.

Montgomery car owners need to know that over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won’t work well. That can lead to all of the problems I’ve already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and wasted gas.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to test the PCV valve and quick and inexpensive to replace it at Broadway Automotive. Even so, it’s often overlooked because many Montgomery drivers don’t know about it.

Check your cars owner’s manual or ask your Broadway Automotive advisor. If this is the first time you’ve heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a PCV valve replacement.

Please ask us about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs.

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet Montgomery conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That’s called hydroplaning. At Broadway Automotive we want our customers to know that if it’s really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet Montgomery roads.

So that’s why it’s so important for Montgomery drivers to replace the tires on their carss when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out tire.

And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet roads. A safe stop from AL freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

You’ve probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount.

Of course, tires are a big ticket item for Montgomery car owners. Most of us want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Now when you hear “severe service”, you may think it doesn’t apply to you because you don’t feel your driving conditions are severe or extreme – it’s just normal everyday driving around Prattville. At Broadway Automotive, we discuss the conditions that manufacturers classify as severe so that you can make the judgment on your own driving.

• Most trips are less than four miles
• Most trips are less than ten miles and outside temperatures are below freezing in Prattville
• You drive in very hot AL weather
• Driving at low speed most of the time (under 55 mph)
• Stop and go driving
• Operating your vehicle in dusty, polluted or muddy conditions
• You tow a trailer, regularly carry heavy loads or carry a car-top carrier on your cars

Most Prattville drivers operate under severe driving conditions at least some of the time. How do you know which schedule to follow for your cars?

Carefully think about your driving conditions and decide if you should do your preventive maintenance closer to the severe service recommendation or the regular recommendation. Of course, your Broadway Automotive advisor can help you with your decision.

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

There are plenty of people in Montgomery whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own cars on the road.

A common denominator is that they never skip an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine. Enough said.

There’s another reason why the scheduled oil change is so important. It’s simple – a Broadway Automotive professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won’t get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss, let’s use brake fluid as an example, your Montgomery technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair.

Your Montgomery service technician will also visually inspect the vehicle for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car’s worth. And your Montgomery service advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done.

Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to the dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don’t skip it.

Of course, good maintenance costs money, but it’s far cheaper than new car payments.

Give us a call to schedule your next oil change today. You can find us online at Broadway Automotive, or you can find us in Montgomery, AL 36117 at 5840 East Shirley Lane. Or simply give us a call at 334.277.9664.

At Broadway Automotive in Montgomery AL (36117) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 334.277.9664. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.