Automotive Industry News & Information - Lake Ridge Automotive

mechanic holding a clipboard with a checklist

Whether we’re talking about your engine, transmission, differential, suspension, or otherwise, correct specifications are necessary to keep your car, truck, or SUV reliable, drivable, and running smoothly. From our team here at Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge, VA, here’s what you need to know.

Coolant flushes are particularly important. No matter what type of car, truck, or SUV you drive, your cooling system is an essential aspect of maintaining the reliability of your vehicle.

Mechanic taking apart of an engine out from under the hood

An engine can last anywhere from 50 to 500,000 miles depending mostly on how well you maintain it. While some engines are certainly more reliable than others, all of them depend on maintenance to fulfill their greatest potential. Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge, VA has provided for you some of the determining factors of engine lifespan, to help you make sure your engine lasts as long as it possibly can.

Spark plugs have been around since the beginning, and play as important a role now as they did a hundred years ago. It’s a good idea to replace them as a set at regular intervals, but sometimes one will go bad sooner than the rest for one reason or another. How do you know if you have a bad spark plug? Here are some indicators, from Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge, VA.

The steering and suspension systems are key safety-related systems that largely determine your car’s ride and handling. Have these systems checked regularly, at least once a year, and usually with a wheel alignment.

What does it do? - The suspension maintains the relationship between the wheels and the frame or unibody. The suspension system interacts with the steering system to provide vehicle control. When working properly, the suspension system helps absorb the energy from road irregularities such as potholes and helps to maintain vehicle stability. The steering system transmits your input from the steering wheel to the steering gear and other steering components to control the car’s direction.

Typical Wear and Tear - Over time, steering and suspension components wear out and require replacement. Regular checks are critical to maintaining a safe car. Factors that affect wear include driving habits, operating conditions (potholes in road), vehicle type, type of steering and suspension system, and frequency of regular maintenance. Some symptoms that you are having issues with your vehicle steering and suspension include the car pulling to one side, uneven tire wear, excessive noise, vibration or bouncing, and loss of control.

Call or come by Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge today to have our professionals make sure your car is road-ready!

At Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge, we are fully dedicated to providing excellent customer service. Our technicians work hard to ensure timely, friendly, and efficient maintenance and repairs that you can rely on.

Trucks aren’t like cars...your average personal vehicle usually holds about 5 quarts of oil, and you are supposed to change it every 3-5k miles. However, the same logic doesn’t apply to large trucks. At Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge, VA, we know how important proper oil changes and diagnostics are to keep your truck on the road, for hundreds of thousands of miles. Here’s what you need to know:

At Lake Ridge Automotive in Woodbridge, we know how annoying a dead battery can be. Here’s some information on the subject, that will hopefully help you understand your battery issues a little better. If your battery dies after your car, truck, or SUV sits for a few hours, the battery itself isn’t necessarily the problem. While having the battery tested is a good place to start, many people mistakenly make a bad battery diagnosis, when actually something in the electrical system is to blame.