Headlights are an important safety feature in any vehicle. Over 40% of car accidents happen during the hours of darkness even though there are far fewer vehicles on the road. Even slightly reduced visibility makes it harder to see obstacles and hazards and slows down reaction times. With this in mind, if you notice the following signs of faltering headlights, visit your nearest Acura dealer right away for new headlights or to repair any underlying problems. more Flickering Light If the light ahead of your vehicle is flickering, the problem might lie with one of your bulbs, the wiring behind them, or your alternator. The first step is to test your bulbs with a multimeter or ask a technician to test them for you. Make sure you test both low and high-beam bulbs if your Acura model uses separate bulbs for the high beams. If the bulbs are fine and all other electronics are also working well, then it's likely you have a loose connection in the headlight wiring, which will need to be fixed. Fading Light Some headlight bulbs fade and grow dimmer with age. If your lights seem to be dimmer than before, check that the lens isn't dusty or dirty. Sometimes the acrylic in headlight lenses grows cloudy from continual exposure to UV rays in sunlight. If your lenses seem clean and clear, your bulbs might be on their last legs. Tungsten-halogen bulbs can lose 20% of their brightness before dying. Xenon bulbs also tend to grow dimmer in the last few months and weeks of their lifespan. High-Intensity Discharge (HID) bulbs and Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs, on the other hand, rarely dim before they suddenly fail. Aging Bulbs Whatever type of bulbs your car uses, it's good to know their expected lifespan. That way, you'll have an idea in advance of when you might need to replace them. Tungsten-halogen bulbs tend to last between 500 and 1,000 miles of usage. HID bulbs can last anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 miles. And high performance LED bulbs can last up to 30,000 miles. Blown Fuse As with any electrical issue, a repeatedly blowing fuse is usually a sign of trouble with the bulb or the wiring. If you find your headlight fuse blowing a few times in a row, have a technician diagnose the problem for you. How an Acura Dealer Can Test Your Bulbs A technician will usually start with a visual inspection of your bulbs, looking for signs of cracking, hazing, or burnt filaments. They may then use a scanner to integrate with your car's onboard computer, which can sometimes reveal useful data about the problem. They can then remove the bulbs and use an ohm meter, voltmeter, or amp clamp to test each bulb's voltage. Malfunctioning bulbs usually need to be replaced. If the bulbs are still working well, they'll examine the wiring to locate and repair any broken connections. Have your headlights checked, repaired, or replaced today at Ed Martin Acura. We're an award-winning local dealership offering extended servicing hours for the convenience of our customers.
Without a working car air filter in place, debris and dust can enter your engine and cause havoc that damages both your car and your wallet. Regularly checking your car into your Acura dealer to replace worn or damaged filters is essential to maintaining your car's health. more While it's recommended that drivers replace their filters annually, this doesn't apply to everyone. Driving in dusty, rural settings or facing daily heavy traffic can affect how often it should be replaced. So, what are some of the signs that your Acura needs a new air filter? Your Engine Has Less Power Adequate airflow is a must for your engine to perform at its highest standard. If proper air circulation isn't possible, you'll likely notice a decline in your car's performance. If your car is slow to accelerate, jerking, or not responding like it usually does, there's a chance your air filter is the culprit. Consult an Acura mechanic to check if your engine is getting enough airflow. Your Check Engine Light Is On Every driver dreads seeing their check engine light flash on. While the light might indicate a minor problem, it could be highlighting a more serious issue. The light is sometimes triggered when carbon deposits are formed because enough air isn't reaching the engine. Your trained Acura technician will be able to tell you if a faulty filter is the reason behind your lit-up engine light. Your Engine Is Making Odd Sounds A damaged filter can affect your engine's sound dynamics, causing a sputtering or coughing sound as you drive. If your car starts making noises you're not used to, especially while the car is idling, there's a chance you need to install a new air filter. Your Exhaust Pipe Is Smoking Without the right supply of air reaching the engine, you might notice black smoke or even flames when you start your car. Residual fuel left over from the combustion cycle is often expelled through the exhaust and ignites in the tailpipe. If you see this, you know it's time to get your car to an Acura mechanic. How Can an Acura Dealer Technician Help You? Not every driver is comfortable inspecting their car. Fortunately, this straightforward procedure can be carried out by a professional in just minutes. This is especially helpful considering newer car models tend to place their filters in less-than-reachable spots to save on engine space. When it comes to your car's overall health, it's best to catch easily remedied issues before they become pricey, time-consuming problems. If you think you need a new air filter, visit Ed Martin Acura today to chat with one of our skilled technicians. image courtesy of pexels.com
Your Acura has a great engine, but to perform at its best it needs regular services. In time, parts can wear out or need to be replaced, and your Acura dealer in Indianapolis, IN, can help you. Our technicians are trained to repair any possible problem in any Acura vehicle. These are examples of some of the engine problems we can repair for you. more Damaged Water Pump Your engine works most efficiently at high temperatures, but high temperatures can damage parts of your engine. To keep the temperature under control, your Acura has a very efficient cooling system. When the engine temperature rises over 185 F, liquid coolant is released into your engine. Coolant is a mix of antifreeze and water, and it absorbs the heat from your engine. The coolant is pumped through your engine until it reaches the radiator. In the radiator, the heat in the coolant is exchanged for cooler air that blows through the radiator grille. This system depends on the water pump. The water pump forces coolant through your engine at high speed. If the pump is damaged or fails, coolant will be released, but it won't flow. Your engine will rapidly start to overheat. Worn Alternator The alternator is responsible for producing the electrical power for all your car's systems. It converts the mechanical force from the turning of the crankshaft into electrical power. An alternator will generally last for eight years before it needs to be replaced. It can, however, suffer damage due to environmental conditions and the failure of other components, for example, the battery. The alternator charges your battery, but a worn battery has great difficulty holding a charge. When your engine starts up, the alternator begins charging your battery. It will supply a strong charge for several minutes before it slows down to a steady recharging rate. If your battery is damaged, it won't acknowledge this charge. In this case, your alternator can wear itself out trying and failing to charge your battery. Starting Problems The sad click-click sound of an engine that won't start is disheartening. Your engine requires several components to work together to start your engine. The battery provides the initial charge to the starter motor. The solenoid in the starter motor then uses this power to crank your engine. To keep the battery fully charged, your alternator must recharge it. Any of these systems can fail if they're not regularly serviced. Our technicians will check the components and find and repair the source of the starting problem. If you have any problems with your engine, call us right away at Ed Martin Acura. image courtesy of pexels.com
