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Your exhaust system is very important. It moves toxic gases away from your vehicle. It also helps to move the noise away from your engine so you can hear yourself think as you drive. When this system is working properly, it affects your entire vehicle. Acura of the Rio Grande Valley has compiled a list of common signs to watch out for if you think your exhaust is leaking.

• Listen closely to the noise that is coming out of your tail pipe. You don't want to hear anything like a hissing or popping noise. A whistling can indicate restriction…

Car wax is pretty transparent, no pun. It is wax derived from a variety of organic sources, such as carnauba plant leaves or even coal. Many car wax products contain a mixture of organic and synthetic waxes from substances like silicone. Our Acura of the Rio Grande Valley team prides itself on our customer service and auto care knowledge, so here's a brief intro to car wax, its benefits and how to use it.

A Seal of Protection

Wax is typically hard at room temperature. When mixed with solvents and oils, it becomes viscous, pliable, spreadable. Wax repels water…

If your car continuously needs a battery jump or you find that your headlights or dash lights are dimming, then you may need to have your alternator checked. The alternator is a part of your car’s electrical system and is what feeds energy to the battery, lights, doors, and windows.

Signs of a Faulty Alternator

Your car's dashboard lights should indicate if your battery or alternator is working correctly. Your vehicle could lose power while you’re driving, which could result in a severe road hazard. Once your alternator dies, your car may not restart and require a…

Understeering is a problem that makes the process of staying on a curve challenging. Oversteering causes an opposite problem, as it makes steering sharper. These steering problems are easy to resolve since they're caused by steering components that influence grip.

When a vehicle begins to understeer, a driver doesn't experience grip during cornering situations. This happens because the wheels are affected by increased engine power. As a result, while a vehicle that understeers is driven around a curve, the lack of grip will make it continue to drift straight. 

Your headlights are tactical defensive parts that keep everyone safe in your cabin at night. If one bulb fails to shine, all passengers will be at risk because other drivers will have a tough time seeing your vehicle approaching on the road. By getting your headlights inspected regularly, you won't have to deal with sudden lighting problems that can impact everyone's safety.

Inspections should be done at a shop when everything is working correctly and whenever you notice minor or dramatic performance problems while using the high or low beams. 

Many people think of cabin and engine air filter replacements as unnecessary. This is thanks in part to horror stories of bad repair shops showing drivers dirty filters that didn't come out of their car. The truth is that your air filters should be replaced at regular intervals according to your car's owner's manual.

Air filters provide two vital services in your car. They make sure that the air you breathe is clean and they protect your air conditioner and engine from damage. A dirty air filter can lose protective ability and allow small particles to enter…

Cars run like a finely-tuned machine, although it takes a little maintenance to keep them that way. That's why we recommend drivers practice a few routine maintenance tips each spring. Don't worry, if this isn't up your alley, our certified technicians at Acura of the Rio Grande Valley can help.

Tire care is especially important now as potholes are prominent in the spring. Plus, with rainfall they can be easily disguised. Make sure to have your tires rotated to avoid uneven wear. Also, make sure you have adequate tire pressure and tread for slick terrains. 

In addition to regular maintenance on the inner workings of your vehicle, it is also important to not neglect to give some TLC to the exterior. The vehicle maintenance experts at Acura of the Rio Grande Valley want to equip you with the knowledge and tools that you need to get the most out of your automotive purchase by explaining to you why it is important to wash your vehicle.

Research demonstrates that vehicles that are washed regularly last longer than those that are neglected. Dirt that is left on a vehicle for an extended period of time can end…

Your tire pressure light is important because it can let you know that you need to check the pressure in one or more tires. Although it's usually nothing serious, you need to have Acura of the Rio Grande Valley examine your tires to determine if there is anything wrong with them before putting air in the tires. The light usually goes off after the issue has been corrected.

If you notice that the tire pressure light blinks or blinks and then stays on, then the sensor could be malfunctioning. This would mean that the sensor is unable to determine…

There are many things that drivers can do to keep their vehicles in good condition, and here are at Acura of the Rio Grande Valley, we enjoy helping vehicle owners to find ways to do so. One area that is very important to vehicle durability but is often overlooked is the issue of overheating.

Most engine cooling systems contain many large and small components. Some common and intrinsic ones are cooling fluid, radiators, cooling fans, and cooling hoses. While these large parts are critical to vehicle operations, some smaller components are just as vital.