Davenport Auto Repair

By now, you're probably wondering what a catalytic converter does. A catalytic converter helps to reduce harmful emissions from your car's engine. A faulty catalytic converter poses a significant disadvantage to the efficiency and performance of your vehicle. This article will discuss how a catalytic converter works and the symptoms of a faulty catalytic converter. How do Catalytic converters work? A catalytic converter uses a chemical reaction to convert harmful exhaust emissions like Carbon monoxide into less toxic substances. Inside the catalytic converter, a thin metal layer acts as a catalyst made from precious metals like platinum and palladium. When exhaust gases pass through the metals, a chemical reaction breaks down the harmful emissions into less toxic substances. The catalytic converter is found underneath the vehicle toward the exhaust outlet and is designed to withstand high temperatures from the engine. Various symptoms arise considering the catalytic conv ... read more

Most of us don’t jump into buying a house without prior research, consulting, and inspections. So, why should you shoot your shot by buying a pre-owned car? When buying a used vehicle, we advise that you should be especially careful. While the exterior may look spotless and have great paintwork, most people can’t detect minor issues under the hood or in other areas of the car. Fortunately, you can gain confidence by having a mechanic at River City Tire & Automotive who can work out whether your desired vehicle lives up to its expectations with a pre-purchase inspection.   A pre-purchase inspection is a comprehensive examination of both the exterior and interior of a used car that is for sale or waiting to be sold. If you have any of these questions or concerns with your dream car-to-be, consider having this service done: Is it structurally and mechanically safe? Is it economical to maintain? Are there any minor or hidden underlying problems with the car? Was ... read more

Tread depth is the key indicator of how to tell when you need new tires. Tires need to have enough tread to be able to grip the road safely or obtain proper traction. To stay on top of your tires, we recommend monitoring your tire tread regularly. An easy method to go about checking your tread depth is the penny test. The best part is that it takes minutes and minimal effort! The Penny Test When you get fresh, new tires, they typically have 10/32-11/32 of an inch of tread depth. Over time, the treads wear down. And once they get to 2/32 of an inch, it is deemed unsafe and illegal to drive. In fact, your vehicle will not pass state inspection if your treads are too worn.    To plan for your next tire replacement, please follow the procedures of the penny test. All you need is some spare change – of course. Position the penny with Lincoln’s head upside down. Place it onto the inner ridges of your car tire.  Get eye-level with the tire. If the head is cove ... read more