According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, frontal airbags saved approximately 50,457 lives between 1987 and 2017. Airbags are a crucial safety component in any vehicle, which is why auto repair service experts recommend never ignoring the airbag warning light when it appears on the dashboard. Every time you switch on your car, its computer assesses the system, making the light come on for a few seconds and disappear after the check. If the light remains on or blinks on and off repeatedly, it could be due to the following reasons. A Problem with a Seat Belt Besides airbags and sensors, your vehicle's SRS system also includes seatbelt pretensioners that engage to hold you tightly in your seat when a sudden forward motion is detected. Due to this chain of events, the system helps keep you from crashing into the dashboard, steering wheel, or airbag, thereby preventing injuries. Force limiters will then step into action, reducing the grip of the tensioned seatb ... read more

Whether you hear a squeal, click, knock, rattle, or groan, any unusual noise that your vehicle makes can be unsettling. Some of these sounds erupt for a reason: to warn you of a vehicle problem. When you hear an unusual noise, it is best to trust your gut and take your car to Auto Fitness for a thorough inspection.    Below is a list of common car sounds and the kind of problems they translate to: 1. Loud Squealing This sound can be heard whenever you accelerate with a cold engine, and it can mean that you have a loose or damaged serpentine belt. Rubber belts under the hood can deteriorate over time, so it is wise to have them inspected as often as possible. You need to replace them before they break as they can cause bigger problems.  2. Knocking Engine knocking or pinging cannot go unmissed. It is one of the most common signs that indicate a problem with the combustion process. The popular explanations are usually missed oil changes, oil leaks, incorrect fuel, po ... read more

The sound of a dying battery can be incredibly dreadful to hear. When you’re in a hurry to get out of the door, you want to hop in and go. Without a working vehicle battery, you simply can’t start the engine. It can be even more inconvenient when you’re stuck somewhere other than your home. That is why you should not let your car battery drain completely before having to replace it.   The act of turning your key in the ignition starts chemical reactions in the battery, which eventually fires the engine to crank. With a dead battery, you might notice a few lights flickering on your dashboard. But, your engine won’t be able to turn over.   However, there are other signs to look for when it comes to a weak battery. First of all, your car battery may trigger the electrical warning light or even the check engine light. Immediately after detecting a warning light, you should bring your car to a trusted mechanic for an inspection.   Before your bat ... read more

Like most drivers, you probably don't think about your car's wheel alignment until there's a problem. And by then, it's often too late. A wheel alignment can correct problems such as uneven tire wear, steering wheel shake, and poor handling. This blog post will discuss five signs that it's time for a wheel alignment. Signs It's Time For a Wheel Alignment Uneven Tire Wear One of the most common signs that it's time for a wheel alignment is uneven tire wear. If you notice that your tires are wearing down more on one side than the other, it's a good indication that your car needs an alignment to avoid further tire damage. Steering Wheel Shake Another common sign of a wheel alignment problem is a steering wheel shake. If you're driving down the road and your steering wheel starts to feel loose and shaky, it's a good indication that your car needs an alignment. A vibrating steering wheel could also indicate problems with brake rotors. Steer ... read more

There's nothing more unpleasant than opening your car door to catch a reeking smell. When a bad smell lingers in your cabin, your first instinct may be to find the source. But if the smell is familiar, like the smell of rotten eggs, it is probably sulfuric acid coming from your catalytic converter.    The most common culprit for this spoiled smell is a bad catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is an integral component of your car's emission system that changes harmful engine byproducts into safer gasses before releasing them. When it stops being able to do this, all those gasses get mixed with the air, which can turn your car into a smelly mess.   If your catalytic converter is damaged, it will likely need to be replaced by a professional mechanic. In other cases, a bad pressure sensor can manipulate the catalytic converter to stop working. The best way to be sure is to have a trusted technician inspect it.   The Danger Of It All Unfortunately ... read more

A cracked windshield is one of the most annoying things a driver can deal with, and it is quite common. Minor chips or fractures can occur from everyday driving hazards like debris or temperature or pressure changes. While larger cracks can happen from accidents and large debris. Regardless, you should not leave a damaged windshield there for long.   Following an incident, you may wonder can you continue driving with it and how long can you go driving with the windshield damaged.   You’ll be glad to know that you can drive with a cracked windshield. However, that doesn’t mean it’s smart to do it. In some states, you can get tickets and fines for cracks that block the driver’s line of sight.   Furthermore, a fissure in your windshield can pose a safety hazard to you and your passengers. Driving with a large crack can obstruct your view of the road, especially if the damaged area is on the driver’s side. Plus, the damage can compromise t ... read more

The Total Peace of Mind Vehicle Repair Warranty A nationwide vehicle repair warranty is just that! It's a written agreement you can use at authorized auto repair shops nationwide, no matter their locations, to fix any qualifying repairs free of charge. So when you will be traveling out of town, feel confident in the fact that any vehicle problems you might run into will not be a costly headache. Please don't get it confused, though. A nationwide vehicle repair warranty is not an extended warranty but is a valid warranty that your auto repair shop offers. You can use the contract at specific repair shops across the nation, where they will cover any repairs with quality parts and labor. The nationwide vehicle repair warranty typically is valid for 24 Months/24,000 miles of use. However, Auto Fitness has extended ours further than the average, as we will cover 36 months/36,000 miles.  Never Worry About Your Car When You're on Holiday Again There is no greater peace of ... read more

Most of the time, car problems can be detected early on by having regular inspections. Knowing the warning signs and when to take your car to an auto repair shop can save you both time and money in the long run. Read on to learn 6 critical warning signs that indicate that your vehicle is in trouble: Check engine light on: If this yellow light is flashing on your dashboard, it’s a very serious sign that your car is in critical condition. It is almost always engine or emissions related. When you see this light, please pull over and call for a tow immediately.  Weird smells: if your car is emitting a foul or burning scent while driving, don’t take it lightly. It could signify any problems with your brakes, wheels, transmission, belts, or fluids. Loud metallic screeching: This noise is often associated with your brakes and can erupt when you step on the brake pedal. You should have your brakes checked to see if any components need to be replaced.  Smoke: Any odd-l ... read more

Similar to motor oil for your engine, your transmission needs fluid to keep its transmission components cool and lubricated. You should always have clean transmission fluid to make seamless gear changes. When you have a transmission fluid leak, or your transmission fluid levels dip too low for other reasons, you may notice one or more of the troubling signs below:  Burning Smells - You run the risk of overheating whenever your vehicle runs with not enough transmission fluid. As a result, you will smell burning odors. Continuing to ignore this smell will lead to further transmission damages. Clunking Noises - You may also hear unsettling noises whenever you make gear changes. Trouble Shifting Gears - Speaking of gears, you may not be able to get your automobile into proper gear at all. In other words, your car may refuse to go into drive or reverse. Furthermore, it's very common for a troubled transmission to slip out of gear and go back into neutral in the middle of driving ... read more

Even though Airbags aren't actively used every day by drivers, they have such an essential purpose in the overall safety of your vehicle. Airbags have saved hundreds and thousands of lives, but when did they become a major safety feature in the automotive industry? And how have they affected society? As the innovation of airbags continues to be studied and improved today, let's discuss the history of how airbags came to be.   The airbag was conceptualized and created by a gentleman named Walter Linderer, who was from Germany. It had been patented as early as the 1950s; however, it was initially coined as a safety cushion back then. Unfortunately, Linderer's design failed. One major flaw was that it required a cue from the driver to inflate.   American John Hetrick wanted to make the previous design better, as he was a vehicle accident victim. Hetrick was the individual who called his design "airbag". However, the automotive industry still failed to r ... read more