Spanish Fork Auto Repair

  If you own a modified truck or performance car in Utah, you may wonder whether your tuner is legal and if you will still be able to register your vehicle in Utah County. In Utah County, emissions testing is required for most gasoline vehicles model year 1968 and newer, as well as diesel vehicles from 1998–2021, to help reduce harmful air pollutants. While many aftermarket tuners are legal, it is still important to understand the state and federal laws that apply to aftermarket tuners, ECU flashes, and performance modifications. Before installing a tuner or custom tune on your vehicle, it’s important to know what is legal — and what could create expensive problems later. Are Aftermarket Tuners Legal in Utah? In most cases, yes — aftermarket tuners are legal as long as they do not remove, disable, or alter factory emissions systems. This means your tuner cannot interfere with or bypass emissions-related components such as: Catalytic c ... read more

Brake Pads: Understanding Brake Pad Measurements and What Can Happen If You Wait Too Long Your vehicle’s brake system is one of the most important safety features on your car, truck, or SUV. Brake pads wear down over time, and understanding brake pad measurements can help you avoid expensive brake repairs and dangerous driving conditions. What Are Brake Pads? Brake pads are a key component of your vehicle’s disc brake system. When you press the brake pedal, the brake pads clamp against the brake rotors to safely slow and stop your vehicle. Brake pads consist of a solid steel backing plate with friction material attached to it. The friction material can vary depending on the application and may be ceramic, semi-metallic, or organic material. Over time, the friction material wears away through normal driving. Regular brake inspections help monitor the remaining brake pad thickness and determine when replacement is needed. Unders ... read more

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, struts are often overlooked—but they play a critical role in your car’s safety, comfort, and overall performance. If your ride has started to feel rough or unstable, worn struts could be the reason. Let’s take a closer look at what struts do and why replacing them matters.   What Are Struts? Struts are a key part of your vehicle’s suspension system. They help: Absorb shocks from the road Keep your tires in contact with the pavement Support the weight of your vehicle Provide stability when turning, braking, and accelerating Unlike shocks, struts are a structural component, meaning they directly impact alignment and handling. Top Benefits of Replacing Worn Struts1. Improved Ride Comfort If your vehicle feels bouncy or rough over bumps, worn struts may no longer be absorbing impact properly. New struts restore a smoother, more comfortable ride.   ... read more

What Is an Engine Misfire? Symptoms, Causes, and What It Means for Your Vehicle If your vehicle suddenly feels rough, sluggish, or starts shaking, you may be dealing with an engine misfire. It’s one of the most common issues drivers experience—and one that should never be ignored. In this blog, we’ll break down what an engine misfire is, the warning signs to watch for, and the most common causes behind it.   What Is an Engine Misfire? An engine misfire happens when one or more cylinders in your engine fail to properly ignite the air-fuel mixture needed to create power. In simple terms, one part of your engine isn’t doing its job. For an engine to run correctly, it needs three key elements: The right air-fuel mixture Proper compression A strong, correctly timed spark If any one of these is off, a misfire can occur.   Common Symptoms of an Engine Misfire Engine misfires can show up in several ... read more

Why Higher Octane Fuel Can Reduce Engine Knock in a 2019 Ford F-150 If you’ve ever noticed a pinging or knocking sound from your engine—especially when accelerating or climbing a hill—you may be experiencing early detonation, also known as spark knock. We recently inspected a 2019 Ford F-150 with this exact concern. After checking for any major issues and performing a fuel induction service, the noise was still present. Since no serious problems were found, the next step we recommended was trying a higher-grade fuel. In some cases, this can reduce or even eliminate the noise—but is it actually fixing the problem, or just masking it? Let’s break it down.   What Is Early Detonation? Under normal conditions, your engine’s air/fuel mixture ignites at a precise moment, controlled by the spark plug. This creates a smooth, controlled burn that pushes the piston down efficiently. Early detonation happens when that ... read more