Spanish Fork Auto Repair

If your car overheats while sitting at a stoplight or idling in traffic—but seems to cool down once you start driving—you’re not alone. This is a common issue and usually points to a problem in the cooling system that shows up when airflow is limited. Let’s break down the most common reasons your car overheats at idle and what you should do about it.   How Your Cooling System Works at Idle When you’re driving, air flows naturally through the radiator to help cool the engine. At idle, your vehicle relies heavily on cooling system components—like the radiator fan and coolant circulation—to regulate engine temperature. If any of these parts aren’t working properly, heat can build up quickly while the vehicle is stopped.   Common Reasons a Car Overheats at Idle1. Cooling Fan Not Working Properly One of the most common causes of overheating at idle is a failing or non-opera ... read more

If your vehicle seems to hesitate or won’t start like it used to, the culprit might be your starter motor (or a related component in the starting system). The “starter” is the small electric motor + solenoid that spins the engine to get it going. Over time, wear or electrical problems can cause the starter to fail — and catching it early can save you from being stranded, or from more costly damage. Here’s how to tell if your starter is beginning to fail: 🔧 What does the starter do — and why it matters When you turn your key (or push the start button), a small current from your battery activates the starter solenoid (a relay). The solenoid connects the battery’s high current to the starter motor, which spins and engages a gear (pinion) with the engine’s flywheel, turning the engine over so it can start. If the starter — or its solenoid, gears, or electrical connections — fails, the engine may refuse to tur ... read more

  What Does the Water Pump Do? The water pump is a crucial part of your vehicle’s cooling system, it’s hard to find a car without one. This week, we replaced the water pump on a 2005 Toyota Avalon, which got us thinking: What exactly does the water pump do, and how common are failures? The pump circulates coolant (antifreeze) through the engine block, absorbs heat, then sends that hot coolant to the radiator where it’s cooled and recirculated. If the pump fails or leaks, coolant may not circulate properly, leading to engine overheating. Today, we’ll dive into common Toyota water pump issues, though these problems can occur on all makes and models. Why Does a Toyota’s Water Pump Leak? There are several common causes of water-pump leaks. Here are the main ones: 1. Seal and Gasket Wear or Failure Over time, the shaft seal (which surrounds the impeller shaft) or the mounting gasket can wear out, bec ... read more

    If you own a Subaru, you already know they’re well-loved for their reliability, safety, and all-wheel-drive performance. But there’s one issue that some Subaru owners have experienced over the years — excessive oil consumption. If you’ve noticed your oil level dropping between oil changes or a burning smell coming from under the hood, you’re not alone. At Dickerson Automotive in Spanish Fork, we often get calls from Subaru drivers wondering, “Is it normal for my car to burn oil?” Let’s take a closer look at why it happens and what you can do to keep your engine healthy. Why Some Subarus Burn Oil Oil consumption can happen with any engine, but it’s been more common in certain Subaru models and years — especially those equipped with ... read more

 Understanding the New A/C Refrigerant 1234yf: What You Need to Know If you've had your vehicle's air conditioning serviced recently or drive a newer model, you may have heard about 1234yf refrigerant. This newer A/C refrigerant is quickly replacing the older R-134a in many vehicles — and for good reason. So what is 1234yf, why are manufacturers switching to it, and how does it affect you as a vehicle owner? Let’s break it down. 🔧 What Is 1234yf Refrigerant? 1234yf (short for HFO-1234yf) is the next-generation refrigerant used in vehicle air conditioning systems. It's designed to have a much lower impact on the environment compared to older refrigerants — especially R-134a, which has been the standard for decades. 1234yf is a type of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant. It cools just as effective ... read more