Spanish Fork Auto Repair

Fall has been amazing — crisp air, colorful leaves, and weekend drives under golden trees. 🍁 But as those first cold mornings roll in, you may have noticed something a little less pleasant: your car taking longer to start… or not starting at all. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and your car’s battery is likely sending a warning sign. Why Cold Weather Affects Your Battery When the temperature drops, your battery’s ability to produce power slows down. Inside every car battery, chemical reactions create the energy needed to start your engine. In cold weather, those reactions take longer to happen, which means less cranking power right when your engine needs more to get going. Combine that with an older or weak battery, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a chilly morning breakdown. Signs Your Battery Might Be Failing If you’ve noticed any of the following, it’s time for a battery ... read more

What’s the issue? Automaker Hyundai has issued a recall affecting approximately 135,386 non-hybrid Santa Fe SUVs for model years 2024 and 2025 in the U.S. The defect centers around the starter-motor assembly in vehicles equipped with the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (i.e., the non-hybrid power-train). Specifically: The “B+” (battery positive) terminal cover on the starter motor may not have been fully seated during manufacturing. In certain crash scenarios—when the engine compartment is deformed—the exposed terminal could contact the cooling fan assembly. That contact can cause an electrical short, which in turn raises the risk of a fire. Hyundai reports that the issue was discovered during a crash-test (an NCAP front barrier test) and that they are not aware of any field-accident injuries or fires to date. What models and build dates are affected? Model years: 2024 and 2025 Santa Fe ... read more

Why Repairs Get Harder as Your Car Gets Older As your vehicle ages, regular maintenance and repairs can start to take a little longer — and sometimes cost a little more. It’s not because technicians are taking their time; it’s because older parts don’t always cooperate like they used to. Over the years, exposure to the elements and everyday driving conditions can take a toll on even the best-maintained vehicles. Corrosion and Rust: The Silent Culprits One of the biggest challenges with aging vehicles is corrosion. Moisture, humidity, and oxygen cause metal components to slowly rust. Add in Utah’s winter road salt, and corrosion can happen even faster. That white crusty buildup you sometimes see on bolts or undercarriage parts? That’s oxidation — and it can make simple repairs much more difficult. When metal parts fuse together with rust, bolts seize, brackets break, and lines can become fragile. A job that m ... read more

Understanding Your Alignment Readings When your shop hands you an alignment printout, do you really know what all those numbers and terms mean—or do you just notice the Christmas colors of red and green? Most of us understand that red means bad and green means good, but what exactly do those colors represent? Let’s break down the three main terms you’ll see on your alignment report: caster, camber, and toe.Caster   Caster measures how far forward or backward the steering axis tilts compared to the vertical axis of the wheel. It affects steering stability, steering effort, and how well your vehicle tracks straight down the road. Positive caster helps keep your steering wheel centered and improves high-speed stability. Negative caster makes steering feel lighter but ... 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