Automotive News & Information - Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service

A huge part of what the hydraulic system in your transmission does is tell the mechanical components what to do and when to do it. Even if you don't understand how that works, our technicians at Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlotian, VA have trained with the best to make sure they understand all the ins and outs of your system. We want you to understand what we're talking about when we talk to you about your vehicle so we'll break down some aspects of your hydraulic system.

Whether you drive a Porsche, Audi, BMW, Subaru, Land Rover, or other performance and luxury vehicles, your ball joints are an essential part of your car or SUVs performance and safety. From us at Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service, here’s what to watch out for, to make sure your ball joints are in shape and ready to go.

Since the first automobiles, there have been radiators. Every liquid-cooled engine on the road has, and has always needed, a radiator; without it, the engine would overheat in no time, causing catastrophic engine failure. While the efficiency of radiators, the materials they’re made out of, and the shape and size of them have changed over time, radiators haven’t actually changed much over the last century or so. At Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service we know that even though radiators generally last a long time, they do occasionally fail. When your radiator is malfunctioning you can trust our technicians to repair yours and get you back on the road.

Part of maintaining your vehicle is keeping its safety devices in good working order, especially when there are kids in the vehicle. Seat belts, window locks, and airbag sensors work together to keep children safe in an automobile. Though safety components are generally very reliable, they do occasionally fail. Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlotian, VA is here when they do; here are some things to watch out for.

Does your car continue trying to move forward after you’ve put it into park? You may have a transmission issue that needs to be addressed. Here’s what you should know, from the experts at Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlotian, VA.

transmission fluid being poured into car

In theory, you shouldn’t have to add fluid to an automatic transmission. However, if your transmission is leaking, even slightly, at some point you’ll have to. Here’s what you should know, from Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlotian, VA.

Obviously, the dirtier your fuel system is, the bigger the improvement you will see in performance and fuel economy after a fuel system cleaning. But it is important not to wait until your system is running poorly. If you do, by the time you get a cleaning, you’ve wasted hundreds of dollars in gas or even possibly damaged your fuel injectors and catalytic converter.

Unless you are confident in your abilities as an automotive mechanic, there is really only one rule when purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle: don’t do it. Unfortunately, sometimes sellers aren’t particularly straight-forward with their used cars. Many will try to hide the fact that it’s been damaged by floodwaters at all or try to convince potential buyers that the car is in fact fine. “It has gone months with no issues” or “technically it is flood-damaged but” are two red flags, and while it isn’t impossible for a flood car to be fine, it’s altogether a good idea to stay away.