Daytona Beach Auto Repair

If you've been paying attention, you've noticed that vehicle engines are getting more and more powerful in Daytona Beach and at the same time are getting better and better fuel economy. I've gotta tell 'ya, most of that's because of technological advances in transmissions. To get a better understanding of why that is, let's talk bicycles. You've probably seen plenty of cyclists on Daytona Beach roads. Perhaps you ride yourself. Then you know that a cyclist's cadence is the number of times per minute he or she pedals. The ideal pedal speed is the zone where they can most efficiently generate power over a sustained period of time. The experienced FL cyclist uses her gears to keep her pedal speed in the ideal zone whether she's climbing a hill, cruising on a flat stretch or killing a downhill. Think of it this way: if you have a 1-speed bike, you really have to pump hard to get up to speed. Your top speed is limited by how fast as you ... read more

When they hear the word suspension, many drivers in Daytona Beach may think back to those energetic days of grade school. Well, your car's suspension is actually a good thing because it keeps your car up off the road and helps provide a comfy ride around Daytona Beach. Its job is to keep your wheels firmly planted over bumps and through curves. Your suspension system has many parts. If you look under your car, it's basically everything that connects your wheels to the vehicle's frame. These are heavy duty parts that do a lot of work. They need to be inspected for damage and excessive wear at least once a year. A good time for this is when you get your annual alignment service at Honest-1 Auto Care. Here are some warning signs of suspension problems: the car pulls to one side it wanders the steering is erratic you see uneven tire wear you experience a poor ride or handling you see oil leaking from shocks Basically, you just don't feel in control when you ... read more

Custom wheels are one way that Daytona Beach folks express themselves and personalize their vehicle. But they aren't as cheap and easy as sticking decals on your back window. There are several factors that need to be considered, including cost, the fit of the wheel, modifications that will have to be made to the vehicle, how the new wheels and tires will affect the operation of the vehicle, your driving habits, and, of course, the style of the wheels. Most Daytona Beach drivers start with the last factor: the style of the wheels. But that should be the last thing we choose. When considering custom wheels, you should first carefully consider your budget. Some wheels may require adjustments to your vehicle suspension system, brakes, or traction systems. You need to know what you can afford before you start shopping or get your heart set on a particular type of wheel. There are three basic ways you can change your wheels. First ... read more

We don't want to think about it, but each Daytona Beach resident who drives or rides in a vehicle is potentially an accident victim. In the worst-case scenario, those people are unconscious and unable to communicate with FL rescue workers. Rescue workers and Daytona Beach police are well aware of this difficulty, even if the rest of us don't stop to think about it. They can all recount stories of searching through glove compartments, pockets, wallets, purses and cell phone directories for a person's name and for contact information for someone who can help them get the person the medical care they need. This contact information is critical in an accident because Daytona Beach medical workers need to know about allergies and potential drug interactions. Also, in FL, some medical treatments can't be provided without authorization or consent, and there can be insurance and billing issues if the person's medical care is not properly arranged. ICE&nbs ... read more

Brakes really aren't optional equipment for Daytona Beach drivers vehicles’. And taking care of them isn't optional either. A regular brake inspection is on every FL drivers car's maintenance schedule. At Honest-1 Auto Care, our team will check your brake system and let you know if there are any  problems. Of course, if you're having trouble with your brakes, get your car into your Daytona Beach service center right away. And watch out for these problems: Low or spongy brake pedal Hard brake pedal A brake warning light that stays on Constantly squealing or grinding brakes Vibrations or clunking sounds when you apply your brakes There are two types of brakes: disc and drum. Disc brakes have a rotor that's attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, kind of like the brakes on a bicycle. Drum brakes are more common on back wheels. Pads, called shoes, push against the inside of the drum to slow the vehicle. There are sev ... read more

Do I keep my old car or buy a new one? It's a question most Daytona Beach drivers ask themselves at some time or another. Generally, what it comes down to is the choice between a car payment and the possibility of repair bills. Most of the time, we want to choose the car payment because we don't like the inconvenience and uncertainty of car repairs. But that car payment has a detrimental effect on our budget and bank account. Edmunds.com is a great website to help you with your decision. This site uses repair histories to calculate the average repair bills for specific makes and models of cars. You can plug in the information for your car and get an estimate on what it will probably cost you to continue owning that vehicle. Now, Edmunds.com isn't a crystal ball. It can't know what will happen to your specific vehicle. But it can guide you in knowing how much money to budget for the repair and maintenance of your vehicl ... read more

It seems like everywhere you go in the Daytona Beach area you see custom wheels. Big trucks, little cars, mini-vans - it doesn't matter, are expressing themselves with custom wheels. Some FL auto owners want smaller tires and wheels - some want larger - and some want them enormous. So where do you start if you want new wheels? At Honest-1 Auto Care, we suggest you start with your budget. We know, that sounds so practical. But if the look you're after goes beyond just new tires and wheels and enters into the world of suspension modifications, you need to be prepared for the additional cost. Let's start with something easy - you want to give your ride a unique look and the stock wheel size is just right for you. One of the concerns you will have is that the new wheels have the same offset as your vehicle factory wheels. Your tire and wheel professional at Honest-1 Auto Care in Daytona Beach can help you find the right size wheel - or install adapters to make your new w ... read more

The coolant system is a vital part of your vehicle. It is also the second most common cause for vehicle failures. Even though coolant system failure is fairly common in Daytona Beach, it is easy to prevent. The most recognizable part of the coolant system is the radiator. It is connected to the engine with hoses and is filled with coolant. The coolant draws heat off the engine and then passes into the radiator. Air passes through cooling fins to reduce the temperature of the coolant and then it's back to the engine again. There are several ways for the cooling system to fail. Most common is with the coolant itself. Coolant is comprised of water and antifreeze. The proper ratio keeps the coolant from either boiling away or freezing. Understandably, either can lead to massive engine damage. Another coolant issue that is often overlooked by Daytona Beach drivers is the age of the coolant itself. Antifreeze has additives that protect the coolant system from corrosio ... read more

The automotive professionals at Honest-1 Auto Care would like to give Daytona Beach drivers an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, cars are becoming more sophisticated everyday - and fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.

The Daytona Beach do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their vehicle with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many FL car owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable Honest-1 Auto Care service advisor to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their car and their driving habits in the Daytona Beach area.

Let's start with engine oil. Daytona Beach drivers who have been paying attention, will have noticed a number of new oil weights on t




... read more

There are a lot of drivers in Daytona Beach who are due for a differential service, but had never heard of a differential before. With front-wheel drive being so common in FL these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Daytona Beach folks don't even have to think about it. And rear-wheel drive differentials don't need to be serviced for years, so it's understandable that it's not something on the top of mind. So it's not uncommon for people in Daytona Beach to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service. To better understand what a differential does, think about a track at any FL high school. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That's to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means ... read more