Not-So-Smooth Operator (Transmission Signs of Trouble)

January 28, 2024

You are heading down a flat, newly paved street when all of a sudden you feel it. Your vehicle jumps a little bit when you're accelerating and changing gears. You know it's not the surface of the road because it's smooth as silk. So what did you just feel? That kind of jumpingor grinding or sl... More

Automotive Tips from Spartan Tire Brighton: Knowing When Your Timing Belt Should Be Replaced

May 22, 2022

The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. Brighton drivers need to replace it on a schedule to avoid failure.Timing belts are very difficult to get to, requiring quite a bit of labor to access. Timing belt replacement is one of the more expe... More

Fears and Gears (Signs of Automatic Transmission Problems)

February 6, 2022

Automatic transmissions rule. The old days of shifting your own gears are a thing of the past for most drivers. But automatic transmission trouble can be a big inconvenience for any driver if it comes at the wrong time in the wrong place. Here are some signs to look out for that may mean you ar... More

Brighton Car Owners Ask: Why Do I Need to Change My Serpentine Belt?

March 21, 2021

Any Brighton driver who understands preventive maintenance knows that if it ain't broke, don't fix it is bad auto advice. Replacing a part before it breaks is much less costly for Brighton residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of this i... More

Timing Belt Service to Save Big Bucks in Brighton

May 3, 2020

Your engine is like a finely choreographed dance. All the parts have to work together. If the timing is off at the ballet, dancers crash into each other and fall down. It the timing is off in your engine, it may not run at all. One of the most intricate dances in your engine has to do with the c... More

A Cool and Smooth Transmission in Brighton

April 7, 2020

When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us Brighton drivers remember to get our oil changed. But services that occur at longer intervals like transmission service sometimes get overlooked. Yet transmission service is part of car care. A poorly maintained transmission w... More

Transmission Service at Spartan Tire Brighton in Brighton

March 30, 2020

Let's talk about transmission service. It can be easy for Brighton drivers to forget about getting their transmission serviced because it doesn't need it very often. It's easier for people in Michigan to remember to change the engine oil - you know, every 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But prop... More

Good Timing: Proper Timing Belt Replacement Saves Money for Brighton Drivers

August 11, 2019

Knowing how their engine works can help Brighton drivers make informed decisions about auto care and prevent repairs to their vehicles. This is especially true when it comes to timing belts.An engine's power is generated in the cylinders. Inside the cylinder is a piston that moves up and down wh... More

Automotive Tips from Spartan Tire Brighton: A Broken or Damaged Timing Belt

June 9, 2019

The timing belt rotates the cam shafts which open and close the valves that allow air, fuel, and exhaust to flow through the engine as it powers your car when you drive around Brighton.An old timing belt can lose a tooth in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing be... More

Ask Spartan Tire Brighton: What Happens When a Serpentine Belt Breaks?

April 11, 2018

The serpentine belt is aptly named since it snakes around under your hood. It may lack its namesake's fangs, but it sure packs a wallop when it breaks.The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine systems. It runs the alternator, which charges the battery; the water pump (on some vehicles), which co... More