Combustion Choreography: Timing Belt Replacement at Auto Lab Troy in Troy

December 16, 2018

Have you ever seen a ballet performance? Have you wondered how all of those dancers manage to travel all over the stage jumping and twirling and never crash into each other? That's the job of a choreographer.Our auto engines are also highly choreographed. Pistons travel up and down inside cylinde... More

A Cool and Smooth Transmission in Troy

June 25, 2018

When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us Troy 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 will ... More

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

October 9, 2017

Any Troy 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 Troy residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of this is the se... More

Automotive Tips from Auto Lab Troy: A Broken or Damaged Timing Belt

April 18, 2017

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 Troy.An old timing belt can lose a tooth in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing belt s... More

Automotive Tips from Auto Lab Troy: Timing Belt Overview

March 26, 2017

In your engine, valves over each combustion chamber open to allow fresh air in, close during the combustion event, and then other valves open to let out the exhaust. All of this happens over and over thousands of times a minute when you are driving around Troy. The timing belts important job is t... More

The Auto Lab Troy Guide to Caring for Your Transmission

August 10, 2016

Most vehicles have automatic transmissions, yet a lot of Troy drivers only have a fuzzy understanding about what a transmission does. Think back to the last time you rode a bike in Troy. You started out in a lower gear and shifted to higher gears as you went faster. Down shift for hills, stuff l... More

Ask Auto Lab Troy: What Happens When a Serpentine Belt Breaks?

July 19, 2016

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

It Pays to Take Care of Your Transmission at Auto Lab Troy

May 24, 2016

If you've been paying attention, you've noticed that vehicle engines are getting more and more powerful in Troy. At the same time, they 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 understandin... More

Automotive Tips from Auto Lab Troy: Knowing When Your Timing Belt Should Be Replaced

February 27, 2016

The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. Troy 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 expensiv... More

Auto Lab Troy Auto Maintenance Videos: A Broken or Damaged Timing Belt

December 31, 2015

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 auto. An old timing belt can lose a tooth in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing belt slip or a broken timing... More