Kansas City Auto Repair

Most of us don't even give the airbags in our vehicles a second thought because we rarely have to see them or use them. But how have airbags affected the automobile industry and society as a whole? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, airbags have spared approximately 40,000 lives from 1987 to 2012. As technology continues to improve airbags, this number will undoubtedly continue to grow.    Who Invented It? The airbag concept was initially created by Walter Linderer from Germany and patented in 1951. It wasn't even coined as an airbag back then, but it was instead called a safety cushion. Unfortunately, Linderer's design of inflating the airbag didn't work well enough to inflate it completely. Another poor quality of the airbag was that it required a signal from the driver to inflate and initiate a response.   Working off Linderer's approach, American John Hetrick began his design and patented it in 1953. He decided t ... read more

The catalytic converter is one of the most crucial parts of your exhaust system. You can find this part between the muffler and the engine, and its purpose is to "convert" harmful fumes (such as carbon monoxide) from your car engine into non-polluted air. The converter ensures that the emissions that are discharged from the muffler are safer to breathe in.   What Problems Can Arise From Your Catalytic Converter? The catalytic converter is a resilient vehicle part that will last for as long as ten years. Nevertheless, like any other component, it can become clogged, contaminated, overheated, and broken. If this were to happen to your converter, it could lead to a slow and whiny engine.  The most common virus for a catalytic converter is leaded gasoline. Luckily, this type of gasoline is no longer used by most people in the United States. However, the catalytic converter can become corrupted by other things: coolant leaks, combustion, a faulty head-gasket, engine ... read more

Your car is a long-term investment that will last you for many years. With such an expensive purchase, you should customize your vehicle to meet your needs best and express your personality. There is nothing better than enhancing your driving experience with nifty car gadgets and other accessories.    Car Mount This item is a must-have if you often use your navigation apps. It requires no installation and attaches to your phone with a strong magnet. You can conveniently view it by clipping one of these mounts to your air vent. Most of them are flexible, so you can view the screen from whatever angle you please.    Anti-Slip Grip Pad These silicone grip pads also do not require any installation. You simply place it on your dashboard, and you can throw your little essentials (sunglasses, keys, phone, wallet, etc.) on it without having to worry about it flying everywhere.   Bluetooth Key Finder If you are the forgetful type and find yourself searching for ... read more

It seems as though the summertime is upon us again! As more of us are leaving our houses, you may be noticing many streets and roads flooded with the familiar orange signs. Whether it’s detours, potholes, construction workers wandering about, or anything in between, it’s important to stay knowledgeable about what you might encounter. How does construction affect your car anyway?   Tires and Suspension Roads in construction areas are often left bumpy, affecting parts of your car that are already sensitive to damage - one of those areas includes your wheels. It is always a good idea to check that your tires are in good shape before going for a drive. A moderate leak can suddenly become a flat tire, especially if you hit a piece of machinery or debris. You should also regularly check that your tire suspension is intact. With misaligned tires, every bump in the road can throw your car’s balance and suspension off. If your tires are fighting to mai ... read more

Whenever we have a car issue, it can make us scratch our heads in frustration. There is good reason to do so, especially if you are not a mechanic. So, if your automobile's heater begins blowing out cold air in the middle of a freezing and unbearable winter, you will most certainly want to know why. Here are some reasons why the heater may be blowing cold on you. 1. Not Enough Coolant in the Engine During the summertime, the job of the coolant may be obvious--to keep the engine cool. In the winter months, though, it still has a job to do. The engine will bring the coolant through the heater core and it will then blow warm air into the cabin of the car. 2. There is a Problem with the Heater Core The job of the heater core is to mainly take the heated coolant and disperse it into the cabin. There are many other things a heater core does as well. The main function, though, is to keep the defrosting and heating going on in the vehicle. Here are signs the heater core is going in you ... read more