Does My Car Use R-134a Air Conditioning Refrigerant?

Is your vehicle in desperate need of an A/C recharge service? Is your vehicle blowing hot air in your face when it is set to cool as cool gets all while the A/C cranked all the way up? Have your kids told you that they are melting and to turn the air conditioning on? Did your wife tell you to go get your vehicles A/C fixed or else?

Thinking about maybe trying to charge your car’s A/C system yourself but not sure what type of Freon aka air conditioning refrigerant that your vehicle requires?

To figure out if your vehicle requires R134a, besides calling our team of A/C experts, the 1st thing you will need to know is the year of your vehicle. Typically, in most cases, the year of vehicle will be the determining factor of which refrigerant is used.

If the vehicle is manufactured after 1995, then more than likely it will take R134a. If there is still a question in mind when you are purchasing the refrigerant from your local part store that will look it up for you to make sure you make the right choice.

Now in some cases A/C systems get converted to a different type of refrigerant than what came in it originally. Where if you make the purchase from your local parts store hoping to get it done yourself and you make an attempt and the fittings will not attach properly there is a good chance that the system was converted over to a different type of refrigerant for one reason or another.

Typically this conversion is done on older vehicles prior to 1995 where the R-12 system is converted to the more cost effective, safer for the environment, easier to get your hands on, R-134a. Now on the other hand, converting a R-134a system to the even newer and more improved 1234yf at this point in time is very rare, so rare that our team of A/C experts have yet to see it but over time I’m sure it is bound to happen.

Our Car A/C Experts Have You Covered

So, if you are still questioning your mechanical knowledge, un-confident in the success of getting this service done in a safe manner or just still wondering what type of refrigerant your vehicle takes, stop by and ask one of our certified air conditioning professionals aka our team or give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Last Chance Auto Repair For Cars Trucks

Resources: What is Freon? | What is R-134a? | Car Air Conditioning Recharge

Quality Cost-Effective Transmission Solutions: Rebuild, Repair or Replacement?

Are you looking for the best transmission repair shop in the Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, or Romeoville area? Last Chance Auto Repair in South Naperville is what you are looking for. We possess many decades of combined experience in everything auto repair related.

From brakes to differentials, engine tune-ups to struts & shocks, suspension & transmission services, we provide top-tier, high-quality, cost-effective repairs for domestic & foreign vehicles. You break it, we’ll fix it. How can we help you?

Last Chance Auto Repair’s shop understands that gaining your trust and, most importantly, your respect, should be priority; we also know that the only way to do so is to be the #1 shop near you. Give us a call or email us, we will gladly prove to you that we are.

Best Transmission Repair Shop – Best Transmission Rebuild Shop – Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville

When you search the internet for transmission repair you’ll find an awful lot of search results. But not all transmission shops are created equal. For starters you have dealership, corporate, and independently family owned. Obviously there will substantial price differences depending on the route you choose. What is the best/cost effective choice?

As the saying goes “Do you always get what you pay for?” In this case certain trans shops just have way more overhead and mouths to feed than others. Some trans shops are all about transmissions and others use (out source to us) the shops that are all about transmissions to do their major transmission repairs. Who is the best near me?

Today, we are going to talk more about one of the services we specialize in: transmission repairs and transmission rebuilds. Where if you want the best, you need to call the best, and we are the best transmission repair shop near me.

Transmissions – Domestic & Foreign – Rebuild & Repair

Broadly speaking, the transmission system of your vehicle is responsible for delivering the necessary amount of power, from the engine to the wheels, to move the vehicle at a given speed. If you’ve seen the chain system of a multi-speed bike, you pretty much have a general idea of what a transmission system looks like and how it operates.

The transmission is a highly complex system that is composed of several pieces, but the three major components are the torque converter, gear train, and hydraulic controls.

There are different types of transmission systems. They vary depending on the position relative to the vehicle’s engine, kind of wheel-drive, and whether the gearbox is manual or automatic. Regardless, we are the local transmission expert that has you covered.

For the most part, transmission systems are very sturdy; however, sooner or later, they begin to suffer from wear and tear. When this happens, you will absolutely notice a change to the way your vehicle behaves while out on the road.

Given the importance of the transmission system to your vehicle’s operation, it is crucial that you learn the most common signs and symptoms of a faulty transmission. By doing so it can very well be the difference between paying transmission maintenance money and or transmission rebuild money. Here is what to expect:

Slippage

Whether you drive automatic or stick-shift, your car has a clutch system that engages the different gears in the gearbox. One of the most common and telling signs of transmission system damage is a sensation that the gears slip past each other and fail to engage correctly. With time, slippage will cause the transmission system to cease altogether.

Strange Sounds

When your transmission first starts to go bad, in most cases you will notice a distinct change to the sounds your car makes. The specific sound you typically hear will depend on whether your vehicle is equipped with a manual or automatic transmission. For example, a faulty automatic transmission typically makes a humming or buzzing sound, while a faulty manual transmission is characterized by a ragged grinding noise when changing gears. When the damage is bad enough, you may even notice it while standing idle in neutral.

Strange Smells

All transmission systems require the aid of a special lubricant fluid to function correctly. This fluid keeps all the gears from ceasing during their operation. Given enough time, and for various reasons, this fluid can begin to leak or burn inside the transmission. When this happens, you will notice an acrid, sweet smell emanating from your car.

If you notice any of these signs, it is time you swing by Last Chance Auto Repair’s shop to get your vehicle checked by our team of competent & highly experienced transmission mechanics. Lucky for you, we service all makes and models, whether domestic or foreign. So, whether you drive a manual or automatic, our transmission experts have you covered.

Transmission Repair & Rebuild – Plainfield – Naperville – Bolingbrook – Romeoville – Chicagoland

So, you’ve noticed one of the ominous signs that your transmission is going bad. What to do now, who should I call, where should I go? HELP!

Well, the first step is to take your car to your nearest transmission repair and rebuild shop near you. Located in our Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Chicagoland Illinois area? Transmission expert, Last Chance Auto Repair is the your sure bet. Once your vehicle is here, we will quickly figure out what’s causing the problem(s) or what has damaged your transmission and then take the most appropriate action.

Sometimes a repair is sufficient in resolving the problem. Other times, unfortunately depending on the amount of damage, it may take a complete transmission overhaul to releaviate the issue at hand. When that’s the case, we will be sure to let you know precisely why that is, the cost, and then tackle appropriately.

Most common causes of faulty or damaged transmissions:

Bad Torque Converter

The torque converter is the reason why automatic transmissions exist. These essential components are composed of a highly complex set of pumps, which are solely responsible for allowing the engine to move independently of the transmission. When a torque converter goes bad, the whole system typically begins to fall apart.

Low or Wrong Transmission Fluid

This is one of the most common causes behind a transmission system in need of repair. People often neglect to get their transmission fluid changed when needed. Sometimes, the fluid leaks out or becomes polluted, which inevitably leads to transmission problems.

Clogged Filters

Transmission systems rely on filters to clean the transmission fluid and get rid of dirt and other contaminants. If these filters become clogged, not enough fluid will make it into the system, which leads to problems with the way the gears shift.

Whatever problem is causing your transmission system to act up, once we have our hands on your vehicle and our trans experts dive in, we will determine whether repairing your transmission will be the way to go, or if you are going to need a rebuild.

Best Transmission Repair And Transmission Rebuild Shop Near Me

If only a specific part of your transmission is damaged, and the damage has not caused significant complications to the rest of the system, then a simple repair may be in store. This is obviously the least expensive and quickest option, but it may not be available if you have let your transmission go without a checkup or service for a while.

Sometimes, one lousy component manages to cause substantial damage to other elements within the transmission. It then becomes necessary to take apart the entire thing and conduct a detailed assessment of the damage in order to determine the best course of action. In these cases, once the transmission is out, it typically will get rebuilt.

Last Chance Auto Repair aka the local transmission expert has all your transmission service needs covered. So, if you find yourself asking where in the Chicagoland metropolitan area can I find the best transmission repair and rebuild shop near me? Know that the best of the best is located at 12052 S Naper Plainfield Rd Plainfield, IL, 60585.

Why Do I Have To Replace My Catalytic Converter?

How To Replace A Catalytic Converter?

How To Replace A Catalytic Converter? Preventative maintenance is a type of maintenance that is done to prevent bigger and more costly problems. Vehicles come with a maintenance schedule to help you get the most out of your investment. Typically you can find it in your owners manual. Can’t find it? Our repair shop can break down the schedule FREE of charge.

Neglecting a preventative maintenance schedule which includes oil changes, tune-ups, etc, because your trying to save some money is not a wise or healthy option for a vehicle in the long term. Ignoring, forgetting about, not believing in the preventative maintenance schedule can/will eventually transform into more costly repairs later down the road. Some people do get lucky and win the lotto right? One of the most tragic victims of neglecting your maintenance schedule is the need for a catalytic converter replacement service.

The catalytic converters duty is to remove (transform) environmentally unfriendly gases that enter the exhaust system so they don’t contaminate our planet aka atmosphere. In order for this to be achieved precious metals that are contained inside a catalytic converter which consist of platinum and palladium act as a chemical catalyst which are needed to create a chemical reaction that basically cleans, strips, transforms the toxic gases and turns them into something more environmentally friendly and safe.

Without these big dollar costly precious metals catalytic converters wouldn’t be able to do what they need to do aka their job. Unfortunately precious metals are costly and just like replacing catalytic converters includes a more pricey price tag.

Catalytic converters consist of different types of catalysts which have different responsibilities that are required to efficiently make a catalytic converter work. These “catalysts” for one attack nitrogen oxide pollutants through a chemical process called reduction which removes oxygen. This process breaks down the nitrogen oxides and turns it into nitrogen and oxygen gases which are harmless and do naturally already exist within our atmosphere. Another of these catalysts work by an opposite chemical process which is called oxidation, which adds oxygen and then turns carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide for two. Then a third reaction turns the un-burned hydrocarbons in the exhaust into carbon dioxide and water.

Now you know how catalytic converters work hopefully and understand that because of the precious metals within replacing catalytic converters can be an expensive service. But now what makes a catalytic converter go bad your wondering? What are some of the things that cause a catalytic converter to go bad? Wondering how to keep your catalytic converters healthy? The catalytic converter expert Last Chance Auto Repair has you covered Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Chicagoland Illinois.

What Causes Catalytic Converter Problems?

Neglecting Tune-Ups – Overdue for an engine tune-up? Have you ever had the spark plugs and ignition cable (wires) changed? When an engine is overdue for a tune-up service, the engine will be potentially be at risk for more wear, tear & problems. When the air-fuel mixture isn’t burning properly, engine misfiring, your experiencing poor fuel economy, all result in unnecessary stress on a catalytic converter. In order for catalytic converters to work correctly the engine must be in good working order hence maintained properly.

If an engine is suffering from irregular air/fuel mixture, improper timing and/or misfiring spark plugs, the exhaust coming from the engine will be affected. Anything that affects the exhaust will in return cause problems with the catalytic converter(s) eventually, over time and in some cases right away. If there is a problem for a lengthy period of time, the catalytic converter(s) can be damaged to the point of needing a replacement. Is it worth saving money now to only end up paying a much larger amount of money later on?

Fuel Contaminating The Exhaust System – If you want your engine to be happy it has to run properly, which requires an accurate air to fuel ratio. When there isn’t enough fuel the engine won’t run properly if at all. If its over fueling, un-burnt fuel can enter the exhaust system which includes the converters. This is one of the most typical reasons that we see catalytic converter failures and is why we flourish in catalytic converter replacement near me.

When this catastrophic problem unfortunately does occur it allows raw un-burned fuel to reach the catalytic converter which then ignites causing it to heat up past the point of its normal operating temperature. In return it melts the catalytic converter’s catalyst together causing the exhaust not to flow, eventually blowing out the catalyst and or your engine dying from the lack of being able to relieve the exhaust gasses.

This problem does cause catalytic converters to fail and then forces consumers to spend a lot of money to replace it which never had to necessarily happen. Don’t break it, maintain it over at the catalytic converter expert Last Chance Auto Repair by getting tune-ups done regularly, replacing faulty parts when needed, like oxygen sensors, fuel injectors, spark plugs, ignition cables and or if your check engine light is on fix it ASAP!

Coolant or Oil Getting Into The Exhaust System – The vehicle’s cooling system is of vital importance to engine health and performance. If the cooling system is suffering from a lack of proper care it’s only a matter of time before the engine starts to run hotter than it should and if your not paying attention this can snowball into a plethora of things that can include cracked manifold gasket, warped cylinder head and gasket problems, cracked blocks, overheated radiators & transmissions, etc.

When gaskets go bad, coolant and/or motor oil can leak into the combustion chamber and containment the exhaust system. Coolant and/or oil in the exhaust system can result in carbon deposits building up in the catalytic converter(s) which eventually will end up restricting the exhaust flow, clogging the converters, making one problem transform into a multitude of other more costly issues.

“Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” Light Ignored – Has your check engine light been on, for a long time? A vehicle’s check engine and service engine soon light is an important warning system that lets you know that a problem has developed. These lights come on for many reasons. Sometimes the light comes on then goes off, sometimes it stays on and sometimes it flashes.

When the light is flashing you need to stop driving it and get the vehicle looked at ASAP. A flashing light means your vehicle’s engine is not feeling well, misfiring, and could potentially severely damage your catalytic converters. If not fixed right away the chances increase dramatically that you’ll end up having to replace the catalytic converter(s).

How To Prevent Catalytic Converter Problems

The #1 way to avoid a catalytic converter replacement is to properly maintain your engine. Having catalytic converter problems in Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Chicagoland Illinois? Check out the certified catalytic converter experts over at our auto repair shop near you in Plainfield, IL. Not sure what the issue is? Get an oil change which comes with a FREE 30-point inspection over at Last Chance Auto Repair. We have you covered!

Conclusion

Not taking care to maintain and tune-up your car on an ongoing basis could result in costly problems with its catalytic converter. Problems like a messed-up air and fuel mix or fuel getting into the exhaust system can harm the converter. Ignoring warning lights and letting coolant or oil into the exhaust system can also cause trouble. To steer clear of these problems, make sure you get regular tune-ups and fix issues when the warning lights come on. Trust Last Chance Auto Repair for expert help with catalytic converters in Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, and Chicagoland Illinois. Act fast, keep your engine healthy, and avoid unnecessary costs. Plus, get a FREE 30-point inspection with every oil change at Last Chance Auto Repair. Find out more about your exhaust system in the handy table below.

More About Your Exhaust System

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