Does Your Vehicle Need a MAZDA Wheel Alignment?

When that first hot Kentucky summer day arrives, your automatic reaction is to switch on the AC. If you turn the dial and discover you have a car AC not working, don't despair. Your friendly Mazda dealer in Owensboro, KY, can fix your problem. These are a few signs that your AC needs some help. more Nasty Smell From the AC A damp, earthy smell from the AC vent indicates that your AC has mold or bacteria. These organisms enter the AC system through the air vent. During the winter months, when your AC isn't used, the lack of air movement allows these organisms to grow. An AC system is dark and has small traces of water which provide the perfect environment for bacteria or mold to develop. Our technicians can easily fix this problem for you. We pump an anti-mold and anti-bacterial solution into the AC and then switch it on. This solution is blown through the system and rapidly clears the infestation away. We'll also replace the air filter in case any traces of mold are left behind. Your AC will be back to normal in no time. No Cold Air If your AC is producing cool, but not cold air, you could have a lack of refrigerant. Refrigerant is the gas that chills the air in your AC, and without it, your AC can't produce cold air. This gas isn't consumed by the AC, which means a low level of refrigerant can only be due to a leak somewhere in the system. We can check this for you and repair any leak in the system. A lack of cold air could also be due to a failed compressor clutch. The compressor is the part of your AC that converts refrigerant gas into a liquid, and it also controls your AC system. The clutch will switch the compressor on and off during the cooling cycle. The clutch can fail and this prevents the compressor from engaging. Our technicians will examine the clutch and replace it if it's broken. Refrigerant Leaks As we saw above, refrigerant is essential for your AC system. This gas changes between gas and liquid states several times during the cooling process. Metal fatigue and wear can open a leak in the closed AC system. If this happens, you'll lose refrigerant, and the AC won't work correctly. Our technicians use UV dye to trace the path of the refrigerant through your system. A special UV monitor allows them to identify the source of the leak. Once we've found the leak, we'll repair it and refill the refrigerant. If your AC is failing, call us today at Champion Mazda Owensboro, KY. Our experts will have your AC working again in no time.

Your vehicle's air filters do a lot for the cabin's interior climate. They may not be in control of your temperature, but they do help prevent the intake of any particles or dust from the road. Your vehicle's air filters also play a role in fuel efficiency, so let's take a look at some ways they can impact fuel consumption. more What Do Air Filters Do? When you engage your vehicle's HVAC system, your vehicle draws air from outside of the cabin. This outside air can be filled with pollen, dust, dirt, and small particles that can accumulate inside your closed cabin if not filtered out properly. Over time the filters can become overwhelmed with these outdoor particulates, which can begin to cause a number of issues for your vehicle. Can Air Filters Affect Efficiency? When your vehicle's air filters become clogged, your HVAC system must work harder to provide you with the same level of temperature control. You will find yourself turning up the fan and adjusting the temperature more severely due to the fact that your AC can't perform at its optimal level. This causes your vehicle to use more energy, and more fuel. It’s especially detrimental in hybrid models and electric vehicles, as electric powertrains propel your vehicle and provide climate control through the same power source. How Often Should Filters Be Changed? To prevent your vehicle from overworking itself, it is recommended that your vehicle's air filters be replaced around once a year. In miles, this comes out to roughly every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, depending on how much you drive. Are your vehicle's air filters in need of a replacement? Schedule your visit to the Champion Mazda service center online today. Let's get your vehicle's fuel consumption back on track with a simple part replacement.

Have you performed an online search for an “ oil change near me”? Do you recognize the signs that your car may be low on oil? Oil changes are best left to a Mazda-certified technician. more Here are the signs that the oil in your car is due for a replacement. Oil Discoloration Pull out the oil dipstick when the engine is cold. Examine the oil on the tip of the stick. Healthy oil should be brownish yet clear. If the oil appears almost completely black and gunk-like, then it may be time for a replacement. Car Vibrations Shaking and vibrations can be caused by a number of issues. Vibrations when the car is idling may be a sign the oil has thickened and is not lubricating the metal engine parts properly. This leads to destructive metal-on-metal friction, causing the vehicle to vibrate. Ticking Sound During Startup The oil runs through the engine the minute you turn the ignition. If the oil has thickened, it takes longer to move. This may manifest in the form of an audible ticking sound as the engine is warming up. The ticking comes from the valve that’s working extra hard to shuttle the thickened oil. Oil Change Light Perhaps the most clear-cut indicator of your car needing fresh oil is the oil change dashboard light coming on. In most models, this icon is in the form of an oil canister with a drop of oil coming out. This is your car telling you directly to check the oil. Don’t ignore it. Have you noticed any of the above signs lately? Make an appointment at Champion Mazda to schedule an oil change. We perform an oil change and flush on all Mazda models, from the Mazda3 to the Mazda CX-9.