Things Aren't Always What They Seem

Posted January 26, 2020 9:25 AM

If you drive, you know at some point, something's going to go wrong with your vehicle.  And sometimes, it's pretty easy to figure out what's wrong, like a flat tire.  But sometimes your vehicle's symptoms can be really puzzling.

One driver in MI was heading to work on a hot July day and noticed when he pressed the accelerator, sometimes it wouldn't do anything. He also noticed his cruise control wouldn't work and his traction control light was constantly on, very unusual.

He was trying to figure it out, but none of it made any sense.  His cruise control had always worked perfectly, his traction light never had gone on before and there was never any issue pressing on the accelerator.

It was time to take his car in for a professional diagnosis, and boy, was he surprised that it was a freak accident he'd had the previous WINTER that was the root of his problems.  You see, in January, his car had slipped on ice when he was in reverse and had gently tapped a tree.  That caused a tiny crack in his rear stoplight. 

That crack had gone unnoticed until that July day.  Turns out a summer rain allowed water to seep into the taillight casing, so this time when he drove to work, there was enough moisture inside it to cause his stop light to stick on.

When the stop light is on, the car's computer is programmed to act as if the driver is pressing the brakes. It also disables the cruise, accelerator and cruise control when the brakes are on, producing all of the symptoms.  Replacing the stop lamp switch fixed everything.

So, while some things that go wrong with your vehicle are pretty obvious, many seemingly defy all logic. That's when a trained technician can scope things out, replace the right part and get you going again.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080



Search



Archive

April 2019 (17)
May 2019 (4)
June 2019 (5)
July 2019 (4)
August 2019 (4)
September 2019 (5)
October 2019 (4)
November 2019 (4)
December 2019 (5)
January 2020 (5)
February 2020 (4)
March 2020 (5)
April 2020 (4)
May 2020 (5)
June 2020 (4)
July 2020 (4)
August 2020 (5)
September 2020 (4)
October 2020 (4)
November 2020 (5)
December 2020 (4)
January 2021 (6)
February 2021 (4)
March 2021 (4)
April 2021 (4)
May 2021 (5)
June 2021 (4)
July 2021 (4)
August 2021 (5)
September 2021 (4)
October 2021 (5)
November 2021 (4)
December 2021 (4)
January 2022 (6)
February 2022 (4)
March 2022 (4)
April 2022 (4)
May 2022 (5)
June 2022 (4)
July 2022 (5)
August 2022 (4)
September 2022 (4)
October 2022 (5)
November 2022 (4)
December 2022 (4)
January 2023 (5)
February 2023 (4)
March 2023 (4)
April 2023 (5)
May 2023 (4)
June 2023 (4)
July 2023 (5)
August 2023 (4)
September 2023 (4)
October 2023 (5)
November 2023 (4)
December 2023 (5)
January 2024 (5)
February 2024 (4)
March 2024 (4)

Categories

Air Conditioning (5)Alignment (11)Alternator (4)Auto Safety (4)Automotive News (4)Battery (8)Brakes (10)Cabin Air Filter (6)Check Engine Light (3)Cooling System (5)Dashboard (1)Diagnostics (3)Differential Service (1)Drive Train (5)Emergency Items (1)Engine Air Filter (2)Exhaust (4)Fluids (7)Fuel Economy (6)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (1)Fuel System (22)Headlamps (4)Inspection (3)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (2)Maintenance (33)Monitoring System (2)Oil Change (4)Older Vehicles (4)Parts (4)PCV Valve (1)Safe Driving (1)Safety (2)Serpentine Belt (1)Service Intervals (6)Service Standards (5)Shocks & Struts (3)Steering (8)Suspension (1)Timing Belt (5)Tire Rotation and Balancing (1)Tires (3)Tires and Wheels (25)Transmission (6)Trip Inspection (2)Water Pump (1)What Customers Should Know (32)Wheel Bearings (1)Windshield Wipers (3)Winter Prep (1)

Partners

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)
AutoWares
ASE Master Technician
BG Products
Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce
Car Care Aware

What our clients are saying about us

We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!

Home town auto shop. They move a little slower than the corporate people but they do better work for fair prices. quotes-image
, 11/12/2023
reviewicon
Did great work at a reasonable price. Very happy and would recommend.quotes-image
, 09/30/2023
reviewicon