Denver Auto Repair

    Now, don’t be like the guy in Tennessee who tried to marry his car. As much as we love our automobiles, it’s not recommended that we take it to that level of attachment. Stick with something healthier, but it’s okay to love your car. I mean, who doesn’t? We have a long-standing love and appreciation for our cars; For our cars and all the cool ones out there that we will never own, because, well, no one has a garage large enough for ALL the cars we’d like to own. While we may not be able to own all the cars we love or even marry one, there’s a lot of really cool car-related possible gifts we can give this holiday season that will make the car-lover in your life happy. And if you’re the car junky, then we give YOU permission to buy any of these for yourself. ... read more

If you’re like a lot of us, you have probably made a few resolutions for the New Year. Some of us want to lose weight in 2019. While others want better health, more prosperity, new adventures, more time with loved ones, and dream vacations, but to obtain a lot of your New Year resolutions, you need the help of your vehicle. Think about it. You probably need your car to get you to the gym, right? Even if you want to exercise more in the great outdoors, your truck or SUV is required to transport you to your favorite winter wonderland destinations. If you're going to spend more quality time with family or friends, you probably need your vehicle to cart everyone around or take Grandma to her medical appointments. Or, if you want to boost your bottom line in your business, you may need to drive to meet your clients. Yes, your vehicle is an integral part of keeping your New Year resolutions, and Mancinelli’s Auto Repair Center in downtown Denver is here to help you meet your ... read more

A "Comprehensive Vehicle Inspection" helps identify current and potential issues with your car. Professional auto mechanics can offer an in-depth look at the condition of your automobile and give an estimate for providing auto repairs if any problems are found. A comprehensive inspection is recommended when: You are thinking about buying a used car Your car has accumulated high mileage You want a complete idea about the condition of your vehicle Perhaps the comprehensive inspection will convince you it's time to let go of your car and take advantage of the many deals at the end of the year. Why is the end of the year one of the best times to purchase a vehicle? 1) The actual time of year itself is essential. In the majority of areas across the United States, frigid weather stops purchasers from embarking on a vehicle search. Also, many potential car buyers are using their money on presents for the holidays instead of vehicles. 2) Automakers are often selling out of ... read more

Driving at night with headlights that are clean and clear could keep you safe, your passengers safe, and other drivers on the road out of harm's way. As a responsible car owner, it's smart to stay on top of the condition of your headlights so you can see and be seen.  Rain, sun, snow, and other elements can be incredibly challenging on your headlights and can lessen the visibility and performance of them over the years. The haze on the headlight lens greatly affects the amount of light that is permitted through the lens, which in turn makes your ability to see your surroundings and oncoming cars when operating your vehicle more difficult. If you are seeing that your headlights are dim, have a yellowish hue, or have a dull haze, it's time to clean and restore those lenses. The good news is there are some effective and affordable lens polishes on the market that you can use yourself to keep those headlights in first-rate condition.  3M Headlight Lens Rest ... read more

With the fall and winter weather approaching, it's wise to prepare your vehicle for the changing weather. Responsible car owners should take particular measures to make sure that the battery is functioning correctly. If it's struggling now during the warmer weather, the chances are high that some problems could arise in the autumn and winter. If your battery is old, you're at a much higher risk of having some issues arise as the temperatures chill. It would be smart to replace the battery now to avoid hassles over the next few months. Since cold weather is hard on a battery, it's best to have the charging system and the battery inspected in advance. Your car's engine needs more battery power to start when the weather is colder, and those temperatures make it more difficult for your battery to operate optimally. Always be mindful of keeping the battery connections clean, corrosion-free, and tight. Unfortunately, batteries don't usually give warning signals when ... read more

As a general rule of thumb, if you reside in an area where temperatures go below 45 degrees Fahrenheit or 7 degrees Centigrade, you should seriously consider getting winter tires for your vehicle. The grip that your tires provide makes all the difference in keeping you safe, your passengers safe, and other drivers on the road safe. From braking to acceleration, the grip on your car is responsible for quite a lot when it comes to feeling secure in your automobile. The compound made to create winter tires are made with a different rubber that grips the road better in cold weather. It allows for extra grip which deters the car from slipping on icy and snowy roads. It's important to note that even vehicles that have four-wheel drive require winter tires if you reside in parts of the country that gets wintry mixes. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are driving on the roads this winter to avoid accidents in the ice and snow:   Always drive with both hands on the whee ... read more

Doctor, Doctor, Gimme the News … History provides many insights. For instance, consider this prophetic quote from over 50 years ago: “In 1965 [more than 50 years ago], a car mechanic needed to understand 5,000 pages of service manuals to fix any automobile on the road. Today, with the advent of high-tech electronics, that same mechanic must be able to decipher 465,000 pages of technical text--the equivalent of 250 big-city phone books.” — Elizabeth Dole, U.S. Secretary of Labor, October 26, 1989 Finding State-of-the-Art Vehicle Care is a Challenge for Car Owners   It’s now 2018, nearly thirty years later. Most of the automotive service and repair data that was once an old hard copy manual has been supplanted by bits and bytes and is now available electronically. But make no mistake: the volume of repair and service information that an auto mechanic needs to be able to access, navigate, understand, and apply today is astronomical. We call that Prog ... read more

We often take our vehicle’s air conditioning (henceforth, A/C) for granted — until it isn’t working properly or worse, isn’t working at all. Whether Downtown Denver, the greater City of Denver area, or outside the city on a road trip driving vacation — Sometimes that happens because we don’t practice good preventive maintenance or we create our own problems doing things ourselves.   Modern vehicle A/C systems have changed, not only on Domestic and Asian brands, but especially the European vehicle brands we specialize in at Mancinelli’s Auto Repair Center. They’re much more complex, compact and precise in their specifications for type and amount of refrigerant, lubricating oil, and A/C system maintenance procedures. Moreover, if you own a hybrid vehicle, it’s even more complicated because they feature high-voltage electronics, alternating current electricity, and large liquid-cooled battery packs. Your vehicle’s A/C syst ... read more

When vehicles were more a collection of mechanical linkages back in the day, many automotive service and repair facilities used the phrase “good, better or best” with customers to describe an array of options to fix or service a car or truck. Depending on the vehicles usage and driver’s style, the adage provided consumers with a quality-durability-performance array to choose from. Like drum brakes, points and carburetors, that adage is well past its time. If you’ve moved on to drive more modern, software-defined vehicles — especially European makes and models or electrified automobiles — that have advanced technologies onboard, such as direct injection, electronic controls, high-pressure pumps or high voltage components, precision matters. Automobiles are now designed, engineered and built to far more stringent performance tolerances, and specifications are much more exacting. Good or better isn’t close enough for motorists who expect the imp ... read more

Let’s face it: All vehicles age, get tired and develop performance problems over time. This includes conventional gas-guzzlers and electric vehicles (EVs) —which include hybrid, plug-in and all-electric vehicles we see more and more of. Like traditional other vehicles, EV owners face four critical decisions: 1) Do I buy new or used? 2) When should I sell? 3) Is there a better way to know when? 4) Who should I trust to care for my EV and help me find those answers?   EV Ownership Has Pros and Cons During the early years of EV ownership, regular routine maintenance costs are lower than fuel-powered vehicles. In addition, so are the operating costs. In fact, the more gas prices rise, the greater the savings EV owners realize. But all vehicles, even EVs, can get begin to show signs of wear and tear. When high voltage components in EVs begin to wear out, owners may soon face shocking replacement costs. An EV-savvy service and repair shop can make a huge diffe ... read more