Honda CR-V Auto Repair & Service

Brakes Oil and Filter change Transmission Service Tires & wheel alignment Check Engine Light Ventilation System Service Factory recommended maintenance

High performance modifications Cooling System Service Shocks, suspension, axle repairs Emission related repair/replacement Timing belt replacement Electrical and drivability problems Engine overhaul and replacement

Honda CR-V Auto Repair: Brakes

Brake symptoms to watch out for:
Check your brakes if you have any of the following symptoms:

	Your vehicle pulls to one side when you press on the brakes.		Your brakes require more pressure than normal to stop.
	Pedal sinks to the floor		Scraping noise
	Chatter noise when your press on the brake pedal		Brakes drag when you are not pressing the pedal
	Hard pedal		Low brake pedal
	Pedal Pulsation		Squeals
	Grabby brakes		Yellow or brownish fluid leak under the car

Every inch counts in an emergency stop! We understand the importance of your brakes for the safety of you, your family and the public at large. That’s why we have deliberately made many internal decisions that allow us to give your Honda CR-V car the best braking ability possible.

	We use the best brake components for your Honda CR-V. The Honda CR-V parts we select for your Honda CR-V brake service and repair meet or exceed your car manufacturer’s specifications. In most cases, we use the manufacturer's part. Typically Honda parts provide the best stopping power are the safest.
	Our Honda CR-V Technicians are well trained and experienced. We don’t shave costs by hiring just anyone to do your Honda CR-V brake work. Our Honda CR-V auto repair technicians are qualified ASE Certified or Master technicians. This gives you an eagle eye looking over your car and making the right decisions when it comes to your braking system.
	We use the best equipment and tools to service your Honda CR-V brakes. One of the best pieces of equipment found in our shop is our “On-the-car-brake-machine.” This equipment allows us to turn the rotors while they remain on your Honda CR-V. This uses the car’s particular characteristics to accurately shape the rotor. By using our “On-the-car-brake-machine”, if your Honda CR-V car has a slight bend in the axle, taking the rotor off the car when performing brake service and repairs and turning it on a brake machine would shape it improperly for your Honda CR-V. This could cause premature wear, and brakes that pulsate or pull to one side.

Honda CR-V Auto Repair: Change Oil/Filter
Most Honda CR-V owners ponder over when would be a good time to change the oil in their Honda CR-V.  There are two distinct schools of thought; experts who believe that the oil in a Honda CR-V vehicle should be changed every 3000 miles. On the other hand, there are some other people who believe that most engine oils today are made with fluids of different densities and inevitably have detergent in them which does not allow for the accumulation of soot. As a matter of fact, most manufacturers recommend that engine oil should be changed every 5,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first unless you use synthetic oil.

However, you need to understand that the manufacturer recommendation only applies when the Honda CR-V vehicle is operated under optimal conditions; the majority of drivers operate their vehicle under conditions which are considered severe for your engine oil such as: frequent short trips (less than 10 miles, especially during cold weather); stop-and-go city traffic driving; driving in dusty conditions (gravel roads, etc.); or driving at sustained highway speeds during hot weather. This means that the 5,000 mile oil change will only do if you drive your Honda CR-V in optimal conditions. Because most people drive under more sever conditions, they need to be more diligent about their oil changes.

In a survey of over 300 ASE certified master techs over 60 per cent said the oil should be changed at 3,000 miles, the long recommended standard. Only 29 percent said between 3,000-5,000 miles is okay. Less than two percent said oil change intervals of 5,000 to 10,000 miles are acceptable. These and other experts recommend that for regular usage, which includes city driving, you should go for a Honda CR-V oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every four months. This holds true for almost every make and model of Honda CR-V car.

There are also several other factors that will have a bearing on the frequency of oil change needed. One of the reasons why manufacturers can afford to exaggerate the oil change figures is because they are dealing with a new Honda CR-V engine with just a few miles on them. As you operate the Honda CR-V vehicle and accumulate more mileage; it becomes imperative to ensure that the oil in your Honda CR-V is keeping the engine clean and cool. If the oil is not changed as required in older Honda CR-V cars, it will result in greater engine wear and tear and trouble such as reduced fuel efficiency, decrease in performance, increased oil consumption and increased emissions.

When sending your Honda CR-V for an oil change, you also need to consider changing the filter. Not changing the filter every time you change your oil may reduce your short term maintenance cost, but long term it may take its toll on your pocket book by causing severe engine problems. Most mechanics are of the opinion that the filter should be changed every time you change your oil in your Honda CR-V vehicle. The filters in newer Honda CR-Vs are considerably smaller than the quart sized versions used in older models. The pint sized filters of today need to be changed every 3,000 miles because they will lose efficiency long before the 6,000 mile mark is reached.

Regular oil changes for preventative maintenance are cheap insurance against engine wear, and will always save you money in the long run if you keep a Honda CR-V for more than three or four years. It's very uncommon to see a Honda  CR-Vthat has been well maintained with regular oil changes develop major bearing, ring, cam or valve problems under 100,000 miles.

The next time, you see your mileage meter hitting the 3,000 to 5,000 mile mark, take your Honda CR-V to the nearest certified mechanic for a quick and hassle free oil change and oil filter replacement.

Honda CR-V Auto Repair: Transmission Service & Repair
Transmission Service and Repairs can be very expensive, sometimes several $1,000’s. There are many minor causes of transmission problems that might scare you needlessly. If you are having transmission problems, don’t despair, it may not be a major issue. We have seen numerous times when a customer comes to us in a panic, expecting the worst because of a shifting problem. Then, after inspecting the Honda CR-V, we find the problem was not major. Here are just a few that we have seen that could be at the root of your transmission or shifting problem. 

Transmission Trouble with your Honda CR-V

	Transmission Fluid Leaks / Low Fluid Level   Your Honda CR-V may have a small or large leak of the Transmission Fluid. There are a few causes of this and the fix can often be quite affordable. Transmission problems due to prolonged bad fluid often results in major damage. The purpose of the transmission fluid is to protect the internal parts from damage by cooling and lubricating helping to keep it operating smoothly and efficiently. However, just like motor oil, transmission fluid breaks down with time and use. Once transmission fluid loses its properties to protect the inside of the transmission, your transmission degrades quickly. Usually when you have transmission problems due to neglected fluid, the problem is severe and expensive to repair. That is why it is less expensive to perform periodic Transmission Flushes. Because seals start to harden inside, this causes delays going into gear, shifting issues, and eventually (or sometimes suddenly) complete internal transmission breakdown. Your car’s owner manual lists the recommended service intervals. These are the minimums that the manufacturer requires so you remain covered under the warranty period. It’s important to point out that the manufacturer has a balancing act when they specify these intervals. On one hand they want you to protect the transmission from problems so they don’t have to pay excessively for repairs. On the other hand they don’t want to be known for requiring services at intervals that are too frequent. The latter issue causes damage to sales appeals. Many auto repair shops and specialty shops do not perform a thorough transmission flush service. They simply drain some of the old fluid and add back in new fluid. Certainly this is better than only old neglected fluid, but it only helps a little. What is needed is to completely flush out the old fluid from the transmission, then replace it with the right fluid and top it off with a transmission fluid additive that adds extra protection. The way we usually do this is by adding a special flushing fluid that increases the temperature of the fluid. This helps suspend contaminants that are adhering to the walls of the transmission. Most automatic transmissions still have a filters or screens that need replacing or cleaning when serviced. These filters or screens usually are only accessible by removing the transmissions oil pan (a normal procedure with a complete service) with a thorough inspection of the inside. The oil pan has a magnet placed at the bottom to help attract any loose debris that can commonly wear. The magnet should be inspected and cleaned, the filter should be replaced and the screen should be cleaned, then the pan gasket can be replaced and new fluid added to the system Just as with your engine’s oil change, the transmission oil filter needs to be changed. Not changing the filter or cleaning the screen can reduce your transmission fluid flow and increase temperatures quickly. Also, by performing a visual inspection inside the oil pan, we have the ability to catch major problems before they occur, potentially saving customer’s thousands of dollars. Think of a full dirty bathtub with a ring around it. Just draining most of the water and replacing the drained water with clean water does not give you a clean bathtub. It’s similar with your transmission. Our process is like circulating clean, hot water through the bathtub until the water and the tub is clean. THEN, we add in new water.
	Vacuum Lines that have come out or loose   When this happens usually, your transmission won’t shift at all. A non-shifting transmission can scare you, but if this is the cause, the cure is not painful at all.
	Linkages and/or cables that have come loose or out of adjustment    These run from the transmission to the throttle body. If one comes out of adjustment, you may experience shifting issues such as no shifting, hard shifting or late shifting.
	Bad Solenoid   The transmission contains shifting solenoids inside (and on some models, outside). The symptoms from this transmission problem cause a wide array of Honda CR-V shifting problems, like not shifting into particular gears. Usually, a bad solenoid gives problems with specific gears or sets of gears like 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
	Honda CR-V Computer problems   Today’s Honda CR-Vs all have computers in them to help coordinate all the functions. But the computers can develop problems and seem to cause a transmission problem. Symptoms from a computer problem range from no shifting to erratic shifting.
	Sensor defects   Each Honda CR-V has sensors that tell the transmission when to shift. Fixing this problem is much easier and more affordable than a new transmission.
	Bad Fluid  There are occasions when a fluid flush/change fix your transmission problem. We like to do this to see if it solves the problem affordably. However, if we find that it doesn’t help, we remove the charges, if we do a major transmission repair or rebuild. It’s often a smarter first step because it may fix the problem.

How to reduce heat & keep your Honda CR-V transmission working.

	Avoid Jackrabbit Starts Hard accelerations create a lot of friction and heat in the transmission. Take it easy on the gas and your transmission will live longer.
	Help the Shift Most of the friction and wear in the transmission takes place during the shifts. Get to know when your transmission shifts normally. Then, just before the shift, back off on the gas just a bit. That will reduce the load on the interior components, and eliminate much of the friction during the shift.
	Keep the Cooling System in Good Shape Most car’s radiator also provides cooling for your transmission. And heat damage will take place in the transmission long before the engine appears to overheat. So regular cooling system service can help your transmission run cooler… and last longer.
	Add an External Transmission Cooler If you travel a lot in extremely high temperatures or carry a lot of weight in your car, an auxiliary transmission cooler is a great way to reduce heat and add years to your transmissions life.

If you think you are having transmission problems with your Honda CR-V, and need Honda CR-V transmission service and repairs, Automotive Instincts has been a AAA Approved Honda CR-V Auto Repair shop since 1989. All of our Honda CR-V mechanics are ASE Certified. We are the only ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Honda CR-V Auto Repair Facility in the Northridge, Woodland Hills areas. We have strong alliances with transmission vendors which allow us to give you a variety of great choices for Transmission Rebuilding, Re-manufacturing or Repairs.

Honda CR-V Auto Repair: Rotate Tires & Wheel Alignment
How often should I rotate my tires on my Honda CR-V?
Tire rotation should be included in every Honda CR-V Auto Repair & Service car owner's maintenance check list. The position of each of your Honda CR-V's tires in relation to the role they play in vehicle stability means the level of wear significantly vary for each wheel. Failure to rotate them can overall lifespan on your Honda CR-V by as much as 40%. Honda CR-V tires on the side of the vehicle that is near the curb will be worn faster on the outer side due to frequent impact with the curb or with objects on the outside of the road. Transferring these tires to the other side of the vehicle means both sides of the tire receive equal wear. For front-drive Honda CR-V vehicles, the wear will more often be on the front tires than on the rear ones. An indication that your tires need rotating is when they start producing a whining sound while you're driving on a flat level road.

Rotating the tires at pre-determined intervals on your Honda CR-V ensures that all tires receive even wear and tear. Tire rotation needs to be done if both the front and back tires in your vehicle are the same size. In this case they are rotated on every service or at 7,500 mile intervals. If your tires are not the same size do not rotate them.

Rotating the tires on your Honda CR-V enhances the performance and overall safety of your Honda CR-V vehicle and also increases tire life -  thus lowering the vehicle's running costs and saving you money. The enhanced tire traction means the chances of skidding or losing vehicle control are reduced. In addition, there will be improved performance and efficiency by your brakes making you less prone to accidents, and improved gas mileage. To ensure your Honda CR-V car is in optimal condition and to maximize safety, visually examine the tires on your Honda CR-V auto regularly for wear and tear. If you are not sure how often to rotate your Honda CR-V tires, please ask us.

Honda CR-V Auto Repair: Check Engine Light
What Should I Do When The Honda CR-V Check Engine Light Comes On?
You notice a little illumination on the Honda CR-V dashboard. The Honda CR-V check engine light comes on.  The check engine light means exactly that - you need to have the engine checked. An engaged check engine light refers to the computer having picked up on a problem with the engine. There is no way to ascertain the exact nature of the problem until you bring it into the Honda CR-V dealer or your Honda CR-V auto repair shop. A diagnostic of the Honda CR-V engine, an electrical scan through the computer system, can be run. The scan will reveal the computer code that has been recorded. The mechanic will be able to then determine the exact problem with the Honda CR-V engine and recommend corrective action. 

If the Honda CR-V engine starts to shimmer and shake in a violent manner, pull your Honda CR-V off the road and turn the engine off. Otherwise you should continue on to your final destination. A severe problem may or may not be present.

Sometimes, a loose gas caps causes a leak of fumes which can cause the engine light to go on. Tightening the cap properly (turning it past the full close, until you hear a "squeaking" noise). The Honda CR-V check engine light will to go off relatively quickly. If this does not resolve the problem, take your car to a certified Honda CR-V auto repair facility as soon as possible.

In most instances, the problems with your Honda CR-V will be relatively minor. A wire may be loose or a spark plug may need to be replaced. Such minor problems can generally be fixed in a relatively short period of time and without huge repair bills. Do not assume that you dcan ignore the Honda CR-V check engine light. Take your Honda CR-V into the Honda auto repair shop and have it checked out as soon as possible. You do not want to have a mechanical breakdown or learn the hard way that your Honda CR-V is long past due for a major tune.
 
Honda CR-V Auto Repair: Ventilation System
There could be a serious problem hiding in your car, your Honda CR-V's cabin air quality. Mold, mildew and bacteria are a growing concern in many vehicles’ ventilation systems. The dark and damp ventilation units are a perfect breeding ground for microorganisms that can be potentially harmful to your health. The result is a mix of mold, mildew and bacteria blown into the Honda CR-V passenger compartment every time the fan is turned on.

We now offer "Ventilation System Service". It only takes 20-30 minutes while your car is in for Honda  CR-V auto repair and service. The Honda CR-V technician seals the car and starts the process of treating the ventilation system. The result is a healthy solution that restores Honda CR-V's interior air quality, and effectively treats mold, mildew and bacteria as well as eliminating offensive odors.

Fast Service
Because we are one of the largest Honda CR-V auto repair and service facilities in the area, we are able to get your car in and out the same day in most cases. We also offer some of our Honda CR-V services on a while you wait basis.

Transportation

For your convenience, Automotive Instincts provides the following transportation services:

	Courtesy Customer Shuttle You don’t have to make arrangements with a friend or family member to drop your car off for work. Just come on in and we will supply you with a local ride to work or home and pick you up when your Honda CR-V auto repair is finished. And there is no cost to you.
	Car Rentals On those rare occasions when you need to leave your car for Honda CR-V auto repair and service that take more than the normal one day, we have made arrangements with “Enterprise Rent-a-car” for $26 a day rentals. We pay the difference, all you pay is $26 a day. There are some requirements and restrictions so be sure to ask your Honda CR-V service advisor about all the details.