(Timing Belt)

December 8, 2024

You may have heard about an important part of your vehicle's engine called a timing belt, and many know that if that belt breaks, it can cause some very serious engine problems. Not all vehicles have them, and the ones that do generally have smaller engines. The timing belt keeps the engine sy... More

Let?s Shift Gears (Transmission Fluid Replacement)

May 19, 2024

If you have a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you probably never think about gear shifting. When motor vehicles were invented, all of them had to be shifted manually. But that wonderful self-shifting transmission, referred to these days as simply an automatic, changed everything. Automa... More

Not-So-Smooth Operator (Transmission Signs of Trouble)

April 7, 2024

You are heading down a flat, newly paved street when all of a sudden you feel it. Your vehicle jumps a little bit when you're accelerating and changing gears. You know it's not the surface of the road because it's smooth as silk. So what did you just feel? That kind of jumpingor grinding or sl... More

A Cool and Smooth Transmission in Novi

December 3, 2023

When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us Novi drivers remember to get our oil changed. But services that occur at longer intervals like transmission service sometimes get overlooked. Yet transmission service is part of car care. A poorly maintained transmission will ... More

Shifty Letters PRNDL (Transmission)

June 11, 2023

You probably figured out those shifty letters. They're what you see on your automatic transmission shifter and stand for Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Low. Your automatic transmission is one of the great automotive inventions; here are some ways you can keep yours working well. Maintain you... More

Fears and Gears (Signs of Automatic Transmission Problems)

January 22, 2023

Automatic transmissions rule. The old days of shifting your own gears are a thing of the past for most drivers. But automatic transmission trouble can be a big inconvenience for any driver if it comes at the wrong time in the wrong place. Here are some signs to look out for that may mean you ar... More

Combustion Choreography: Timing Belt Replacement at Sovel's Auto Service in Novi

March 7, 2021

Have you ever seen a ballet performance? Have you wondered how all of those dancers manage to travel all over the stage jumping and twirling and never crash into each other? That's the job of a choreographer.Our auto engines are also highly choreographed. Pistons travel up and down inside cylinde... More

The Sovel's Auto Service Guide to Caring for Your Transmission

February 23, 2020

Most vehicles have automatic transmissions, yet a lot of Novi drivers only have a fuzzy understanding about what a transmission does. Think back to the last time you rode a bike in Novi. You started out in a lower gear and shifted to higher gears as you went faster. Down shift for hills, stuff l... More

Automotive Tips from Sovel's Auto Service: Timing Belt Overview

October 13, 2019

In your engine, valves over each combustion chamber open to allow fresh air in, close during the combustion event, and then other valves open to let out the exhaust. All of this happens over and over thousands of times a minute when you are driving around Novi. The timing belts important job is t... More

Automotive Tips from Sovel's Auto Service: Knowing When Your Timing Belt Should Be Replaced

August 4, 2019

The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. Novi drivers need to replace it on a schedule to avoid failure.Timing belts are very difficult to get to, requiring quite a bit of labor to access. Timing belt replacement is one of the more expensiv... More