Auto electrical repair in Las Vegas
ABC Tires & Auto Repair handles electrical repair and computer diagnostics at 3139 E Charleston Blvd in East Las Vegas: check engine lights, batteries, alternators, starters and wiring. Every passenger vehicle from 1996 on has an onboard diagnostics (OBD) system that turns on the check engine light when the pollution controls are not working properly.1
ABC Tires & Auto Repair, 3139 E Charleston Blvd, East Las Vegas. Serving drivers and fleets across the Las Vegas valley.
Warning lights
- A steady check engine light needs attention soon. A flashing one is more serious and can damage the catalytic converter, so avoid driving further.2
- The battery light on the dash is often a sign the alternator needs replacing.3
- A lit check engine or battery light, dim headlights or failing accessories are all reasons to check the battery.4
Starting and charging
- A single click, or nothing, when you turn the key with a charged battery points to the starter.2
- Starting on a jump and dying soon after points to the alternator.2
- Lights that dim or get too bright are a common alternator symptom.3
- NHTSA advises having a mechanic check the battery and charging system.5
Diagnostics and Nevada emissions
The OBD system is also how Nevada tests emissions: the state uses OBDII for 1996 and newer light-duty gasoline vehicles.6 A check engine light that is on can stand between you and a registration, so it is worth reading the code and fixing the cause.
The code points to the system that set the light. The repair comes from checking that system: wiring, sensors, ignition, fuel or emissions parts. If the light is about how the engine runs, see Engine repair.
Heat is a battery's enemy
Summer heat does more damage to a battery than winter; batteries in the southern U.S. last on average 17 months less, according to Consumer Reports as cited by AAA.7 Excessive heat and overcharging are the two main reasons batteries die early, because heat evaporates the battery fluid.4
AAA calls heat and vibration a battery's two worst enemies and says any battery over three years old should be tested.8 In a valley that averages about 78 days a year at 100°F or hotter,9 test it before summer.
Questions people ask
Is it safe to drive with the check engine light flashing?
A flashing light is more serious than a steady one and can damage the catalytic converter, so avoid driving further.2
How do I know if it is the battery, the alternator or the starter?
How long do car batteries last in Las Vegas heat?
How much does it cost to fix an electrical problem in a car?
It depends on the vehicle and on what it needs, so this site lists no costs. Call (702) 432-6371 with the year, make and model and what is happening, or bring it in: walk-ins are welcome.
How long does an electrical diagnosis take?
It depends on the vehicle, the parts it needs and the day's work in the shop, so we do not promise a time here. Call (702) 432-6371 and ask before you come, or walk in during shop hours.
Related services
Bring it in
Walk in or call ahead. We speak English and Spanish at the counter.
Sources for the facts on this page
- EPA, EPA news release: on-board diagnostics
- AAA, 13 Common Car Problems Explained
- AAA Mountain West Group, Signs of a Bad Alternator
- Car Care Council, Summer Heat Takes a Toll on Your Car's Battery
- NHTSA, Consejos para manejar seguros en el verano
- Nevada DMV, Emission Control Program pamphlet (PDF)
- AAA Mountain West Group, Prevent Heat Damage to Your Car Battery
- AAA, Extreme Heat Presents Invisible Danger to Motorists and Vehicles
- NOAA/NWS Las Vegas, Number of Days With a Specific Temperature (PDF)