Ford Truck Repair in Denver

Today we're working on a 2005 Ford F250 with the 5.4 engine. We're replacing the cam sensors and the famous spark plugs. This truck has 166K on it with the original spark plugs! Here is one of the broken spark plugs and the tip of the spark plug that stayed in the engine still on the extraction tool. When removing these plugs, they often break leaving part of the plug inside the cylinder head. Then, a special extraction tool is needed to remove the broken off piece. If you need Ford auto repair in Denver, call us today at 303-297-2886 or email us!

Happy Friday! 

Ford Repair in Denver

Our 2005 Expedition is up and running dependably again - FINALLY!!!

Have you ever heard from a mechanic that your car’s problem will have to get worse to be diagnosed? You may have thought that the mechanic was lying to you. You may have even thought that the mechanic was just not very good. We tell people this all the time and often they get mad at us or even doubt our skills.

The truth of the matter is that cars with intermittent problems are the hardest to diagnose - period. Recently, we encountered a car with an extremely intermittent problem that was very hard to diagnose. That car just happens to be our own 2005 Ford Expedition with the 5.4L V8 engine.

At first, our Expedition would randomly not start on the first try, but only on cold mornings. It would always start on the second or third try, but we never knew when it would act up. Any day the temperature was over 35˚ the car would start dependably! Every time we were able to get it to act up, it would run perfect as soon as we hooked it up to test equipment. The Expedition would start and run perfect for up to a week, then just not start on the first try when you least expect it to.

Every time we tested the car’s computer system it passed with flying colors! There were no diagnostic codes to work with. We basically had no idea where to start looking for a problem that only happened once in a while. This is when we knew we would have to drive the car until one day it just wouldn’t start at all or the malfunction was at least reproducible.

After about 3 weeks of driving the car and never knowing when it would leave us stranded, it finally totally quit running! Luckily, it decided to no longer run in our driveway, so we had it towed to our shop. With the Expedition no longer running at all, it only took about 30 minutes to determine the cause.

A Simple Fix

This entire nerve racking time of never knowing if it would just die out any second was caused by a simple little relay. Sometimes the relay worked and sometimes it would not. Unfortunately, this one little relay is built into an expensive central junction box. The central junction box is basically the fuse box for the entire car! In the central junction box there are a multitude of relays and fuses, most relays are replaceable, the fuel pump relay is not. The fuel pump relay that was causing our problem had no visual signs of failure, and tested good every single time we checked it! Now after many weeks of frustration, a $400 fuse box fixed the problem and we have our beloved Expedition back on the road again! Most importantly, I have a happy wife again!

At Mastermind Enterprises Auto Care, we understand why you get frustrated when your car is broken down. We are not exempt from frustrating car repairs, either. Please understand when your car is having a frustrating problem, it is not always the mechanic's fault if it cannot be diagnosed.

Be kind to the mechanic. The mechanic is only there to help you get your car back on the road. Honesty is guaranteed at our shop! We do our best to get you back on the road as quickly as possible! If you are in Denver and need auto repair, call us today at 303-297-2886 or email us!

God is Good, All the Time

It was a beautiful evening tonight at
Mastermind Enterprises Auto Care in Denver. 

Noah loved it, too!

A photo posted by Mastermind Enterprises (@mastermindautoshop) on Jan 7, 2015

The Truth About Competitor Coupons

Tired of the big shops, but still want 
great discounts on auto repair service in Denver?

Read on.

Some of our best customers have been lured to our competitors by their coupons, only to be treated unfairly and end up coming back to us the next time telling how these big shops treated them. Recently one of our good customers went to one of our big corporate competitors and came back to tell us about their auto repair experience there. Our customer was led in by a discount coupon only to end up paying more than they would have paid at Mastermind Enterprises for all the services needed. This customer told us about the horrible experience they had and we asked them why they would go there in the first place. Our customer thought they could save money based on the coupon they were sent. But they were wrong.The services they needed end up costing them more because they soon discovered that it was not an all inclusive price.

At Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair in Denver, we offer you 

an honest, low price up front that includes parts, labor and 

an auto repair service warranty!

Expensive Car Repair Mistake #3 - Ignoring Vehicle Symptoms

We pay attention to symptoms that our bodies give us when something is wrong. If we ignore these
symptoms, we can end up paying thousands in medical bills. Your vehicle works the same way. Your vehicle has many different ways to tell you if something is not operating as it should in one of its many systems.

When something doesn't sound, smell, or look right, check under your hood first. Your mechanic will thank you for knowing more about your vehicle and you can potentially save a lot of money, too.

Never ignore a constant symptom with your vehicle!

The most important things your vehicle needs are regular oil changes, automatic transmission flushes and brakes. By having these services performed at regular intervals by a qualified technician, your vehicle can also be checked for any symptoms you may have missed or other services needed before they turn into large repairs needed.

In between these services, it is important to listen to what your vehicle is telling you, so you can identify a simple problem before it turns into a major problem! For example, if your is pulling to the left while you are driving, you could have low tire pressure in one of your tires. An easy fix of removing a nail in your tire and having it patched could prevent a flat tire and even an accident.

Is your check engine light on? It could be a simple problem such as a bad oxygen sensor or just a loose gas cap.

You should be checking the following regularly without any abnormal symptoms from your vehicle:

• air filter
• wiper blades
• fluid levels (brake, power steering, coolant, oil, transmission)
• Battery terminals (Are they corroded?)   
• Belts (Are there any visible cracks?)

If one of the above items are mentioned when you bring your vehicle in for service, ask the mechanic to show it to you or to keep the old parts if you approve the repairs when given an estimate. If you want to wait to have the repairs or service completed, ask the shop these questions: 

• What are the downsides of waiting for the repairs? 
• Does it need to be completed right away? 
• Is it a safety issue? 
• Will the part fail and leave me stranded if I wait?

Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair in Denver will offer you suggestions of what the most important service your vehicle will need in the next 10,000-20,000 miles. We want to give you time to decide how and when you want to service you vehicle. By offering you recommendations, you can make the best plan for repairing your vehicle. We realize every vehicle has different needs based on driving conditions and the driver, that's why we customize a plan that works for you and your specific vehicle needs.

It's true that noises are part of operating a vehicle, 
but not all noises are normal.

If you have a question about your vehicle, we are happy to help. Sometimes the answer will be, "We will need you to bring your vehicle in for a diagnosis before we can give you an accurate estimate." If you already know what is wrong with your vehicle, we are happy to provide you with a free estimate on repairs.

Abnormal Vehicle Symptoms to Pay Attention To Right Away

• Check Engine Light On
• Vehicle Dash Warning Lights On
• Abnormal Sounds (See List Below)
• Unusual Smells (including a maple syrup smell)
• Unusual Visible Symptoms (Leaks, Smoking)
• Lack of Power
• Intermittently Starting Vehicle
• Incorrectly Marking Gauges (Temperature, Gas, Speedometer, etc.)

Abnormal Vehicle Sounds to Pay Attention To Right Away

• Loud bang or Thumping 
• Flapping or Whining
• Any sound when turning a corner
• Clunking when braking 
• Scraping, Grinding or Squealing wheels when applying brakes
• Grinding manual transmission when shifting
• Hissing or sizzling under the hood
• Knocking, Popping, Tapping, or Clicking from the engine compartment
• Low-pitch humming or Rattles from under the car
• Squealing, Chirping or Roaring that increases with acceleration

Ignoring your vehicle's abnormal symptoms will not make them magically go away. Fixing the problem as soon as you notice something is wrong can save you from bigger, more expensive repairs down the road.

Call Mastermind Enterprises Today at 303-297-2886 with questions you have about your vehicle or bring your vehicle in anytime using our 24 Hour Key Drop! 

Thank you for your business!

Expensive Car Repair Mistake #2 - Ignoring a Check Engine Light

Ignoring your check engine light or service engine soon light can mean major repairs for your vehicle, possibly even an engine replacement. 

One of the most critical warnings that your vehicle can give you when it is not functioning properly is to illuminate your check engine light or service engine soon light. The main function of a check engine light is to alert the driver to a variety of existing potential problems, even if the vehicle appears to be running normally. At Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Shop in Denver, we offer you a FREE computer scan and diagnosis* in our shop.

Don't Just Turn Off Your Check Engine Light - 

Fix the Problem!

The check engine light means that you need to get your vehicle checked out as soon as possible. You don't necessarily have to pull over to the side of the road immediately and call a tow truck. There could be a problem from something as simple as a loose gas cap to a seriously misfiring engine to a faulty catalytic converter.

WARNING!!

Your Check Engine Light May Signal a SERIOUS PROBLEM!

• Failures that can leave you stranded
• System malfunction(s) that can damage other systems
• Up to 40% decrease in gas mileage
• Catastrophic damage that can cost you more later
• Emissions test failure

There are numerous systems that turn on the check engine light including the ignition system, fuel injection system or the emission control system. The light will also let you know if there is a simple problem with your engine that is affecting your gas mileage.

Let Mastermind Enterprises diagnose your Check Engine Light!

Call us today at 303-297-2886 or send us an email. 

Check Engine Lights come in different colors including orange, yellow or amber (depending on the vehicle manufacturer). If your check engine light or service engine soon light is flashing, it is telling you there is a more serious problem like a misfire. A misfire can overheat the catalytic converter that could create a fire hazard if it is malfunctioning.

Common malfunctions that illuminate the Check Engine Light are:

• a loose gas cap
• faulty oxygen sensors
• faulty mass air sensor
• faulty spark plugs or wires
• faulty catalytic converter(s)
• poor gas mileage

When you take your vehicle to a shop for a check engine light diagnosis, make sure they have professional ASE Certified technicians who are trained in OBDII diagnosis and repair. The technician needs to understand and examine the data streams including the idle speed, throttle response, engine temperature, fuel system pressure, manifold vacuum, exhaust emission levels and many other symptoms that point to what is causing the problem when plugging in a diagnostic tool to your vehicle's computer.

Your vehicle's computer can also be scanned by an inexpensive code reader or at a local auto parts store for free, but this will not necessarily tell you the problem your vehicle is having. It is a common misconception that the code given by the vehicle's computer instantly "diagnoses" the vehicle. The code simply gives the technician looking at your vehicle a starting point of where to start looking for problems. If you know the codes your vehicle's computer is producing, it is always helpful to the technician servicing your vehicle.

Turning off your Check Engine Light does not repair the underlying problem and the light will come back on later, possibly leading to larger, more costly repairs later. 

If your "Service Required" light comes on, this is different then the Check Engine Light or Service Engine Soon Light. This simply means your vehicle is due for an oil change or other scheduled maintenance. This light is a friendly reminder that it is time bring your vehicle in before you have bigger problems to worry about. It does not tell you that there is a problem with your vehicle.

For any questions you have regarding your vehicle's Check Engine Light or Service Engine Soon Light, call Mastermind Enterprises today at 303-297-2886. We are happy to help you with your vehicle's needs every mile of the way!

FREE Check Engine Light Diagnosis* at 

Mastermind Enterprises Auto Repair Shop in Denver

* Diagnosis up to 1 hour. Excludes Electrical Diagnosis. With approved repairs in our shop.

Estimate & Appointment Requests

We are celebrating America's birthday weekend with family, but you can still submit an estimate or appointment request for auto repair or service on our website anytime. Of course, you can always call us at 303-297-2886 and leave a voicemail for us, too! Use our 24 Hour Key Drop to drop your vehicle off this weekend. We will respond on Monday when we are back in the shop. Have a great weekend!

99 Auto Repair Reviews & Counting!

"We would like to thank Norm and Heidi once again for their honesty, quality customer service and above all "Master Mind" service! Norm has provided us with knowledgeable, quality work (rebuilt our engine, etc..) for almost 10 years. Recently we took our 2005 Trailblazer in for an ongoing problem and was not charged after not finding a problem for what we call "a mystery" problem. Thank you for not charging us and for your overall TRUE HONESTY! If it had been anywhere else, we would have been charged something. We will send all our family and friends to you from here on out because you are one of a kind.

Thank you and God bless your family!"

Sincerely,
Mike & Cindy Britton

More auto repair reviews about Mastermind Enterprises in Denver

Thank you to all of our amazing customers who took the time to share with us how much you appreciate all we do in repairing and servicing your vehicle. Thank you for supporting our family auto repair shop in Denver. We are happy to be the honest mechanic in Denver.