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Do you need new brakes? Find out if your car needs brake repaid and have them installed at Paul Conte Cadillac. Your car's brake system must be in good working order for you to slow down, stop, and avoid hazards on the road in a split second. Below are warning signs to look out for when your Cadillac needs a brake repair from your Cadillac dealer. 1. The Brake System and ABS Warning Lights Are On When your car's brake system warning light comes on, the brakes are not working properly and must be inspected by a qualified technician right away. The antilock brake system (ABS) warning light lights up briefly when you start your car. When the light stays on or comes on while driving, take your vehicle for service. The ABS warns you that you don't have antilock brakes, but if the brake system warning light is off, the brake system is still working. more 2. Your Car Is Leaking Brake Fluid Leaking brake fluid is a serious issue that will affect your car's braking performance. Low brake fluid levels will trigger the warning light. If your vehicle is frequently low on brake fluid, check under your car for yellow and brown puddles that look a lot like oil but without an oily consistency. As soon as you spot puddles under your car, ask your Cadillac technician to find the leak. 3. Reduced Brake Response and Fading Low brake fluid levels, a brake fluid leak, worn brake pads, an air leak, or a leaking brake hose will make your brakes feel unresponsive like they are fading away, and the brake pedal may feel spongy when you step on it. The brakes will be slow to respond, and it will take much longer for your car to come to a stop. 4. High-Pitched screeching and Horrible Grinding Noises When you hear high-pitched screeching sounds when you step on the brake, it's the wear indicators built into the pads by the manufacturer to warn you that the pads are wearing thin and it's time to replace them. The screeching is just a warning but, if you wait too long, the pads will wear down further, and before you know it, you will hear horrible metallic grinding noises. The bare metal is scraping against the rotor, causing damage and heat that could cause your brakes to stick. Sticking brakes are dangerous, and damage to the rotors will lead to costly repairs and replacements. 5. You Feel Vibrations Through the Brake Pedal Rotors warp when they get old or thin, and excessive braking creates tremendous friction and heat that will also cause the rotors to warp. If you feel vibration through your brake pedal under normal braking conditions, the rotors are warped and making uneven contact with brake pads. 6. Your Car Pulls to the Left or Right Brake pads wear the same, and one side of a might get thinner faster than the other. When the brake linings are worn down unevenly, your car will start to pull to the left side or right side when you step on the brakes. The problem can also be caused by contaminated brake fluid. Ask your Cadillac technician for an adjustment and to replace the brake fluid. 7. You Smell a Burning Odor When your brakes are overheating, they won't work correctly, and you will smell a burning odor. The best cause of action is not to drive further and pull over as soon as possible and wait for the brakes to cool down. Contact your dealership immediately and schedule a brake system service. The brake system on your Cadillac is one of the essential safety features. Contact Paul Conte Cadillac today and schedule a brake system service in Freeport for your safety. The qualified Cadillac technicians will thoroughly inspect your brake system and perform expert repairs.

Does your Cadillac need an alternator repair? Find out from our blog and schedule your service appointment today. Your Cadillac's alternator is a generator that produces electricity to maintain your battery and power your electrical systems. The alternator is a simple, yet robust component, and it's designed to last. This means that most potential problems only need an alternator repair and not a replacement. As your Cadillac dealer, when you're in the area of Freeport, NY we can fix it for you, These are signs you may need to visit us. Damaged Cables or Wires Your alternator produces electricity, and it supplies this power to all of your car's electrical components. The power is transmitted throughout your car by a network of cables and wires. The cables are rubber coated for protection, but they can still get damaged. Damaged cables provide resistance to electricity, and when the alternator tries to push more power down a damaged cable the wire will heat up. more Damaged cables or wires will cut off the power to the component they're connected to. A radio that suddenly stops working may have broken, but it could also have stopped due to lack of power.  Our technicians will test the wiring, and we will replace any damaged cables or wires. Burning Smells A hot metal smell from your engine usually means that one of the components is working too hard. When an alternator gets older it can't produce as much electricity as it previously did. This situation creates a power shortfall and random electrical problems can develop. The alternator will work harder to try and produce more electricity, and as it overworks it will heat up. An overworked alternator can't be fixed, and our technicians will replace it with a new one. A burning rubber smell can mean that the alternator belt is damaged or that one of the pulleys it connects to has jammed. The alternator belt is made from tough reinforced rubber, and it runs at a consistently high speed. If the belt isn't serviced it can loosen and suffer additional damage from friction. Dead Battery A car battery can suddenly die for several reasons, including a parasitic energy drain, the fact that the battery has simply worn out, or a damaged alternator. A car battery will work for 3 to 5 years on average, and then time and the chemical reactions in the battery cause it to fail. A worn-out alternator will also easily kill your battery since the battery depends on the alternator for recharging. If the alternator fails, your battery loses its recharging source. The battery also gains numerous additional energy drains since it becomes responsible for supplying all your car's power. Under normal conditions, a car's battery can only provide enough power for approximately 15 minutes before it also dies. We will check the alternator and replace it if needed. An alternator that's wearing out always shows signs that it's failing. If you experience any problem with your alternator in Freeport, c all our service department at Paul Conte Cadillac.

Find our which essential services you need for your car and schedule your service appointment at your local Freeport auto repair shop. Cars require regular care and maintenance to keep all the parts moving smoothly and all the systems operating efficiently, and it's vital to keep up with your car's service schedule if you want to avoid any mechanical faults or costly repairs. Fortunately, the friendly, highly-trained mechanics at your local Cadillac dealership in Freeport, NY are ready to provide all the auto services you need. Here are some of the top services you can always get at the dealer. 1. Oil Changes Engine oil is one of the most important liquids in any vehicle. It helps to lubricate the various parts of the engine, preventing any jams or overheating issues. However, over time, the oil in your engine can get thick, gritty, and sludgy, making it far less effective. That's why you need to have it changed approximately every six months, and the technicians at your local Freeport dealership can change your oil for you in a matter of minutes. more 2. Fluid Checks Oil isn't the only fluid flowing around under the hood of your car. There are various other important liquids, such as brake fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, and windshield washer fluid, too. It's crucial to check on these fluids occasionally, as they might get contaminated or even leak out due to unseen damages. Mechanics at the dealer can take a look at your car's key fluids, fill up any that are running low, and let you know about any leaks or other issues, too. 3. Multi-Point Inspections A multi-point inspection is basically like a general check-up of your car. During this service, a technician will look at a long list of different components, from the steering wheel to the brake pads, the seatbelts, and more. They'll look for any little damages or problems that may need fixing, providing you with a full report of their findings. This can be a useful service to get on an annual basis to ensure that your car is in a safe and healthy state. 4. Engine Diagnostics There are many different things that can go wrong with your car's engine, from broken components to sludgy oil, and it's usually quite easy to tell when something isn't right, as you'll experience slow starts, stalls, weird sounds, strange smells, and other warning signs. An engine diagnostic is the service to choose if something is wrong with your engine. It will help you find out exactly what the problem is and get it fixed. 5. Brake Servicing Your car's brakes are so important from a safety point of view, and if anything goes wrong with your brakes, you could find yourself in some seriously dangerous situations on the road. If you feel like anything is wrong or you just want to check on your brakes for your own peace of mind, ask for brake servicing at your dealer. During this process, a technician will inspect and test your car's brakes to look for any wear and tear or possible problems. All of these services can help to keep your car in the best and safest condition, and you can find them all, and many more, at your trusted local dealer. Call Paul Conte Cadillac today to schedule your next auto service.

Keeping your Cadillac's engine cool is essential and is the role of the radiator. You can help avoid serious engine problems and costly repairs by making sure that your radiator is in working order. Here are some signs that you might need to bring your vehicle in to your Freeport NY Cadillac dealer for a radiator repair. Temperature Gauge Warning If the temperature gauge on the dash display of your Cadillac is warning you that your engine is running hot, it could very well be a radiator problem. While this warning might also indicate that the fluid levels are low, or that the temperature gauge is malfunctioning, make sure you have the radiator checked. more Low Levels of Coolant Here, again, your Cadillac's dash display will give you a “Low Coolant Level” warning if your coolant levels dip below normal. Since an adequate amount of coolant is necessary to keep your radiator in working order, don't ignore this warning. Also, take a minute every once in awhile to check your radiator for proper coolant levels. Leaking Coolant If you find a thick, viscous fluid under your Cadillac, with either a green, orange, yellow, red, or pink color, there's a good chance that the radiator has sprung a leak. A leaking radiator will eventually lead to an overheated engine, so don't waste any time seeing your Cadillac maintenance professional for repairs. Strange Looking Coolant While performing an intermittent inspection of your radiator, pay attention to the color of the coolant inside. If you find it to be a darker brown or black color, it's likely that the coolant needs to be replaced right away, and the radiator checked for potential problems. You don't want your engine or transmission to suffer serious consequences as a result. Engine Overheat As previously indicated, the job of the radiator is to keep the engine cool in your Cadillac. An overheating engine can cause a myriad of problems, including catastrophic engine failure. Without a doubt, simply repairing your radiator is much more economical than an engine replacement, so if you see steam pouring out from under your hood, get your vehicle to a professional right away. Discoloration and Rust When carrying out those radiator inspections on your Cadillac, don't forget to look at the radiator itself, as well as the engine, for any discoloration or rust spots. The hoses attached to the cooling system sometimes leak, and the fluid spilled from these hoses may “boil” on the hot engine parts, leaving behind discolored spots or rust. It's a good idea to stay vigilant, and routinely inspect the radiator in your Cadillac, especially as it ages and becomes more likely to develop serious maintenance issues. A well-performing radiator and coolant system will help your engine run smoothly and save you on costly repairs, as well as maintaining the value of your vehicle long-term. Bring your vehicle to Paul Conte Cadillac today for all your car repair needs in Freeport. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com