Crawford’s Auto Repair can provide auto repair services for hybrid vehicles for customers from Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes and nearby surrounding areas.
Schedule An AppointmentIf you own a hybrid vehicle that needs maintenance or repairs then bring it Crawford's Auto Repair. Unlike some dealer repair shops we don't pay staff by commission and we never try to sell unnecessary repairs! Call 480-201-0740 to schedule an appointment.
The majority of a hybrid vehicle is the same as any regular gasoline vehicle. They have an internal combustion engine which runs on gasoline, uses a standard fuel system, air intake system, ignition system and cooling system to supplement the combustion cycle. They have steering and suspension systems that are similar to any other vehicle.
The major differences between hybrid vehicles and regular gasoline vehicles are the battery, transmission, and brakes. Hybrid vehicle batteries are recharged by the engine, just like a regular gasoline battery, but they’re also charged as the brakes are applied to slow the vehicle. A specialized alternator is used for this purpose. When the vehicle fails to recharge the battery, the battery may no longer hold a charge. That’s when it needs to be replaced. Also, unlike some transmissions in regular vehicles which can be repaired, a hybrid vehicle transmission can only be replaced once it is damaged.
It’s a common misconception that only the dealer can service hybrid vehicles. That isn’t true. In fact, the benefit of bringing a hybrid vehicle to Crawford’s Auto Repair before going to the dealership is that we provide an honest, accurate estimate and our pricing is much more competitive. Dealership services will absolutely cost more across the board and they’ll have service writers that may try to sell unnecessary services since they are paid by commissions.
Maintenance & Repairs For Hybrid Vehicles
Maintenance for all vehicles is dictated by the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. Refer to your owner’s manual for the proper maintenance and the mileage at which it should occur. Maintenance services are usually centered around the oil change during which we also perform a full works package. Since it’s rather hot in Arizona and since we generally drive in suburb-city environments with stop and go traffic, we usually recommend oil changes at 5,000 miles. Other maintenance may be needed at 30,000, 90,000 or 150,000 miles, including a tune up or cooling system flush.
See Auto Maintenance for more info.
Auto repairs may be needed if there are any warning lights, if there are leaks or visual damage discovered, or if the vehicle is showing signs of under-performance. For specific repairs see the service page for each system.
Crawford’s Auto Repair can service the following systems in Hybrid vehicles:
Crawford’s Auto Repair Can Service The Following Warning Lights Found In Hybrids
If any of the following lights are illuminated then feel free to call Crawford’s Auto Repair to have them serviced (some of these may also be found in regular gasoline vehicles):
Low Oil Pressure Light(s)
This light may appear briefly right when you turn on the engine. That’s OK. If it illuminates while you are driving then the oil pressure has fallen below a safe limit. It means your engine is not getting lubricated properly and if you keep driving it would do serious damage up to and including the need to replace the entire engine.
If you see this light illuminate while driving then pull over as safely and as soon as possible. Turn the engine off. Consult the owner’s manual for further instructions and have the vehicle towed to the shop.
Temperature Light (Hot Engine Temperature Light)
If this light is blue don’t worry about it. But if it’s red, orange or yellow it indicates that the cooling system is failing and that the engine is running hotter than normal limits. It can literally melt itself out of shape if you keep driving.
You can possibly buy yourself a little bit of time by turning on the heater; this may seem counter intuitive but it diverts some spare coolant back to the engine which is why it helps. Still, you need to pull over safely as soon as possible. You could try waiting for the engine to cool, adding some coolant and water to the radiator (or just water if that’s all you have) and restarting the engine to drive it to a shop. But really it’s better and safer to just have it towed to the shop.
Brake Light(s)
If the regular brakes share this light with the parking brake then make sure the parking brake is disengaged. If you see the brake light while you’re driving then you should assume you don’t have brakes. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If the brakes really aren’t working then try pumping the brake pedal multiple times and it may slow the vehicle or you may have to coast to a stop. If your emergency brake is a handle between the driver and passenger seats you can also try lifting the handle firmly with the button pressed, but try not to release the button until you’ve come to a full stop. If you’re driving a manual vehicle you can downshift to slow the vehicle.
Various Brake Lights That Do Not Indicate Emergencies But Still Need Service
There are quite a few variations of brake lights. As mentioned, if it’s the regular “BRAKE” spelled out or there is an exclamation point inside the circle, then pull over safely. These others are less urgent but they should still not be ignored. We only include samples here, there are more. The first three symbols are for the anti-lock brakes. The next three symbols are for the parking brake. The parking brake should only be engaged while parked and in some vehicles it’s also used for emergencies. The next symbol is a sample for Electronic Parking Brakes. The one with the circle and fluid at the bottom means low brake fluid. The one with dashed parenthesis and “BRAKE WEAR” mean that it’s time to change the brake pads. Learn more about Brakes.
Low Coolant Level
This light can illuminate with or without the engine temperature light. If it illuminates without the temperature light, then you can keep driving, but it is still an issue you should have checked as soon as possible and you should be monitoring closely to see if the engine temperature light illuminates.
Power Steering Lights
If these lights come on it might be a little more challenging to steer but the vehicle can still be driven.
Check Engine Light
If this light is illuminated then your vehicle will not pass an emissions test. It could be anything related to the engine, the ignition system or the exhaust system. Learn more about the Free Check Engine Light Code Scan & Affordable Diagnostic.
Low Tire Pressure Lights
These lights are indicating that your tire pressure is low. If you purchased tires with a warranty then it may be best to have this light serviced by the shop that sold you the tires.
Info Light/Check Owner’s Manual Light
These lights indicate that there is a message for you on the control panel or you need to check your owner’s manual for something. This can range in severity. It might be urgent or it might be time for routine maintenance.
Master Warning Light
This is a general warning light and it is usually accompanied by another more specific light.
The following warning lights are unique to hybrid vehicles:
Service Warning Indicator
In some hybrid vehicles this is like a Check Engine Light. It can come on for multiple reasons.
Hybrid Battery Indicator
This light indicates that there is something wrong with the hybrid battery or recharging system. This same symbol is also seen in regular gasoline vehicles but it’s appropriate here to compare with other power system lights found below.
When this light comes on you should find a safe place to pull over because the engine will stop once the battery is completely discharged. It’s especially an emergency at night when you could loose the headlights at any time.
Additional Hybrid Battery & Power System Warning Lights For Hybrids
All of these lights indicate that there is a problem with the hybrid battery, recharging and power system.
Check External Sound System Light
Since Hybrids are so quiet at low speeds, some of them are equipped with a sound system to alert pedestrians. Other indicators may indicate this system is on or off. This light means the system needs to be checked and its probably best if taken to the dealer.
Why Choose Crawford’s For Hybrid Auto Repair:
Crawford’s Auto Repair was established to be different from the rest of the auto repair industry. We don’t pay staff by commissions and we never try to sell unnecessary repairs. You can speak to the technician working on your vehicle at any time. Our highly-trained technicians will treat your vehicle like it belonged to our own mother. If you’re on the fence between choosing the hybrid dealer then put our price match guarantee to the test. We’ll show you that our service and our pricing is much better than the dealer. Call 480-201-0740 to schedule an appointment today.
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