Vancouver Auto Repair

Should I get My Wheels Aligned or Tires Rotated? When you’re driving around the streets of Vancouver, WA you probably don’t give your tires too much thought. As long as they keep rolling along and keep you on the road, life is good. However, if you start feeling your car shaking or jiggling that usually activates your senses a little. This is especially true if you’ve just gone through a pothole, or maybe bumped up against a curb. If that happens, then getting your tires and wheels checked out as soon as possible is a good idea. Hitting a pothole or curb can throw off your wheel alignment or damage a tire. So, what action should you take to fix the issue?   Tire Rotation Some people might confuse wheel alignmentand tire rotation. But the truth is they are two com ... read more

Time for a Car Battery Replacement – Vancouver Auto Repair Do you know how old your car battery is? Most people don’t give their battery much thought. As long as their vehicle starts right up every time, then why mess with a good thing, right? Car batteries are all different, which means while one can seemingly last forever, another one might go bad in just a couple of years. The good thing is batteries come with warranties so if yours dies before the warranty has expired you should be able to get a free replacement. But there really is no one perfect answer to the question, “how long will my battery last?” However, there are some things to pay attention to that should give you some clues as to whether or not it’s time to replace your battery.  What Causes Batteries to Wear Down? Over time, batteries wear out. It’s just that simple. They do have a lifespan and eventually they have to be replaced. The way you ... read more

Maintenance is one of the most important parts of vehicle ownership, and for that reason, many manufacturers prescribe a regular maintenance schedule known as 30/60/90K vehicle maintenance. While some drivers see this maintenance schedule as excessive, the 30/60/90K vehicle maintenance schedule is actually extremely useful for catching problems early and saving money in the long run. How Does 30/60/90K Vehicle Maintenance Work? The 30/60/90K vehicle maintenance schedule involves taking your car into an auto repair shop every 30,000 miles for routine inspection and maintenance procedures. By addressing issues early, you will be able to avoid breakdowns and further damage and enjoy the benefit of curing these problems for much cheaper. Why Should I Use The 30/60/90K Vehicle Maintenance Schedule? There are several good reasons that you should use the 30/60/90K vehicle maintenance schedule: It will help your vehicle last much longer. Because problems are addressed early enough that th ... read more

When it comes to auto repair in Vancouver WA you have many options to choose from. There are plenty of dealers in the area, and dozens of independent shops all over town. Obviously, location plays a big role in where you take your vehicle, especially for regular service and care. Most people typically choose a spot closer to their home. But it’s a little different if you need immediate or emergency work done on your vehicle. In that case, you will likely take it to closest place possible that can get you in the fastest. Fortunately, most of the time people are able to take their vehicle wherever they feel comfortable, especially for preventative maintenance. If you are looking for a trusted auto repair shop in Vancouver for preventative maintenance, there are several factors to consider to be sure you choose the right one. And tha ... read more

When was the last time you had your transmission fluid flushed? The truth is you don’t need to have this service done too often – about every 30,000 miles generally. But when it is time, you should get it done. Your transmission’s health and performance are directly affected by your transmission fluid. If you want to continue to be able to shift gears smoothly then your transmission fluid has to be in good shape. If it’s too old or dirty, you will notice a difference when your car shifts gears. And if left unattended, the transmission will suffer. So how do you know if there is an issue with your transmission fluid? It’s all about the color. The good news is your transmission fluid is very telling. In most cases, you simply need to look at what color it is to know what type of condition it’s in. Here are the different colors of transmission fluid and what they mean The Many Colors of Transmission Fluid Transmission fluid does two ... read more

Is your mass airflow sensor giving you problems? What is a mass airflow sensor? Did you know that part even exists? The mass airflow sensor plays an important role in your engine’s combustion and overall performance. When something is wrong with this sensor, you will notice the difference. The mass airflow sensor’s job is to track the amount of outside air that flows into your engine. This air goes to the combustion chamber where it is ignited with fuel. If the wrong amount of air gets into the chamber it affects combustion. So, you need the mass airflow sensor to work correctly for proper combustion. The good news is the mass airflow sensor typically doesn’t die. But it can get dirty, which causes it to perform poorly. Signs Your Mass Airflow Sensor Is Dirty There are several signs that your mass air flow sensor needs to be cleaned. Here’s what to look for. Poor Acceleration – does your engine hesitate when you try t ... read more

Have you notice your car lights flickering lately? It’s not just your imagination. If either or both of your interior or exterior lights are dim or flickering, it’s likely a sign of problems with your alternator. Without the alternator functioning properly your vehicle cannot produce enough voltage to keep the battery charged while you are operating your vehicle. So, if you’ve noticed flickering or dim lights, then it’s probably time to replace your alternator at our Vancouver auto repair shop. Other Alternator Issues to Look for In addition to flickering lights, there are other signs to be aware of that your alternator is on the fritz. Here are a few other things to look for. Stalling Vehicle – if your vehicle continues to stall, the alternator is likely to blame. If it can’t send enough power to the spark plugs, they will misfire, and your car will stall. A new alternator is the only solution. Other Ac ... read more

Vehicles tend to overheat more often in hot weather. Even though it is rare with newer vehicles, a well-tuned automobile can still overheat.    When your vehicle goes through strenuous conditions, like stop-and-go traffic or steep hills on an extremely hot day, you might see some movement on your temperature gauge. A dead confirmation that your engine is overheating is if you notice the coolant temperature warning light comes on. Whenever you catch the signs of overheating, it is important you know how to handle the following steps: Step 1: Turn OFF your air conditioner and open your windows. While this may seem like something you aren’t supposed to, it decreases the engine’s workload. Step 2: If the vehicle continues to overheat, turn on the heater and blower. While this may seem counterintuitive, it helps draw the heat from the engine to the passenger compartment. Step 3: If possible, shift your car into Neutral or put your vehicle in park and rev the engin ... read more

Has your car been having trouble starting up lately? Does your battery have a full charge? What about the alternator, is it still working? The alternator prevents your car battery from dying, and your battery needs a good charge for your car to start. But these aren’t the only important parts that help start your vehicle initially. You also need your starter to be working correctly. This is little motor is what fires up the engine when you turn the key – or push the start button in today’s newer cars. So, even if your battery and alternator are in good working condition, you might still have problems getting your vehicle going if there is an issue with the starter. Signs Your Starter Needs to Be Replaced So other than having trouble with ignition, are there are other signs that your starter is going bad? Yes, there are. Your car may not have all of these issues. It will depend on your vehicle, but if your starter is bad, you should notice at least ... read more

What’s that smell? That’s usually not something you want to hear when you’re talking about your vehicle. Cars do have plenty of different smells and some are nothing to be alarmed about. However, there are other foul odors that you definitely need to pay attention to. Many of the bad smells from cars, come from the exhaust system. Your exhaust gets rid of a lot of pollutants, so it’s not surprising that it can smell bad at times, including the smell of sulfur. Sulfur is very unpleasant and if it’s coming from your vehicle, then you need to get it checked it out sooner rather than later. Catalytic Converter Problems – Vancouver Auto Repair When you notice the smell of sulfur, most likely there is an issue with your catalytic converter. If your converter gets clogged or starts to malfunction your emissions levels will be affected as well. Your vehicle will still run, but it will likely not have as much power because your exhaust sys ... read more