Vancouver Auto Repair

Your dashboard is full of different warning lights. Some you are probably familiar with, and others might not be as common. Likewise, you might know what some of them mean, but there may be others you have no idea what they are trying to tell you. One of those warning lights is the “check charging system” light. If you haven’t heard of this one, you’re not alone. But if it has come on, on your dashboard and you’re not sure what it means or what to do about it, then keep reading. What Is Your Charging System? Your charging system is made of several components, including your battery, alternator, electronic control unit, and wiring. All of these work together to keep your battery fully charged. This system also provides the necessary energy to operate the many electrical components of your vehicle, including the radio and lights. Reasons Your Charging System Light Turns On So why does this light come on? There are sever ... read more

Vancouver Auto Repair - Why Does My Car Exhaust Drip Water? Have you ever been driving down the road and noticed a bunch of water dripping from the tailpipe on the car in front of you? You’ve probably wondered why that happens. When you see that, has the thought ever occurred to you that maybe your car does that too? Or perhaps you’ve gone out to your garage or driveway about 20 minutes after parking your car and noticed a small puddle of water directly below the tailpipe. If this has happened to you and you want to know why water is dripping from your tailpipe, we have the answer. There are several things that could be causing your tailpipe to drip water. Here are the most common causes. Top Reasons for a Leaky Tailpipe in Vancouver, WA Whenever you run your engine, it creates a lot of gases and those have to escape through your exhaust system. Your exhaust system is made of several parts, and when something goes wrong the exhaust can ... read more

Vancouver Auto Air Conditioning Repair   May is almost over, which means summer is just around the corner. And when it comes to auto maintenance that means now is the time to get your air conditioning system serviced or repaired. Even though the hot season doesn’t last a long time in the Vancouver area, when it does get hot, it can be unbearable to drive without AC. In some cases, it can even be dangerous especially if you get stuck in slow-moving traffic, or your car sits out in the heat for an extended period of time.   So, if you haven’t turned your AC on in a while then now is good time to try it out just to be sure it’s working. If it is having some issues, then you shouldn’t wait to get it fixed. As soon as the heat arrives, you’ll want to have that nice cool air blowing on you during your daily commute home.   Quality AC Service and Repair in Vancouver, WA   Obviously, we ... read more

After analyzing your annual or monthly expenditures, you'll find your vehicle is among the top things you spend on. Some associated costs include buying fuel, paying car insurance premiums, and clearing maintenance and repair bills. The good news is that you can do away with some maintenance expenses through careful driving. So here are some bad driving habits you should avoid to escape costly replacement or repair costs for your car. Driving Through Potholes at High Speed The most probable issue that arises after slamming into potholes is a tire burst. If you make it a habit, the damage can extend to your car's suspensions, wheel alignment, and steering. Simply slow down when navigating roads with potholes to avoid the inconveniences that come with changing tires midway through your journey or replacing your suspensions often. Driving With the Fuel Light On Driving when your fuel light is on or when the tank is almost empty can damage your car. Some vehicles in this era ha ... read more

Get Your Vehicle Disinfected and Deodorized in Vancouver WA   Has this ever happened to you? You get in your car and you’re all ready to head out when you suddenly notice a bad odor. It could be musty or moldy, or some other foul smell. But whatever it smells like, you just want it to be gone. It’s not always easy keeping your vehicle clean, some people use their vehicles for so many things, and if they’re not careful, they can allow stuff to clutter them up. That creates opportunities for bad smells be born and get worse as they grow.   In other cases, those bad smells are coming from your car, for no fault of your own. Cars can stink for several reasons and sometimes they put off odors that you can’t identify. If that’s the case, then you should get your vehicle checked out by a professional auto mechanic in Vancouver as soon as you can.   But if the odors you smell are coming from something inside your vehicle like ... read more

Buying a car is an exciting experience for most people. Sure, you have to go through the search process, and maybe some haggling to get the deal you want. But when it’s all said and done and you get behind the wheel of your “new” vehicle, it’s an exciting time. Whether you buy a brand-new car or a used vehicle that’s “new” to you, you always want to be sure you are getting a good, reliable car. Of course, when you purchase a new vehicle, it’s a pretty safe bet to say it’s in good shape. Even if it’s not the highest quality manufacturer, it’s still brand new, so you can expect it to be reliable at least for a few years. When you buy a used vehicle, on the other hand, in many cases, there are no guarantees. That’s why an affordable pre-purchase vehicle inspection is such a smart idea. Quality Vehicle Inspection Vancouver, WA So h ... read more

Auto manufacturers continue to get better and better at producing cleaner and more energy efficient vehicles. That is great news for car owners and the environment. However, any car that uses gas still has some emissions. And while those emissions have greatly improved in newer vehicles, they do still produce smog so they must be tested. In addition, older cars that don’t have today’s sophisticated technologies produce a lot more smog in the environment than newer cars. But either way, at some point, if you own a car, crossover, truck, or SUV, you will have to get a smog check. But relax, we have you have covered. Vancouver, WA Smog Check Service When you bring your vehicle into our Vancouver auto repair shop for a smog check service, we’ll make sure we find any problems and take care of the entire process for you. Just bring the registration renewal document with you, and we&rsqu ... read more

Do you drive a hybrid vehicle? If so, then you know about all the advantages of driving a hybrid. These days, there are more and more hybrid vehicles on the road, including minivans and trucks. That’s because more drivers are seeing the benefits of driving a hybrid. We know hybrids are great and our customers who drive them love their hybrid vehicles. However, just like traditional gas-powered vehicles, hybrids also wear down and they do need repairs. However, that being said, hybrids don’t always have the same kinds of issues that gas-powered vehicles have. So, what are the most common problems that hybrid owners have with their vehicles? Here are some of the top issues you might expect with hybrid repair in Vancouver. Common Hybrid Vehicle ProblemsBattery Problems – if you drive a hybrid then you know how important the battery is. After all, that’s what makes ... read more

If you drive long enough, you will begin to develop an almost natural instinct when it comes to how the car should feel. You will be able to tell when something just does not feel right. When it comes to your brake, your senses are particularly aware because, without your brakes, you are in a trouble. If you notice that your vehicle starts to shudder when you apply the brakes, for example, you will want to know why this is happening. When Does it Happen? You will often notice your brakes shuddering when you are gripping the steering wheel. As you apply the brakes, there will be a mild to violent shaking of the steering wheel that will give you cause for alarm. When you feel the shudder through the steering wheel, that is usually an indication that there is a problem with the front rotor in your car. Alternatively, you can also feel the shudder in the brake pedal itself. If that happens to you, then you may have a problem with the rear rotor. Check the Condition of Your Brake Pads I ... read more

Most car owners don’t give their cabin air filter much thought. As long as their heating and cooling system blows hot and cold air that doesn’t stink, there’s nothing to worry about, right? Well, in a way, yes. But sometimes what you don’t see can still hurt you. Your air cabin filter has a dirty job, but someone has to do it. It helps keep all those nasty things from outside, like dust, pollen, and other debris in the air, from getting into your vehicle. It does its job quietly and all the while, you drive along never worrying about any of those things. But once you notice something wrong inside your cabin, then it’s time to check your air cabin filter. You might not see the dust and pollen in your vehicle, but you’re still breathing it. So don’t take a dirty cabin air filter lightly. Here are some of the things to look for that indicate your cabin air filter needs to be replaced. Look for These Signs There are several war ... read more