Vancouver Auto Repair

What’s Wrong with Your Car’s Torque Converter? Is your torque converter up to par? First off, you’re probably asking: “what’s a torque converter?” A torque converter isn’t exactly the most well-known part of a vehicle, but like any other part, it plays an important role in your car’s operation. What Is a Torque Converter? Your engine uses the transmission to transfer power from itself to your wheels via the torque converter. If the torque converter goes bad it can cause transmission problems. That’s why it’s important to be aware of what things to look for. And if you do notice any of these issues, then make sure you bring your vehicle into Hoesly Eco Automotive. We’ll find the problem and fix it in our Vancouver auto repair shop. Top Signs Your Torque Converter Is Bad Here are the top signs that your torque converter is bad, and what to do about them. Poor ... read more

Are Your Spark Plugs Due for a Change – Vancouver Auto Repair   No matter what kind vehicle you drive, at some point it’s going to need some parts, unless you buy a new car every 5,000 – 10,000 miles. But who can afford to do that? Every part of your vehicle has a lifespan and some parts last longer than others. In fact, some parts last longer on one vehicle than the same part on another vehicle. For example, your spark plugs are going to need to be replaced, but it could be as early as 30,000 miles, while some plugs could last as long as 100,000 miles.   So, what about your spark plugs? Do you know the last time they were changed? Chances are if your car isn’t having any issues then your spark plugs are fine. But if you’ve noticed anything unusual lately, then it could be your plugs. Here are some of the top signs your spark plugs could some new spark ... read more

The Right Fluids and Filters Keep Your Car Running – Vancouver Auto Repair Quick quiz: do you know how many different fluids your car needs to run properly? There are a lot. Every car is a little different, but all gas-powered vehicles need the standard fluids to function correctly. That includes gas, oil, brake fluid, coolant, wiper fluid, and power steering fluid to name just a few. The fact is your car is full of different fluids and each one of them plays a key role in the effectiveness and safe operation of your vehicle. It’s also important to keep an eye on these fluids to make sure they are changed at regular intervals. How often you change each fluid depends on the fluid and what it does. Your owner’s manual will have instructions for fluids, including what type to use and how often to change it. Common Fluids Here are some of the most common fluids to pay attention to. But there are others, so don’t ignore any of th ... read more

Reasons Your Check Engine Light Comes On – Vancouver Auto Repair What could be worse than when you’re driving along without a care in the world, but suddenly without warning the check engine light comes on? It’s never a good feeling when that light on your dashboard shows up. For some people it even causes panic or stress. After all, the last thing you want to have to worry about is something wrong with your engine. The good news is, in most cases, that little light does not indicate there is something seriously wrong. In fact, most of the time, it is something quite simple that has triggered the check engine light to appear. So, if your check engine light suddenly comes on while you’re driving, don’t panic. Just bring your vehicle into Hoesly Eco Automotive and let us check it out. And if you’re driving somewhere far from home, you can still go to just about any auto parts store to get a reading and determine what’s causing ... read more

How to Prevent Your Car from Fogging Up – Vancouver Auto Repair One of the worst things about driving in the fall and winter in the pacific northwest is having foggy windows. It can be frustrating when you are in a hurry to get somewhere, but you have to wait for the windshield to clear up so you can see. Some drivers decide to go even if their visibility isn’t great. That is a dangerous scenario. Not only are you putting yourself at risk, but also everyone else you encounter on the road. So, what do you do if you can’t get your windows to clear up with your defroster? You could always keep a towel in the car, or just use your sleeve. Those methods might work, but they aren’t that effective or convenient. If your defroster or heater isn’t working up to the level it should be, the best way to fix the problem is to get it repaired. Having your heating system serviced is a much better option than using your shirt sleeve every day.   ... read more

  Have you ever been driving along and out of nowhere you hit a jarring bump in the road? Then, you look in your rearview mirror and see a giant pothole that somehow you didn’t see a few seconds earlier. Potholes are pretty nasty for drivers. Unfortunately, not all roads are nice and smooth, which means you have to be vigilant when you’re operating your vehicle. Potholes come in a lot of shapes and sizes, and the best thing to do is completely avoid them no matter what they look like. But, in some instances when roads are torn up really bad, you simply can’t avoid them. In that case, you should slow down and drive very cautiously to avoid any major bumps. Why are potholes such a big deal? While it might seem like a little bump here and there isn’t going to ruin your vehicle, the truth is potholes can hurt, especially if you drive over them a lot and at higher speeds. How Potholes Can Hurt Your Vehicle Hitting a pothole with your vehicl ... 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

What’s the worst thing about needing auto repairs? It’s no fun to go without your vehicle for any period of time when you need it. If you don’t have another vehicle to use it can be very inconvenient. However, for most people, the biggest pain is having to pay for auto repairs. It’s one thing to have enough money, even though you don’t want to spend it on car repairs. But it’s a whole different story when you don’t have any money to pay for it. If you can’t fix your car then you could really be in a tough situation. That’s why it’s so important to take care of your vehicle and to budget for unexpected auto repairs. Tips for Car Care Budgeting For starters, it’s a good idea to have a general household budget. This helps with all kinds of expenses. However, even if you don’t have a household budget, you can still plan for auto repairs. Here’s some good tips to keep in mind. The best thing t ... read more

Are you new in town? Maybe your current mechanic in Vancouver, WA is not doing the job right. Or maybe you have a new car, and you haven’t had to take it to an auto repair shop previously. Whatever the reason, if you are looking for a new auto mechanic in Vancouver, then you’ve come to the right place. How to Choose the Right Vancouver Auto Mechanic There are several important factors to consider when looking for a new Vancouver, WA mechanic. And there are plenty of ways to go about your search. However, the bottom line is you want to make sure you choose the right one. Whatever shop you choose should have the right tools and equipment, experienced technicians, and honest service you can trust. Here are a few of the most important factors to weigh when looking for a new mechanic. ASE Certified – it all starts with the mechanics themselves. You don’t want to leave your car in the hands of just anyone. So be sure the mechanic y ... read more

Happy New Year, from Hoesly Automotive! We hope you and your family had a wonderful celebration as we kicked off 2022. We also want to say thank you for your continued trust in us and for your ongoing business. As we start this new year, we are excited to serve you and promise to continue providing honest, reliable, professional, and experienced auto repair in Vancouver, WA. Many people start the new year with resolutions or goals. We all want to improve ourselves and the new year is always a good time to start that process. We encourage you to consider your vehicle at this time of year, as well. Now is also a good time to make some resolutions for your car, truck, crossover, or SUV. Resolutions for the New Year There are numerous auto services that you could add to your list of resolutions. Let’s go over a few of the most basic ones. Doing these simple things will help both you and your car. Oil Change – it all starts with the oil. Mos ... read more