Vancouver Auto Repair

Does Your Car Need a New Thermostat in Vancouver WA? So, about that thermostat? Every car has one but how often do you pay attention to the thermostat? In most cases, your thermostat will last for about 10 years or even longer. But at some point, thermostats do break down and need to be replaced. So how do you know if your thermostat has reached the breaking point? There are several signs to look for and most of them are easy to detect. Here are the most common things to keep an eye on, so you know if your thermostat has had it. You don’t want to drive with a faulty thermostat because it can affect whether your engine receives coolant when it needs it. If the engine doesn’t get fluid at the right time, it can overheat and that can damage the motor. Erratic Temperature Gauge – one of the first things to watch for is an erratic temperature gauge. If your gauge goes into party mode, then there is a problem with the thermostat. If it&r ... 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

Top Vehicle Accessories to Carry with You This Winter The winter driving season is full of a lot of different driving conditions and hazards on the road. In fact, here in the Vancouver area, you could be hit with just about anything. Most people, driving back forth to their daily stops, don’t have to worry about getting stranded somewhere. Although, it has happened before with some of the huge winter storms we’ve had in the past. But in most cases, getting stranded is not likely. On the other hand, if you drive anywhere far from home, or perhaps in more rural areas, you have to be on your toes. Getting stranded without help is little more common it and could end up being very costly. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared. And even if you don’t have to worry about being stranded, there are several winter car accessories that are a good idea to have. Battery Jumper Cables Car batteries tend to expend more energy in ... 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 Often Should You Inspect Tire Pressure and Fluids? How are your fluids doing? What about your tire pressure? Both elements are important for the health of your vehicle and your safety on the road. But despite that, many drivers simply overlook these two things. When it comes to air pressure, most cars these days give you a warning signal that your pressure is low. That makes it easier to stay on top of it. But if your car doesn’t have that feature, then it’s important to check your tire pressure regularly on your own. Driving with low air pressure in your tires is dangerous and it can also lead to problems with your vehicle. Your fluids are a little different. Other than your oil, cars don’t usually have lights to alert you that they need to be changed. So, it’s important to inspect these yourself, or take them to a shop to have them checked on a regular basis. Check Your Pressure It’s a good idea to check your ti ... 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

Shopping for a used car can be a nightmare. You can drive all over town checking out used car lots but then you have to deal with used car salesmen. That takes a lot of time and energy that you might not have at your disposal. You could also shop online. There are dozens of websites that advertise cars for sale. In fact, these days, you can actually complete the entire process all online, without every seeing the vehicle in person or speaking with someone face to face. The problem with that is, you never quite know what the vehicle looks like because you can’t see it in-person with your own eyes. The risk is that you end up buying a lemon. And that’s the last thing you want to do with your money. So here are some tips to avoid getting stuck with a lemon. See it for yourself – you should always look at the car before you buy it. This allows you to inspect it yourself and determine what condition the car is in. there may be things you see in-person t ... 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

Use These Preventative Maintenance Tips When the Season Changes It’s always a good idea to do everything you can to keep your vehicle in the best condition possible, including taking care of any mechanical issues that might come up. The easiest and best way to stay on top of this is to get regular preventative maintenance before bad things can happen. Preventative maintenance is something you should do year-round, but it can be especially valuable when seasons change. Just like us, our cars can be affected by seasonal changes. For example, road conditions during the summer are completely different than they are in the spring or winter. Additionally, each season brings different temperatures and climates. Those various temperatures can affect our vehicles and their many parts, in several different ways. With that in mind, here are some important preventative maintenance tips to keep in mi ... read more

Right now, people are paying high prices and vehicles are hard to come by. In some cases, people have even paid more for a used vehicle than the price of a new one for the same model. If you’ve been looking for a pre-owned car lately, then you know the used car market is crazy When purchasing a used vehicle, you always have to be sure you are getting a car that’s still in good working condition. But in the current market, you have to be completely sure you know what you’re getting for the money. While many used cars are in very good shape these days, they are still used. So, you never really know for sure exactly what kind of condition a vehicle might be in. That’s why getting a pre-purchase inspection is a very smart move.   Make Sure You Know the Whole Story   These days, there are many online resources that can give you an idea of a vehicle’s history. T ... read more