Here’s a Checklist of Brake Issues

Your vehicle’s brakes system are the most vital component that keeps you safe while driving. We all need to have our brakes checked at least once a year or more often if you drive a lot. We recommend routine brake inspections as they are essential to safe driving and maintaining your vehicle. As responsible car owners we need to stay on top of our vehicles maintenance.

Neglecting your braking system can lead to increased cost of repairs and leave you on the side of the road or worse. Paying attention to the different signs of brake wear will save you money and keep your vehicle from bouncing off the car in front of you.

Here’s are some signs that indicate your brakes need to be inspected and possibly replaced or repaired.

• Noise: screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes
• Pulling: your car pulls to one side while braking
• Low Pedal: brake pedal nearly touches the floor before engaging
• Hard Pedal: must apply extreme pressure to the pedal before it engages
• Grabbing: brakes grab at the slightest touch to the pedal
• Vibration: brake pedal vibrates or pulses, even under normal braking conditions
• Light: brake light is illuminated on your vehicle’s dashboard
• Emergency Brake: weakness felt when applying, or you notice the brake not holding
• Smell: a bad odor after coming to a hard stop
• Stopping: the feeling that the vehicle should of stopped sooner or not stopping
• Doubt: if you have any doubt about your vehicle's braking ability, stop your car and call for tow, or slowly bring your car in NOW

Brakes are a normal wear item on all vehicles and will eventually need to be replaced. There are many factors that affect brake wear such as driving habits, operating conditions, vehicle type and the quality of the braking materials used. (cheap brake pads and shoes are cheap for a reason)

If you have not had your brakes inspected in a while please make an appointment for a safety check.

Happy Springtime !!!!

It’s True, You No Longer Need to Idle Your Car On Cold Mornings

It seems as though we’ve had more winter in the last month than in all of last year. With the weather getting cold early this year I thought it was a good idea to send out a reminder about not needing to idle your car on cold mornings.

Back in the day everybody would idle their vehicle to get the engine warm while waiting in the house. That’s when all cars had carburetors and needed to warm up before moving. However it’s been 30 years since that was commonplace. With today's fuel injectors, computer systems and thinner oils you don’t need to warm up your car’s engine like in the good old days.

The best way to warm up your car is to start it up, wait a no more than a minute and go. It takes 3-5 minutes to warm your engine so just don’t gun the engine at the start. I know on these cold mornings before I get to the first red light by the QT my car is already blowing hot air and that's less than 1 mile away.  

When your engine becomes warmer the computer sensors in your car will adjust the fuel mixture to be less rich until your car’s engine heats up to 40 degrees. Idling your car for more than a minute wastes gas, causes excessive wear to cylinders, piston rings, spark plugs and can even harm your exhaust system.

So to be clear with the point, idling your car is not an effective or wise way to warm up your car.

So unless you're driving a 1980’s vehicle which we assume your not, dress warm get in your car and go.

 Reminder, Keep Falling Leaves and Debris Off Your Car.

Recently the leaves seemed to fall all at once. This email is a reminder to keep the leaves, twigs, dead bugs and other road debris off your car especially right below your windshield.

This debris can over time can work its way into your vehicle's air system impacting the quality of the air you breath and possibly into the evaporator core which is part of you air conditioning system.

Now this doesn’t sound that awful until your evaporator core goes out. OUCH no A/C and a major repair depending on your vehicle that will cost between $2800 - $5000. YIKES !!! That's not the only reason the evaporator core will go out but why take the chance.

One more thing to keep in mind is to have your cabin filter checked and changed regularly.

We thank you and may your holidays be filled with fun, food, family, friends and be the best ever.

Closed Monday December 24th and Tuesday 25th for the Christmas Holiday

Closed Tuesday January 1st for New Years Day

Below is what the repair looks like when you have to get a new a/c evaporator core.