Mishawaka Auto Repair

Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance!!! Being aware of the total Health of your Vehicle is key to keeping you on the road with a well oiled Car! When you get an Oil Change at Ricks Auto Service here in Mishawaka, we also do a Health Assessment of your entire Vehicle. The Health Assessment is a 50 point check on your Vehicle. This allows us to partner with you in a long-term care of your vehicle. Our 36,000 mile 3-year warranty backs up our work and gives you peace of mind. If unsure how often your Oil should be changed check your Owners Book in the glove box, also if you do a lot of rough driving, considering changing it sooner. Keeping  your family safe on the road is number one in our shop. Just as the human body can not live without blood, the Oil is the lifeline to your Vehicle. Lubricating the Engine, while cooling your Engines’ moving parts. When  you don’t keep the Oil cleaned and do an Oil Flush, you allow sludge to build up. The longer you wait, the O ... read more

The U-Joint or Universal Joint connects the Driveshaft to the Differential. It is a cross shaped piece, with bearings at each end. It allows for varying angles of the Driveshaft. If you hear a clunking noise when shifting into drive or reverse or even a banking noise when putting in gear. You may also hear a squeaking noise which can happen when the U-Joint loses lubrication. Huge problem is when your Vehicle goes in gear but won’t move you will need to have your Vehicle towed. #UJoint #drivetrain #wontstart #ricksautoservicein #Mishawaka

What are the signs of a bad Flywheel? What is a Flywheel? The Flywheel bolts between the Transmission and the Engine. The Teeth were damaged, this Vehicle was a No-Starter and the Starter was damaged and was replaced.   As you can see from the picture the Flywheel is a thick metal Disk. The Flywheel is extremely firm and inflexible. Notice the row of Gear Teeth which engage with the Engines’ Starter Motor it helps with starting the Engine.  Once started the Crankshaft converts the up and down motion of the Pistons into Rotary motion. It is bolted to a Flange on the Transmission side of the Crankshaft. The Flywheel keeps your Engine running or else it will stall when you let your foot off the Accelerator. It is also weighted to the Car’s Crankshaft. It also reduces Drivetrain Stress with the other parts. Without the Flywheel your Vehicle would stall when you move the Vehicle from a standstill. The Teeth show damage.    Signs of a bad Flywheel: Gears ... read more

Do Struts need to be replaced? Some people would say no, but in all honesty I personally prefer a smooth ride. It could also be a matter of safety. If experiencing a bumpy ride, or the Steering becomes stiff or harder to turn, it can also sway or lean to one side. You may also be hearing noises such as clunking or a knocking noise.  The Struts and Springs are part of your Vehicles Suspension System. They absorb all the excess bouncing of your Vehicles Suspension System. What the struts house are the Coil Spring, Spring Seats and Shock Absorbers. The Strut Bearing and the Steering Knuckle. The Struts provide the structural support – connecting the upper Strut Bearing to the lower Ball Joint. The Picture below is the  Vehicle that had the Struts and Springs replaced.   

What is a Brake Caliper?  The Brake Caliper is critical to slowing and stopping your Vehicle. The Brake Caliper plays a major role with your Disc Brake system. It supports the Brake Caliper and using the Brake Pistons exerts friction on the Brake Rotor. It squeezes the Brake Pads against the Brake Rotor stopping the Vehicle. The Brake Calipers does not need replacing as often as the Brake Pads or Brake Rotors. That being said if you are driving with Brake Pads that are worn out or your Rotors are warped damage to the Brake Calipers happens. Some symptoms of bad Brake Calipers are:   Your Brake Fluid is leaking -Calipers are failing or going bad Your warning light will go on. Your Brake Pads are wearing unevenly. Your Vehicle is pulling to the right or the left. When braking abnormal sounds. When driving if the Brakes feel like they are engaged you may have dirty Calipers. Which might cause them to stick If you are experiencing all or any of the above signs, bring ... read more

Do all cars have a Catalytic Converter? Since 1974, most gasoline Cars and Trucks have a Catalytic Converters. The job of the Catalytic Converter is that it reduces Toxic Gases and Pollutants that can harm us. It can also improve your Vehicles’ efficiency. If your Catalytic Converter is not working you will smell the result, it smells like Sulphur. Another function, like a Muffler, the Catalytic Converter will reduce some of the loud Exhaust sound. Vehicles produced after 1974 are required to have a Catalytic Converter. The Camry, Ferrari F430, RAM 2500 have two Catalytic Converter making them targets for Catalytic Converter theft. Other Vehicles such as Honda Jazz, Toyota Prius, Toyota Auris, Lexus RX and those Trucks that are taller (4x4s) are also targets of Converter theft.       There are precious metals in the Catalytic Converter: Rhodium, Platinum and Palladium. If you do not want to get expensive plates to cover the Catalytic Converter (they can still ... read more

Can I drive with a Coolant Leak? Sometimes this question is asked to late, driving with a Coolant Leak that is left unattended will cause major damage to the Engine. On this particular Vehicle the Coolant was left to almost run out. When this happens your Vehicle can not properly cool your engine to a normal running Temperature. When your Engine overheats, damage can occur to the Block and Heads of the Engine. The Gaskets were blown. When this happens further damage can occur. There was a deep crack in the Head, we had to replace the Engine. #Engine Repair #Engine Replacement  

What does a Water Pump do? When your Engine can reach Temperatures of 195 to over 200 on a regular day. Imagine what our severe Indiana Temperatures can do to the water in your Radiator. The Coolant and Anti-Freeze in your Vehicle circulates through your Engine. This coolant is controlled by your Water Pump. Ensuring that the Coolant keeps moving through you Engine Block and Radiator. The Coolant also passes thru Hoses keeping the proper temperature to operate your Vehicle

A customer had his car towed in because the Vehicle had Intermittent Starting Issues. We had to Diagnosis the Vehicle and found it had a GPS Tracking System that was faulty. GPS Tracking is an acronym:  Global Positioning System. It involves an organization of 24 satellites in orbit and Tools on the ground that can set up an individual or article's area on Earth with shocking accuracy. GPS Tracking tracks three separate informational indexes: situating, route, and timing.   From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice.org/ #RicksAutoService #MishawakaMechanic #MishawaAutoRepair #No Start #Alignment  

Symptoms of a bad or worn Ball Joint: One of the Symptoms of a bad or worn-out Ball Joint, is your tire will show excessive wear on the inside or outside of the Tire.. Tires may also show wear from any problems with the Steering or it has been a while since you have had the Vehicle Aligned. You may also be hearing odd sounds such as a faint bang, grinding or popping noise coming from the corner of the Vehicle. With a worn Ball there is to much free motion. You may also feel the Vehicle pull from side to side, or a Steering Wheel shaking excessively. The Ball Joint connects to the Steering and Suspension. Any of these above signs may be a red flag, give us a call or go online to make an appointment so we can keep your family safe driving on the road