Mishawaka Auto Repair

Why does my car vibrate when I drive? Unfortunately, a customer of ours hit a huge pot hole, and broke the control arm, that was an easy diagnosis. But your cars vibration can be your tires, wheels, brakes, steering suspension, axle or engine. That is why it is key to get your vehicle into the shop. We will talk about what a bad control arm can do. Signs of a bad control arm: Popping sound when going over bumps. Unstable Steering the vehicle will pull either right or the left. Affected driving performance when worn out the vehicle can vibrate while driving. Uneven tire wear the tire tread will show uneven wear. Control arms in a car are vital parts of the front suspension. If a control arm is worn out or damaged beyond what a car manufacturer considers acceptable, the vehicle is deemed unsafe to drive. 

Why won’t my car start or turn over? It is so important to get accurate information from the owner. All or any bit of information leading up to the no-start problem helps. Such as was the battery low or dead. Was a light left on to drain the battery current? Could it be the starting circuit: Spark, fuel, compression/timing are needed to make a car start. As you can see getting the vehicle into the shop is crucial. Our mechanics can then properly diagnosis the problem. 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 #electricalissues #AutoRepairNearMe #fuelPump #Fuel #Essentialbusiness #Local #Business

How often should I change my wiper blades? In our Midwest weather, which is harsh, you should change your wiper blades every six months We recommend October and then again in March or April. As your wiper blades wear they become less efficient in keeping your windshield clean. That could become a safety hazard. If you don’t want to change them every six months at least change them once a year, possibly with your Oil Change. To extend the life of your windshield wipers here are a couple of easy tips. Defrost and scrape the window before you use the wiper blades, may keep them from snapping. Keep your windshield clean-when you get gas clean the front and back windows. Press the washer if you need to clean something off the window, you can wear the blades out faster on dry window. From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online:  ... read more

What can drain the car battery when the car is off? Headlights or dome lights left on. Your battery is already weak or in poor condition. Severely corroded connections. Draining on your electrical system such as glove box or trunk light that doesn’t go off. Extreme temperatures either hot or cold. Lose belts or worn tensioners prevent alternator to work properly. You could have a charging system problem. Todays vehicles require a greater amount of reserve capacity when the engine is off.  Ricks Auto Service also back up these batteries with a 3-year 36,000 mile warranty, they are just that good! We also do free battery checks. Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice.org/ #ricksautoservice #Mishawakamechanic #mishawaautorepair #covid #electricalissues #AutoRepairNearMe #fuelPump #Fuel #Essentialbusiness #Local #Business

Ricks Auto Service offers full service oil changes. On top of replacing the engine oil and filter, we perform an in-depth Vehicle Health Assessment. Our ASE Certified Mechanics use a digital vehicle inspection including photos of all parts in their present condition. The Health Assessment includes: Checking and topping off all the fluids, looking for any signs of leakage. We also check for wear on your tires, Brakes, wipers, hoses, belts and filters. 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. Join the thousands of Michiana customers who have trusted us over the years. 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 

How to tell if you have bad struts: There are a number of issues why you may need to replace your struts. Do you experience a  rougher ride than usual? When stopping weak shocks or struts can cause the vehicle to dip forward.  Fluid leakage may be another indicator of worn struts. Are your tires worn unevenly or do you have bald spots? Another issue may be a loud knocking sound or clunking noise (or unusual sound). These issues happen over time, if you notice any of the above give us a call and we will figure out the problem. For 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 #waterpump #electricalissues #AutoRepairNearMe #fuelPump #Fuel s #Local #Business

My car is overheating. Vehicles today have amazing cooling systems that have heat sensors run by a computer-controlled electric fans. With all that, your vehicle can still overheat. A leak or blockage in the engine cooling system or another part could be the problem. Parts may leak after regular wear and tear can be your: rubber hoses, gaskets, and water pumps. DON”T ignore. Some signs that your car is overheating: steam or smoke from under the hood. The temperature gage spikes to red or “H”. Leaking coolant can have a burnt odor, or a strange smell.  If you are not car savvy, give Ricks Auto Service a call in Mishawaka. Be cautious looking under the hood it can overheat to almost 230 degrees, hot water or steam may spray on you.  From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice.org/  ... read more

Hondas are famous for longevity and reliability and that makes them perfect for many Ricks Auto customers. The long lifespan of vehicles like the Odyssey, Insight, CE-V Passport, SI Civic and many others means that preventive maintenance is even more important. The Honda vehicles you see still running well past 200,000 miles have had regular maintenance services along the way. One of Ricks Automotive customer has an Odyssey with almost 400,000 miles! How did that happen? We have provided expert guidance along the way and the result is a vehicle that continues to be reliable, comfortable, and safe. We look forward to partnering with you and your Honda. Join the thousands of Michiana customers who have trusted us over the years. 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 ... read more

"Routine Maintenance" is so important. Why keeping your vehicle clean inside and out is important. “Do you really need to wash your car?” Just like when you get an Oil Change, it’s all about keeping your Vehicle well maintained.  Washing your Vehicle especially in Midwest weather has so much value. Your protect your Vehicles Value, with the salt and sand that are put on our roads, all those pollutants do damage to your Vehicles finish.  Preserves your paint. Washing your car on a regular basis is a must not a need. With the types of winters we have, using all that salt, washing it regularly helps to keep the salt damage down (rusting). Using products designed for cleaning autos is important. Household cleaners may be harsh and can damage paint. Using terry It can prevent costly repairs. Car filth can damage the vehicles body and paint. Clean cars are safer. Kee ... read more

Does regular maintenance really matter? You bet it does, a city-driven vehicle works harder, not only is the engine constantly working but the stopping and starting uses more fuel. Your vehicles suspension can get a major workout with rough roads and potholes. While freeway driving allows one cruising speed on the highway, all the stop and go traffic and changing of gears takes a serious toll on your engine, transmission and brake systems. Highway miles, most of the time the roads are smooth, you can drive on cruise control, keeping a steady pace reduces the work of the transmission and engine. With very little slowing down, no parallel parking and a longer drive your charging system can work as it should. Your battery and alternator may last longer.  Doing regular oil changes, fighting rust and cleaning your filters, keeping an eye on the fluid levels, taking care of those dashboard lights when they first come on. If you need to get your car on a maintenance calls us. Choosin ... read more