Yearly Archives: 2017

Why does my car pull to the left or to the right?

Why does my car pull to the left or to the right?

On a recent phone call one of our customers asked: "Why does my car pull to the right or to the left? Great question! Do you ever feel that your car dragging or "pulling" to the left or to the right?  Vehicle alignment. Alignment keeps your tires parallel with one another and even with the ground. If the alignment is off, it can cause a car to pull. Brake Hose. The brake hose distributes brake fluid to your tires. If it gets clogged, fluid is dispensed unevenly to the tires, causing a car to pull as a result. Tires. Over time your tire tread will wear out. If you don’t help distribute the wear evenly by rotating your tires on a regular basis, one will inevitably wear out quicker than the others. Low tire pressure can also be a cause of pulling. An experienced mechanic can ... read more

Are you ready for Fall Driving?

Are you ready for Fall Driving?

We all know how weather here in the Midwest changes hourly, with fall upon us, (someone did not let Mother Nature know that it starts officially Friday September 22) with weather hitting in the high 40’s at night. We need to give our car some TLC for Fall. Here are 10 practical tips to help get your car ready for fall. Check the brakes and tires.  Inclement weather and associated road conditions and other hazards require good stopping power. That means good brakes and tires. When we change your Oil we do a healthy car inspection that will let us know what you need, for tires and brakes Check the lights. Walk around the outside of the car and check the operation of all lights: headlights, taillights, parking lights, brake lights and emergency flashers( it helps to have someone inside vehicle hitting those lights). Replace all broken bulbs and those that have stopped working. Make sure all lights are clean. Replace wiper ... read more

BAD BALL JOINTS

BAD BALL JOINTS

Proper maintenance and replacement of a car's ball joints is necessary for safety. The front ball joints allow the front wheels and suspension to move back and forth as well as up and down when the steering wheel is turned and the vehicle is traveling over the road. Excessively worn ball joints can break, causing the wheel to collapse(see picture) and control of the vehicle is gone. However, the vehicle typically gives indications that the ball joint is BAD long before a failure of this magnitude occurs. Common signs include clunking noises and excessive vibration from the front and you may start steering to the right or left unintentionally. #maintenance #balljoints #noises

10 terrible mistakes drivers make:

10 terrible mistakes drivers make:

1. Running the tank low on fuel Leaving your tank to get dangerously empty allows the dirt, rust and grime that sits at the bottom of it to get sucked into the system, attacking the fuel pump and filters. 2. Resting your hand on the gearstick Leaving your hand resting with a certain amount of force will make the forks rub against the rotating collar causing unnecessary wear. 3. Resting foot on the clutch pedal Riding the pressure plate against the clutch causes heat and wear – and new clutches don’t come cheap. 4. Revving the engine before it’s warm Just like athletes, cars need to warm up first. When you start the engine, the oil pump pushes oil around the system and this oil takes time to fully circulate. You should leave the engine to run for 10 seconds before setting off. 5. Delaying regular maintenance It might be a pain keeping up with services, and expensive, too, but ... read more

Checking your fluids in your car regularly.

Checking your fluids in your car regularly.

While we may enjoy the hot temperatures we need to remember that high temperatures can take a toll on car fluids, leading to a breakdown and possibly a major repair. Conduct a fluid check now, and you may avoid problems that leave you stranded miles away from the beach later. Here are the five essential fluids to check in the summertime: Coolant. This is known as your antifreeze or radiator fluid—keeps your engine from overheating and freezing plus it protects the aluminum engine parts. If cloudy or rusty please let us know so we can flush and replace. Motor Oil. Always check with your owner’s manual but take into account if you are a hard or tough driver or it’s extremely hot make sure you top off as needed keeping an eye on what color it is. Brake Fluid. This is a sealed system, check the brake fluid reservoir to verify the right level, fluid decreases as the pads wear, but make sure that you don’t have any leaks. Car Battery. You can’t check the lev ... read more

How you can save $$ on your transmission!!

How you can save $$ on your transmission!!

Have you had your Transmission Fluid looked at lately? When was the last time you had it changed? The Manufacturers recommend for a manual transmission fluid changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, but under heavy-duty use about every 15,000 miles. Automatic transmission vary from 30,000 to never or 60,000 to 100,000, depending on your driving. The transmission fluid is a slippery liquid that is a lubricant for all of the moving parts inside your transmission.  For a Manual transmission the problem is fluid contamination, which occurs when bearings and gears in the transmission wear out, leaving particles that float around in the lubricant. With an Automatic transmission more heat is generated and the fluid actually degrades and breaks down with use, also as parts wear down it also becomes contaminated. WHAT IF I DON’T CHANGE IT REGULARLY? By not changing your transmission fluid regularly, you are letting the transmission lubricate itself with metal shavings and other con ... read more

"What is misfiring and what are the causes of misfiring?"

"What is misfiring and what are the causes of misfiring?"

What is misfiring and what are the causes of misfiring? Engine misfires can be caused by a list of faults, but there are a few suspects that occur more than others. The primary villains are simple – spark or fuel – usually manifesting in spark plugs, plug wires, the coil(s) or the fuel-delivery system. In order for a cylinder to fire properly, it needs 4 things all working together:   Proper Fuel/Air Mixture  Good Compression   Proper Timing  Correct Spark Common Misfire Causes If one or more of the above factors aren’t in proper working condition, you’ll run the risk of misfiring. There are a variety of different misfire causes that can occur that can keep a cylinder from combusting properly. Sometimes it takes a combination of issues in order to make a cylinder  ... read more

Regular Maintenance on Your Radiator can save money in the long run.

Regular Maintenance on Your Radiator can save money in the long run.

Skipping maintenance for your car will never save you money in the long run. Small problems quickly turn huge, expensive ones...for example, saving money by not replacing brake pads can mean replacing pads AND rotors down the road. Here is another example of why simple maintenance is important, and you can do this yourself or not—we can do it for you. Have you ever lifted the hood? Check the radiator for to make sure it’s not clogged, with the car off you can remove the leaves. If the area is filthy, you may need to bring your vehicle in to Ricks Auto Service here in Mishawaka. #radiator #maintenance #success

Compare the Costs: Buying a new Car vs. Used

 Compare the Costs: Buying a new Car vs. Used

For those of you looking at brand new/used cars,  thought you might take a quick look, and just some Thought on the subject. Buying a used car is less expensive upfront. For example, a 2017 Hyundai Sonata is listed at $21,950, while a 2015 model has an average fair market value of just under $14,800, according to Kelley Blue Book. By dropping just two model years, you’d save around $7,000, about a third of the suggested retail price. Comparing the costs of buying new versus used starts with the real money-saver in buying a used car: depreciation. This is the amount of value a car loses as it ages.   Besides the savings in the purchase price, there are other benefits to buying a used car. You’ll face lower insurance rates with an older car. This is because it would be less expensive to repair or replace ... read more

BACK TO SCHOOL BLOW OUT SPECIAL

BACK TO SCHOOL BLOW OUT SPECIAL

BACK TO SCHOOL BLOW OUT SPECIAL SAVE $64.71 Regular Price $103.71 SPECIAL  $39.00 expires 9/29/2017 Oil and Filter Change 50 Point Savety & Maintenance Inspection Performance test drive Front Wipers Tire Rotation Battery Test Consultation about any concerns you may have Whether you are going back to school, going on a trip, want a dependable car for work or just want to get in on our Special for the Fall Weather: Give us a call. Rick’s Auto Service 574-255-4724    

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