Mishawaka Auto Repair

How do you know if your Car is Road Trip Ready? If your Vehicle is making any strange noises, when you start the Engine. When you Brake or try and Start your Car. Talk to your Mechanic if you don’t have one give us a call. Don’t let car trouble ruin your next long get-away weekend. A few Car Maintenance tasks before you go will get you there and back again but also give you peace of mind. Checking the Fluids in your car. When was the last time you had an Oil Change? Checking your Vehicle Coolant will keep you and your Engine cool. What about your Vehicles Battery, is it Corrosion-Free and relatively new (2-5 years old). Don’t forget your Engines Belts and Hoses. Belts should be tightly installed and Hoses crack-free.Don't forget to check your Tire Tread. If you have any noises coming from the Brakes make sure the Brake Pads or Rotors are safe. Schedule an appointment today we will give make sure your Vehicle is Road Ready and Safe.   ... read more

"Brake Problems"? "How do you stop a Brake Caliper from making noise?" "Can a Brake Rotor make noise?" Ricks Auto Service, serving the Michiana Area since 1977, is the place for those Brake Problems. Your Brakes need a detailed check as we do with any service. Our ASE Brake Specialists invest enough time to do a thorough inspection of your Brakes’ condition. At Ricks Auto Service, we make sure your Rotors aren’t warped, which could be some of the noise you are hearing. Also, if your Brake Caliper is sticking or freezing up, those could be the noises you are hearing. We recommend that you schedule an appointment. Driving with bad Rotors or Calipers can be dangerous. Give us a call: Ricks Auto Service 405 W. Jefferson Blvd Mishawaka IN (574) 255-4724 or make an appointment from your phone or online https://www.ricksautoservice.org/appointments

Many so-called cheap Brake Shops end up selling parts or services that you don't need. Have Brakes Inspected and measured Every time you Rotate and Balance Tires (every 6000 miles) By ASE Certified Technician Be sure to keep a record of dates and measurement Find a good Auto Repair Shop in Mishawaka or South Bend, which will educate you about Brakes before you need them, and who will answer your questions. It is also important to Flush your Brake System regularly: ABS - annually Non-ABS - every 2 years When cloudy or contaminated (Brake Fluid absorbs water from the atmosphere) I also recommend installing premium parts...there only two things you always want your car to do: Go and Stop. Make an appointment today:  https://www.ricksautoservice.org/appointments  

What are the signs of a bad Water Pump? Coolant Leak: depending on the color of your coolant, can be red to orange to green. If it is a dark color no matter the original color it’s time to get it flushed and new coolant added. You will find a puddle on the floor, general location of the Pump. The leak can come from Seals or Gaskets need to be replaced.Overheating Engine: if the Water Pump is going out it will not be working well. So it won’t be able to do it’s job of cooling the engine. Noise. If you hear a whining, grinding noise from the engine the belt could be slipping or the Pulley is bad. It also could be a bad Bearing. Look at the Water Pump itself. Is that a build up of sludge? Is there steam coming from the Radiator? Do Not try to remove the Radiator Cap, could cause burns. From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Cal ... read more

  My Heater in my Honda stopped working?  The Heater can stop working for different reasons. The Antifreeze level in the Radiator may have a leak. The Thermostat might be going bad which doesn’t allow the Engine to properly warm up. Could even be the Blower Fan or the Blower Motor Resistor is bad. Your Heater Core could be clogged. The HVAC Controls may not be triggering the heating system. Could be Broken Dials or Knobs. Sometimes the Touchscreen has gone bad. Once you’ve located the problem, for this Honda it was the Heater Blower Resistor that was the culprit. We were able to replace and get the customer back on the road

Car leaking Antifreeze If your vehicle is leaking antifreeze, the problem needs to be repaired. Before you end up with a more costly issue. Your Engine's Radiator is filled with Coolant, a 50-50 mix of Antifreeze and water. A Pump on the Engine circulates the coolant through the Radiator, Engine, and Heater. Keeping your engine running at the proper temperature—and not overheating—regardless of the outside temperature. If an Engine is low on Coolant, it can run too hot, which will hurt both performance and fuel economy. Your Engine can overheat, sustaining expensive and possibly terminal damage. The Engine's Cooling system is complex and has many parts. A Coolant leak could be a simple fix.  Unfortunately, it could be a broken Water Pump, a blown Head Gasket, damaged Radiator. Unless you have the skill as a Technician and the Tools. Calling a skilled Technician to Diagnose the problem is essential.   From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks ... read more

If you’ve never changed the Cabin Air Filter in your vehicle, you may notice one or more of these symptoms. Check your owner’s manual to locate your Vehicle’s Cabin Air Filter to check if it’s time to be changed. Alternatively, bring your car into Ricks' Auto Service to have a professional technician ensure your cabin air filter is fresh and clean. Health troubles: A functional cabin air filter is essential in keeping the inside of a Vehicle free of pollutants. A cabin air filter that's dirty or clogged won't filter those contaminants, causing problems for those who suffer from allergies or have breathing difficulties. A good rule of thumb is to replace your Cabin Air Filter every February, before spring allergy season arrives, especially if you live in an area with a lot of trees. A new Cabin Air Filter will prevent pollen from making its way into a vehicle and causing its occupants to start sneezing, or even worse. From ... read more

What can a car diagnostic Test tell you? A Car Diagnostic test will tell you the cause of what has caused the check engine light to come on. In cars today there is an internal computer it tracks and operates many of the vehicles components. Areas these computers monitor are the Engine, Transmission, Exhaust Systems, Brakes & cooling system. A code tells the Technician where the problem is located but not what the problem is. The computer is able to determine when something is wrong before it becomes a major issue. Choosing the team you can trust is key, Ricks Auto Service., with over 42 years performing auto repairs across Northern Indiana. We provide you with expert customer service and knowledgeable ASE Technicians who can diagnosis the problem for any vehicle you drive. From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice ... read more

Why are my Brakes making a grinding noise? This picture shows how worn both sides are with the right being worn a little more. These Brakes were Grinding, making a very loud noise every time the customer braked!  It is good to have your Brakes inspected at least annually if not every 6 months. The reason for this is to catch minor problems before they become major or more costly problems. What do I notice if I have brake problems. Pulsating when braking whether at low speeds or high speeds can be caused by warped Brake Rotors or Brake Drums which can affect stopping distances. Squeaking can be caused by Brake warning tabs or inexpensive quality of Brake Pads. Grinding is usually cause because brake pads are completely worn out and you have metal on metal rubbing against each other. Soft brakes, can be caused by a number of things including, worn out brake parts, air in the brake hydraulic system or under adjusted brakes. Brake smells, If you have a part o ... read more

Why Vehicle maintenance important. Saves you moneyProtects your major investmentGetting better gas mileageWarranty is maintainedIt will hold it’s value(trade in value is about 5-8 years)Keeping it maintained can also protect our environmentSafety, safety, safety Included is a maintenance checklist:   Maintenance checklist: Inspect and maintain tiresChange the oilCheck the fluidsTest the lightsReplace windshield wipersChange your engine air filterRegular checkupsHave your brakes checkedWash your carCheck belts and hoses Our ASE trained Mechanics at Ricks Auto Service can do all of the above for you. If you are a hands-on type of person, you ... read more