Mishawaka Auto Repair

As we get closer to Spring/Easter break, and summer right around the corner here are a few ways to cut your car expenses: Drive sensibly: If you have a bad habit to speed and hard brake those are quick ways you can waste gas. That type of aggressive driving can lower gas mileage on highway 33% around town 5%, Adds up after a while. Cruise at 50 mph. In all honesty don’t know how you can do this one because in town the speed limit is way less than 50. The freeway is way faster than the 50 mph. It says roughly savings up to $477 a year, not milk change. Stop Idling. I am guilty of this, it says that you spend about $140 a year if you idle more than 2 hours a week. Embrace the heat. Someone from the west or lives in dry weather, not our Midwest weather, where you step outside and are dripping before you take two steps! You can save roughly $120 a year, sorry I will keep my A/C on well worth the $120!! G ... read more

SPRING IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN!!!   South Bend and Plymouth have seen hefty snow totals of more than 62.3”. LaPorte has seen a whooping 92.4”, while others have seen 58.2” and lower(still an amazing amount). So for sure Spring will be here, let’s start thinking about “Spring Cleaning” your car! When was the last time you had your wiper blades(are they cracked or streaking your windshield)? What about your tires? Do you see any bulges or bald spots? All the filters and fluids should be checked-don’t forget engine oil, transmission, power steering and brake fluids. Don forget your windshield wiper solvent and antifreeze/coolant. If your air filters are filthy they could cause the engine to lose power or can waste gas. Hoses  and belts with use can become loose,brittle, cracked or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical in the proper function of the electrical, power steering, air conditioning and cooli ... read more

      Any leak no matter where it is, is never ideal, especially if it is a vacuum leak. With leaking seals, the engine works harder, putting more wear and tear on the engine. The Valve Cover Gasket is made of rubber or cork, this seals the cover to the engine, keeping any oil from leaking out. If you are driving with a cracked or broken gasket, the oil will lead, your engine will not be properly lubricated, and then the engine can be damaged seriously. #ValveCoverGasket #seals #maintenance #RicksAutoService

Corrosion on battery terminals can be the cause of grave problems in your car engine. It definitely is a game changer when you go out to start your car, and it doesn’t turn over.  The best thing to do (ok mom I know!!) is keep your car maintained, even if you did regular oil changes, we at Ricks Auto Service would be able to catch that problem.      I know you can google/utube/etc to find out how to clean the cables and the battery itself, but I hesitate. On some models, Honda for example, when you take the cable off the battery to clean it, you erase the memory and some of it’s codes are critical in letting you know what is wrong with your car. So, I guess my recommendation is to take your car to a reliable mechanic and have them clean the cables, and see if in fact that is your biggest problem. #Battery #corrosion #shopnearme

  The answer to that question is ALL of your LIGHTS are important. Did you know that you could get a ticket for not having all your lights working properly? Well, you can, which could raise your car insurance rates. When you come to Ricks Auto Service here in Mishawaka IN, and are schedule for an oil change we take a look at every light…brake, fog lamps, High and Low headlights, turn signals or indicator lights, parking lights I might of missed one. Each of these lights are important and missing any or one could cause an accident. #Lights #Maintenance #shopnearme #RicksAutoService

           Have you notice the ice buildup in your tire well? Well it has a name “fenderbergs”!!  I’ve often wondered if they would do any damage, well they do. If left overnight they literally become like small icebergs making turning your wheel hard. Your turning ability because of the fenderberg can be dangerous. This can cause damage if left to grow and turn to hard ice, to the suspension and the tire.      I try to kick them off when I stop anywhere, but if left overnight you almost need a hammer or a sledgehammer to remove them. It really only takes less than a minute to take care of the problem. #tirewell #alignment #suspension

Remember to accelerate and decelerate slowly. The best method for regaining traction and to avoid skids is to apply gas slowly. Don’t be in a hurry, that’s when you get in trouble, it always take longer to slow down. Always drive slow. Not matter what, everyone is going slower it is a huge difference driving on dry pavement versus ice. When on dry pavement leave a distance of 3 to 4 seconds when on ice increase to 8 to 10 seconds behind next car. How well do you know your brakes? By keeping the heel of your foot on the floor use the ball of the foot, brake until you feel one or more wheels lock, ease up, when the wheels are rolling reapply pressure. We call this the Hoosier stop, at many of the stop signs it is straight ice, so if you can slow and roll thru safely (you could still get a ticket but if you talk respectfully with the officer you might be ok—haven’t had this experience) also I’ve seen lots of officers doing the exact same thing? When goi ... read more

Noise is a classic sign of a bad Wheel Bearing or Wheel Hub Bearing. Here are some indicators of a worn wheel hub bearing or other wheel-end damage: • Snapping, clicking or popping. When you are turning you may hear this noise when turning a sharp corner. What this might be is a worn or damaged outer CV-joint, but it could be an excessive bearing endplay, which means it could be inadequate clamping due to wear. • Grinding when the vehicle is in motion. So, when you hear this, in the wheel-end system. Means it is mechanical damage. When turning or there is a shift in the load the noise is usually louder. • Knocking or clunking. This is not necessarily associated with bearing, but could be excessive play in CV-joints or U-joints, or by excessive backlash in the differential gears. When you are shifting from changing directions, going forward to reverse or transitioning from accelerating to coasting ... read more

1. Stock your sleep time: Get at least seven hours of sleep for two consecutive nights before the road trip to build up your energy reserves. “Also, try to avoid driving between 1 and 3 p.m., when the body’s temperature is lower and people are naturally drowsy. 2. Fuel up: Good food for you, not the car. Carrying along a variety of vitamin-packed, healthy foods will allow you to get by on smaller snacks throughout the long drive, while skipping the fast-food stops. One blogger says almonds and carrots, two of my favorite (because you have to chew a lot!!) 3. Stay hydrated: Keep the water supply well-stocked for maximum energy. (Although frequent stops will need to happen—read on) 4. Plan your stops: One of the most crucial tips for long road trips is to get out of your car and stretch your legs every two hours or so, our experts suggest. 5. Chew gum: The repetitive process increas ... read more

A– It’s All There in the Manual​: There are general rules of thumb for basic preventive maintenance, but the best place to start is by actually reading the owner’s manual for your vehicle’s make and model. A 1982 Honda Accord has different needs than a 2018 Honda, and they both differ from a 30-year-old Jeep. B – At Your Service: If you want to keep your car in the best possible shape, get Health Assessments done, we do them when we do Oil Changes. It is never profitable skipping your regular maintenance items. Catching a small problem before it becomes a large problem costing hundreds to sometimes thousands of dollars(engine). Every car needs regular service – it’s the easiest and best way to keep your car’s health up. Again, the recommended service intervals, such as oil changes and drive belt checks, will be in the user manual. C &ndash ... read more