Mishawaka Auto Repair

Preparing Your Vehicle for the Winter Season   Winter is here, AGAIN!!! The winter months can be hard on your Vehicle. The Cold Temperatures, snow, and ice all take their toll. That’s why it’s important to Winterize your Vehicle each year, so you can make sure it’s in top shape to withstand the elements. Here are a few steps you should take to ensure your car is ready for the winter season.   Keeping your gas tank full becomes even more important than ever before. You wouldn't want to take the risk of running out of gas when temperatures dip, after all, you would be on your own out in the cold. For these instances, keeping a good reserve of fuel and making sure it stays consistently full become premier measures to maintaining your safety. Check Your Battery  The last thing you want is for your Car Battery to fail during a bitter cold day. To reduce the risk of that happening, check ... read more

  Keeping Your Vehicle in Tip-Top Shape No matter how much we love our cars, they require Regular Maintenance to keep them running smoothly. Regular car maintenance is important as it helps keep your vehicle safe, efficient, and reliable. It also prevents small problems from becoming costly repairs down the line. Here's a comprehensive guide to all the basics of car maintenance—from Oil Changes to Spark Plugs and more!   Oil Change Changing your oil is one of the most important aspects of car maintenance. Depending on your vehicle’s age, engine type, and driving habits, you should plan for an oil change every 3-5 months or 5,000 miles (whichever comes first). This can help ensure that all parts are properly lubricated, and that dirt and debris don’t build up in your engine over time.   Checking Oil & Coolant Levels  Oil and coolant levels should be regularly checked between oil chan ... read more

What are the Symptoms of a Failing Differential? The Differential is an essential component of any Vehicle. It helps your car to turn corners, accelerate, and decelerate, and can be found in both Front-Wheel Drive and Rear-Wheel Drive vehicles. But what happens if your Differential Fails? There are a few telltale signs that point to a failing differential—let us take a look at what they are. Noise One of the most common indicators of a failing Differential is noise. If you notice a loud grinding or clunking sound coming from the axle area while you’re driving, it could mean that there is an issue with the Differential system. These sounds usually occur when cornering or when accelerating and decelerating, so if you hear them only when performing these actions it could very well be an issue with the differential. Vibrations Another symptom of a failing Differential is vibration. Vibrations will usually occur during acceleration or when c ... read more

Essential Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Running SmoothlyRegular Maintenance is essential for keeping your vehicle running smoothly and safely. While some Maintenance items can be done by the owner, other more specific tasks should be left to a Professional Auto Mechanic. Let’s take a look at the essential elements of a good Maintenance Plan.Oil Changes & Filter ReplacementsThe most important type of Maintenance for your Vehicle is changing the Oil and replacing the Oil Filter every 3,000-5,000 miles. Depending on how much you drive and what kind of conditions you are driving in, this interval may need to be shortened. Oil Changes are important because they help keep all the moving parts in your Engine lubricated properly which prevents friction and overheating. It also helps keep dust and dirt out of your Engine and helps it run more efficiently.Tire Rotations & BalanceAnother critical part of ... read more

Is Cabin Air Filter really necessary? If you own a car, it’s important to know what a Cabin Air Filter is and when you should replace it. A Cabin Air Filter helps keep the air inside your vehicle clean, free of dust, pollen, and other allergens. Replacing your cabin air filter regularly will help ensure that your passengers can breathe fresh, clean air while in the car. Here’s all you need to know about cabin air filters and when it’s time to replace them. What is a Cabin Air Filter? A cabin air filter is an air filter designed specifically for cars. It helps keep the air inside the car clean by trapping particles such as dust, dirt, pollen, and other allergens before they enter the interior of the vehicle. It also prevents debris from entering through the ventilation system and potentially damaging other components of the car. A cabin air filter is typically located behind the glove box or under the hood of your vehicle. When Should You Replace Your Cabin Air Filte ... read more

An Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve works by controlling the flow of air into the Intake Manifold. The IAC adjusts the amount of airflow entering the Engine to ensure that it can maintain its RPM level when idling. This process occurs in response to signals from Sensors located in various parts of the vehicle, such as the throttle position sensor or mass airflow sensor. When these sensors detect changes in conditions such as load or temperature, they send signals to the computer that controls the IAC valve, which then adjusts accordingly to maintain a steady idle speed. SYMPTOMS OF A BAD IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE (IACV) If your vehicle has a faulty or worn-out Idle Air Control Valve (IACV), there are several signs you might be able to spot that indicate something isn't quite right with your car's idle system. These include:  • Erratic Idle Speed – If your car's idle speed changes drastically or jumps around for no apparent reas ... read more

  Can a car run with a bad Radiator? The answer is, unfortunately, no. If your Radiator is leaking Coolant, it's likely not going to be able to properly cool your Engine, which can lead to all sorts of problems. The Radiator is one of the most vital component of your car's Cooling System, and its main purpose is to keep the Engine from overheating. It does this by circulating coolant through the Engine and carrying away the heat from the engine block. However, radiators can go bad for a number of reasons. Here are some of the most common culprits.  1. Lack of Regular Maintenance - Just like any other part of your car, the Radiator needs to be regularly maintained in order to function properly. This means Flushing out the old Coolant and refilling it with fresh coolant at least once a year. If you don't do this, the coolant can become stagnant and start to corrode the radiator from the inside out. 2. Leaks - Radiators can develop leaks over time, and these leaks ... read more

All About the Heater Blower Motor Resistor  When it comes to your car, there are a lot of intricate parts that work together to keep everything running smoothly. One part you might not have heard of is the Heater Blower Motor Resistor. In this blog post, we'll explore what a heater blower motor resistor is and what it does. We'll also touch on some common signs that your heater blower motor resistor might need to be replaced. Read on to learn more! What is a Heater Blower Motor Resistor? The heater blower motor resistor is a component in your car's HVAC system. Its primary function is to regulate the flow of Electrical current to the Heater Blower Motor. The amount of electrical current that flows to the heater blower motor affects how fast the blower motor spins. That, in turn, determines how much air flows through the Vents into the cabin of your car.  In short, the heater blower motor resistor is responsible for regulating the speed of the blower motor, whic ... read more

A car's Engine is a complex piece of machinery, made up of many different parts that all have to work together in order for the Engine to run properly. The Timing Cover Gasket is one such part, and it plays an important role in keeping the engine oil where it belongs—inside the Engine. What Does a Timing Gasket do? Before we get into the nitty-gritty of Timing Cover Gasket failures, let's first take a step back and explain what a timing cover gasket actually is. The timing cover is located on the front of the engine and covers the timing belt or chain (hence the name). The timing cover gasket is what seals the gap between the timing cover and the engine block, thus keeping oil from leaking out. How do I Know if my Timing Cover Gasket Needs to be Replaced? There are a few signs that you may need to replace your timing cover gasket: * You notice an Oil Leak or Coolant Leak coming from your engine * Your Check Engine Light is on * Your car's engine is running hot ... read more

  I know this has nothing to do with Auto Repair, but cooking is a terrific way to relax and just have some fun. As you can see from the pictures, we did not Spatchcock the Turkey and it took FOREVER. This is such an easy step. Our Turkey turned out wonderful. I think it would be better Spatchcock. Spatchcock is a technique where you remove the backbone of the turkey so it can lay flat while cooking. This allows for even cooking and crisper skin. What do you think?The Ultimate Guide to Smoking a Spatchcock TurkeyThanksgiving is just around the corner, which means it's time to start thinking about how you're going to cook your turkey. If you're looking for something a little different this year, why not try smoking a spatchcock turkey? Spatchcocking is a method of preparation that involves removing the turkey's backbone so that it can be flattened out before cooking ... read more