Mishawaka Auto Repair

On this Tuesday, I decided to talk about batteries, you know the ones that run your car. The Hudson Motor Car Company was the first to use a standardized battery in 1918 when they started using the Battery Council International batteries. The BCI is the organization that sets the dimensional standards for batteries. Cars had 6-volt until the mid-1950’s. As cars got bigger with more demands on the battery they created 12-volt. With that said, here is a 5 step guide to getting most out of our car batteries: 1. Keep the battery terminals clean and inspect regularly (i.e. monthly) for corrosion. 2. Start the car before operating car accessories and operate (drive) the car to allow the battery to get topped off by the car alternator which produces electricity and as a by-product charges the car battery after voltage drops in the battery. 3. Keep the battery secure and free from vibration. Batteries that shake can become damaged and short circuit ... read more

Diagnosing whether a bad odor is due to mechanical or environmental issues, however, takes some practice. Just as some experienced mechanics have an “ear” for knowing where a car squeak is coming from, there are also those who have a “nose” for diagnosing what problem it is. We can’t promise you’ll become an overnight expert here, but we’ve taken a page from the experts’ guidebook by spilling out some of their secrets. What it smells like: Sweet A car that smells eeringly sweet might mean that your coolant is leaking somewhere. Coolants are made from toxic ethylene glycol, and they smell really sweet like maple syrup. When you vaguely smell it somewhere, then chances are your coolant is leaking from a radiator cap, a heater hose, a malfunctioning cylinder head or an intake manifold gasket. What it smells like: Pungent, Sharp, Acidic If you smell something like burnt paper, then you’ve proba ... read more

Here are a list of car trouble symptoms: Does your car cut out, detonation,dieseling, hesitation, miss, rough idle-slugglish, spongy stall or surges. What is detonation? You hear a mild to severe ping, usually worse under acceleration. It sounds like popcorn popping. Bring your vehicle in so we can take care of all your running problems. Give us a call 574-255-4724, or go to our website Ricks Auto Service in Mishawaka IN.    

  Does your garage floor look like this? Which fluid is this? Here are a number of fluids in your car that can leave this mess on your floor. Brake Fluid Coolant Windshield washer fluid Engine oil Water Power steering fluid Transmission fluid Take a close look at the stain. What color is it? Does it have a smell? Check the consistency You don’t have to be a scientist or mechanic to decipher the fluid leak:       If it’s clear, watery and under the air conditioner: It’s probably normal condensation if the air conditioner has been recently used.       If it’s black or dark brown, greasy and located under the engine area: Good change it is oil. Which part of the engine did the spot come from? Look  under the hood around the oil filter and engine. Also, see if there are leaks  around the crankcase, oil drain plug and the oil ... read more

Here are a list of car trouble symptoms: Does your car cut out, detonation,dieseling, hesitation, miss, rough idle-slugglish, spongy stall or surges. So cutting out means you have a temporary or complete loss of power. Your engine quits at irregular intervals. it may occur intermittently, or usually under heavy acceleration

Service Manual.      If you don't have a Service Manual for your vehicle we recommend ordering one, if you plan to keep your vehicle it is a smart investment. Knowing when service should be done for your vehicle helps to keep it well maintained. I looked online and you can purchase the manual or you can purchase the following: ----Body repair manual ----Electrical troubleshooting manual ----Owners manual ----Shop/service Information Being educated on what your vehicle needs and when and getting it done in a timely fashion will help your car live to a ripe old age, running well as you age together

CHANGING AN AIR FILTER“How often should my cars’ air filter be changed?” One important item to remember to change is your Vehicle’s air filter. What an air filter does is eliminate dust and grit from entering into the intricate workings of the internals of your car or truck’s engine. When you bring your vehicle in for it’s regular Oil Change, we check all your filters and let you know how they look, if they need to be changed or not. It’s always good to check your cars’ manual, but it also depends on your driving habits, most say 15,000-30,000, if you don’t drive al lot replace after 3 years because it does become brittle with age.

Lubricating Door Latches This is an easy one that you can do...have your doors been driving you crazy because they squeak? This doesn't particularly extend your cars lifespan, but you won't feel like nails on a chalk board!!! Using a good spray lubricant-graphite-you can get at a hardware store. Or, when you are in for your regularly scheduled oil change, we can do it for you and save you a trip

We are now a year later for checking out your Vehicle here is the list(always remember to check your vehicles manual for exact mileage). Check every 12 Months/ 12,000 miles Automatic Transmission Fluid       Battery and Cables Belts                                                   Brakes Cabin Air Filter                                  Chassis Lubrication Dashboard Indicator Light On       Coolant (antifreeze) Engine Air Filter               ... read more

So, it's 6,000 miles later and here are some items to get checked out for your vehicles safety(remember that you should double check what your owner manual says). Check Every 6 Months/6,000 Miles Automatic Transmission Fluid                       Battery and Cables Belts                                                                Chassis Lubrication Dashboard Indicator Light On                       Engine Air Filter Engine Oil   &nbs ... read more