Mishawaka Auto Repair

Where should I go on a Road Trip in the Winter? Great question! As you can see from the map we are taking a short trip. We have our survival kit, checked and rechecked the weather, it’s been so nasty that we were not sure if we should go, but looking at the radar it looks ok. So, we are headed a little bit South, not warm enough, we will be staying at Fort Harrison State Park which is a fun place to hike. Making sure our Vehicle was Road Ready was the first thing we did, if you are planning a trip don’t hesitate to call or text. https://www.ricksautoservice.org/appointments #ricksautoservice #mechanic #mishawaautorepair # #AutoRepairNearMe #autorepairnearme

What is a Heater Core Box? Where is it located?  How does a heater box work? The Heater Core is in some ways similar to the Radiator, the Heater is used to warm the inside of your Vehicle, taking the heat from the coolant. While the Radiator cools the coolant in the Motor. As your Engine starts warming up, the Coolant absorbs the heat with the aide of the Water Pump it passes through the main Radiator cools below boiling point.  The whole system is kept at a constant temperature by the Thermostat. So, when our customer turned on his heater all that blew threw was cold air, instead of the warm air which was created by a valve that opened so your hot coolant can flow to the Heater Core then comes thru the car with the coolant close to 200 degrees, which is great for keeping feet warm and clearing a foggy windshield. Some vehicles have dual controls (which is truly awesome), where the driver and front seat passenger can each enjoy the temperature to their need real hot or a co ... read more

In power brake systems, which are found on virtually all vehicles, the brake booster is a component that multiplies the force the driver applies to the brake pedal. If the booster fails, excessive pedal force will be required to achieve adequate braking. Most brake boosters run on a vacuum produced by the engine. The cause of booster failure can be as simple as a loose vacuum hose or a ruptured diaphragm that requires component replacement. Can you drive with a Bad Brake Booster? The Car is not safe to drive with a Bad Brake Booster, the Brakes will eventually fail altogether.  The customer called in complaining when stepping on the brake she would hear a loud hissing noise, the Vacuum Booster for the brakes was leaking internally, giving poor Brake performance. What are the symptoms of a Bad Brake Booster?  Some other symptoms of Bad  Brake Booster: Warning lights come on High Brake Pedal position Fluid Leakage-light yellow to brownish color His ... read more

Is it bad to have low gas in cold weather? Gasoline freezes if the weather is -100 degrees, it actual is water vapor that freezes in the lines, keeping your vehicles gasoline levels above half a tank or fuller will solve your problems. If the lines freeze, try adding 3 gallons to the tank, I realize this may be hard since your vehicle has a frozen line, adding fuel line anti-freeze may help. Getting your vehicle towed to a garage and bringing the vehicle inside will also do the trick. From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks’s Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice.org/ #ricksautoservicein #Mishawakamechanic #mishawaautorepair #Brakes #AutoRepairNearMe #Engine #transmission

Is Cold bad for cars? The cold as we know cold, can make us sluggish, imagine what our harsh winters do for our Vehicles fluids. We do have additives to your fluids to keep them from freezing. It is still difficult for Oil  in it’s thicken state to be forced thru the engine, warm up your car for a few minutes.  Battery – The cold is hard on your Battery, in really extreme cold, the Battery may not start. Carrying Jumper Cables is always a great idea, if your Battery is over 3 years old, consider buying a new one. FLUIDS – With the weather cold as it is the Oil will get thicker too, which can cause wear on your Engines Oil Pump. A few suggestions, switch to Low-Viscosity Oil in winter, with Synthetic Oils they do help out some, helping with the Engine Startup.  Tires – In the cold weather, check tire pressure more often. Running the Tire Pressure low may cause uneven and possibly unsaf ... read more

What should be in a Winter Survival Kit? Here are some items, although you may want more or less depending on passengers, to keep in your Vehicle. Warm down or wool blend clothes, boots sturdy weather ones. Blankets again wool or wool blend, flashlight (make sure you check the flashlight every season, if you’ve left them in the car during the hot weather (they may not be any good) extra batteries. Water bottles, candy bars or high protein bars are really good, First Aid kit along with sanitation & hygiene.  Make sure your cell phone is charged, leaving extra travel plans with family or friends could be helpful. The bottom line is BE PREPARED, know where you are going, check out the routes and more importantly find out the weather forcast. 

“What do Camshafts do?” I will do my best to explain Camshafts, there are a number of different types. You also have what they call Overhead Camshafts and they have a Bottom-mounted Camshaft, oh and don’t forget the Combined Camshaft…how does a girl explain this!! But, the one I will talk some about is the Exhaust side Camshaft for a 3.6 Engine(not sure if you needed to know that). Some camshafts depending how one wants to use it can be made very strong so that there is high bending and torsion forces over the long term, the Camshafts for those may be forged or cast, depending on use. The Exhaust Camshaft undertakes the function for the decompression of the cylinder. At a low speed of the engine the exhaust camshaft concisely lifts the exhaust valve during each stroke so that the air exits and the Engine starts easier.   If bad because the Cam sends data to the Engine, you will find poor performance in your Vehicle also your fuel efficiency may not be as ... read more

Are you ready for the Holidays? Safety tips to keeping your Holiday Driving stress free. Long Distance Travel making sure your Vehicle is road ready. Have your Mechanic check: Brakes, Windshield wipers and Fluid, Vehicles Battery, headlights, all your Oil Levels and importantly all your Lights-Rear, Brake and headlights. Making sure your Spare Tire is operational. Looking at the Weather Reports on all legs of your journey. Don’t be caught unaware. Speed Limits- Nothing dampens your Holiday Spirit faster then a speeding ticket. Always be alert. Be well rested, get shopping and everything done early. Always be prepared. Emergencies happen-making sure if you have young travelers that their needs are taken care of. First-Aide kit, extra blankets, water, healthy snacks, phone charger Our Technicians at Ricks Auto Service will check out your car. From preventive maintenance to major repairs we do it all, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call ... read more

The function of the Axle Seal is to keep the Transmission Fluid from leaking. Is it OK to drive with a Rear Axle Seal leak? If there is a small leak, you may be able to drive for a short period of time. If the Axle Seal is leaking and you don’t get your Ford Edge fixed, you could cause permanent damage to the Transmission. The Axle Seal connects the Driveshaft or CV Axle to the Transmission or Rear Differential. The Rear Axle seal may also be referred to as a Transfer Case Seal, in some all-Wheel Drive Vehicles, one of the front CV Axles is connected to the Transfer Case. The Axle Seals only need replacing if they are leaking. How do you know if the Rear Axle Seals are leaking?  There are some early signs to look for: Oil Stains, but you need to make sure what is leaking. Unsure? Our Technicians at Ricks Auto Service will check out your car. They will know if there is a leak and where it is coming from.You may also notice a strange brown Fluid behind the Wheel and a noti ... read more

The Radiator functions in your Vehicles cooling system. It’s main goal is keeping the Engine from overheating. It does this by pumping  your coolant through the Engine and carrying away the heat from the Engine Block. It moves thru the Radiator, blowing air across the liquid and exchanging that heat with the air from outside your car. There is a Fan that blows across the Radiator carrying the hot air out of your car. Radiators themselves come in different designs, shapes and sizes but it’s main function stays the same cooling your Engine. Without the Radiator, your Engine would build up heat, the overheating could cause major damage to your Engine. Signs of a broken or failing Radiator: One of the most common signs is that your Vehicle is overheating. You notice Coolant leaking from your Vehicle. The level of Coolant is consistently low – possible leak. You notice sludge in your Radiator. There are a number of reasons why you would replace a broken Radiator, the ... read more