Mishawaka Auto Repair

Is it ok to drive without a Muffler? What does a Muffler do? And other thoughts on Mufflers!!! Have you ever been next to a Vehicle that doesn’t have a Muffler? The noise can be deafening. Some other reasons to get your Muffler fixed: Driving without a Muffler can be Toxic, the Exhaust Fumes may leak within your Vehicle. The Carbon Monoxide over time may cause dizziness, headaches and nausea. The Smell itself it terrible. I mentioned earlier about the noise, which most people find offensive. The Muffler if broken over a period of time can effect your Autos Engines’ performance. Last but not least, you are polluting the air we breathe. The word “Muffler” was used as early as 1530 it is a wrap or scarf for the lower part of the face. To cover or wrap or protect something. In the 1890’s referring specifically to an automobile, it was an Exhaust System Silencer!!!  So, in common person slang, it is any device used to deaden sound. The “Muffler&rdquo ... read more

Can I fix a broken Exhaust Pipe? Yes, sometimes the Exhaust Pipe can be welded in the areas that are rusting out.  Access how much rust is on the Exhaust Pipe, sometimes you can weld the area. The welds joining the pipes to mufflers are done with a mild steel welding wire, they are not resistant to corrosion. We all know that here in the Midwest, and other snow areas, salt is used to melt the ice, the salt corrodes your Vehicles faster then in a drier area.    Have you ever driven next to a Vehicle that is extremely loud in the Engine area? It is louder from a cold start or acieration. The performance of your engine is affected with a broken or rusty Exhaust. when you step on the gas you don’t accelerate as fast or have the same power.  You may also notice more fuel usage. Also, you may also notice a burning smell coming from the Engine. The heat comes up thru the broken areas in the Exhaust Pipe and since Gaskets and other parts are plastic you will smell t ... read more

What is the use of a Wiper Motor? The Windshield Wiper Motor is behind the cars firewall so you don’t usually see it. Here are some signs that the Wiper Motor is going out or is bad. Wiper systems today allow your Wipers to move at different speeds. When your turn the Wipers on they only operate on one speed. You might double check the Wipers, with the weather changing, leaves, dirt and debris may have gotten into the system and need cleaning out. You’ve noticed the Wipers moving slower and slower, the Motor may be going out. Don’t wait until the Wiper Blades stop completely, that could be very dangerous, especially in this wet climate. One other sign the Wiper Motor may be failing is that the Wiper Blades no longer “park” in the right position. If you are experiencing any of the above problem don’t hesitate to call and set up an appointment to get your Wiper Blades and Wiper Motor checked out.  From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ric ... read more

How long can you drive on a noisy Wheel Bearing? That’s a hard question to answer, the average life of Wheel Bearings is about 5- 10 years or about 100,000 miles. When the Bearings go bad they affect other areas of your Vehicle. For example, the wear on your Tires may be uneven and need to be replaced sooner then later. Also, the ride can become pretty rough and bumpy. That can compromise yours and others on the road. Ignoring the grinding, or rumbling sounds, (Wheel Bearing Sound) or the clicking that can occur during acceleration. Are you noticing a vibrating or loose Steering Wheel? You might also experience a pulling when applying the Brakes. Which can cause uneven Rotor and Brake Pad wear, so ignoring the noise can cost you a lot more.   

Is a Clutch important in a car? I’ve driven a Manual Shift Car, it has the third Pedal, you change Gears from first Gear to fourth Gear and Reverse.  The Clutch allows the car to change speed and come to a stop without turning off the Engine. It is the mechanical device that transfers rotating power from the Engine to the Wheels. Without the Clutch the Engine would spin all the time but the Wheels would not. So in order for the Wheels to be disconnected from the Engine, the Clutch allows it to smoothly engage. Have you ever seen someone who is first learning to drive a Manual Shift Car? Usually, there is a lot of jerking until you learn how to let up on the Clutch slowly to engage smoothly. Because of the friction between a Clutch Plate and the flywheel the Clutch works. In Automatics, they have gears, but the car itself handles most gear changes. That’s why you don’t have the Clutch Pedal, just the Brake and Accelerator. When replacing the Clutch Assembly S ... read more

What is a Transmission and how does it work? When you press on the gas pedal, the Transmission comes into play, it allows your engine to spin at the right rate, not to fast or slow. The Transmission is your cars gearbox, withing the Transmission is a set of 5 or 6 gear sets and series of Gear Trains. The Gear Trains allow the teeth of the gears to engage. Allowing a smooth transmission of rotating one gear to the next gear, it’s much more complicated than that, trying to put it in terms that I understand! Doesn’t matter if you have an Automatic or Manual Transmission your Gearboxes work the same. Whether thru the “Clutch” or it’s automatically done, when engaging the Clutch or Gear Lever Clutch Plates to connect with larger Gears which is also connected to your Vehicles Differential. If you encounter any of the below problems your Transmission maybe slipping: If your Transmission won’t engage or stay in gear. Shifting is delayed. Transmission is s ... read more

Is an Oil Change worth it? Short answer Yes!! Without regular Oil Changes, the Oil can begin to gel or solidify in an Engine, turning into sludge which leads to serious damage to your Engine. Your Vehicles’ Engine consists of many moving parts which need to be consistently lubricated. When you don’t change the Oil, the Oil begins to deteriorate and won’t be able to protect the Engines components from friction leading to wear and damage. The Coolant system alone cannot cool the Engine. The Engines’ Oil can reach places the Coolant can’t. The Engine Oil cleans the inside of the Engine, removing small particles and debris. If the Oil is not regularly change, there is a build-up which can clog the Oil channels. Making the Engine work harder because of the thickened Oil. This can also cause more fuel to be used up. Doing Oil Changes regularly are way cheaper than an Engine that needs to be replaced. We use Mag1 Oil we find it to be excellent for your Engines&r ... read more

  Some tips to follow you keep your pets safe in this extreme weather. Never leave your pet in a car. Give your pet extra water. Protect your pet’s paws from hot surfaces. Don’t overdo outdoor exercise. Take extra care with older dogs and dogs with shorter noses. (risk of heatstroke) Apply pet-safe sunscreen to your dog. Don’t leave windows open while you’re pets are unattended. When in doubt, stay indoors

If your Vehicle has Disc brakes, slowing and stopping the car is what Brake Calipers do. The Brake Caliper is a support to your Brake Pads on the Rotor or is supports the Caliper Bracket. It also exerts pressure on the Brake Fluid with the Master Cylinder into friction with the Rotor. Or it works together to stop your car. The Calipers don’t need replacement as often as Brake Pads and Rotors. With that being said, if you let the Pads or the Rotors become warped the Calipers become damaged because they are no longer insulated by the Rotors and the heat does damage to the Pistons and can cause the Brake Fluid to be compromised. This can cause Brake Failure. Signs the Calipers: some of the early signs that a trained Technician looks for are corrosion, dirt buildup, leaks, reluctant guide pins. When we do an Oil Change part of that service is checking out your Brake System. Your Vehicle pulls to one side when braking, the Caliper could be seizing up. That was the problem our ... read more

Depends if you want better fuel economy. Read on: I’ve never heard of this part, looked it up it’s an Active Grille Shutter. The Shutters have been used as far back as the 1920’s, Rolls Royce-1929 and in the 1930’s Packards. They allowed aerodynamic drag reduction benefits. Which from ALL the material out there it basically comes down to it playing an important part in achieving Fuel consumption, the Shutters open and close automatically to control airflow, reducing Aerodynamic Drag, improving fuel efficiency. Since Fuel Efficiency is such a huge issue, Chryslers Dodge and Ram 1500 Pickups have the feature.  A number of models from Honda, Mazda and Toyota are beginning to have Active Grille Shutters too