Mishawaka Auto Repair

 Is it worth it to replace an Engine? One of our clients had their Crankshaft go bad. They needed to have their Engine Replaced. Their Vehicle was in great shape very little rust on the body. They were also driving a Honda. My personal experience is that Hondas are reliable Vehicles. I drove mine for about 393,000, and it is still on the road. We sold it to a customer who needed a van to haul equipment.  If you buy a new-to-you-Vehicle you  inherit that Vehicles problems. Some of the questions we ask are: How long were you hoping to have this Vehicle? What is the Quality, Cost of Ownership, and Reliability, the customer had the money to buy a good Remanufactured Engine.     These Engines have been tested both by the company Jasper, and by our shop. Other cost factors to consider: Insurance and Registration fees on a new car are more expensive than an older Vehicle. A new Vehicle depreciates as soon as you drive off that lot

How do I know if my AFM Lifter is bad? With the Lifters the noise it creates in your Trucks’ Engine is clear. More of a tapping noise, if Lifters are bad, get over to an Automotive Repair Shop. The longer you go with bad Lifters the more damage happens with your Vehicle. However, there was no for-warning with this Engine, and it did damage not only to the Lifters but with the AFM and to the Engine itself. It is possible to catch this problem early, making sure the proper level of Oil for lubricating the Lifters is present. Without Oil the Lifters will suffer in function

The AFM (Active Fuel Management System) is a GM technology. This system allows half of the Engine’s Cylinders with freeway driving to improve the Fuel Economy. The system was designed to increase Fuel Economy but not reducing the performance of this large Engine. The V-8 Engines have the capability to tow and haul items, needing a powerful Engine to perform. With technology, it has the capability to switch off Cylinders when not going up a steep hill with a large load or needing more horsepower. The System is seamless in it’s ability to turn off or on these Cylinders.   However, as customers between 2007-2013 have noticed the excessive oil consumption issue lies with a defect in the 5.3-liter V8 engine. Somehow the AFM allows the Oil to get past the Pistons, so it enters the Combustion Chamber. It then burns out or hardens and cakes (as shown in the picture) in the Cylinders.  It is not something that is noticed, no blue smoke out the tailpipes, so Pistons a ... read more

How do I know if my Wheel Bearing needs replacing? Great question!!  Can you drive a car with a bad Wheel Bearing? It is not safe to drive with a bad Wheel Bearing. When you drive if one of the bearings are worn out it could cause the wheel to stop while driving. The Wheel of your Vehicle is not a simple part. For the Hub, Tire and assemblies to work well the Wheel Bearings are an integral part to the whole. The Wheel Bearing is a set of steel balls held in place by a metal ring. Which then fits into a Hub, fitting tightly inside, and ride on a metal Axle Shaft. The most common symptom is an audible one: you may hear a grinding or grating noise coming from your tire or wheel. The noise gets louder when you accelerate. The other symptom is a loose feeling r less responsive action from the steering. Another aspect with the Steering is that you may notice a pulling or veering to the right or left, not always the Wheel Bearing but a good possibility. Your Tires should be rotated regu ... read more

 When to change your Windshield Wipers Blades?  Windshield Wiper Blades are one of those products you don’t realize needs to be replaced until you are in a bad rainstorm and they make things worse. Here, at Ricks Auto Service, when you get your Oil changed we do a 50 point Inspection. Wiper Blades are part of that inspection. We will let you know how your Blades are. Changing them yourself is always a possibility. The recommended change is about every six months. Again with everything involved with your vehicle, it may also depend on your driving. If you drive in really rough terrain they may need to be changed sooner. If you also have very extreme heat and freezing weather that would be another factor to consider. You should change all three of your Wiper Blades(if you have a back Window Blade) at the same time. Another thing, is checking your Wiper Fluid at the same time. Having enough fluid is nice if you are driving where there are lots of bugs!  ... read more

When should Rotors be Replaced? Have you noticed a loud noise when braking? When brake the brake pads squeeze the rotor, thus stopping your vehicle. But when the Brake Pads are worn exposing metal it will grind down the Rotors. It may cause warping which when braking your vehicle may wiggle when braking. It is considered very dangerous when your Rotors get to this stage. Your braking becomes less effective. When your vehicle is in our shop we can to a free Brake assessment.  Here are some warning signals of bad brakes. As I said earlier noise when you brake. In the brake pads is a built-in metal tab, when the brakes wear to that point the noise, irritating isn’t it! You can still drive but it is best to have a Technician detect the source of the sound. Does the brake pedal feel different? You may notice that you have to press harder on the pedal. A Soft Pedal could be an indicator of worn pads and rotors. It could also be a problem with the ... read more

Can you drive with worn Brakes? There are a many components in the Braking System. The Brake Pads rub against the Brake Drums or Brake Rotors, if you hear a grinding or loud noise time to change the Pads. The Brake Rotors or Drums create the friction to stop your Vehicle. You are probably more familiar with the Brake Pedal which is activate by your foot. Starting the whole Braking process. The Pedal starts the Brake Fluid to flow and put pressure on the Brake Pads. The Master Cylinder, holds the Brake Fluid, and is also activated when you press the Brake Pedal. The Brake Pads are connected to the Wheel Cylinders and squeeze the Brake Drums when the fluid flows on them. Brake Lines carry the Brake Fluid from the Master Cylinder reservoir when the pressure on the Brake Pedal is applied. These are some of the Warning Signs – Please don’t ignore them: Your Brake Light comes on Squeal, Squeak or Grinding Noises Wobbling, Vibration or Scraping when you Brake Fluid is leaking ... read more

What is AC Dye? When there are leaks in the Air Conditioning (AC) it is hard to pinpoint the leak. The Dye is actually a Fluorescent dye. The Technician uses a Violet or UV Light, they can see where the dye is glowing and are able to detect the leak or leaks. The refrigerant circulates and in time washes the dye out.    From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://www.ricksautoservice.org/appointments #Ricksautoservicein #RicksAutoService #mechanic #airconditioningrepair  

When should Brake Rotors be replaced?  Brake Rotors do not need changing as often as Brake Pads, but they do need to be changed. When Brakes are not working the way they should getting them fixed is a matter of Safety. Some signs of Warped Rotors: A Squeaking Noise when Brakes are applied. The Brake Pads when worn down can make the same noise. When applying the Brakes a vibration in the Brake Pedal and sometimes in the Steering Wheel. The Rotors themselves will have grooves, deep score marks. When you depress the Brakes it takes longer to stop. Sometimes it may even feel like you are pressing down harder on the Brakes and the Vehicle is not stopping as quick

Can a car run with a bad Alternator? Maybe, but it would be for a very short time. What the Alternator does is it charges the Battery. Once the energy in the Battery is gone, the car will die or won’t start at all. Symptoms of a bad Alternator:                                          Your lights are dim or overly bright. As your Alternator starts to fail the voltage to the Battery is very inconsistent. Dead Battery. Yes, sometimes the battery is just dead, the life of a Battery is about 4-6 years. If the Alternator is bad it intermittently will charge the Battery. If the Alternator is going out the Vehicles’ electronics will be slow or won’t work. If you notice you have trouble starting the car or it stalls frequently the Alternator is not charging the Battery. Turning the key to start the car you may hear a clicking sound instead of the Engine starting. Nois ... read more