Mishawaka Auto Repair

If you’ve never changed the Cabin Air Filter in your vehicle, you may notice one or more of these symptoms. Check your owner’s manual to locate your Vehicle’s Cabin Air Filter to check if it’s time to be changed. Alternatively, bring your car into Ricks' Auto Service to have a professional technician ensure your cabin air filter is fresh and clean. Health troubles: A functional cabin air filter is essential in keeping the inside of a Vehicle free of pollutants. A cabin air filter that's dirty or clogged won't filter those contaminants, causing problems for those who suffer from allergies or have breathing difficulties. A good rule of thumb is to replace your Cabin Air Filter every February, before spring allergy season arrives, especially if you live in an area with a lot of trees. A new Cabin Air Filter will prevent pollen from making its way into a vehicle and causing its occupants to start sneezing, or even worse. From ... read more

What can a car diagnostic Test tell you? A Car Diagnostic test will tell you the cause of what has caused the check engine light to come on. In cars today there is an internal computer it tracks and operates many of the vehicles components. Areas these computers monitor are the Engine, Transmission, Exhaust Systems, Brakes & cooling system. A code tells the Technician where the problem is located but not what the problem is. The computer is able to determine when something is wrong before it becomes a major issue. Choosing the team you can trust is key, Ricks Auto Service., with over 42 years performing auto repairs across Northern Indiana. We provide you with expert customer service and knowledgeable ASE Technicians who can diagnosis the problem for any vehicle you drive. From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice ... read more

Why are my Brakes making a grinding noise? This picture shows how worn both sides are with the right being worn a little more. These Brakes were Grinding, making a very loud noise every time the customer braked!  It is good to have your Brakes inspected at least annually if not every 6 months. The reason for this is to catch minor problems before they become major or more costly problems. What do I notice if I have brake problems. Pulsating when braking whether at low speeds or high speeds can be caused by warped Brake Rotors or Brake Drums which can affect stopping distances. Squeaking can be caused by Brake warning tabs or inexpensive quality of Brake Pads. Grinding is usually cause because brake pads are completely worn out and you have metal on metal rubbing against each other. Soft brakes, can be caused by a number of things including, worn out brake parts, air in the brake hydraulic system or under adjusted brakes. Brake smells, If you have a part o ... read more

Why Vehicle maintenance important. Saves you moneyProtects your major investmentGetting better gas mileageWarranty is maintainedIt will hold it’s value(trade in value is about 5-8 years)Keeping it maintained can also protect our environmentSafety, safety, safety Included is a maintenance checklist:   Maintenance checklist: Inspect and maintain tiresChange the oilCheck the fluidsTest the lightsReplace windshield wipersChange your engine air filterRegular checkupsHave your brakes checkedWash your carCheck belts and hoses Our ASE trained Mechanics at Ricks Auto Service can do all of the above for you. If you are a hands-on type of person, you ... read more

Why does my car vibrate when I drive? Unfortunately, a customer of ours hit a huge pot hole, and broke the control arm, that was an easy diagnosis. But your cars vibration can be your tires, wheels, brakes, steering suspension, axle or engine. That is why it is key to get your vehicle into the shop. We will talk about what a bad control arm can do. Signs of a bad control arm: Popping sound when going over bumps. Unstable Steering the vehicle will pull either right or the left. Affected driving performance when worn out the vehicle can vibrate while driving. Uneven tire wear the tire tread will show uneven wear. Control arms in a car are vital parts of the front suspension. If a control arm is worn out or damaged beyond what a car manufacturer considers acceptable, the vehicle is deemed unsafe to drive. 

Why won’t my car start or turn over? It is so important to get accurate information from the owner. All or any bit of information leading up to the no-start problem helps. Such as was the battery low or dead. Was a light left on to drain the battery current? Could it be the starting circuit: Spark, fuel, compression/timing are needed to make a car start. As you can see getting the vehicle into the shop is crucial. Our mechanics can then properly diagnosis the problem. From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice.org/ #ricksautoservice #Mishawakamechanic #mishawaautorepair #electricalissues #AutoRepairNearMe #fuelPump #Fuel #Essentialbusiness #Local #Business

How often should I change my wiper blades? In our Midwest weather, which is harsh, you should change your wiper blades every six months We recommend October and then again in March or April. As your wiper blades wear they become less efficient in keeping your windshield clean. That could become a safety hazard. If you don’t want to change them every six months at least change them once a year, possibly with your Oil Change. To extend the life of your windshield wipers here are a couple of easy tips. Defrost and scrape the window before you use the wiper blades, may keep them from snapping. Keep your windshield clean-when you get gas clean the front and back windows. Press the washer if you need to clean something off the window, you can wear the blades out faster on dry window. From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online:  ... read more

What can drain the car battery when the car is off? Headlights or dome lights left on. Your battery is already weak or in poor condition. Severely corroded connections. Draining on your electrical system such as glove box or trunk light that doesn’t go off. Extreme temperatures either hot or cold. Lose belts or worn tensioners prevent alternator to work properly. You could have a charging system problem. Todays vehicles require a greater amount of reserve capacity when the engine is off.  Ricks Auto Service also back up these batteries with a 3-year 36,000 mile warranty, they are just that good! We also do free battery checks. Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice.org/ #ricksautoservice #Mishawakamechanic #mishawaautorepair #covid #electricalissues #AutoRepairNearMe #fuelPump #Fuel #Essentialbusiness #Local #Business

Ricks Auto Service offers full service oil changes. On top of replacing the engine oil and filter, we perform an in-depth Vehicle Health Assessment. Our ASE Certified Mechanics use a digital vehicle inspection including photos of all parts in their present condition. The Health Assessment includes: Checking and topping off all the fluids, looking for any signs of leakage. We also check for wear on your tires, Brakes, wipers, hoses, belts and filters. This allows us to partner with you in a long-term care of your vehicle. Our 36,000 mile 3-year warranty backs up our work and gives you peace of mind. Join the thousands of Michiana customers who have trusted us over the years. From preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice.org/ #ricksautoservice #Mishawakamechanic 

How to tell if you have bad struts: There are a number of issues why you may need to replace your struts. Do you experience a  rougher ride than usual? When stopping weak shocks or struts can cause the vehicle to dip forward.  Fluid leakage may be another indicator of worn struts. Are your tires worn unevenly or do you have bald spots? Another issue may be a loud knocking sound or clunking noise (or unusual sound). These issues happen over time, if you notice any of the above give us a call and we will figure out the problem. For preventive maintenance to major repairs, Ricks Auto Service at 405 W. Jefferson Blvd. Call 574-255-4724, or visit online: https://ricksautoservice.org/ #ricksautoservice #Mishawakamechanic #mishawaautorepair #waterpump #electricalissues #AutoRepairNearMe #fuelPump #Fuel s #Local #Business