Mishawaka Auto Repair

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

Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance!!! Being aware of the total Health of your Vehicle is key to keeping you on the road with a well oiled Car! When you get an Oil Change at Ricks Auto Service here in Mishawaka, we also do a Health Assessment of your entire Vehicle. The Health Assessment is a 50 point check on your Vehicle. 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. If unsure how often your Oil should be changed check your Owners Book in the glove box, also if you do a lot of rough driving, considering changing it sooner. Keeping  your family safe on the road is number one in our shop. Just as the human body can not live without blood, the Oil is the lifeline to your Vehicle. Lubricating the Engine, while cooling your Engines’ moving parts. When  you don’t keep the Oil cleaned and do an Oil Flush, you allow sludge to build up. The longer you wait, the O ... read more