Mishawaka Auto Repair

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

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