Mishawaka Auto Repair

Symptoms of a bad or worn Ball Joint: One of the Symptoms of a bad or worn-out Ball Joint, is your tire will show excessive wear on the inside or outside of the Tire.. Tires may also show wear from any problems with the Steering or it has been a while since you have had the Vehicle Aligned. You may also be hearing odd sounds such as a faint bang, grinding or popping noise coming from the corner of the Vehicle. With a worn Ball there is to much free motion. You may also feel the Vehicle pull from side to side, or a Steering Wheel shaking excessively. The Ball Joint connects to the Steering and Suspension. Any of these above signs may be a red flag, give us a call or go online to make an appointment so we can keep your family safe driving on the road

What function does a timing  belt play? The timing belt connects the camshaft to the crankshaft and keeps the engine valves opening and closing in time with the movement of the pistons….Ok stop right there what is a cam- shaft/crankshaft and pistons…I asked A camshaft—this may still be Greek to you and me so here goes!!! The #camshaft is critical to the basic function of an #engine.  It has two distinct parts: the #cams  and the #shaft, the camshaft is the element that enables #valves to open. As the shaft rotates, the egg-shaped cams (or “lobes”) push the valves open in sync with the crankshaft gear. A Crankshaft is a shaft which transmits the power developed by the engine to various parts of the vehicle. As one website put it: the major link between the input and output of the vehic ... read more

  REMEMBER: Driving on a flat tire can cause internal structural damage to the TIRE, may lead to wheel and vehicle damage and may result in poor vehicle handling and control. Steps to Follow The interesting thing about tire blowouts is that they require you to act counterintuitively. While your instincts may tell you to slam on your brakes and veer off the road if your tire blows out, this is actually the exact opposite of what you should do. Don’t Panic You’ll be doing yourself a huge favor by not shutting down and entering crisis mode when you have a tire blowout. So after your tire blows out, remain as calm as possible, and put the following procedure into place. Keep Control of Your Vehicle Again, though you may want to brake, you need to keep your foot on the gas pedal. Continue steering in the direction that you are heading, rather than veering immediately to get off the ro ... read more

Oil Changes, every car needs to have one, from 3,000 to 10,000 miles-depending on your driving conditions. They need to be done 3-4 times a year, if you want to or not!! We help to make it painless, we offer a Oil Change Club, 4 oil changes for 79.99 or if you have a full-synthetic 139.99. Our trained mechanics take the time to completely check your car, keeping safety first, always. By finding the small problems today and taking care of it now you save $$$ sometimes even in the $1,000s.  For example, The most common issue in not changing your cars oil is that the engine runs less efficiently, and as time goes on, it can cause the engine components to warp and wear out....eventually when the oil is not changed, the engine will shut down and have to be replaced. #OilChange #Engine #Gifts #Maintenance

"Is your car Winter ready? or What do I need to do to get my car Winter ready?", those are questions that our customers are asking us, and here are 10 simple ways to get your car ready for winter.  Give your battery some TLC. Checking your tire pressure can make a big difference. Are your windshield wipers new? When was the last time you got your belts and hoses checked? Is the right type of Oil in your car? Do you have 4-wheel drive? How are your tires for driving in the snow and ice? Your antifreeze is it the right mixture? If stranded do you know what to do? How about that emergency kit, been meaning to put one together? If you are unsure about any of the above or you have other questions please don't hesitate to give us a call so we can get you on the road safely. #Winter #WinterReady #no-start #Freeze  

How much do brakes cost to replace? This is one of the most frequent questions that we receive from our customers when calling on the phone. Without first looking at your car and checking out what exactly the problem is, is really doing you, our customer a disservice. What your brother or neighbor needs done on their brakes may be different then what your car will need. If you called a doctor with an aching bum knee, you would expect to make an appointment and have him look at your knee. If he said just take two aspirins or we are doing a whole knee replacement without taking x-rays or even doing an MRI, you would be shocked. So, think of us as your car doctor, let us give your car a health assessment. We do an assessment on every oil change, we cover your belts, filters, check your fluids, brakes, tires, and much more than that. Let us keep your car healthy and you worry about your knees!!! #brakerepair #mechanic #autorepair #oilchange

I was wrong, had to dig deep in FB to fine the winner Jeff Shrock won, there were some close answers, but I went to our Tech. He said the closest was Vent Valve. The part is a two-way valve or a vapor vent control valve(VVCV). A VVCV or two-way Valve, is an emission control valve that prevents fuel vapors from escaping into the atmosphere. The VVCV is controlled by the engine control module(ECM) and allows air flow into the charcoal canister to purge the gas vapors into the engine air intake to be burned. #Emissions #EmissionControlValve #Atmosphere #Maintenance

This year has gone by way to quick, we are looking at weather getting as low as the 30's this week. Just as you would prepare your house, or get your garden winter ready, it's very important to get your car ready to go and in great running shape. Give Rick's Auto Service here in Mishawaka a call at 574-255-4724, or make an appointment on our website