Gig Harbor Auto Repair

Engines get hot when they run. This heat can build up and damage vital engine parts, so engines need a cooling system to keep them running. Cooling system failure is the most common mechanical failure in vehicles. This is unfortunate, because these failures are usually easy for Gig Harbor motorists to prevent. The radiator is the best-known and most recognizable part of the cooling system. Hoses filled with coolant (also known as antifreeze) connect the radiator to the engine. The coolant draws heat from the engine, and then flows to the radiator. Air passing through cooling fins on the radiator cools the coolant. The coolant then cycles back into the engine to start the process over again. The most critical component of the cooling system, however, is the coolant itself. A mixture of water and coolant/antifreeze helps keep it both from freezing and from boiling away. Either can result in serious engine damage. Different engines require different types of coolant/antifreeze. The own ... read more

When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us Gig Harbor motorists remember to get our oil changed. But Mackert Automotive services that occur at longer intervals - like transmission service - sometimes get overlooked. Yet transmission service is a vital part of car care for Gig Harbor drivers. A poorly maintained transmission will cut down gas mileage and lead to expensive repairs. The transmission transfers power from the engine to the drive wheels. When it's clean and well - lubricated, it gives maximum fuel efficiency. But when it gets dirty or worn down, your fuel efficiency will suffer. Your transmission relies on transmission fluid to keep everything running well. Transmission fluid has two jobs: to cool and lubricate the transmission. The transmission operates at high temperatures. It can get 100-150°F degrees hotter inside your transmission than inside your engine. Transmission fluid transfers some of the heat away from the transmission. Transmi ... read more

Taking care of our tires is a key part of car care for Gig Harbor drivers. We know they have to be replaced when they wear out, but tires also require some essential preventive maintenance. This maintenance will improve fuel efficiency and extend the life of the tires, so it's well worth the effort and expense for Gig Harbor drivers to get it done. Tire maintenance includes keeping tires properly inflated, rotating tires and balancing wheels. The recommended tire pressure for a vehicle's tires is printed on a sticker on the inside of the driver's side doorjamb. A lot of engineering goes into calculating the correct pressure, so it's a vital number for Gig Harbor drivers to know. Not following this recommendation can throw off the suspension system and can lead to costly tire damage. Underinflated tires wear out more quickly than properly inflated tires. Vehicles also get better traction, handling and gas mileage on properly inflated tires. Check ... read more

We've all seen Washington motorists do crazy things while driving to or from Gig Harbor. A guy shaving in the rear-view mirror, a woman applying makeup, people talking on their phones, texting or drinking from an enormous coffee mug. It's a wonder we even dare drive on Washington roads. The truth is that all of us Gig Harbor auto owners are distracted when we drive. Unfortunately, traffic, road construction and other dangerous external factors are beyond our control. The distractions inside our car, however, are things we can often control. Here's some things that'll give you more control in your car, and help keep your attention on the roads around Gig Harbor, Washington. Gig Harbor drivers who are 16 to 20 years old tend to be more distracted by the radio, CD or MP3 player. Gig Harbor car owners who are 20 to 29 are more distracted by passengers in the car, including small children. Those over age 65 tend to be more distracted by objects or events that are outsid ... read more

When Gig Harbor auto owners need to replace tires, they need to know how many they should get, and on which axle they should be placed. Replacing a damaged tire may leave you with three others with significant wear, which could affect your traction control, stability control, and anti-lock brake systems. If you can't afford to replace all four tires at once, you should at least replace two on the same axle. New tires should always be put on the rear axle for stability in slippery conditions. Your friendly and courteous Mackert Automotive tire professional can help you determine when your worn tires should be replaced, if you can have a damaged tire repaired as well as selecting the right tires for your needs. Give us a call Mackert Automotive 253-851-3307 3416-B 57th ST CT NW Gig Harbor, Washington 98335

When accidents occur in Gig Harbor, Washington, the victims' emergency contacts are extremely important. Too often, those involved aren't able to provide rescuers with phone numbers and essential medical information. When Washington police and rescue workers must sift through pockets, glove compartments, wallets, purses and cell phone directories they waste precious time. In the unfortunate event that you are involved in an accident, you have people in the Gig Harbor, Washington area who you'll want to be contacted to arrange help, give consent to treatment, and inform Gig Harbor paramedics of medical conditions, allergies or medications. A brilliantly simple solution is now spreading through Gig Harbor and around the globe: ICE. ICE - standing for In Case of Emergency, is a way to identify emergency contacts in your cell phonedirectory. Simply put ‘ICE' before a contact name in your c ... read more

Car care is a vital part of auto safety in Gig Harbor. But the most important thing we can do to improve safety on Washington roads is to drive safely. Defensive driving is safe driving. And defensive driving is all about attitude. You have to decide that you will be a safe driver in Washington, no matter what anyone else is doing. Gig Harbor drivers can start with awareness. Always maintain awareness of your surroundings, the road conditions, other vehicles on the Gig Harbor road or freeway and road hazards. Have you ever suddenly realized that you have arrived somewhere, but you don't really remember driving there? That is unsafe driving. Never assume that other Gig Harbor drivers are paying attention. You be the one on alert. You be the one to take initiative to stay out of the way of other Washington drivers. And don't let familiarity dull your alertness. Remind yourself to pay as close attention ... read more

Here's a question for Gig Harbor, Washington auto owners: How long have you been enjoying the romantic glow of your check engine light? Hey, it's not there to create ambiance; it's a warning that something's wrong. (And, by the way, Homer Simpson's fix of covering it with tape is not a good idea.) If your check engine light comes on, check your gas cap. A loose gas cap can cause a false sensor reading that'll make the check engine light turn on. Many conditions that trigger the check engine light can hurt your MPG. A lot. If your date's eyes are smoldering in the soft glow of the check engine light, try to think of all the gas money you'll save by getting it fixed. Give Mackert Automotive a call when you are ready: 253-851-3307

Flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances can all be the result of Gig Harbor motorists driving around on under-inflated tires. Admittedly, it's hard to tell when a radial tire is under-inflated. If your auto manufacturer recommends 35 pounds of pressure, your car, truck, SUV tire's considered significantly under inflated at 26 pounds. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds. New laws required vehicle manufacturers to include a Tire Pressure Monitoring System - or TPMS system - in all cars and light trucks by the 2008 model year. The system has a dashboard mounted warning light that goes off if one or more of the tires falls 25% below auto maker's pressure recommendations. This technology has been used by Gig Harbor race car drivers for years. They are able to head off problems from under inflation by closely monitoring tire pressure on the track. It's up to your car, truck, SUV ... read more

Hello Gig Harbor, let's talk about brakes. Braking, as all Washington auto owners know, is slowing or stopping your vehicle. As you can imagine, brakes are engineered to work well on a particular vehicle application. For example, you would expect more powerful brakes on a heavy-duty pickup that routinely hauls big loads and pulls trailers, than you would on a compact car. And a Corvette that can go over 180 miles per hour would have much different braking needs than the family mini-van you drive around between Gig Harbor, Gig Harbor and Gig Harbor. But the mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There's also the power brake pump and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes. Let's step back. A new car, truck, SUV or truck rolls off a local Gig Harbor showroom floor. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads ... read more