Gig Harbor Auto Repair

A recent report stated that over 80 percent of the vehicles on our roads have one or more service or repair that's needed, but hasn't been taken care of. Now that's a lot of undone service. That translates into something over 160 million vehicles in the U.S. alone. Some of the neglected items are minor. Others are serious safety concerns. There are several reasons why we hesitate to take care of recommended services; especially services that our automotive advisor recommends when we're in for something else, like an oil change. The first issue boils down to comfort with car care. We don't always feel we know enough to make good decisions. Some of that can be attributed to the fact that vehicles are so reliable these days. They almost become an appliance. Of course you love your , but if you don't have to worry about it breaking down all the time, you're not forced to think as much about preventive maintenance. Pe ... read more

Virtually all vehicles come with power steering so many motorists have never driven a car or truck without it. Power steering assists you when you turn your steering wheel. Without it, it would be very hard to steer. Now this power assist comes in a couple of forms. In recent years, a lot of vehicles have an electric motor that reduces steering effort and helps improve gas mileage. The other kind of power steering is hydraulic. This is the kind most older vehicles, and a lot of newer ones, have. Power steering fluid is pressurized by a pump and is used to assist steering. Of course, motorists need the right amount of fluid in the system. If it's too low your steering is affected and you could damage your pump. Also, power steering fluid can become corrosive over time and damage the pump, hoses and connectors; leading to leaks and repairs. Power steering service at Makert Automotive include ... read more

Our cars have to operate in a wide range of , temperatures and our engine coolant must be able to perform ‘no matter what'. Think for a moment about the environment where the coolant works. Very hot, high pressure, corrosive… And all the while, it has to protect the components of the cooling system from corrosion. These components are made from steel and aluminum, plastics and rubber. The coolant has to be formulated to protect against corrosion for all of these different materials. That's why different manufacturers recommend different types of anti-freeze for our , vehicles. There are several different ‘families' of anti-freeze available to us here in , Gig Harbor, WA. Your owners' manual will tell you what kind you should use. Of course, will know what to put in your car. It's important to stay on top of this because coolant system failure is the most common mechanical problem people have here in , . Regular service at needs to be done to avoid failures and also ... read more

Every car owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told that their engine air filter's dirty. Here's what goes into the determination of when to change the filter: First, your owner's manual will have a recommendation of when to change the filter. Second, a visual inspection by your technician may determine that your filter it is visibly dirty and needs to be changed. Now, most air filters purchased in , , or don't cost a lot to replace. It's just that people hate getting caught with an unexpected expense. On the plus side, though, changing a dirty air filter at can often save enough on gas to pay for itself before your next oil change in . Think about a dirty furnace filter in your home. When it's all clogged up, enough clean air can't get through. In your , that means that your engine can't get as much air as it needs to burn the fuel efficiently. So it makes do with less air and has to use mor ... read more