Gig Harbor Auto Repair

There are some things Gig Harbor motorists should know about Gig Harbor car service and repair. First and foremost, Mackert Automotive cares about you and your family's safety. And we really appreciate your business. Mackert Automotive in Gig Harbor wants to build a trusting relationship that becomes the foundation for a mutually beneficial experience for years to come. Building on that foundation, there are some things that would help you understand the auto service and repair business better. First, it can be really hard to fix cars. The days of shade tree mechanics are long gone. The majority of automotive systems are computerized. It takes a lot of training and very expensive equipment to diagnose and repair modern vehicles. The friendly and courteous technicians that work for Mackert Automotive need extensive computer training - not just how to run the diagnostic systems, but also searching for the right parts, networking with other servic ... read more

Knowing how their engine works can help Gig Harbor motorists make informed decisions about car care and prevent costly repairs to their vehicles. This is especially true when it comes to timing belts. An engine's power is generated in the cylinders. Inside the cylinder is a piston that moves up and down while the engine is running. Power is generated in a cycle that includes four strokes of the piston. First, the piston drops and a valve at the top of the cylinder opens to let in fuel and air. The piston then rises, which compresses the fuel and air. At this point, the spark plug fires, igniting the fuel and pushing the piston down. This downstroke transfers energy to the engine, which provides the power it needs to run. The piston rises again, and a valve opens to release the exhaust. All of this movement is orchestrated by a timing belt. The timing belt is so named because it keeps the pistons and valves operating in synch with each other ... read more

Your vehicle's suspension system has two important jobs: to prevent the passengers from getting tossed around inside the vehicle every time it hits a bump in the road and to keep the tires firmly planted on the road around every corner and over every bump. To see your suspension system, you'll have to look under your vehicle. Anything that connects the wheels to the vehicle's frame is part of the suspension system. They're heavy-duty parts that work hard while you're driving and take a lot of wear and tear. Because of this, you should have your friendly and courteous Mackert Automotive tech look at them once a year as part of your preventive maintenance routine. A good time for an inspection is every time you get your alignment checked. If your suspension is in trouble, you often feel it in how your vehicle drives. If the vehicle pulls to one side or wanders, if the steering is erratic, if your ride isn't as smooth as it shoul ... read more

All Gig Harbor motorists have blind spots - and no, I'm not talking about the fact that you really don't sing like Adele. I mean the areas of the road that you can't see when you're driving around Gig Harbor. First let's talk about our own blinds spots, and then we can talk about others… To begin, we can greatly reduce blind spots by properly adjusting our mirrors to give the widest coverage possible. Make the adjustments in your car, truck, SUV before you start to drive. First, Gig Harbor auto owners should adjust their rear view mirrors to give the best possible view directly to the rear of their car, truck, SUV. Gig Harbor folks don't need it to get a better view of either side of the car, the kids in the back seat or their dazzling smile. It's pretty simple, the rear view mirror should reflect the rear. Next, lean your head until it almost touches the driver's side window. Adjust your side mirror so that you can ju ... read more