Gig Harbor Auto Repair

A lot of people get custom wheels in Gig Harbor. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you're not careful. Sometimes, once they're mounted, they just don't fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don't want that. Consulting your Mackert Automotive tire professional can ensure you get the right fit. First he'll ask you a series of questions about your Gig Harbor driving needs and what you want in your new wheels. Now, not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub. If you don't want to make any modifications to your car, truck, SUV, you would need to focus on the wheels that would fit. With trucks, some Gig Harbor people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift. Also, most Gig Harbor drive ... read more

Diesel engines have been used extensively in Europe and Asia for many years. They haven't been as common in Gig Harbor because of the high sulfur content in our diesel fuel. But the government is now mandating lower sulfur content and, as a result, we are going to see more Gig Harbor car owners driving diesel-fueled vehicles on the road, especially in passenger cars and SUV's. Diesels are popular in Gig Harbor because they get better MPG than gas-powered engines. They also last longer. Modern diesel engines are quiet and powerful. And if you associate diesel engines with black smoke, then you're not up with the times. That smoke is a thing of the past. Diesels don't produce any more pollutants than gasoline engines. The pollution standards for diesel-powered vehicles are as strict in Washington as for other vehicles. Also, diesel engines can run on bio-diesel fuels as well as fossil fuels. Diesel ... read more

All of us Gig Harbor auto owners know we have to get the oil changed in our car, truck, SUVs periodically. That's just part of good car care. But when Gig Harbor technicians change your oil, they also usually inspect your air filter. That's why they sometimes let you know that your air filter needs to be changed before releasing your car, truck, SUV. Don't just chock this up to trying to sell you something else. Gig Harbor auto owners really do need to change their air filter when it gets dirty. You can check your owner's manual to see how often your air filter should need to be changed, but remember, if you live in an area in Washington with poor air quality, or if you drive a lot or drive under harsh conditions in the Gig Harbor area, you may need to change that filter more often than is recommended. Changing an air filter isn't guesswork. If a filter's dirty, it needs to be replaced ... read more

Why are wheel bearings vital for Gig Harbor drivers? It's simple: your wheel bearings keep the wheels on your vehicle. In today's Mackert Automotive post, we'll discuss more about wheel bearings and how you can make sure they can do their very essential job while you drive around Gig Harbor, Washington. Wheel bearings are pretty simple parts. They're made of high quality steel and are engineered to last 100,000 miles or more if properly cared for. The bearings do two essential jobs: First, they allow the wheel to freely rotate with as little friction as possible. Second, they support the weight of the vehicle. For example, if your car weighs 3,600 pounds, each wheel has to support approximately 900 pounds. That's a lot of heavy lifting over many, many thousands of miles. Even though wheel bearings are pretty straightforward, they need to be in near perfect condition to do their job for Gig Harbor drivers. The bearings are packed ... read more

Driving on bald tires is like playing roulette. Though you may be fine today, eventually your luck is going to run out. The Feds don't have any laws for tread depth, but 42 of the states, and all of Canada, do have regulations. They consider two-thirty-seconds of an inch to be the minimum legal tread depth. Two other states, including California, consider one-thirty-second to be the minimum and six states have no standards at all. Call us at Mackert Automotive; (just call 253-851-3307) to find out what your requirements are in the Gig Harbor, Washington area. Since 1968, U.S. law has required that a raised bar be molded across all tires. When tires are worn enough that this bar becomes visible, there's just 2/32" of tread left. But does that older standard give Gig Harbor motorists enough safety? Consider this: Consumer Reports recommends tire replacement when tread reaches 4/32". And the recommendation is backed by some very co ... read more

Hello Gig Harbor motorists. Have you ever had your check engine light come on? Did you panic? Or just scowl and ignore it? What should you do? Pull to the side of the road and call a tow truck? Or just keep driving? What does that little light really mean for Gig Harbor car owners? First of all, the Check Engine or Service Engine light does indicate that something is wrong. That's why it is called a warning light. But the something that is wrong might be a loose gas cap, or it might be serious car, truck, SUV engine trouble. That's why Gig Harbor auto owners often don't know how to respond to it. The check engine light has two modes: it flashes or it stays on. A flashing light is serious. You need to get your vehicle to Mackert Automotive in Gig Harbor ASAP. No, you don't need to call a tow truck, but, yes, you can't wait to get your car serviced. If your check engine light is on and flashing, you ... read more