Gig Harbor Auto Repair

Every car in Gig Harbor, Washington is at risk for theft. So it's up to us Gig Harbor motorists to make our cars a less appealing target and more of a challenge - hopefully sending potential thieves to look elsewhere. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles: Common sense Visible and audible devices Immobilizing devices Tracking devices Let's review each of these. First, common sense: you would be surprised how many vehicles are stolen in Washington where the keys were left in the ignition with the doors unlocked. Always take your keysand lock the doors. In fact, in some places it's against the law to leave a vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition. And don't leave spare keys in the car or hide them outside - because a thief will find them. Gig Harbor motorists would be wise to park in well-lit areas that h ... read more

Uneven tire wear, the auto pulling to one side or a steering wheel that is off-center are signs for Gig Harbor drivers that their wheels may be out of alignment. When doing an alignment inspection, the service advisor will check your tires for uneven wear as well as suspension and steering parts for signs of wear or damage. He'll also compare your current alignment with the car maker's settings. Your vehicle owner's manual will have a recommendation for when to check alignment. Of course, this recommendation is based on normal driving. If you have been in collision, hit a curb/pothole, frequently drive off-road around Gig Harbor, or notice any symptoms of misalignment, have your Mackert Automotive service professional carry out an essential alignment check. Give us a call Mackert Automotive 253-851-3307 3416-B 57th ST CT NW Gig Harbor, Washington 98335

Repair or Replace? That's a question Gig Harbor car owners ask when they have tire damage. Some punctures cannot be repaired because of their size or location. Punctures larger than a quarter of an inch are considered too large to be safely repaired. Punctures in the sidewall or near the shoulders may not be able to be repaired. And sometimes there is internal damage revealed on inspection that indicates the tire should not be repaired. Run flat tires should not be fixed. Repairing high performance tires may make them unsuitable for motorsports. Your friendly and courteous Mackert Automotive service advisor can check your damaged tire and tell you if it can be safely repaired or if it should be replaced - and then help you get back on the road. Give us a call Mackert Automotive 253-851-3307 3416-B 57th ST CT NW Gig Harbor, Washington 98335

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