Gig Harbor Auto Repair

Modern Gig Harbor vehicles have several computers on board that control all kinds of things like engine functions, transmission shifts, traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability control, emissions - and on some vehicles, even steering, braking and the throttle. Think about that for a minute - things that used to be controlled by simple mechanical connections now have electronic controls that rely on computers, software and sensors. It's no wonder that when something goes wrong with their car it can be pretty complicated for Gig Harbor drivers to track down the source of the problem. To help your Mackert Automotive service advisor figure out what's wrong, your car is equipped with on-board diagnostics. The Check Engine Light comes on to tell you there's a problem and the engine management computer stores a trouble code. Your friendly and courteous Macke ... read more

For those of you in Gig Harbor, Washington who pay attention to these things, you may have been hearing about the new direct injection engines and want to learn more about them. Some deliver the power of a V8 with the economy of a V6. For example, in one family of engines the conventional V6 makes about 250 horsepower. The direct injection version of the same engine makes over 300 horsepower and gets essentially the same gas mileage. The turbocharged version makes over 350 horsepower. So what are the differences from a conventional engine? The core difference is in the fuel injection system. The system most vehicles use now is called a port injection system. The fuel injector squirts fuel into a port just outside the cylinder where it's then drawn into the engine with the air. With a direct injection system, the injector squirts the fuel directly into the cylinder. The gain in power and economy come becau ... read more

Have you ever gone to to listen to an orchestra? The musicians take the stage early and tune their instruments. Each individual instrument must be in tune, but the critical thing is for the entire orchestra to be in tune with each other. That's why they tune up together. Now this is no surprise; I'm going to relate the orchestra to your car. Your engine has many component systems that each need to be working properly. And the components need to be working in sync, all timed up together in order for the engine to work efficiently. We call this, (ta-da) a tune-up. When an orchestra's out of tune you get a bad concert. When your vehicle's out of tune you get bad performance and bad fuel economy. So check your owner's manual for recommended tune-up intervals. Or ask your service advisor at what he thinks. …Just be careful not to say you want to make beautiful music together - that kinda makes us uncomfortable

Everyone in , knows we are advised to go to our dentist twice a year. Oral-conscious residents have a teeth-cleaning and examination. Once a year, we get x-rays to look for problems that can't be seen with the naked eye. When our dentist is done, he/she tells us what was found - "Everything's fine, see you in six months." Or "You've got a small cavity starting, let's schedule an appointment to take care of it." By the time you leave, you have a plan for addressing any necessary issues. This system works so much better than waiting for a painful problem before going into the dentist. Small problems are fixed before they turn into big problems. And you avoid those huge bills. If folks understand the wisdom of using this system for handling dental care, why do many resist when facing the same system for our car maintenance? Following the car maker's recommended intervals can be confusing. First, there are recommendations for so many things: oil cha ... read more