Gig Harbor Auto Repair

Today in our Mackert Automotive LLC blog, we're going to talk about following recommended service intervals. Your vehicle isn't the only aspect of your life with recommended intervals: What about six-month dental cleanings and regular physical exams? Then there's laundry, mowing the lawn, paying your electric bill, changing your furnace filter - you get the idea.Now, what would happen if you didn't follow these intervals?For one thing, your teeth may get more cavities. You might not discover health issues that benefit from early detection and treatment. And you'd have to wear dirty clothes, be embarrassed by your overgrown lawn and have your power shut off.We all realize there are some things in life that we have to take care of regularly. If we don't, there are negative consequences. Our quality of life diminishes and it inevitably costs more money.Have you ever wondered, "How often should I bring my car in for scheduled maintenance?"  ... read more

You may not think too often about your brakes, but one part of them plays a big role in your vehicle’s safety and performance.  That part?  The brake pad.  Every time you press your brake pedal, those pads create friction against the rotors, converting your vehicle’s motion into heat and bringing you to a controlled stop. When your brake pads are worn and unhealthy, this process becomes slower, less predictable and far more dangerous. One reason it’s important to maintain good brake pads is stopping distance. As pads wear down, they lose the ability to generate consistent friction. You may not realize it, but just a slight increase in stopping distance can be the difference between avoiding a collision and having one. Worn pads also make your braking uneven or shaky, and it can quickly reduce your confidence in your brakes. Your vehicle’s pads also protect other parts of your braking system. If they wear too thin, the metal backing can grind direc ... read more

If your vehicle is newer than the mid 2000s, it likely doesn’t have a once-popular ignition system which uses a distributor cap and rotor.  But if your vehicle is old enough to have them, it’s important to make sure they receive regular attention since they’re instrumental to your engine running smoothly.   Here’s now a distributor cap and rotor system works.  The distributor cap sits on top of the distributor, while the rotor goes around underneath it. They take high-voltage electricity from the ignition coil and send it to each spark plug in the correct firing order. That is what enables your engine to run smoothly and efficiently.   Because they’re mechanical, eventually the distributor cap and rotor will wear out. Think how much heat, vibration and electrical stress the distributor cap is endures. That can result in it cracking and the terminals corroding.  Another problem may develop called is called carbon tracking where a li ... read more

When you step on your brake pedal, you want to feel confident that your vehicle’s going to stop.  If your brakes aren’t working right, it’s a risk to your safety and the safety of others on the road.  After all, you’re driving a machine that weighs thousands of pounds, and you have to be able to stop that big machine quickly and with control, especially with some of the speeds you travel on the highways.  The heart of your vehicle’s brake system is the master cylinder.  When you apply the brakes, the master cylinder has pistons, springs, and brake fluid.  That fluid amplifies and distributes the force of your foot through brake lines to calipers at all your wheels.  Those calipers squeeze down on rotors or discs, which is what slows down and stops your vehicle. For safety, a master cylinder has two cylinders, one for two wheels, and the other for the remaining two wheels.  That way, if there is a failure in one, you&rsqu ... read more