auto mechanic – Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop

Tag: auto mechanic

Best Safety Practices for Car Repairs

Whether you are tackling your vehicle’s oil change or replacing its brake pads, safety should always be the highest priority. Anytime you are working on your vehicle there is opportunity to invest in improved safety practices, methods, and standards. Below we discuss a few simple ways anyone working on their car can take to ensure that they are always maintaining safety first and foremost.

Fire Safety

As a result of cars being filled with many types of gases and oils, they are incredibly flammable pieces of machinery. To ensure you are best protected against fires when working on your vehicle be sure to always keep a fire extinguisher on hand and close by. It’s also crucial to secure and protect your workspace from any smoke, open flames, or other combustible materials.

Protective Gear

Depending on the type of repair you are attempting, a number of protective items can be of great use. Gloves are a great idea when working with anything oily or hot, goggles should be used whenever working with dirt, drills, or high heat hazards, and ear protection should be used whenever sanders, horns, shopvacs, loud engines and drills are in use.

Electrical Safety

Whether or not you are working on an electrical repair for your vehicle, you need to be aware of electrical risks and the necessary precautions. Electricity runs through vehicles via their wires and batteries which is why always disconnecting the battery before beginning maintenance or repairs is crucial. Even if the vehicle is turned off there is still potential for electrical currents to pass through the batteries and wires which can result in injury.

Final Thoughts

Working on a car can be very dangerous whenever best safety practices and protections are not taken seriously. Before you or someone you love attempts a repair or maintenance service on their car, share with them some of these best practices. Or better yet, take your car to a reputable and trustworthy mechanic in your local area. Fort Worth, TX residents should visit Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop, call us at (817) 834- 2725, or visit our website here for more information about our expert services.

Is Your Car Staying in Shape During Quarantine?

June 1, 2020 / admin / 0 Comments

Fellow Americans, as a nation we have recently experienced a great crisis in our lives. With the COVID-19 outbreak, many of us were asked to help by staying home and locking down our nation to help flatten the curve. Those whom began to work from home and began practicing social distance parked their vehicles, whom like us remained locked down. A car is much like a human, having it parked without any exercise can lead to a few mechanical issues. Read along as we discuss common situations and how to prevent them!

Are You and Your Vehicle Experiencing Similar Side Effects of Lock Down?

Being quarantined for a long period, without participating on regular activities, can make one feel slower or sluggish. A car, just like you, can experience the same symptoms when being locked down without travel. Oil condenses when cooled, after being parked for a couple months your car will need a good warm up before hitting top speeds on the road. Don’t remember the last time you changed your oil or just want to be cautious? Take it to your trusted mechanic for a checkup!

Is There More Flab to Your Tires?

The “quarantine 15” is no joke. Many have experienced some weight gain because of the lock down. Cars may not experience a quarantine 15 per say, but they do experience flabby tires from a decrease in tire pressure. If your car is feeling slow and you’re not getting the same mpg form your vehicle it may be a result of bad tire pressure. While many new vehicles have sensors to indicate a need in tire maintenance, most older vehicles don’t. Have your tires inspected, vehicle aligned, and your brakes maintained to assure a save stop.

Conclusion

While these are just a couple of quick tips for you and your car to safely, get back on the road,

we would like to remind you of the importance of checking your vehicle before taking off the hand brake. Hitting the trails and traveling more after lock down? We are here for you! Bring your vehicle travel concerns to us. Our highly experienced team is here to assist you with everything from break systems to alignments and tires to ensure that you have a safe trip! To learn more about our services and us please visit our website.

Do You Hear That? What Your Car’s Weird Noises Mean

May 17, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

It’s a familiar situation for anyone who’s ever owned a car; you’re going about your day, driving to pick up the kids or running errands, when suddenly you notice your car is making an unusual sound. Do you go straight to the repair shop to get it checked out or do you keep driving and hope it goes away? Not knowing what’s causing the sound can make the decision a difficult one, so in this article we’ll explain some of the most common noises and what they mean. You’ll also learn how urgently they need to be addressed by a mechanic.

Squealing, especially when braking.

As one of the most common problems car owners hear, it’s important to know that this is caused by brake pad problems. While the car is not unsafe to drive when this is happening, it’s important that you come for replacements as soon as possible.

Metallic ticking from under the hood.

If you’re hearing a metallic ticking that seems like it’s coming from the engine, park your car, let it cool down a little bit and then check your oil levels. Your oil pressure could be to blame, and if it is, go to the auto repair shop as soon as possible to avoid engine damage.

Hissing.

This is a sound that becomes more common during summer months when the weather is hot; that’s because it’s probably the sound of your engine overheating. You’ll probably notice that the temperature gauge is rising, but even if it’s not, check your coolant levels when the car cools down. Also, beware the smell of maple syrup wafting from under the hood; that’s the smell of leaking or boiling coolant, which is the tell-tale sign of an engine that’s about to overheat. An engine that’s running too hot can eventually stop functioning permanently, so make sure to see a mechanic if adding more coolant doesn’t resolve the problem.

Conclusion

Now that you know what these sounds mean, you’re better equipped at understanding what’s going on with your car. However, the best course of action is always to visit a specialist whenever your car starts making unusual noises. Here at Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop, we offer reliable and affordable service to resolve any unexpected issues your car might be having. We’ll keep your car running in top condition.

Everything You Need to Know About Auto Diagnostics

October 25, 2018 / admin / 1 Comment

Just like us, our vehicles require regular maintenance and checkups to ensure they’re constantly running at peak performance. In much the same vein as a doctor’s visit, auto diagnostic tests can detect problems before they’re given the chance to evolve into something more troubling.

While that may be the case, many drivers can be understandably skeptical of regularly bringing in their vehicle for an auto diagnostics test. After all, doesn’t the “maintenance required” light exist to let us know when it’s time to see a mechanic? Not quite. In many cases, the maintenance required light can show up well after your vehicle has already suffered an unknown breakdown. And with that in mind, we offer up this brief rundown of the auto diagnostic process and its benefits. We hope this helps in convincing you why preventative maintenance can do both you and your vehicle a world of good!

What is a Diagnostic Test?

If you were asked which the most important advancement in automobile construction is, how would you answer? For us personally, we would easily say the computerization of parts and components. Including computer processors, sensors, and microchips in our current engines allows us the opportunity to diagnose problems without having to break apart pieces and take a physical look. In a short and sweet summation, that’s auto diagnostic testing.

Using a computer system that links to the vehicle’s processors and systems, mechanics are able to accurately pinpoint prospective breakdowns before they leave you stranded on the side of the road.

What Gets Tested?

The beauty behind diagnostic testing is that it reveals structural compromises in practically all of a vehicle’s major components. Everything from your transmission and exhaust system to your brakes and fuel injector are checked for even the slightest disturbance.

While this service may sound too good to be true, a diagnostics run won’t spell out the exact problem that triggered that pesky “check engine” light. It will simply show a trained mechanic which parameters are out of their normal range. With that information, a trained specialist will be able to more accurately determine the vehicle’s issue.

What Are the Benefits?

Time is one of the biggest factors when it comes to diagnosing an automobile’s malfunction. And with computerized diagnostics, time is exactly what you save. Now that the process doesn’t involve invasive procedures and constant tests and trials, drivers no longer have to worry about time and budget consuming mechanic services! Instead of waiting to come in when the problem is at its worst, vehicle owners can responsibly come in for preventative maintenance. Couple that with the accuracy and comprehensive servicing computer diagnostics provide, and it’s easy to see just how beneficial the process can be as a whole.

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