car care – Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop

Tag: car care

How to Get Your Vehicle Ready for Spring

As the winter season fades, you can finally start to enjoy driving in warmer weather. However, when you are driving in the winter, chances are the cold weather has done a number on your vehicle components. Therefore, it is wise to do a thorough inspection to prepare your car for spring. Here are the most crucial components to check to make sure your car is ready for spring and summer.

Inspect Your Windshield Wipers

With the return of spring, a careful inspection of the windshield wipers is highly recommended to verify that they are in good working order. Nevertheless, the best thing is to replace them, the cold weather is very harmful for the rubber, which then deteriorates, making the brushes less efficient. Also, remember to change them at the end of the summer.

Take A Look At Your Battery

Take advantage of the return of sunny days to take a look at your battery charge and give it a little boost if necessary. If you were noticing a poor performance during winter, consider buying a new one to avoid any battery failures in the future.

Change Your Oil

Regular oil changes are essential to keep your engine running smoothly, and spring is a great time to do it. A fresh oil change can help improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and extend the life of your engine. Keep your car in its optimum condition with routine oil changes.

Related: Learn more about when your car needs oil changing here.

Switch Out Those Winter Tires

Many car owners think that it is not necessary to change tires in the spring or summer and that they can very well continue driving with winter tires to avoid new expenses. Since winter tires are designed for cold roads, they may deteriorate quicker if the ground exceeds 7 degrees. Change your winter tires with summer or all-season tires from mid-March for your safety and your pocket.

Related: Learn more how when to use all-season and winter tires here.

We’re At Your Service All Season Long

Spring is the perfect time to give your vehicle a tune-up and make sure it’s ready to tackle the changing weather and road conditions. Our team is here to help you make sure that your vehicle is running smoothly and safely all spring long. Give us a call 817-834-2725 at for any assistance and check out our website to see our comprehensive list of services.

4 Ways to Know You Need a Vehicle Alignment

March 25, 2021 / admin / 0 Comments

Have you ever driven on the freeway at about 80 mph, and suddenly there appears an enormous pothole that you cannot evade? Numerous drivers experience this type of scenario on the highway every day, never knowing that the pothole messed up their car’s alignment. Many influences can cause your vehicle to become out of alignment. Yet, a misaligned vehicle can bring you issues like wearing out your tires faster and less fuel efficiency. It is essential to know when you need an alignment and the four indicators to look for to avoid any safety concerns.

Vehicle Pulls to the Side

When a vehicle is pulling to the side, it is a strong indicator that it needs a realignment immediately. A driver struggling to keep their truck straight is not a good sign for the truck’s overall health. Even if the vehicle is slightly pulling, it is still a good idea to take it to an auto shop, so there are no future issues.

Steering Wheel is Crooked

A steering wheel driven at an awkward angle is another indicator that a vehicle has a horrible alignment. If the car’s steering wheel logo is not facing up or down when the vehicle moves straight, something is wrong. The best option to do is to bring this issue to the attention of a trusted mechanic.

Vibrating Vehicle

A lousy alignment means at least two tires are pulling against each and trying to go in separate directions. When a vehicle is pulling, a driver can quickly feel a vibration in the steering wheel. In worst cases, the steering wheel will shake, and the car as well.

Odd Tire Wear

The final inspection that a driver should do is to check their vehicle’s tire treads. Two tires on the same axle that have to wear in different ways can reveal alignment issues. The tires will be smoother or balder on one specific part of the tire.

Conclusion

Bad vehicle alignment can bring unnecessary issues to a vehicles’ health. Drivers who look for the signs of a horrible alignment can save their car, money, and mind. If you are having alignment issues with your vehicle, you can bring it to Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop. We specialize in alignments for your car and provide auto services in Fort Worth, TX. Visit our store or check out our website for more information about our auto services.

We look forward to speaking with you!

Preparing Your Car for a Road Trip

January 6, 2021 / admin / 0 Comments

Adventure is calling. Is your car ready?

Most of us have been quarantining for 10 months or more this past year in hopes of stopping the spread of COVID-19. During the pandemic, many have taken up new hobbies or jobs to keep them busy, while others have turned to nature for an escape. Road trips and camping are activities that have been on the rise, and we all know that in order to have a memorable and enjoyable experience, one must plan and stay prepared!

Your car’s reliability during a road trip will be the most important part of your adventure. Make sure your vehicle is ready to perform during your travels with the following tips.

Fluids

Fluids lubricate your cars components for optimal performance, which is why having them checked before your big trip is recommended. If you know that your car is due for an oil change soon, we suggest getting it done before the road trip to avoid unnecessary issues while on the road. Other fluids such as those for your radiator, transmission, and brakes should be inspected as well.

Tires

Keep those long car rides smooth by ensuring that your vehicles tires are in top-notch condition. Tires that are in good condition deliver safety, comfort, and fuel efficiency, so getting them checked out before you hit the road is best. Have your trusted mechanic inspect your wheel alignment as well as your tire’s pressure.

General Maintenance

Your car needs attention year-round, and when planning a long trip in you car, general maintenance is essential. Are the brake pads in good condition? Should you change the air filter? What about those windshield wipers? A lot of the general maintenance is easy to maintain by the average person, but in order to ensure that everything is functional and dependable; the service from an expert is strongly advised.

Having your car serviced before your road trip is necessary to prevent issues and ensure maximum enjoyment. Do not let your adventure get interrupted by preventable problems. If you are ready to hit the road with friends and family, make sure to contact your local mechanic to have your vehicle inspected before the adventure begins. There is nothing better than traveling with peace of mind.

Most Common Transmission Problems

October 30, 2019 / admin / 0 Comments

When it comes to your transmission, you always want to keep it at its best. The last thing you want is to be left dealing with additional problems due to you not handling your transmission issues right away. Your transmission is a critical component of your vehicle and needs proper care for it to work better as a whole. A faulty transmission is one of the most expensive repairs on the market. It is for this reason that you need to pay attention to the following symptoms to ensure your vehicle doesn’t fall victim to transmission problems.

Gear Shaking or Grinding

Your transmission should always shift smoothly from gear to gear. There should be no grinding, shaking, or slipping of any kind. When symptoms like these occur, you may think of it as insignificant, but it isn’t. This problem won’t go away if you simply ignore it. In fact, it will only get worse. If you are feeling any shaking or grinding, it’s time to get it looked at.

Whining, Humming, or Clunking When In Neutral

Hearing noises like these are not normal, no matter how quiet and unnoticeable the sound may be. Though this issue may likely be minor, it could also be signaling something much worse. When you hear humming or clunking, it can be due to the transmission fluid breaking down. Your transmission fluid has to lubricate all of the mechanical gears and components, so make sure you regularly have it changed.

Do You Smell Something Burning?

When there is a burning smell coming from your vehicle, it is something to be concerned about. The most common cause of the smell is due to overheated fluid. Your vehicle basically runs on this fluid as it helps to protect its complex system. When your fluid begins to deteriorate due to age and mileage, friction damage between all parts will begin to occur. The friction will cause the breakdown of your vehicle’s components as well as a buildup of debris and sludge in your engine.

There are many problems that come along with transmission issues. They start off small, but eventually turn into a costly issue if not cared for properly and in a time efficient manner. If peace of mind is your top priority, then you can count on our team at Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop to exceed your expectations.

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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