Albuquerque Brake Repair « Brake Buddy's Auto Repair & Maintenance Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Albuquerque Brake Repair’

Changing Your Car’s Oil Helps to Extend the Life of Your Vehicle

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

You have that little sticker in your window reminding you to get your oil changed and you have been trying to ignore it.

Many people don’t realize how important a simple thing like changing the oil can be in making sure your car performs the way it was designed to. Put your palms together and rub them vigorously against each other for just a minute. You feel the heat that your hands give off? Now drip a little baby oil in your palms and try it again. You feel how much easier your hands move together now? That is the equivalent of what oil in your car’s engine does.

Oil in your engine helps:

Reduce friction – Which can be one of the most damaging things to your engine in the long run. Try rubbing your hands together with no baby oil for 5 minutes and see how long before it unbearable. Now imagine your engine with that same feeling only metal on metal.
Better Mileage – A well-oiled engine doesn’t have to grind its parts against one another. It runs smoothly and more efficiently helping you to get the maximum mileage out of each tank of gas.
Cleaner Engine – For older models of cars this can be very detrimental when you are driving and your car overheats. A simple oil change can keep the friction levels low and reduce the heat your engine outputs.

To make sure your car runs great and stays running that way for as long as you can, when you are getting an Albuquerque brake check or Phoenix auto air conditioning repair remember to tell them to take a look at your oil levels too.

Tags: Albuquerque Brake Repair, Phoenix auto air conditioning repair
Posted in Oil Change Tips | Comments Off

Is A No-Cost Maintenance Plan Right For You?

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

A lot of high-end auto dealerships offer no-cost maintenance plans as promotions when buying a new car. When opting into one of these plans you get a variety of services including:

• Oil Changes

• Engine Inspection Services

• Fluid Inspection and Replacement

• Belt Inspection

These deals vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some include brake inspection and pad replacements. Others do not. There are claims out there that these services are not free. The claims say that the no-cost services are included in the overall price of the vehicle.

Whether or not this is true, it comes down to this: Do you want dealer servicing your vehicle or do you want to take your vehicle somewhere else? Going to a dealer has its benefits as does going to an ASE certified mechanic.

It’s a tough decision. We recommend talking with family or friends that use no-cost maintenance plans. If you have a good relationship with an outside mechanic, a no-cost maintenance plan may not be the best option for you.

When thinking about a no-cost maintenance plan see what is offered. Are there enough incentives to justify the extra mark-up in price? It is our experience that these plans do not offer enough.

In the long run, an Albuquerque brake repair or an El Paso car tune up may be the best option. Remember, to seriously consider all your options when purchasing a new vehicle.

A lot of high-end auto dealerships offer no-cost maintenance plans as promotions when buying a new car. When opting into one of these plans you get a variety of services including:

Oil Changes
Engine Inspection Services
Fluid Inspection and Replacement
Belt Inspection

These deals vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some include brake inspection and pad replacements. Others do not. There are claims out there that these services are not free. The claims say that no-cost services are included in the overall price of the vehicle.

Whether or not this is true, it comes down to this: Do you want the dealer servicing your vehicle or do you want to take your vehicle somewhere else? Going to a dealer has its benefits as does going to an ASE certified mechanic.

When thinking about a no-cost maintenance plan, see what is offered. Are there enough incentives to justify the extra mark-up in price? It is our experience that these plans do not offer enough.

In the long run, an Albuquerque brake repair or an El Paso car tune up may be the best option. Remember, to seriously consider all your options when purchasing a new vehicle.

Tags: Albuquerque Brake Repair, ASE Certified Mechanic, El Paso Car Tune Up, No Cost Maintenance Plan
Posted in Car Repair | Comments Off

Maintenance Tips Every New Car Owner Needs To Know

Friday, July 30th, 2010

So you opted to replace your old vehicle with a new one. Who can blame you – new tires, new brakes, that new-car smell, and best of all … no repair headaches.

Whether you purchased a brand-new car or a used one, here are a few things you should be doing so you don’t encounter any major problems down the road.

Every Three Months

Every three months, be sure to check your fluids. You should also change your oil every 3,000 – 5,000 miles. Three-month fluid inspection should include:

Oil
Brake fluid
Power steering fluid
Window washer fluid

Also, be sure to check the coolant. Your coolant should be about 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent water. If you’re not up to mixing a coolant cocktail, your auto-parts store should sell some pre-mixed coolant.

Every Six Months

At the six-month mark, you should check your battery as well as your tire depth. Without the proper tire depth, you may not be able to make a quick, sudden stop with your vehicle. Be sure to also check if it’s time for another oil change.

Every Year

At year end, you should flush your radiator, which prevents rust and corrosion in the radiator, which can lead to expensive repairs. You will also want to check your:

Spark plugs
Fuel filter
Brake pads
Windshield wipers

If confident enough, some of this you can do on your own, but always have a trusted mechanic on speed-dial should you run into any problems.

Follow these steps and you won’t need Tucson brake repair or Albuquerque brake repair for a long time. The only possible headaches, you’ll be having is from the new-car smell.

Tags: Albuquerque Brake Repair, Tucson brake repair, Vehicle Maintenance
Posted in Car Fluids Info, Car Lubricant Info, Oil Change Tips | Comments Off

Why Your Auto Technician Must Be ASE Certified

Monday, July 26th, 2010

You’ve probably encountered the ASE logo at some point with your automobile. Look familiar? Ever wonder what it means? It stands for Automotive Service Excellence.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a non-profit organization that takes the guesswork out of selecting a reputable mechanic. ASE technicians must pass an extensive exam and fulfill a two-year work experience requirement before they can become ASE certified.

ASE Certified technicians often specialize in various areas such as brakes, air conditioning, engine repair, etc.

So why go with an ASE Certified technician?

Because an ASE technician has the proper training to ensure your vehicle gets the necessary service it needs. Also, ASE requires mechanics to undergo a re-test every five years to be re-certified to make sure they’re up to date on the latest technologies. So there’s no car or truck they can’t handle.

ASE provides some good pointers when searching for a mechanic. We ranked what we think should be at the top of the list:

Ask friends and associates for recommendations; consult local consumer organizations.
Look for evidence of qualified technicians: trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and certification by ASE.
Ask if the repair facility specializes or if it usually handles your type of repair work.
Look for policies regarding labor rates, diagnostic fees, guarantees, acceptable methods of payment, etc.
Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.

Using an ASE Certified technician ensures you won’t need a Tucson brake repair or an Albuquerque brake repair for a long time.

Tags: Albuquerque Brake Repair, ASE Certified technician, Automotive Service Excellence, Tucson brake repair
Posted in Brake Repair Tips | Comments Off

Are Brake Fluid Flushes Really Necessary?

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Nobody wants to pay for services that they really don’t need. Unfortunately, since some dishonest mechanics have ruined it for everyone else, many people are skeptical about having certain services done.

One of those services is the brake fluid flush. We hear from people all the time about whether the service is actually necessary or if it’s just a way for shops like ours to make more money.

The fact is that brake fluid flushes *are* important and they’ve actually become even more important in recent years.

You see, over time moisture buildup from the brake fluid causes rust and debris that can do a lot of damage to your brake system. As the braking systems within cars have grown increasingly complicated, the risk of damage has grown as well.

By doing a brake fluid flush, your mechanic is emptying out the old fluid that’s filled with damaging substances and adding fresh fluid to keep your brakes running smoothly for years to come.

It’s one of the best ways to make sure you won’t need Tucson brake repair or Albuquerque brake repair for a long time.

Tags: Albuquerque Brake Repair, Brake Fluid Flush, Tucson brake repair
Posted in Brake Repair Tips, Car Fluids Info | Comments Off

How Disc Brakes Work

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

We’ve written all about why you need a Phoenix brake check and how important maintaining your brakes is to your car, but not enough about how your brakes work. This article will teach you the basics of how your brakes operate so you can impress your mechanic during your next Tucson brake repair.

The majority of modern cars have either disc brakes on the front two wheels or on all four wheels. The brake is made of brake pads, a rotor, and a caliper with a piston attached. When the brake pedal is pressed, the piston compresses the caliper and causes the brake pads to squeeze the rotor. This pressure causes friction that slows down the disks and thus, the wheels.

It is essential that all of these parts work in perfect unison so that each time you press the brake, your vehicle stops quickly and safely. If any part does not work exactly how it should then it is probably time for an Albuquerque brake repair.

Tags: Albuquerque Brake Repair, disc brakes, Tucson brake repair
Posted in Brake Repair Tips | 1 Comment »

What To Do If Your Brakes Squeal, Whine, Or Clunk

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Are your brakes squealing, whining, clunking, or otherwise causing strange noises?

While these sounds can be quite annoying, they work as an excellent warning system that there is something that needs to be fixed immediately before more serious problems occur.

You have a few options if your brakes start to make noise.

Get Albuquerque brake repair – Strange noises are a sign that you need your brakes to be fixed. Don’t let the thought of expensive repairs scare you, as many times an inexpensive and simple repair is all you need.

Check the problem yourself – If you are skilled with a wrench then it’s possible to fix minor problems yourself. Remove the tire and inspect each brake for issues including:

Worn brake pads – If your pads are too warn from excessive use they will need to be replace. You can attempt to do this yourself or get professional El Paso brake repair.

Loose nuts and bolts – Often times a problem might be caused by just a few loose nuts and bolts. If you locate anything that seems loose, tighten it and your problem may disappear.

Other problems – Inspect the brake lines and disks for anything that seems damaged or out of the ordinary.

Never let your brakes go unchecked when they start to make weird noises. When in doubt, consult a brake expert that has seen every issue and can fix your brakes quickly and affordably.

Tags: Albuquerque Brake Repair, El Paso Brake Repair, Squealing Brakes, Vibrating Brakes, Worn Brake Pads
Posted in Brake Repair Tips | 5 Comments »