Tucson Car Tune Up « Brake Buddy's Auto Repair & Maintenance Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Tucson Car Tune Up’

Car And Truck Accessories That Make Great Holiday Gifts

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

Christmas tree Christmas is almost here. And if you’re like a lot of people, you’re still searching for the right gift.

With so many options, finding the right gift for a loved one can be overwhelming. If you haven’t purchased a gift for a loved one yet, here are some great car and truck accessories that make great Christmas presents.

GPS Navigation Units: These are popular gifts to give anyone. GPS navigation units allow you to find your way around anywhere. Garmin, Magellan and TomTom are some of the more popular brands of GPS navigation units out there.

Car Organizers: There’s nothing worse than a car that is a mess. If your loved one has a messy car or truck, buy them a car organizer. Organizers allow them to organize tools and other items to reduce clutter. Car and truck organizers come in all shapes and sizes. Make your purchasing decision based on the size of the vehicle and the amount of clutter inside the vehicle.

Auto Emergency Kits: Auto emergency gifts are great to give to people who travel a lot. A good auto emergency kit will include a flashlight, tools and a first aid kit. This gift will come in handy, especially if they ever get stuck on the side of the road.

Car Mats: Car mats may not be the most exciting present in the word, but they’re important for keeping your car or truck clean. A good set of car mats can be expensive. If you decide on car mats, be sure to take the time to read about the durability of the mats. If you’re buying car mats for a truck owner, you may want to purchase heavy-duty floor mats.

Auto Repair Service: It may not be an extravagant gift, but many people out there are putting off necessary auto repairs because of the economy. Deciding to pay for a family or friends auto repairs is a good last minute gift idea, especially if that person is hard to shop for.

Any of the gifts above would make great Christmas presents. If you need more car-related gift ideas, ask your mechanic next time your getting an Albuquerque timing belt replacement or a Tucson car tune up.

Tags: Albuquerque Timing Belt Replacement, car christmas gifts, car repair gifts, GPS gifts, Tucson Car Tune Up
Posted in Automotive Maintenance | Comments Off

Car Repairs And Auto Insurance Costs: What To Look For When Buying A New Car

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

That brand new car you’re eying may have a great sticker price, but do you know what it will cost you once you drive it off the showroom floor? When purchasing a new or pre-owned vehicle, it is very important to think about the repair and insurance costs.

It may seem obvious to think about repair and insurance costs, but many people become distracted when they see their dream car at a price too good to be true. Here are a few things to consider, so your repair and insurance costs are not through the roof:

Luxury vs. Necessity – Luxury cars are great, but are the repair costs in your price range? Luxury cars typically cost more to repair. These cars also carry higher insurance costs.
Technology – Those automatic/computer features may seem cool when you purchase your new car, but they will sometimes cost a pretty penny to repair.
Domestic vs. Imported – Imported car parts typically run a little higher than domestic car parts. This sometimes adds to the price of repair bills.

To help you learn more about the insurance and repair costs for a new vehicle, we recommend talking with your mechanic and your auto insurance representative. Talking with these people can help you decide whether it’s better to go for the $20,000 car vs. the $30,000 car.

After you buy the car, be sure to keep up on regular maintenance issues. Having a Phoenix oil change or a Tucson car tune up can go a long way in increasing the life of your new vehicle.

Tags: New Car, Phoenix Oil Change, Repair And Insurance Costs, Tucson Car Tune Up
Posted in Car Repair | Comments Off

Doing A Tucson Car Tune Up Yourself: Is It Worth Is?

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

You may have thought about doing a car tune up yourself, instead of taking it to a mechanic. Change the spark plugs and the filters and then you’re done. It’s that easy, right?

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. If you’re going to give your vehicle a tune up here’s what you need to do:

Replace the fuel filter
Replace the air filter
Replace worn belts
Change the spark plugs
Service the battery, be sure to clean the filters
Check and replace fluids, replace oil filter

For some cars you may also have to:

Adjust the clutch
Replace the distributor cap

This could be challenging especially if you don’t have the proper tools and equipment to get the job done right. It is not uncommon to see vehicles damaged thanks to the handiwork work of a novice mechanic.

A tune-up can take between two to four hours of labor for a competent mechanic. How long will it take someone working out of their home garage? Don’t get us wrong. A tune-up is something your car needs. It definitely keeps your vehicle running smoothly.

But it’s better to take it to a qualified mechanic to ensure it is done properly. Another benefit: a mechanic can examine the rest of your vehicle to pinpoint a problem that may have gone undetected by an amateur mechanic. Additionally, you will need to properly dispose of old fluids such as oil, which can be a tedious process.

We recommend taking your car to a reputable mechanic for your next tune up. Getting a Tucson car tune up or a Las Cruces car tune up will ensure it’s done right the first time.

Tags: Las Cruces car tune up, Tucson Car Tune Up
Posted in Air and Oil Filters, Automotive Maintenance, Car Fluids Info, Car Lubricant Info | Comments Off

Flush That ATF

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Everyone has heard the saying, “If you can’t find ‘em, grind ‘em!” at some point in their lives. This, of course, refers to shifting a manual transmission. If you can’t find the gears, just grind them until the transmission goes into the proper gear. Automatic transmissions have alleviated much of this wear and tear on your car’s gears, though. To ensure your transmission stays in proper working order, a Tucson transmission flush may be in order.

A transmission flush can be done in one of two main ways. Your mechanic can recycle fluids through the cooling line without removing the transmission pan. This procedure is faster and less expensive, but could miss problems, especially on older model vehicles. The second procedure involves your mechanic dropping the transmission pan. This process takes slightly longer and may have a larger investment, but is helpful in finding things like metal shavings in the transmission fluid or discolored or burnt transmission fluid. These may be signs of a more serious concern that can be corrected with a Tucson car tune up before you’re left stranded.

Either way, your mechanic can tell you, based on your vehicle’s make, model, and age, which procedure is best for you.

Tags: Tucson Car Tune Up, Tucson Transmission Flush
Posted in Car Fluids Info | Comments Off

3 Common Car Maintenance Myths

Friday, April 16th, 2010

When it comes to car repair and maintenance, there is a lot of bad information out there. Wrong or misleading advice often comes from well meaning but misinformed people and it could be costing you a lot of money.

1. You should top off your brake fluid if it’s running low.

This is false, it would be nice to think that this is all you need to do but low brake fluid is often a symptom of a larger problem. Have your Tucson brake check right away if you notice low fluid levels.

2. Dishwashing liquid is a good alternative to car wash soap.

Soap made specifically for washing cars isn’t just repackaged dish soap. It is specifically designed not to damage your paint’s finish and to leave your car looking great. Dishwashing liquid can actually cause damage to your car.

3. A car battery quickly recharges after a jumpstart.

After a jumpstart, your car’s batter can take multiple hours of driving to fully recharge. Additionally, a battery that needs to be jumpstarted may be faulty and need replacement.

Never take car advice at face value. Rely on experts and tested advice and ask for details during your next Tucson car tune up instead of just trying something because it sounds good.

Tags: Tucson Brake Check, Tucson Car Tune Up
Posted in Automotive Maintenance | 1 Comment »

Do You Need A New Clutch?

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

How to know when you need a new clutch for your vehicle.

If you drive a manual vehicle, every time you drive it, you put wear and tear on the clutch. You put the most wear on the clutch when you start driving from a fully stopped position. So, depending on if you do the majority of your driving on the freeway or on surface streets affects how long your clutch will last. Unlike other parts of your car, you cannot base the lifetime of the clutch on a particular number of miles or the age of the clutch. It varies with each different car and how it is driven. What is important to remember above all is all clutches eventually wear out and it is important to know when you may need a new one. Here are a few ways to tell if you need to replace your clutch.

Next time you are shifting, pay close attention to what you feel in the gear shifter. If you do not feel a lot of resistance or it is much easier to shift than usual, this may be a bad sign. It is not conclusive though, so consider trying other tests as well or taking it in to your mechanic.

While you are driving, pay attention to your RPMs. If you see a large jump in the RPMs but do not feel a lot of acceleration, your clutch might be going bad. You can also listen closely as you are driving, if you are having to increase your RPMs and give it much more gas to make your car go speeds it used to easily reach, this may not be a good sign.

Go to your mechanic for a Phoenix car tune up. If your car is not driving like it used to and you are unsure if your clutch may be going bad, the only guaranteed way to check your clutch is to remove it and check it.

Remember, no matter how you drive, you will be putting wear on your clutch. Pay attention to how your car is driving and if you are at all concerned with whether or not your clutch is going bad, stop in for a Tucson car tune up at a Brake Masters location near you and we will check it out!

Tags: Clutch Problems, Gear Shifter, Manual Transmission, Phoenix Car Tune Up, Tucson Car Tune Up
Posted in Car Repair | 4 Comments »