Stow Auto Repair

Auto Repair Guide: Is Repairing Your Car Worth It? When your car breaks down, and the mechanic calls with bad news—like needing a new transmission—you're probably wondering whether to repair or replace it. Here's a simple guide to help you decide if the repair is worth it. Reasons to Repair Your Car It's Paid Off: If your car is already paid for, you may prefer to avoid another down payment and monthly payments on a new car. Your Car is Still Relatively New: If your car is under four years old and has been reliable, it could last several more years after the repair. You’ve Already Paid for Depreciation: Cars lose value quickly, especially in their first year. You’ve already taken that hit, so sticking with your car might be a better financial choice than buying a new one. Lower Insurance and Registration: Older cars often have lower insurance and registration c ... read more

If you notice any of the conditions listed below, it may be time to replace your brake rotors. The 10 most common signs that you may need brake service includes: 1. Squealing sounds from the brakes 2. Longer stopping time 3. Steering wheel vibrates when braking 4. Brake pedal pulsates when braking 5. Banging sounds when braking 6. Scratched, scored, or grooved rotors 7. Large edge on the rotor’s surface 8. Blue color on rotors 9. ABS warning light HOW DO BRAKE PARTS WEAR OUT? Your brakes can wear out for a number of reasons, such as: Axle position: Front axles often bear more weight than rear axles. When this happens, it means that the front bears more of the braking load. This can cause front rotors and pads to wear out more quickly than rear rotors. Vehicle weight: The heavier the vehicle, the quicker its rotors and pads are likely to wear down. Driving style and environment: Aggressive driving and ... read more

The oil in your car’s engine has an incredibly challenging job. From lying cold in the bottom of the engine’s oil pan, it needs to surge up to the valve gear at the very top, then flow all the way back down down, and that has to happen almost instantly when you start the engine. The oil protects everything inside your engine: bearings, pistons, cylinder walls, and all the other parts that that move or touch something that does. Then, after the initial cold startup, the oil must continue protecting no matter how hot it gets and how hard the engine runs. It has to do that for a period of months, if not years, through numerous short trips, long cruises, and (for some) occasional racetrack or twisty two-lane flogs. You depend on your car’s oil to do its job flawlessly through the bitter cold of northern winters and the sticky hot of southern summers—all while fighting rust, contaminants, and passage-clogging deposits. Your oil works hard, so when should you change ... read more

Are you Looking for ways to save money on car repairs? Regularly maintaining your vehicle with things like oil changes and tire rotations is the best way to give your trusted mechanic the chance to keep an eye on your vehicle’s overall health. That way, items that require attention won’t be left to deteriorate to the point of major parts breaking, which could get far more expensive than your budget allows. Just like preventative dental care, regular car care can identify and stave off big, expensive issues. Another way to save on car repairs is by bringing your own auto parts to a mechanic. Everyone knows there’s a markup on parts, but that markup helps shops to pay their rent, employees, pay for pricey equipment, and to make some money – after all, they’ve got to remain in business, right? So, since it could save you a few bucks, you may be wondering, “Can you bring your own parts to a mechanic?” In the long run, it’s actually not a ... read more