Not long ago, I walked into the reception area at our auto shop and greeted two long-time customers. After chatting for a while, we eventually got around to the reason why they were there. The wife shared with me that she had noticed a constant scraping noise coming from their car that got worse while braking. Then the husband held out his hand and displayed a tiny jagged stone about ¼ inch long.
The other day, one of our auto mechanics, Hernando, was working on a Mercedes SUV. The driver had brought it in for preventive maintenance, and when Hernando checked it out, it turns out the brakes were in terrible condition. The brake material was worn so thin; it was as flat as paper. And then, it just came off!
Recently, one of our customers came in with a “check engine light” on. When a “check engine light” comes on, many drivers think it’s due to an electronic issue, but sometimes it can be a mechanical issue.
Recently a customer brought in their 2010 Lexus GX 460 because the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) light was on. The customer had checked each tire with a gauge and found that every tire was determined to be at the correct pressure. The BA auto mechanic who worked on this case was Jon.
Buying a car is a significant investment. Most people want to make sure their car keeps running and functioning smoothly for as long as possible. To some, a shiny vehicle is merely a few thousand pounds of metal used for commuting while others consider their car as a superhuman extension of their personality.
Brakes are one of the most critical safety systems in our car. They keep us from plowing into objects and people. Keeping your brakes in working order requires they be checked at least once a year. But just having them checked isn’t enough; who you choose to service your brakes matters.
When you have a car problem, sometimes it is hard to know whether to have the car towed, whether to get the repair done on the spot, or whether it’s safe to drive your car to the shop.
How do we diagnose complex “issues” when they go wrong?
One of the scariest moments that can happen while driving is when you try to stop and your break pedal sinks to the floor.
It’s that time of year again. The days are getting hotter. In fact, here in Columbia, MD we are expecting the temperature to hit the 90’s this week. If your car’s air conditioning system is blowing hot air, don’t sweat it out. Take care of it now.
When you hear a noise coming from your car, what do you do? Do you try to determine where the sound is coming from? Do you pay attention to when it happens (e.g. do you hear it when you first start the car, only after you exceed 50 mph, when you brake, during acceleration…)?
Based on the above definition, #2 to be exact, there is no doubt that we are experiencing an epidemic. Over the past year, we have seen dozens of Mini Coopers coming into our facility with a very low oil level. This is serious because it can dramatically reduce the life of a Mini Cooper engine!
