Clear:Power steering fluid or water from the condenser on the A/C unit.

Light Yellow: Brake fluid is light yellow when new; as it absorbs water, the fluid becomes a dark muddy brown. Brake fluid absorbs 2% water over a one year period under normal braking conditions. This is a very important fluid and should be changed when needed.

Light Brown: If there is also a strong odor of rotten eggs, this is 90 weight or gear lube. It may be leaking from the manual transmission or from the rear axle.

Light or Dark Brown:Oil will be a light brown color if it is changed often. If not, the fluid will be a darker brown. Remember to change your engine oil every 3000 miles or 3 months.

Bright Green: The radiator coolant, this is also very slippery to the touch.

Bright Blue: Windshield washer fluid. (Winter washer fluids can be orange, pink or yellow).

Red Fluid: Automatic transmission fluid or power steering fluid. Note where the fluid is coming from – it could be long life coolant

Amber: Gasoline, but there will be a distinct odor. A leak means contaminants are getting in the vehicle components, too! Don’t just top off the fluid and ignore it!

If you have a leak, an ASE-Certified Technician, at your professional Auto Repair Lenexa facility, will be able to locate the problem and advise you on the best course of action to get your car running the way it should be, which will save you money and keep you safely on the road!

The inspection should include:

• Brake and dash warning lights
• Condition of hoses and brake lines
• Brake fluid level
• Brake lining wear
• Rotor thickness

Warning signs that something is wrong with your brakes include:

Vibrations. If your brake pedal is vibrating when you step on it, this could mean your rotors are warped.

Squealing. Squealing can be heard when your windows are down and the radio and AC unit is turned off. It is a warning sign that the brake pads might need to be replaced. If you only hear this sound when your car has just been washed or sitting in the rain, this is normal.

Grinding Noise. A grinding sound could indicate that your brake pads are worn beyond replacement.

Illuminated ABS light. Many vehicles now have an ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) light that will illuminate when excessive build-up of metal particles from the brake system is detected.

Low or hard pedal feel. If your brake pedal easily reaches to the ground, this could be a sign that you have little brake fluid or there is an air leak in the system.

Brake grabbing. If your vehicle tends to pull towards one side when you break, this could mean brake linings are wearing unevenly or there is something in the brake fluid which could require a brake fluid flush.

Have your braking system inspected at our facility today if you experience any of these warning signs, or if you have not had your brakes inspected by a Lenexa auto repair shop in over a year. You want to be confident about your brakes with each stop you make!

1.) Ask friends, neighbors and coworkers for a referral. Before you need a mechanic, ask around and find out who your friends, neighbors and coworkers recommend. If you hear the same name come up time and time again as a great mechanic or someone who went the extra mile, you may have found the right mechanic for you. You can also ask another mechanic for a referral if you need a specialist. Like doctors, mechanics may be generalists or specialists. If you own an imported vehicle, an antique or vintage vehicle, or some other type of vehicle requiring special care, you may want to ask a friend’s general mechanic to recommend a specialist.

2.) Check the mechanic’s certification. The National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifies mechanics through a series of difficult examinations in different subjects. An ASE-certified mechanic has demonstrated through third party certification her knowledge and competency. Be sure that your Overland park auto repair facility employs ASE certified technicians.

3.) Check the mechanic or shop reputation with the Better Business Bureau. While Better Business Bureau membership isn’t a guarantee of quality, it is one additional step that helps reassure you that the mechanic and his business are on the up and up. Visit http://www.bbb.org/ to learn more.

4.) Do an online search. With the plethora of online review sites, something should pop up. Type the mechanic’s name or the name of his shop into your favorite search engine and see what comes up. Look for recommendations posted on Merchant Circle-type sites, on recommendation or referral sites, and more.

5.) Meet him in person. Bring your vehicle in for a simple repair or routine maintenance to get a feel for the mechanic’s reliability, integrity and customer service. While one visit may not be a perfect indicator of his skills, you can certainly get a feel for the level of customer service you can expect on future visits.

Lastly, if you belong to AAA, ask for a list of AAA-certified auto repair shops. One of the requirements for AAA certification is to offer members a 12-month, 12,000 mile guarantee on their work. Such a guarantee provides peace of mind, since it means the mechanic backs up his work. For more information, visit http://www.aaa.com/.

Finding the right mechanic takes time. But once you do, be sure to spread the word about his good service to help others find a great mechanic, too. Your mechanic will appreciate it, and so will others looking for a great mechanic.

Shocks and struts do not req...]]> Shocks and struts are designed to help keep your tires on the road. They provide a comfortable ride by influencing the control and handling characteristics of your vehicle. Without them, a vehicle would bounce down the road, making driving extremely difficult.

Shocks and struts do not require replacing at specific mileage intervals like filters or spark plugs, but they do wear out and eventually have to be replaced. It’s a good idea to have your car inspected by an ASE-Certified Technician at your reliable auto repair in Lenexa if you experience or see the following symptoms:

Leaking: You can find evidence of leaking by looking for oil or wetness on the outside of the shocks and struts.
Damage: You’ll want to look for things like a broken mount or badly dented housing.
Wear: One way to evaluate the wear is to consider how your vehicle has been handling and riding lately. Does it bounce excessively when driving on rough roads or after hitting a bump? Does the nose dip when braking? Does the body roll or sway excessively when cornering or driving in crosswinds? Does the suspension bottom out when backing out of the driveway or when hauling extra passengers or weight?
Bouncing: A “bounce test” is still a valid means of checking the dampening ability of shocks and struts. At each corner of the car, push down hard, then watch what happens. If the suspension continues to gyrate more than one or two times after rocking and releasing the bumper or body, your shocks or struts are showing their age and should be replaced.

Replacing worn shocks can help your vehicle stop quicker while braking, decrease the risk of skidding on wet or slick surfaces, increase gas mileage, increase the life of your expensive tires, and increase the life of your suspension. So if you are sick of all the bouncing and rocking, come to our Lenexa auto repair shop today so we can firm up your suspension and restore proper ride control!

These days, many drivers are keeping their cars for a longer period of time. After all, keeping a car for ten years can save you up to $250,000! But the key to saving money in the long run is to maintain your car, and not just wait for it to breakdown before you have it serviced....]]> July 2011

These days, many drivers are keeping their cars for a longer period of time. After all, keeping a car for ten years can save you up to $250,000! But the key to saving money in the long run is to maintain your car, and not just wait for it to breakdown before you have it serviced. Maintaining your current vehicle costs about $1,500 to $3,000 per year. However, waiting for a breakdown by avoiding maintenance can cost much, much more! There’s the repair of course, plus the tow, plus the time lost while you’re stuck, plus your car will still probably need the same maintenance that it needed before it broke down! The best thing you can do to save money, time, and aggravation is to be proactive instead of reactive!

BLUE BOOK PRICE?

Many drivers base their decision on whether to have maintenance performed on the Blue Book price of their vehicle. They ask, “Why spend more on yearly maintenance than the car is worth?” The answer is that for the car to have any value, it must have maintenance completed regularly. The Blue Book price is a purchasing guide, not maintenance guide. In other words, if the car doesn’t run because it wasn’t maintained, it’s of no value to you or anyone else!

The truth is, driving your car into the ground can’t save you money. Even if the plan is to sell the car instead of repairing it, you’ll be stuck trying to unload a completely valueless car.

BUYING USED?

If it’s time to replace your car, and you’ve made the smart financial decision to buy used, be careful that the previous driver hasn’t neglected their maintenance either.

Even if you plan on buying your used car from a dealer, never take the seller’s word that all maintenance has been performed!

No matter how smart or safe a driver you are, or how consistently you take care of the car, if it’s been neglected, it may have already lost thousands of miles off its life.

When it comes to a used car, nothing is more important than a pre-purchase inspection. For about $100-200 at a trusted repair shop, you’ll know the exact condition of your vehicle’s expensive components.

Not only will you be able to make an informed offer about the value of the car, you’ll know right from the start how long you’ll be able to extend the life of the vehicle by performing routine maintenance!

THE SMARTEST INVESTMENT

Instead of trying to avoid the cost of maintaining your car, think of it as one of the smartest investments you can make. It will help you keep your car longer, save you much more money in the long run, and even help preserve the value of your car. Be sure to bring your vehicle to a reliable auto repair shop in Lenexa with knowledgeable ASE certified technicians.