How to Find A Great Auto Repair Shop

The first thing on Reader's Digest's list of 29 tips from mechanics and car experts is to look out for scare tactics—warnings like "I wouldn't drive this another mile." In that case, you might want to go for a second opinion. (Whenever you get a second opinion, also be smart and don't tell the mechanic the first diagnosis and price.)

Certifications from the AAA or ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) are signs of reputable shops. All good mechanics will thoroughly explain your repair options and keep a clean garage. (A floor cluttered with empty oil cans and worn tires is a bad sign.)

Shady shops might ask you to sign blank authorization forms or try to sell you an unnecessary transmission flush.

Below are some traits found in the most successful shops.

1. Excellent Customer Service
Every company offers some type of customer service. Only the best auto repair shops will emphasize this as a number one company policy. Successful shops realize that satisfied customers are the key to growth, lead generation and a strong referral base. The competence of customer service can make or break a shop. Excellent customer service involves listening to customers and satisfying needs in an efficient manner. Respect, level of professionalism and open communication are the foundation for overall success.

2. Competent and Personable Mechanics
Mechanics are the backbone of any auto repair shop. These trained professionals must possess strong technical skills and pass stringent industry testing with ASE (Automotive Service Excellence standards).  Some may need extra certification to work on specific motor types or other specialized auto parts.

Technical know-how is only the foundation of a good mechanic.

Personality plays a major role in whether or not a mechanic is employed by the best auto repair shops.  Mechanics must also possess strong communication skills.  These professionals must also be able to discuss technical language in everyday terms so customers can easily understand what is happening.  They must have good listening skills to understand what the customer is trying to say.  The individual must be personable enough to put customers at ease.

3. Involvement with Philanthropic Causes
Successful shops realize the importance of giving back to the local community and nonprofit organizations.  Many are involved in fund raising, providing free goods or services and/or volunteering at local events.

4. Offer Free Second Opinions
Every savvy consumer understands the importance of getting a second opinion before shelling out valuable dollars.  Some of the best auto repair shops offer this service for free.  You can take in your written estimate, have the mechanic check out your car and then discuss findings with you.   

5. Offer VIP Treatment
Everyone loves to feel important.  Successful shops will offer customers incentives like a VIP card.  VIP cards provide additional benefits as a gesture of appreciation.  Benefits vary according to the shop.  They can range from 10% labor discounts, free upgrades to free car care tips.  

Look for a shop that guarantees its work and offers warranties for at least 12 months and 12,000 miles.  This is a great way to ease your mind and assure you are receiving professional services from a competent provider. Some shops offer a ready-on-time guarantee.

7. Belong to a Cooperative Marketing Association
Smaller-sized independent auto repair shops realize the importance of pooling resources to optimize advertising and marketing programs and have high membership standards.  

Spotting the above traits and services will make you a well-informed consumer and help find the best auto repair shops for you and your car.

Drive Auto Repair

7725 St Andrews Rd

Irmo SC 29212

803-724-0016

www.driveautorepair.com

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What To Fix On Your Car In The Fall

According to ABC 27 News http://www.abc57.com/story/13405325/4-steps-to-fix-your-car-for-fall

These are the tops things to check in the fall for your car or truck.

Battery and electrical system
If your car doesn't have juice, it won't start… and it won't run. It's as simple as that. Batteries now live longer and require little to no maintenance, so it's easy to forget them. But if your battery is more than two years old, you should have it checked by a competent technician. If it needs replacement, now is the time to do it, rather than when the tow truck comes to visit you in the grocery store parking lot as your frozen foods melt.
While you're at it, make sure your alternator and the other parts of the charging system are working right and that your serpentine belt is not worn to a frazzle.
Tires and wheels
Proper tire inflation pressure and ample tread are two key factors in avoiding a tire failure that can propel you off-road. Regularly checking your treads is the key to preventing excessively worn-out tires. Make sure to rotate your tires every 5,000 miles to avoid having one tire wear more than the others.
The right tire pressure isn't just good for the tire's life; it also improves your car's gas mileage. Checking the pressure in each tire is even more important when the temperature drops, because tires lose pressure each month. Monthly tire checks ensure that your tires are filled to their recommended PSI rating (which can be found on the driver's side door panel and in the owner's manual).
Cooling system
Frequently check your car's cooling system (radiator and associated hoses and clamps) for leaks and low coolant level. Overheating your engine will require you to pull over -- or worse, sustain very expensive engine damage. The cooling system should be flushed and refilled as recommended in the owner's manual. Just remember to never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled.

Engine oil
An engine without oil is like a body without blood. Making certain you have a high-quality oil in your engine is critical to ensuring that expensive, highly stressed engine parts get the lubrication they need.
These days, many drivers are making the switch to synthetic oils like Mobil 1 because they offer better performance at a wide range of temperatures. This is especially true for those few split seconds of engine cranking on cold fall mornings. Help prevent engine wear by changing your oil and oil filter as specified in your owner's manual.

Noises You Should Never Hear From Your Brakes

Noises You Should Never Hear From Your Brakes

Squealing
Squealing or squeaking noises usually indicate that your brake pads require replacement. Some brake pads are equipped with wear indicators in the form of small steel clips which make a squealing sound when the pad has worn down. While squealing can indicate that you need new brake pads, it can have other implications and meanings. Squealing can sometimes be heard after getting a brake pad or rotor replacement service. This should go away in a day or two once the pads break in but if the sound continues, we recommend making an appointment for a brake system evaluation.

Glazing on the brake pads can also cause them to squeal. Glazing occurs when brake calipers stick, causing the brakes to stay partially applied, which results in excessive friction and heat. This heat causes the pad to harden and crystallize, or glaze.

Squealing can also be attributed to broken anti-rattle clips (clips that hold the brake pads in place) and/or worn-out brake pad insulation. In any case, it is recommended to have your brakes evaluated as soon as possible if you hear this noise.Waiting to repair a noise in your brake system can lead to more significant damage and more costly repairs.

For brake repair in Irmo, Columbia, and Chapin SC come to Drive Atuo Repair for a free brake inspection.

Grinding or growling. This loud metallic sound means that you have worn down the pads completely, most likely beyond replacement. The grinding or growling noise is caused by the two pieces of metal (the disc and the caliper) rubbing together. This can "score," or scratch your rotors, creating an uneven surface. If this happens, do not be surprised if your mechanic tells you that the rotors need to be "turned" (a process that evens out the rotor surface), or even replaced. 

Call us for brake repair 803-724-0016

What Is Leaking From My Car?

Help What Is Leaking From My Car?

Coolant Leak

Coolant (or antifreeze) usually has a greenish color. Sometimes it’s bright orange or pink. But usually it’s green. It has a bit of a sticky, viscous feel to it.

Antifreeze is one of the most common car fluid leaks. If you find oone these leaks it would be a good idea to get it fixed sooner rather than later. Coolant regulates the temperature in your engine. Left unchecked, a coolant leak can lead to your engine overheating and your car leaving you on the side of the road.

Antifreeze is extremely toxic to pets so leaked fluid should be cleaned. Unfortunately, coolant has sort of a sweet smell and taste which makes it attractive to animals.

Places to check for coolant leaks are the radiator, radiator hoses, heater hoses, and engine core plugs.

Oil Leak

Another common fluid to drip from your car is good ol’ engine oil. If your car leaks oil in drips while your car is parked and leaves a puddle on your garage’s floor, take it into a mechanic and get it fixed ASAP. An oil leak can adversely affect oil levels in your car, and if left unchecked, can cause engine damage.

New oil has a yellowish brown color; older oil looks dark brown or black.

An oil leak can come from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to:

• bad or worn oil gasket
• oil filter not attached correctly
• oil coolant line corroded
• oil plug not secured properly
• high oil pressure

You may notice that your car doesn’t leak oil in drips, but rather “seeps” oil slowly from various parts in the engine. Oil seepage is common in high-mileage cars and that you usually don’t lose enough oil between changes to adversely affect oil pressure. Just keep an eye on it, and if the seeps turn into drips, get it looked at rigt away.

Gas Leak

Gas leaks are easy to identify. Does it smell like gas? If so then we have a gas leak.

If you have a puddle of gas near the rear of the car, it probably means you have a leaky gas tank. If the puddle is near the front, something’s probably wrong with the fuel pump. Also check the fuel lines for the source of the leak.

Transmission Fluid Leak

Automatic transmission fluid has sort of a light red color when it’s new and a dark red or brownish color when it’s old. It’s thick and has an almost oil-like feel.

Transmission fluid serves as a lubricant in you car’s transmission so that your car shifts gears smoothly and correctly.  The fluid also serves as a coolant in the transmission. If your car gets low on transmission fluid, you run the risk of grinding or burning your transmission to destruction. Replacing a transmission can big bucks, depending on the car. So getting leaks fixed is definitely worth the investment.

Look for transmission fluid leaks near the front or middle of the car, particularly near the transmission filler tube, near the transmission fluid drain hole, at the selector shaft (it’s the rod that connects your gear shift to your transmission), and between the transmission and engine.

Power Steering Leak

Power steering makes turning your car a breeze. Most power steering systems work using hydraulics. As you turn the wheel, power steering fluid fills a cylinder in your steering’s system, which in turn applies a force to the wheels to help you turn. A drop in your power steering fluid level means a drop in your power steering system’s pressure, which of course means turning your car will be more difficult. Most cars use a power steering fluid specifically designed for power steering systems. It’s slightly yellowish and has a medium thickness.

Your car’s steering system is towards the front of the car, so you’ll find evidence of power steering leaks there. Possible sources for a power steering leak include the power steering reservoir, power steering pump, and hoses connecting the power steering system.

Brake Fluid Leak

Brake fluid is clear to yellowish in color and has a medium thickness and a slightly oily feel. If you see a puddle of liquid with these properties under your car, have your car towed to a mechanic immediately. Get your car towed even if you just suspect you’re leaking brake fluid. Don’t even try to drive your car over there. Your car’s brake system works on a hydraulic pressure system. Brake fluid serves as the hydraulic fluid that maintains that pressure. A leak in brake fluid will cause a drop in pressure, possibly resulting in brake failure. Brake failure is not womething you want to experience.

For more information on auto repair or to speak to a tech visit Drive Auto Repair

How To Fix Side View Mirror Glass

Broken Glass In Sideview Mirror Fix Instructions

Did you hit a mailbox with your side view mirror?
You don’t have to replace the entire side view mirror assembly just because the glass is broken. Replacing the mirror glass is a do-it-yourself project that is usually inexpensive.
Several manufacturers offer precut glass mirrors to fit vehicles of all makes and models.
You can shop for your sidewiew mirror glass here:

Shop Now For Side View Mirror Glass  

Start the repair by picking away as many loose pieces of the broken mirror as you can. Wear leather gloves and eye protection while doing this. You can leave the old adhesive in place. Then clean the remaining glass and the plastic mirror base with glass cleaner.

Steps to repalce your side view mirror:

Step 1 - Remove the Mirror from the Vehicle

Use your flat screwdriver or other flat tool to release the mirror from the vehicle if it is held on with a pin or clip. On most vehicles there is a series of screws which can be Phillips head, or flat, and in extremely rare cases an Allen bolt. Simply remove these screws and separate the unit from the side of your vehicle to begin the side view mirror repair.

Step 2 - Remove the Old Glass

The next thing to do in this process, is to remove the old broken glass from the unit frame, allowing you to replace it. To do this part of the side view mirror repair, you will want to use a hairdryer and apply heat to the broken mirrors surface. This will loosen the adhesive that is holding the mirror in place on the mirror frame. Take your putty knife or flat blade and scrape away the broken glass wearing your gloves to avoid getting cut.

Step 3 - Clean the Glass Frame Mount

You will now clean the surface of the frame the mirror sits on using your thinner or rubbing alcohol. The adhesive is plastic based and reacts to acidic chemicals, and should come off quite easily. You want to obey all warnings on the chemical labels that you use during this side view mirror repair.

Step 4 - Apply the Adhesive

You now will apply the adhesive to four corners of the mirror frame. Some are stick on labels, that you can simply stick on, and peel off the other side once they are in place. There are many options of side view mirror repair adhesives, you just want to ensure they don't contain latex as it does not hold up well during temperature changes in the environment, causing your mirror to simply fall out of the frame over time.

Step 5 - Remount the Mirror to the Vehicle

Once the adhesive is in place, carefully line up the new mirrored glass and press it firmly into place, being sure to clamp down all the corners and the center with equal pressure. Complete the side view mirror repair by reattaching the mirror unit and frame back onto your vehicle. Some adhesives take longer to dry than others, be sure you allow it to dry the recommended time before remounting it, to avoid it from just falling out.


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