Portland Auto Repair

Did you know there are 6 million car accidents in the United States every year? That's over 16,000 per day. Many of these accidents may be prevented by proper routine maintenance, such as checking brake fluid. Brake fluid is one of the most important fluids in your vehicle. Without brake fluid, your brakes won't work properly. Basically, the brake fluid is what makes your vehicle's braking system function. The brake fluid flows through the brake lines and supplies the necessary force to stop your wheels from turning when you push the brake pedal. To stay safe on the road, always make sure that your vehicle has the proper amount of brake fluid. There are a few obvious signs that indicate your car is low on brake fluid. 1. Your Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) light turns on. Although some older cars don't have this feature, most modern vehicles have an ABS light on the dashboard to indicate that your brake fluid needs to be changed. 2. Your brakes feel firmer or softer ... read more

There is generally a reason for it when the oil light comes on in your vehicle and it's not something you should ignore. The oil light will usually come on to let you know that your vehicle is low on oil. While it may not be a danger to your safety to drive a little further once the oil light comes on, it is a danger to your vehicle to go over far. The engine has to have oil in order to operate and when you drive on low oil, you can cause damage to that most important part. Here are a few reasons why that oil light might come on: Low Oil Pressure The oil pump may not be circulating enough oil which makes your engine feel like it is not getting enough. You should get your car to the auto shop right away to get an inspection. Driving with low oil levels and pressure can damage the engine as a whole. The Need For An Oil Change Oil lights are handy because even if you forget to change your oil at the right interval, the oil light will issue a warni ... read more

Owning a vehicle requires a great deal of maintenance and care. When you take preventative measures to keep your car running at its best, you can avoid unnecessary repairs and emergencies, saving you time and money. After purchasing a new or previously-owned car, always study the manual and the insurance coverage to get familiar with the vehicle's model and specific needs. Schedule Regular Tuneups Getting regular tuneups is the best way to keep your vehicle operating smoothly. Your mechanic can detect problems that can be remedied before you wind up stuck on the road or in need of emergency assistance, which can cost a lot more. Checking and Changing Your Oil Checking your oil levels is vital to ensuring the engine runs well. Your vehicle's overall performance depends on the quality of oil and keeping proper levels are maintained. This process is easily done with a dipstick or a gauge that measures the amount your car currently has. Oil changes should be regularly scheduled ... read more

Modern tires are so reliable that a lot of drivers forget to subject them to regular inspections and maintenance procedures. Tire rotation is one of the most ignored tire maintenance procedures. It simply involves moving tires from one position of your car to another. For instance, the front tires can be moved to the rear, and the rear tires moved to the front. Tires on the left side of your car can also be moved to the left and those on the left can be moved to the right. But why exactly is tire rotation necessary? Safe Driving If your vehicle tires are not rotated regularly, they will wear out unevenly, and this will lead to a number of problems. For instance, uneven wear of tires can negatively affect the handling of your vehicle and even the performance of the tires. It can also make your car unstable and consequently dangerous to drive. But with regular tire rotation, all the tires will wear out evenly, which means that your car will remain stable and safe to drive. Improved Fu ... read more

Maintaining “Old Faithful” Makes Dollars & “Sense”   Your car, “Old Faithful,” is paid off or almost paid off.  You toy with the idea of buying a new one, but would really like to keep using that monthly money for other things. You like the look and smell of a new vehicle, we all do, but does anyone really like the payments that come with it?  In today’s economy, people are thinking twice before financing a new vehicle that they may be able to do without until times are more stable. Taking better care of your current car definitely makes a difference in the long run when it comes to your finances. “We advise our clients that if they want a 10 percent increase on their investments every year, they need to cut down on their expenses. A new automobile is, for most people, their second biggest investment next to a home, so a great way to save money and increase financial assets is to hang onto their current vehicle rathe ... read more