Are you wondering how to know when you need new brakes?

Inappropriately, there is no clear-cut timeline that tells you when it’s time to replace your brakes.  Consistent stop-and-go driving in big cities will cause your brakes to wear faster than if you only drive through the flatlands of South Dakota.  If you’re wondering how to know when you need new brakes, the answer will depend on some factors, such as:

• Your style of driving,
• The weight of your vehicle,
• The quality of your brake materials, and
• How you use your vehicle.

The best advice from brake repair experts is to rely on how your brakes are performing, plus what you hear, see and feel!

Do you hear a screeching sound when you step on the brake pedal?  This could be the built-in wear sensors scraping against the brake disc when it’s time to replace the pads.  If your car does not have a built-in sensor, listen for squeaking, squealing, metal-on-metal grinding. Some minor noises can be eliminated by cleaning the brakes, but persistent, prominent noises generally mean parts are worn out.

You have possibly noticed the little brake warning light that comes on for a few seconds every time you start your car.  If you see it come on while driving, that possibly means your brake system is low on fluid because of a leak or an issue with the master cylinder.  Some vehicles incorporate electronic wear indicators that alert the driver with a dashboard warning light if the brake pads reach the minimum thickness.

Tip to Remember:  Most auto mechanics recommend a tire rotation at least every 6 months.  Have your mechanic check your brakes at the same time, an inspection of the thickness of the pads and the condition of the calipers.  A visual checkup is the best way to determine the amount of life left in your brakes!

Are you wondering how to know when you need new brakes?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about a needed brake repair and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

How Often Do You Get Your Car Serviced?

Are you confused by the different types of car services available and wondering how often do you get your car serviced?  All you know is that you want to avoid unexpected and costly car repair.  How do you do that, you ask?  What you ask for depends on what your car needs.  

First, there is a basic service package that is generally suggested every 6,000 miles or every 6 months. This typically includes oil changes, including the oil filter, and a check of the main components of the car, which means your brakes, tires, lights, and battery.  This will help ensure that you are aware of what your car may want and whether or not it is an urgent matter. 

Second, a full service is generally suggested every 12 months or every 12,000 miles. This includes everything that is in a basic service plus additional filter replacements; in-depth brake inspects and checks of the engine. This is especially vital if you think your car is not performing well. 

Third, a major service is generally suggested every 24 months or every 24,000 miles and is the most vital service that your car will receive--basically a complete overall inspect of the vehicle.  At this point, certain components and systems will have experienced wear and tear or even some damage.  In addition to the problems included in a full service, there are even more in-depth inspects, spark plugs changed, brake fluid, suspension check, and replacement of other filters. 

Why should you have your car serviced? Here are 5 good reasons:

• Longer life expectancy. 
• Avoid expensive car repairs
• Save money on fuel.   
• Retains good re-sale or trade-in value.
• Insurance companies can use service history to determine pre-accident value. 

Are you wondering how often do you get your car serviced?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about car repair and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

Why is Wheel Alignment Important?

If you’re wondering why is wheel alignment important for your vehicle, let’s first consider what will happen if your vehicle is not correctly aligned.  Here are four common problems you will start to notice:

1. Uneven tread wear
2. A steering wheel that is off-Centre when driving straight
3. Car pulling off to the left or right

You might think you can wait a while to have the front alignment inspected, but if you wait too long, there will be significant repercussions, such as:  

• You will have to replace your tires sooner than usual;
• You will start having to fill up the fuel tank more often due to poor fuel economy; and
• Damage could be occurring to other vehicle components, such as brakes, shocks, and suspension.

So why is wheel alignment important? Here are a few benefits of keeping your car in correct alignment:

• Boosts your car’s handling and safety,
• Increases fuel efficiency,
• Tires are wearing unevenly,
• The steering wheel feels loose or sloppy.
• Extends the life of your tires.
• The car pulls to one side or direction while driving straight,
• Strange vibrations

Need to have the front alignment checked out on your car?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about wheel alignment and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

Wondering what are the Symptoms of a Bad Battery?

The battery is the heart of your vehicle--without it, your vehicle doesn't have the power to start, move, or operate the accessories. The battery stores electrical power generated from the alternator while your car is running. It also sends electrical currents to the engine and other electrical components.  It is easy to just start up your car every day without any thought about the battery until all of a sudden, your vehicle won’t start.  Is the battery the culprit?

What are the symptoms of a bad battery?  

1. Dim headlights. The headlights dim when they are not getting the power they want to shine as brightly as they should. If your headlights are not as bright as you remember them being before, you may want to consider having your battery inspected.
2. The engine doesn’t crank or turn over and the lights don’t come on.  When you turn the key, the starter just clicks and is unable to turn the engine ended.  The lights and other electrical accessories don’t work at all.  It could be a permutation issue involving your alternator.
3. Vehicle randomly starts one day then doesn’t the next.  If starting is an intermittent issue, two things are suspect, 1) battery terminals are loose, corroded, broken or 2) something is drawing electrical power from the battery even when the key is out of the ignition.
4. Use jumper cables to start the engine.  Even after a jump start, the car battery doesn’t seem to get charged. 

Note to Remember:  A car battery replacement is relatively inexpensive when considering the stress and hazards of a roadside breakdown.

Do you want to know what are the symptoms of a bad battery?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about a car battery replacement and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

When Should You Get New Tires For Your Car?

There are a few signs that are indicators as to when you should get new tires for your car, such as:

• Uneven tread wear. This means the front tires may wear faster than the rear ones, or there is an irregular wear pattern on one of the front tires.
• Unusual vibrations.  At speeds of 45 mph and upper, you may feel a vibration due to uneven tread wear. Your Vehicle tires may want to be rotated, balanced, or the wheels aligned.
• Loss of air pressure.  If a tire is losing air faster than any of the others, it may have too much pressure put on it. The tires may want to be rotated, or a tire could want a repair for a small puncture.

Do you really want to have regular tire rotations?  Are you noticing uneven tread wear in many places on your tires?  Inexperienced drivers may not realize exactly what rotating tires even means.  Simply stated, a tire rotation service is moving the tires around to a different position on the vehicle so that the tread wears in an even pattern on all four tires.  For example, the front tires will be moved to the rear of the car and the rear tires to the front. 

Remember:  Most tire repair technicians recommend that tires be rotated about every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, or about every other oil change.  Remember that regular tire service is one of the most critical and important aspects of maintaining a safe vehicle.

Have questions about when should you get new tires for your car?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about tire rotations and other tire services and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

Wondering What Does An Automotive Service Technician Do?

How do you know if you are getting the best automotive repair potential when you take your vehicle to your favorite auto shop?  Most vehicle owners are aware that specialists change oil, repair tires and check brakes, but are you conscious of the extent of the training and knowledge that they acquire in order to become master technicians?  

Consider the typical work performed by a certified automotive repair specialist.   By knowing their expertise and training, you can have peace of mind knowing that your vehicle is taken care of by specialists!  

So what does an automotive service technician do?  

• Uses specialized diagnostic equipment to recognize existing issues so that maintenance and repairs are done right the first time.
• Knows maintenance checklists to ensure that all critical parts of your vehicle are thoroughly checked on a regular basis.
• Endorses and performs vehicle maintenance at the right service intervals, including oil changes, tune ups, tire rotations; transmission flushes belts, A/C units, and much more.
• Repairs worn-out parts, such as brake pads, wheel bearings, air filters, and much more.
• It can disassemble, clean, and reassemble major vehicle parts, such as transmissions, radiators, and engines.
• Receives specialized training to realize and repair computer-controlled auto electronic systems.
• Knowledgeable about vehicles that run on alternative fuels, such as ethanol and electricity.
• Knows how to explain to customers in easy-to-understand terms their vehicle issues, the automotive repair wanted, as well as the cost and time required.

Let your certified automotive repair technician take care of your vehicle so that you are driving as safely as potential!   

Do you know what does an automotive service technician do?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about our automotive repair services and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

Wondering what does a Muffler do for Your Car?

As long as your vehicle runs quietly, you may not give your muffler a second thought.  Many people don’t know exactly what their muffler does until it starts to sound like a roaring monster. Did you know that the muffler’s main job is to control engine noise?  Thus, noise is the biggest indication of muffler issues. 

So just how does a muffler work?  Inside a muffler are a set of perforated tubes.  These tubes reflect the sound waves produced by the engine to minimize the noise that eventually leaves your vehicle.  The exhaust, along with the sound waves, enters the muffler through a center tube bouncing off the back wall of the muffler and then pushed into the main body. Once in the main body of the muffler, they pass through a series of holes that takes them through the last chamber and out the exit pipe.

So what does a muffler for your car?  Here are two big reasons why a correctly working muffler and exhaust system are so vital:

• Noise Control -- As your engine runs, it generates thousands of little sound bursts as highly pressurized gas is released. These sounds travel down the exhaust pipe.  If not for the muffler, these sounds would be very loud. Different types of mufflers will give you different sounds. Whether you want to make your vehicle as quiet as potential or get a deep growling sound, there is a muffler out there for you!
• Performance Enhancement -- Mufflers are also used to increase the performance of your vehicle. Basically, the faster your engine can get rid of exhaust gases, the faster it can take in oxygen and generate more power.   Because noise levels of mufflers are strictly monitored, muffler experts have created many efficient designs that minimize exhaust exit time while still keeping in line with noise regulations.

Tip to Remember:  At the first sign of exhaust issues, such as a noisy muffler, decreased fuel mileage, or a bad odor, schedule a checkup as soon as potential to prevent bigger and more costly issues with your exhaust system.

Need to know more about what does a muffler do for your car?  Call our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about mufflers and exhaust systems and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and surrounding area.