Grand Rapids Auto Repair

A better question might be, How well do you want my vehicle to perform? If/when you can answer the ‘How’, the decision of ‘…when’ gets a whole lot easier. It becomes a matter of whether its… an Optional Upgrade for Maintenance to Restore Required / Necessary Here’s what we mean… Optional Upgrade If you want more handling and control than your vehicle is currently capable of: Now is the right time to upgrade. Vehicles are generally designed to handle a broad range of purposes with passenger ride comfort on one end and load and terrain capabilities on the other. If your use of a vehicle is dealing with heavier loads or towing or off-road conditions, you may want to consider replacing the shocks with units that exceed original factory equipment. For Maintenance If you want to keep your vehicle operating as well as it was designed, most industry experts suggest replacement shocks and struts after 50,000 miles. Even on we ... read more

My vehicle won’t start, now what? Believe it or not, the first tool you need to use is your ears and you don’t necessarily need to even get out and raise the hood. If you initially hear a clicking sound, that’s your starter trying to turn over the engine without receiving enough power from the battery. It could be something simple like dirty terminal connections. If the terminals are dirty inside it might not transfer enough power to start the engine. It will allow the dash lights and radio to work, but not enough power to start the engine. If you don’t hear clicking, but instead hear a high-speed whine, it could be your starter getting enough power but not engaging the engine. If you don’t hear a clicking or a whirring, then it could be that the battery has lost its charge. Did you leave the headlights on or a door open for an extended period of time and drain the battery? If this is not a one-time thing and you find the battery frequently dead, it ... read more

This question usually relates to the brake pads. The lifespan of any given set of brake pads is dependent on a very wide set of variables ranging from how you drive to ‘science-y things’ like physics. Mechanics and manufacturers have a loosely agreed upon mileage range from around 30,000 to 70,000 miles, but stories of pads lasting a mere 100 miles to an amazing 100,000 miles exist too. So, why the wide range? Brake pads come in many types and compositions – from composite to metallic to ceramic – and are attached to an even more confusing array of brake systems drums and rotors, all of which affect the life of the pad. Add to that the mix of heat, pressure and friction in amounts that would surprise you and it becomes easy to see that the brakes, especially the pads, are some of the hardest working components in your car. Pads generally come in four types: organic, semimetallic, metallic, and synthetic. Each of these types has their own characteristics that must b ... read more

For most us, we would quickly answer ONE, the air filter. Some might think a bit longer and respond w/TWO, the air filter AND the oil filter. Did you know that many vehicles have four or more filters? All that need changing periodically AND some that require special tool OR that are hidden? Most newer vehicles have TWO air filters. The one we recall in the engine compartment AND the one conveniently hidden, often behind the glovebox, the cabin air filter. Having an old engine air filter can reduce engine power, increase engine wear and decrease throttle response when you push on the gas pedal. Fresh air coming in to gets optimum combustion. That combustion explosion is what makes the car go. Not changing it would be like trying to run with a clogged up nose and duct tape over your mouth. Often forgotten, when a dirty cabin air filter is shown to customers they are surprised to learn they’ve been breathing that air when they drive. Most newer vehicles will have ... read more