Issaquah Auto Repair

The steering system is a crucial part of your car because it enables you to control your vehicle. If your steering wheel becomes rigid or suddenly locks up, it can result in an accident. Many parts make up the power steering system, allowing it to turn with little resistance effectively. Even when a minor issue occurs within the system, it can jeopardize the whole system. It would be best if you got the problem diagnosed immediately to prevent unnecessary injuries. These are the most common reasons why your steering wheel has become hard to turn.   Bad Steering Rack The steering rack plays a crucial role in the power steering system. It's composed of the pinion and rack, and over time it can deteriorate from usage. If the steering wheel gets hard as soon as you turn on your car, the steering rack may be the root of the problem.   Faulty Serpentine Belt The serpentine belt is a long rubber belt that wraps around numerous car parts such as the power steering pump, alt ... read more

  Shocker! Your technician says your vehicle needs new shocks or struts. You’ve heard it before. What are these things, anyway? And do you absolutely need them?   What are Shocks & Struts? All vehicles come equipped with shocks, struts, or both. Shocks, or a shock absorber, do precisely what you’d think: they absorb unevenness or bumps in the road, allowing the vehicle to maneuver steadily. Struts, on the other hand, serve a similar purpose and are designed differently. Both are affixed to your vehicle’s suspension system and are an integral part of steering, handling and control, comfort, and safety.   What’s Their Purpose? Typically when people think of shocks and struts, they envision the vehicle’s movement and the comfortability of the ride. However, shocks and struts are crucial for your safety. When struts and shocks wear, it allows your wheels to spring back, making them less able to grip the road. Therefore, worn-out shock ... read more

Brake rotors are a vital component of your vehicle's braking system. When the brake pads wear down, they no longer work as effectively and need to be replaced. At this point, you may also want to have your brake rotor inspected for any signs of damage or corrosion. This is important because if there are any issues with the rotor, it will not perform well in stopping your car and could cause sudden and unexpected failure while driving. In our post today, we will discuss when you should replace your brake rotors so that you can avoid these kinds of problems. Brakes Pulsating The brakes should be silent and smooth as long as the rotors are less than a few thousandths of an inch out-of-round. Brake pedal pulsation is not always indicative that replacement to brake rotors may be needed, but it can still mean something isn't right with your car's braking system. Brakes Overheating Riding your brakes or braking downhill can easily warp the brake rotors due to overheating. In m ... read more

It is time to consider transmission flush if you are experiencing transmission troubles. While scheduling your regular auto repair, remember to ask your mechanic about transmission flush. Most car owners often overlook checking the transmission fluid, not knowing its importance in promoting seamless engine power transfer to the wheels. For the transmission system to work efficiently, you need a profound understanding of transmission flush. What is a Transmission Fluid Flush? The car transmission flush is a straight forward process that involves pumping out old transmission fluid while adding new fluid at a relatively equivalent rate. Professional mechanics typically own equipment with cooler lines for a transmission flush. Benefits of a Transmission Flush It is not surprising to know that most drivers know little about transmission flush. Below are the benefits of getting a transmission flush you should know. Here we go! Prevents Transmission Problems andCar Malfunctions often, t ... read more

Do you love your car and want to prolong its life? If so, you are in the right place. Proper maintenance is important for extending the life of your car. In fact, everything in life demands care and maintenance. If you neglect taking care of your vehicle, you can decrease its overall lifespan and will end up spending more money on repairs over the years. Tips To Prolong The Life of Your Car In order to prolong the life of your car, you should keep the following tips in mind: If you are taking your car out in the pollution, it would be wise to get it washed on a regular basis.   If you have kids or pets, it would be important to keep the interior of your car clean. It's possible to keep it clean by investing in a suitable portable vacuum cleaner for the vehicles.   Change the car oil on a regular basis. Your car service provider can suggest to you when the car is due for an oil change based on the kilometers.   If you have a garage or underground parking, it ... read more

My Check Engine Light Just Came On – Now What? If you've been a driver for many years, you must have at least experienced the check engine light shining on your dashboard at one time. This is a friendly light that's supposed to alert you that there's a problem with your vehicle. Your onboard computer is connected to many sensors to form a monitoring system. If any sensor detects an issue with your car, the lights will come on. It means the light may indicate a variety of problems. For example, the problem could be a misfiring engine or the gas cap may be loose. For this reason, it is a daunting task to deal with the check engine light. This is because it will be upon you to determine where the problem is. Acting as fast as possible will not only save you money and time but will also arrest the problem before it becomes bigger. If a motor vehicle problem is left unattended, the vehicle may eventually fail to function, and the repair costs will be un ... read more

When you're pulling up to a stoplight and your car begins to shudder and it feels like your brakes are not operating as smoothly as before it can be rather nerve-wracking and leave you wondering what the problem could be and how serious it is. Would you have to pull over to the side of the road and get to the service center as quickly as possible? The answer would be yes, as faulty brakes could lead to accidents. The most likely cause of your car vibrating and shuddering like a jelly in an earthquake could be due to one of several factors. Perhaps your wheels are unbalanced or your car's alignment could be out of sync, or the most logical explanation is that the brake 'shoes' (brake discs) are worn down. There are obviously other potential causes that could be more serious issues, such as your steering itself having a loose control arm for some reason or a damaged axle shaft, or even loosened nuts in the wheel drums that could cause the wheel to wobble as you slo ... read more

If you're planning to travel for the holidays, you might already be dreading the drive. While the scenery might be great, if you're the driver, the time can drag if everyone else is on a device while you're left staring at the pavement. Here are some ideas for games to play in the car suitable for most ages that adults will also enjoy. A bonus is that none of these require any equipment (no one needs more clutter in the car, am I right?) Fortunately/Unfortunately This game involves one person starting with a statement that begins with "unfortunately," then the next person adds to this with a statement that begins with "fortunately." The wilder and wackier the statements, the better. "Unfortunately, this highway is known for alien abductions." "Fortunately, I've been abducted before and can vouch for the food." Category ABC's Someone chooses a category, such as "movies, " and th ... read more

One of the procedures which a vehicle owner should be most familiar with is the so-called winterizing. This is a sequence of steps to be taken before winter moves in every year in order to prepare your car for the coming winter conditions. As the winter season in the state of Washington is notoriously severe, drivers should approach this procedure with the utmost attention. Surely, you wouldn’t want to be stranded in the deep snow by the side of the road at 35 degrees (or sometimes even less!), or experience something even worse as a result of a neglected safety issue. Our certified and experienced mechanics here at Autoworks of Issaquah are ready to lend you a hand with the preparation of your vehicle for the coming season. We are going to go through several steps that will ensure your safety and peace of mind while on the wet or snowy Washington roads. First of all, it would be a good idea to take care of your car’s battery, as it is probably the most important factor ... read more

Proper wheel alignment is necessary when it comes to safe car handling. All of your vehicle's wheels need to be properly aligned with each other in order for the tires to travel straight and to avoid premature wear. When you drive with bad wheel alignment, your tires will typically wear down quickly and you may have trouble steering or controlling your vehicle. This is why recommend getting your wheel alignment taken care of as soon as you notice an issue. While a wheel alignment is typically recommended every 6,000 miles or so, there are a few different instances that can happen that can cause your wheels to be forced out of alignment. They are typically related to bad driving habits, road conditions, and more.  Having regular wheel alignments performed will keep your tires in great condition, saving you money on tires over the years. You'll also get better fuel efficiency, performance, and protect your vehicle's suspension components from unexpe ... read more