Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

Battery corrosion is when acid from your battery is vented while it is being charged. Whenever you're driving your vehicle your battery is being charged from your alternator - all vehicles are different, some now have the battery discharge and then recharge. There is nothing that can be done to prevent your battery from venting, all batteries do it.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

A serpentine belt tensioner is just what it sounds like. It keeps tensioner on your serpentine belt. Your serpentine belt stretches under load and the tensioner keeps proper pressure on your belt to keep it from slipping and causing issues. We typically recommend that your tensioner be replaced with your serpentine belt.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Your brakes are probably squealing due to the fact the are ready to be replaced. Most brake pads have squealer tabs on them. When the brake pads get down to a predetermined thickness they will start to make a noise to warn you that your brake pads are ready to be replaced.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures, Heather

Your engine could be smoking due to a fluid leak on your engine that is dripping onto the exhaust and causing it to smoke. This leak could be fuel, coolant or oil. If it is fuel or oil then it could catch on fire. This is a potentially dangerous situation and should be addressed immediately. Of course this is the worst case scenario and we would need to examine your vehicle to find out exactly where the smoke is coming from.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Ideally this should be done before it breaks and leaves you stranded on the side of the road. Your CV axles are an important component in your car and when it's advised to replace them, then that's the right time. If the boot on your CV axle is cracked and not leaking then it can wait, but if the boot is torn and the grease is leaking out then that is the time to do it. Once the boot is torn or broken then water and dirt can get into the joint and cause internal damage.  Questions? Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

When you check engine light comes on we know that can be concerning enough. When it starts blinking it needs to be addressed quickly. When your light blinks it means that you have a catalytic damaging misfire. This means that you engine has a misfire and that it could be causing damage to other components including your catalytic converter. This a time that we would advise you to not drive your car and to pull over as soon as it is safe to do so. This could be solved by performing a tune up on your engine - which is changing the spark plugs and other components or it could be something a bit more serious. Either way it should be checked.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Anytime that a light comes on your dash it can be concerning. Your check engine light can unfortunately mean a 100 different things. It can range from very simple as a failed fuel cap to something more concerning with your engine or transmission. Anytime it comes on it should be checked just to make sure you're safe and your vehicle is running properly. Taking care of a small issue can prevent a bigger issue down the road.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Anytime you can smell raw fuel then you need to have your vehicle checked. A fuel leak is dangerous and could potentially cause a fire. This smell could be coming from a faulty fuel filter, your engine, a fuel line or your fuel tank.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

This could be happening from a lack of fuel. Over time your fuel filter can become restricted which would starve your engine from fuel making it not run properly. Engine stalling can potentially be dangerous if you are stranded somewhere. Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

The hard shift from park to reverse on an incline is to the the excessive weight of the vehicle on the parking pawl. This can be prevented by setting the parking brake prior to shifting into park. This should be done when ever you are parking on an incline or recline. If the vehicle continues to sit on parking pawl it can cause it to break. A good habit is to just set your parking brake prior to exiting your vehicle.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather