Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

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

Over time your power steering fluid will get dark and start to burn, it should be changed before it gets to this point. Power steering fluid flows through your power steering pump, your steering gear or your rack and pinion. These are all vital components of your steering system, and fluid that is in good condition will help to extend the life of them. When we do a fluid service we remove all the old fluid and replace it with new and we make sure there is new fluid going through all of your components.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Did you know that not all cars  have a timing belt. It's true, many have a timing chain which is very different and there are others that just have gears. If your car has a timing belt then it needs to be replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. This depends on the engine in your car to when it needs to be changed. This is a very important component of your engine and not something that should be postponed. If your timing belt were to break while you are driving it could cause a failure inside your engine.   If you have questions about timing belts and how they work give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures, Heather