Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

If your car suddenly starts to steam then you need to pull over right away and turn off your engine. This could be a coolant leak causing the steam. If you drive with no coolant in your engine then it can cause the engine to overheat which will cause damage to your engine and other components. When in an emergency you can add water to your radiator until you can fill it with coolant. You should not drive your car with only water in your cooling system as it will not cool your engine properly.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Typically when we see a vehicle that is having an issue going into gear it has one of two issues. The first is it could be low on transmission fluid. If this is the reason then it can be solved by finding out why it is low on fluid, repairing the leak then making sure it is full of fluid. There is always a chance that if the fluid was low for an extended period of time then it could damage the internal components of your transmission. The second option is that an internal component has failed and is causing your transmission to not shift. If this is the case then your transmission will need replaced or rebuilt.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Before it starts to get cold outside you should have a few things checked. Cold weather can be hard on your vehicle. You should have your battery checked, coolant, tires, wipers and defroster/heater. A cold snap can drain and shorten your battery life. Over time your coolant wears out and can stop cooling your engine properly. If you're not a frequent driver then over time your tires can become weather cracked due to heat and cold. The last part is the defroster/heater - you need to make sure it works properly to keep your windows defogged.  Give us a call to make your appointment for your winter checkup. Happy Adventures,  Heather

Many cars are now equipped with a sensor in the coolant overflow tank to monitor the cooling system level. This sensor monitors the level of coolant in your vehicle. This has been a helpful addition to keep your engine full of the fluids that it depends on. When your engine is low on coolant then it can overheat which can damage the internal components and shorten the lifespan of your engine. If this light comes on you should pull over and check to make sure you're full of coolant, if you are low you should have it checked for leaks as soon as you can. If your vehicle starts to overheat then you should pull over and turn it off.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

This ticking noise could be an exhaust leak. Many times you will hear a ticking noise while driving. Typically it is due to a exhaust manifold stud breaking and it will need to be replaced. If not replaced over a long period of time then it can cause damage to the cylinder head and possibly crack the exhaust manifold itself.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Your shocks are an important component to your suspension system. They wear slowly over the course of your vehicles life. Most of the time you don't realize they're even worn out until they are replaced. When your shocks are worn out they will increase your stopping distance. Shocks should be replaced every 50,000 miles to keep you safe on the road.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures, Heather

The most likely reason for your brake pedal going to the floor is you have a leak in your brake system. This could be from your master cylinder, disc brake calipers or wheel cylinders. When you're low on brake fluid it doesn't allow those systems to work properly and it can cause the brake pedal to go to the floor. Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

99.9% of the time that means that your alternator has failed. While driving your alternator charges your battery, when you alternator stops working then your car's electrical is running on the battery only and typically you can go around 15 miles without your lights or radio on before your battery dies. Your alternator will need to be replaced and possibly your battery too.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather