Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

Changing your transmission fluid is an important part of maintaining the health and longevity of your vehicle. Here are a few reasons why you should have your transmission fluid changed: Prevents damage to your transmission: Over time, transmission fluid can become contaminated with dirt, debris, and metal particles that can cause damage to your transmission if left unchecked. Regularly changing your transmission fluid can help prevent this damage and extend the life of your transmission. Improves transmission performance: As transmission fluid ages, it can become thick and sluggish, making it harder for your transmission to shift gears smoothly. Changing your transmission fluid can help improve your transmission's performance and make shifting gears easier and smoother. Saves you money in the long run: By preventing damage to your transmission and improving its performance, regular transmission fluid changes can help you avoid expensive repairs or even a complete transmission r ... read more

Getting your car ready for back to school involves ensuring its safety, reliability, and functionality. Here are the top 10 things to do to prepare your car for the upcoming school season: Check Fluids: Ensure that your car's fluids are at appropriate levels. This includes engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield washer fluid. If any of these fluids are low or dirty, have them replaced or topped up. Inspect Tires: Check the tire pressure and tread depth. Properly inflated tires improve fuel efficiency and handling, while good tread depth ensures safe traction. Consider rotating or replacing tires if needed. Brake Inspection: Have your brakes inspected by a professional. Ensure that brake pads and rotors are in good condition, as reliable brakes are crucial for safety. Battery Check: Inspect your car's battery for signs of corrosion and ensure it has sufficient charge. Cold weathe ... read more

Teaching your teenager about maintaining a vehicle is a valuable life skill that can save them money, ensure their safety, and promote responsible ownership. Here are some important things your teen should know: Regular Maintenance Schedule: Explain the importance of regular maintenance tasks, such as oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, and fluid checks. Following the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule helps keep the vehicle running smoothly and prevents potential issues. Oil Changes: Teach your teen how to check the oil level and understand when an oil change is needed. Explain the different types of motor oil and why choosing the right one is essential. Tire Care: Show them how to check tire pressure and tread depth. Properly inflated tires improve fuel efficiency and handling, while good tread depth ensures safe driving in various weather conditions. Fluid Checks: Familiarize y ... read more

Why did my heater shop working? Have you ever noticed that your heater does not get hot until your engine is warm? This could be due to a leak within your cooling system. I know that sounds strange, but coolant that flows through your engine to keep it cool also flows through your heater core to warm up the inside of your vehicle.     The coolant gets pumped from your radiator into your engine through radiator hoses. From your engine, it makes its way to your heater hoses. The heater hoses take the coolant to your heater core. Another hose takes it back out to your engine and another radiator hose takes it back to the radiator. All of this is happening because of the water pump. If your water pump is not working properly or leaking, then it will cause your heater to not work properly. If you have a coolant leak, then your engine will not have enough coolant to go around and cause your heater to not work properly.   To know for sure why your heater is not working we w ... read more

Summer is in full swing and that means one thing for many people - air conditioning! If you're having trouble getting your A/C to blow cold air, don't worry - you're not alone. In this blog post, we will discuss the top reasons why your A/C might not be working properly. We'll also provide some tips on how to fix the issue. Keep reading to learn more! One of the most common reasons why your car's A/C might stop blowing cold air is because the Freon levels are low. Freon is a refrigerant that helps to cool the air as it passes through the A/C unit. If the levels are low, it can cause the air to not be as cool as it should be. Another reason why your A/C might not be working properly is that there is a problem with the compressor. The compressor is responsible for circulating the refrigerant through the A/C unit. If it's not working properly, it can cause the air to not be as cool as it should be. You could have a leak in your A/C system. All A/C systems are close ... read more

What is more important to you price or quality? When you are getting the best service available, then you are willing to drive a little farther. We service Lebanon, Oregon, and Albany, Oregon areas. Most people are willing to drive as far as needed within reason. We find that most will drive up to 1 hour. This depends on where you live in the country. It could be up to 60 miles. We have clients who drive up to 2 hours to come to us for their vehicle service and repair needs. When you know you are being cared for with your best interest in mind it makes the time pass quickly. The best Auto Repair and Auto Maintenance may be in the next town or county over depending on where you live. Developing a more personal relationship with your Automotive Repair team is critical. When they know your long-term goals, and personal needs they can give you better advice for your vehicle. We treat our clients like family (that we like) and put their long-term needs and interest ahead of profits. Give us ... read more

Why are my brakes pulling hard when I brake? When braking and your vehicle starts to pull hard to one side it can be in indication that one of your disc brake calipers is sticking or dragging. This can happen when the disc brake caliper piston does not release after applying the brake and is grabbing harder than the other brakes. This is like always having your brakes on and will cause your disc brake pads to wear prematurely. It will also affect your fuel mileage. One of the reasons that your disc brake caliper may fail is from your brake fluid being contaminated. When your brake fluid has a high moisture content then it will cause your brake hydraulics to fail. If you are concerned about your brakes give us a call. We will do a brake inspection for free* and make sure that you are safe on all your adventures. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather   Check us out at https://www ... read more

How many miles do you expect to get from my vehicle? Mine is at 400,000 miles. How many miles do you expect to get from your vehicle? I expect another 100,000 before I need to replace mine. Do you know what it takes to reach 400,000 miles? 500,000 miles? Maintenance, just good maintenance. Good maintenance means changing the oil on time. Taking care of suggested services as soon as you can. Making sure the transmission and other fluids are serviced on time and as needed. Tune ups and suspension items are serviced when they should be.  Getting to your vehicle to 400,000 plus miles is more than just the engine. It is the entire vehicle. Which means the transmission, suspension, steering and all the other components that keep you going down the road. My vehicle runs and drives great. You would never know it has 400,000 miles. It may not be new and flashy, but she is reliable, and I appreciate it. We have had countless family adventures and road trips. So many conversations with my ... read more

Why do I need to change my oil? Your oil is a vital component to your engine. Without it your engine will seize, and your vehicle will not run. Many components that are part of your engine rely on engine oil to run and operate properly. Over time your oil will get contaminated with fuel. Fuel makes your engine oil thin. When your engine oil is thin then it does not lubricate the internal components properly and this over time will cause failures. This will also happen if your oil is low. When your engine oil is low there is not enough of it to go around and to lubricate everything that needs it. When this happens, it will cause a failure of those components. If those components fail, they will need to be replaced to keep your vehicle on the road. The easiest way to keep this from happening is to have your oil changed on a regular schedule. For most vehicles that means having your oil changed every 3,000 miles. For some it is 5,000 miles. We never recommend exceeding a 5,000-mile oil c ... read more

How do I improve my fuel mileage? I am sure you are aware that fuel prices are going up daily. If your car gets poor fuel economy, then that can start to add up quickly. We hope you have been enjoying this summer of the great American road trip. Some of us have been able to explore more than others. Are you planning your next trip? Have you decided where you are going to adventure to next summer? The last thing any of us want is to have to worry about the cost of fuel while we are planning our road trip. We can all make a few changes that will help save us when we get to the pump. Make sure your tires are at the proper air pressure. If your tires are under inflated, then it will create drag and that will lessen your fuel economy. Engine air filter – if your Engine Air Filter is dusty, dirty, or clogged then it is restricting air flow to your engine. This makes your engine work harder and it uses more fuel. We all like to breathe clean air. Fuel Filter – not all vehicle ... read more