Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

We have a few safety reminders for those who are out and about during all this high water we are having.  1. If it says the road is closed, please turn around and find another way. There is a good reason it's closed. Debris could be in the road, and even worse it could have washed out part of the road and that will not be visible with the dirty water. 2. If you do have to drive through water to get home or to work please go slowly. When going through deeper puddles it can cause the cold water to splash up onto your engine and exhaust. The engine could suck in water through the air filter damaging the engine. It could crack the exhaust manifold, and it could cause your drive belts to slip, or even electrical issues.  3. Your brakes - if you have driven through water you need to use your brakes as soon as possible to dry out the pads and rotors. Gently apply them several times to get them dried out, so they will function properly. 4. Hydro-plaining - with all this ... read more

Your engine fan should come on once your engine comes to operating temperature - the temperature it typically runs at - usually it comes to operating temperature then goes a little over, at that point the fan will come on to keep your engine at it's correct temperature. If you think your fan is coming on to frequently give us a call and let us make sure your engine is operating properly.  Happy Adventures, Heather

The answer is no. When your engine is running it is circulating the oil and it will show that the oil is low. You should always check your oil with the engine off. The best time to check it is when your engine is cold and has been sitting for several hours, if that is not possible then waiting for a few minutes to make sure all of the oil has drained out into your oil pan.  Give us a call and we can teach you how to check your oil properly so you don't have to worry about it, or better yet we'll just check it for you.  Happy Adventures, Heather

Your vehicle is shocking you due to excess static electricity from a bad ground strap. All vehicles have a ground strap  and if yours had worn out, or broken then it can cause your vehicle to shock you. If this is happening to you then you need to have it checked to see if it needs replaced or just repaired.  If you're concerned please give us a call or request an appointment online.  Happy Adventures, Heather  

Shaking while braking usually means that you have an issue with your rotors. It's not necessary what is going on with it, but that is the typical answer to the problem. Overtime your brake pads can transfer material to the brake rotor and when this happens it can cause high and low spots on your brake rotor which in turn is where the shaking comes from when braking. It could also be that your rotors are warped - that the could have gotten overly hot at some point and the metal is no longer "true". Give us a call 541-791-2886 or request an appointment online at jhautomotiveinc.com/appointments Happy Adventures, Heather

Anytime you have a fuel smell coming from your vehicle you should have it checked out. You could have a fuel leak. Fuel leaks are dangerous and the fumes that come from the fuel aren't good for you.  Give us a call and let us take care of you 541-791-2886 Happy Adventures, Heather

Unless you're using a mortar and pestle while in your car - and really you shouldn't then you should never hear grinding in and around your car, especially when braking. A grinding noise typically means that your brake pad/shoe has worn out and you now have metal on metal for braking and number 1 that isn't safe and 2 it means that you will have to have your brake rotors along with your brake pads replaced.  We do a 52 point inspection that includes all of your brake components every single time we see your car. We make sure that you're safe to be on the road and on all your adventures. Your brake pads start around 10 mm, so when you get to 4 mm we let you know that you'll need to replace them in the future. It could be 6 months or 2 years, it just depends on your driving and the type of vehicle that you drive. They should be replaced somewhere between 2 and 3 mm, for safety purposes. Yes you still have a little life left in those pads, but I don't want to ... read more

Typically when you hear a click when attempting to start your car it is a sign that you have an issue with your starter. The starter has a solenoid and over time they wear out and need to be replaced. The solenoid itself can be replaced, but it is typically more cost effective to just replace the starter assembly. There are other reasons that you may hear a click too. The best decision would be to have it checked out just to make sure prior to replacing something that may not need to be replaced. Give us a call at 541-791-2886 or request an appointment online.  Happy Adventures, Heather  

There are quite a few reasons that your car may not start. The first thing we check is also the easiest it's your battery. Batteries have a life span of 5-7 years depending on the quality of the battery and the climate that you live in. If you have dramatic highs and lows, then it can shorten you battery life. Likewise if you live in an area that doesn't have those then your battery may live longer than the 7 years.  Give us a call and let us take care of you 541-791-2886 Happy Adventures, Heather  

When your vehicle has a lack of power. We start by checking for leaks and/or other issues. If none are apparent then we suggest starting by changing your fuel filter. If your fuel filter is plugged then it can cause a lack of power when the engine is under load due to a lack of fuel. This is a common problem and easily fixed.  Give us a call 541-791-2886 or request an appointment online Happy Adventures, Heather