Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

Why did my car not start? Your vehicle may not have started due to a faulty battery. If you are not driving as much like many people right now then your battery may have died due to a lack of driving. Newer vehicles have many modules that are on even if your vehicle is turned off. These modules keep the computer working properly and all the other electrical components. We recommend for you to take your car out for a drive at least once a week. If you are concerned about your battery stop by and we will perform a free battery check for you. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather

Why does my A/C blow hot? Your air conditioner may be blowing hot due to low refrigerant in the system. When you do not have enough refrigerant your air conditioning will not turn on to prevent damage to your a/c compressor and other components. This could be due to a leak in your air conditioning system. Your air conditioning system has many fittings and all of them can seep refrigerant over a long period of time causing your levels to be low and your air conditioning to not work properly. It is also possible that one of those many components has failed and that is causing your air conditioning to not work properly. We recommend that if your a/c is not working properly to have a leak test performed to make sure you have no other issues. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather

All gave some and some gave all. This is the time of year that we remember those who we have lost. We feel the loss of them being gone every day. We miss them. To all those who are missing family and friends we feel your loss too. Thank you to the familes who are missing your loved ones, thank you is all we can say. We would not be here in the land of the free is it was not for them.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Our Newest Team Member. We wanted to take a moment and introduce to you our newest team member. This is Kimber, she is a French Bulldog that has joined our merry band of Labradors. She naps a lot right now so she may not always be up and about. If you would like to meet her just say the word and we can bring her out to greet you. Why a French bulldog you ask. Well if you have been around for a while then you may remember Gracie. She was an English bulldog that we fostered and miss. We decided that we just could not live without a bulldog.   Happy Adventures,  Heather

Why does my diesel need special coolant? Your diesel engine does not need a special coolant, but it does need to have a special additive added to the coolant to protect your engine.  This additive may already be built into your coolant, you need to check the label. This additive protects your engine from cavitation. The short answer is cavitation is when bubbles get forced against the cylinder wall and over time while it is minor can cause a hole in your cylinder wall. The additive helps to prevent cavitation and adheres to your cylinder walls to protect them. All diesel engines have this in common. Some are more prone to the issue than others. One of the best ways to protect your engine is by having the cooling system serviced regularly. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather

What should I check before a road trip? I love road tripping. It so great to get out and explore. Seeing new things and exploring new places is so exciting. Oregon is a beautiful state with so many places to go see and visit. You name it and we probably have it. I still have a few places on my list that I have not visited yet and I was born here. My list includes the tree houses in southern Oregon and Wallowa Lake near Joseph. Before embarking on any trip no matter if it is just a day trip to the beach or true adventure you should make sure you have all the items on your list checked off. It is best to have this list gone through the week or so before you trip to make sure you are ready. Check your tires. You need to check for a bulge, tire wear or other damage. Tire pressure. Nothing ruins a good start than a flat tire or needing a new tire. Check your oil. If you are almost due for an oil change you might as well get it done so it is one less thing to worry about. Coolant &ndash ... read more

Why does my car overheat? Your car can overheat from numerous reasons. The first thing I ask when someone calls saying that they have an overheating issue is how hot did it get. The next is what happened. I almost always think maybe it has a coolant leak. When your coolant leaks out of your Radiator it will cause your engine to overheat. Your coolant flows in and out of your radiator and through hoses by the water pump. This keeps your engine to keep it operating at the optimal temperatures. When any of these components stop functioning properly then you can have an overheating issue. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather

Why is my car making a ticking noise? Your engine could be making a ticking noise due to a stuck lifter. When your lifter is not working properly then it will make a ticking noise. When the lifter sticks it causes the rocker arm to move freely and this will cause the noise. If the lifter does not unstick then it can cause damage to the rocker arm and other valve train components. Any time that your car starts to make a noise that is not within its normal range then it should be checked. Early detection can prevent damage to your engine and the many components. This goes for any noise that is coming from your car. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather

Why should I change my cabin air filter? The easy answer is to keep you healthy. Your Cabin Air Filter filters the air that you and your breathe inside your car.  It Filters out smoke, pollen, mold, dirt and other pollutants. Over time your Cabin Air Filter will become dirty and clogged. When it becomes dirty and clogged then it will no longer keep the air in your car clean. This can cause your Cabin Air Filter to grow bacteria. Your Cabin Air Filter should be changed every 15,000 miles or once a year. Last year after the forest fires and smoke in the valley we recommended to have your cabin air filter changed due to all the smoke. If you have not had it changed yet, then we would recommend having it changed soon. If you drive on dirt roads, then we would recommend having your Cabin Air Filter changed more frequently. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com ... read more

What services does my car need for spring? Spring has finally arrived in the Willamette Valley. The weather is getting warmer, and it is so nice the sun is still out when I get off work. Every season has its own requirements and challenges. Spring in Oregon typically means rain and more rain. This could mean a new set of wipers. Possibly a tire alignment and/or rotation. All the rain is what makes Oregon green and beautiful. If you have lived here for a bit, you find you do not mind the rain to much. Spring means day trips to go fishing and hiking. It also means spring cleaning and organizing. Spring is a great time to get your car on the schedule for an oil change. It is also a good time to have your car checked out to make sure those day trips are good family fun. It gives you piece of mind and one less thing to worry about. It is a good time to get caught up on maintenance before summer comes and you are ready to go play. Give us a call and let us take care of you.   Find us ... read more