Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

My car air is not cold This is most likely due to an issue with your air conditioning system. When one of the components in your air conditioning system fails it causes the remaining components to not function properly. One of those components may be your condenser. Your condenser is in front of your radiator. They can fail due to many options and one of them is damage from rocks or debris hitting the front of your vehicle. The condenser is made of metal but if the rock hits it hard enough it will cause a hole and a leak. This causes your refrigerant to leak out. This component is not something that can be fixed, instead it will need to be replaced and the air conditioning system recharged. When your condenser is damaged it will leak out your refrigerant and cause your air conditioning to stop working. Give us a call and let us take care of you. You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHAutom ... read more

Why did my car overheat while at a light? This could have occurred due to a faulty fan clutch. If it is hot outside and your vehicle is stopped or moving slowly your engine fan is set to come on a specific temperature. If this does not happen then it can cause your engine to overheat. The fan pulls air through your radiator at slow speeds or at a stop. This air flows air over your engine and helps the cooling system to keep things at the correct temperature. Your fan has a clutch and when it gets worn out it may not engage properly, and this will cause the fan to not work. Newer vehicles may have an one or more electric fans. These do the same job but are controlled by the computer. When they stop working it could be one of several electrical components that control them. 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

Your shocks and struts do more than just cushion your ride. Did you know they also help keep your tires on the ground. This increases your stability and control of your vehicle. Your shocks and struts will increase the life of your tires by maintaining constant contact with the road surface. When your stocks and struts bounce they can cause damage to the tire and uneven tread wear. Your shocks and struts also aid in how quickly you are able to stop when braking. When your stocks and struts are worn out and or damaged they could greatly increase your stopping distance. This in an emergency situation can cause an accident. Most of the time you will not notice that your shocks and struts are worn out due to how slowly they wear. Many times after they are replaced you will notice a better and quieter ride.  Manufactures recommend your replace your shocks and struts every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. This depends all on the vehicle you drive. Give us a all and ... read more

Summer is just around the corner and that means road trips whether for a week or a day. It never hurts to be prepared so you are not making a last minute stop. This can either add a bit of adventure or ruin your day. The best advice we can give you is to plan ahead as much as you can. Here is our top 10 for getting you ready to go on your next road trip. 1. Pre-trip inspection - this will keep you on the road and make sure you do not have any unexpected detours. This will not prevent all breakdowns but it does help. This should cover all your fluids, brakes and tires. It should also be a comprehensive check over the rest of your vehicle as well.  2. Oil change - if you are going farther than just a day trip or a weekend and you are getting close this is a good time to get that oil changed.  3. Safety equipment - you do not need a lot but a few things are a must have. For your vehicle flashlights, blankets, matches, and a shovel. For you bottled water, and long lasting ... read more

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

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

Why does my car shake? Your car could be shaking from a worn-out Engine/Motor/Transmission Mount. Your Engine and Transmission Mounts take a lot of stress. Every time you turn on your Engine your Engine vibrates, and all those vibrations are absorbed through your Engine and Transmission Mounts. Over time the components of the Engine and Transmission Mount will wear out. It is when they start to wear out that it is time for them to be replaced. Some newer vehicles have Engine Mounts that are filled with hydraulic fluid. If this start to leak, then they will need to be replaced. There is no maintenance schedule to tell you when they are due. Fortunately, they typically last for a long time. Any time that your vehicle is doing something that it not its normal then it should be checked. For your safety and those around you. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather

Modern vehicles have many sensors that can fail causing your vehicle to not start. This can happen at any time. It can be an intermittent issue. It can also happen suddenly.  No matter when it happens it causes a situation where you are stuck.  If you are having starting issues with your vehicle then it needs to be diagnosed and repaired before it leaves you stranded. Give us a call and let us take care of you. Happy Adventures, Heather

Update on Ashley We get questions every day about Ashley and we love that you are so worried about her. We wanted to give everyone an update since it has been a while. Unfortunately, we received some bad news in February. The cancer has spread to one of her lungs. It is small, and it is not causing her any discomfort now. It should not until it gets to be large. Three legs have not slowed her down. She loves to run and play and do all the things that Labradors love to do. She still comes to the shop with us every day and her hair is growing back. We knew the cancer would spread but we were hopeful for a little more time. They were not able to give us a timeline but did give us symptoms to watch for. Right now, she is happy and pain free, so we will take it.  Stop by and say hi, she loves her ears scratched and her belly rubbed. Give us a call and let us take care of you. You can also find us on Facebook at h ... read more