Yakima Auto Repair

The month of October may mark the start of fall and the spooky season, but to mechanics, October means Fall Car Care Month. The weather will begin to change quickly in Yakima, WA, and it will bring along new driving obstacles to your everyday commute. Now is the ideal opportunity to get everything you need to take care of your car! Here are the maintenance items you should check off your list for Fall: Brakes - The fall will bring unexpected weather (rain, fog, and snow). Braking in these hazardous conditions can be complicated, and bad brakes can lead to a terrible accident. Please have your rotors, fluid, pads, and lines inspected to ensure they work properly. Battery - A drained car battery isn't strange in the colder months, so it would be wise to test your battery at Westside Car Care. Our expert team can replace your battery if needed. Fluids - As you may know, your vehicle runs on multiple fluids. Please make sure your engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, transm ... read more

Without your vehicle's suspension system, your rides would be pretty bumpy, to say the least. Various factors affect how smooth your car drives, such as wheel alignment, tire tread, pressure, wheel bearing, and axles. However, the suspension system is the most influential.   There are three main parts you need to know when reviewing your car's suspension system. Springs - Most cars nowadays use coil springs, while older cars use leaf springs. Your springs are intended to absorb the intensity of bumps on the road and maintain the vehicle's height to balance against rocky roads. Shocks - Shock absorbers are solely put in place to control the impact and rebound movement of a vehicle's springs and suspension. Struts - Struts have a similar function as shocks. Unlike shocks, struts are an integral part of the suspension's structure. They also support the weight of the vehicle. Like other portions of your car, all of these parts mentioned above can wear out over ... read more

A check engine light could mean various types of troubles for your vehicle. These issues include oxygen sensor failure, spark plug problems, a vacuum hose leak, and even something as minor as a loose gas cap. While you should never neglect a check engine light, it isn't always an urgent matter. On the other hand, a flashing check engine light is different. A flashing engine light does require attention ASAP.   What Happens When Flashing Check Engine Lights Turn On? A blinking check engine light will show up on your dashboard is almost always correlated with engine misfires. A misfire means that the engine is dumping uncombusted fuel into your car's exhaust system. Engine misfire is a serious issue because it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter. If the temperature gets too high, the catalytic converter will sustain damage and require costly repairs. It can be severe enough to start a fire in your vehicle.   There are three main reasons why ... read more

While it may be startling, seeing exhaust smoke shoot out of your tailpipe can be a cause for concern. Whenever this happens, you should make a note of the color of the gas. The color of the emission can give you an insight into what is going on inside your vehicle. The colors of your exhaust smoke can be gray, blue, black, or white. Here is what the colors signify:   Gray Smoke Gray exhaust smoke is the least common, but it can be a tough one to diagnose. If the fumes are a solid gray color, that may suggest that your transmission fluid or engine oil is burnt. It is essential to have your vehicle assessed by a professional to determine if you need any repairs.   Blue Smoke Blue exhaust, similarly to gray exhaust, indicates that oil is burning. The first thing you should do is to ensure that you have an adequate amount of motor oil. While you inspect the oil, check for any signs of leaks. Leaks can be caused by leaking valve seals, broken piston rings, or worn cylinder ... read more

  Perhaps you're the car owner who doesn't drive frequently; maybe you've been working from home, and that has reduced your daily commuting to work. That means that you'll not go enough mileage to warrant an oil change, but the duration you need to change the oil is due. Such a shift in driving schedule can compel you to ask yourself, "should I change my oil, even though I haven't reached the mileage limit?"   How Often Should You Change Engine Oil?   Vehicle manufacturers usually indicate the recommended maintenance schedule for various parts of the car. The interval is generally indicated in mileage (for example, every 6,000 miles) and time (every six months). Whichever threshold you attain first, it's recommended that you take the car for an oil change. Usually, people reach the mileage interval first.   Nonetheless, engine oil decomposes with time. That's why it's critical that you also focus on t ... read more