Alma, Gaylord & Mount Pleasant Auto Repair

Driving in the harrowing conditions of winter can be hazardous. The best way to ensure you drive safely during winter is preparation. You need to prepare yourself and your car for winter driving. The following are tips to help you prepare for winter driving: Winter Tires The car's tires are one of the most vital elements of winter driving. To prepare your car, it would be best to get winter tires. Winter tires are different from all-season tires because they have much better traction on wet and icy roads. Swap all your regular tires for winter tires, including the spare tire. Ensure they are properly inflated, as cold temperatures will adversely affect tire pressure. Check The Antifreeze Winter is dangerous because it freezes the liquids in your car. These fluids are meant to be in liquid form to lubricate and cool the vehicle. If they freeze, your car will undergo severe damage and could cause an accident. Therefore, you should check the antifreeze levels and get spare bottl ... read more

If you have been a vehicle owner for a while, you know that (aside from oil changes) brakes require the most service and repairs. The average set of brakes can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Read on to learn how to get the most wear out of your brakes. Tip #1 - Remove the Heavy Stuff The heavier your car is, the longer it will take for your vehicle to stop. It also means that there is more stress put on your brake components. That is why we recommend removing unnecessary weight that can slow down your vehicle. Lightening up your vehicle’s load can help you save on fuel as well. So, you hit two birds with one stone. Tip #2 - Easy on the Gas and Brakes When you use harsh and sudden motions on your brakes, it can wear down the components quicker. Instead, let your foot off the accelerator sooner and ease onto the brake pedal. This is the most efficient and safest way to drive your vehicle. Tip #3 - Don’t Use Your Lef ... read more

Tires are extremely vital to the safety and handling of your vehicle. When tires have a deeper tread depth, they keep your automobile in control and steer wherever you need to go. When your tire's tread wears down, it will no longer grip the road correctly. As a result, it puts you at higher risk of hydroplaning and other accidents. Since tires are the only part of your vehicle that touches the road, you definitely want to keep them in the best shape. How to Monitor Your Tire Treads A quick and convenient way to check your tire tread at home is by doing the penny test. So grab a penny and do this trick monthly to ensure your tires have enough traction. Here's how to perform the penny test: Position the penny down into the tread of your tire headfirst. Please be sure to test multiple points on each tire. If you can still observe the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread is overly worn. You need to replace your tires as soon as possi ... read more

Radiators are not as glamorous as other parts of your vehicle, but they're also one of the most important when it comes to maintaining a long-lasting car. This article will teach you everything you need to know about radiator maintenance, including: what causes radiators to fail, how often you need to flush your radiator, and the best practices to keep your radiator clean and in good working order. When Does Your Radiator Need to be Flushed? If you're like most people, you probably don't think about your car's radiator very often. But did you know that it's important to flush your radiator regularly? Here's a look at how often your car radiator should be flushed and why it's so important. Most mechanics recommend flushing your car's radiator every 30,000 miles or so. This helps to remove any build-up of sediment or rust that can clog the radiator and cause problems. Signs That Your Car Radiator Needs to be Flushed If you notice any of the following ... read more

While it is always great to be mindful of your nonrenewable energy consumption and emissions, it is even better to save money in the process. The increase in prices of gasoline has made many drivers think twice about how their vehicles consume gas. Whatever reason you have to come here, read on to learn some of these fuel-saving tips. Monitor tires. Underinflated tires or overall poor tire maintenance can cause your engine to work harder than it needs to. Furthermore, it can force you to replace your tires sooner than later (so even more money out the door). If you want to save money on gas over time, we recommend monitoring your tire pressure as often as possible and filling them to their recommended psi. Remove excess weight. We advise you to get rid of any unnecessary items that could be weighing your car down. Less weight removes any stress on the engine. Avoid idling. Shut off the engine whenever possible. If you’re waiting in a drive-thru line or a family member or frien ... read more