Christmas is just around the corner, are you contemplating buying a used vehicle as a present? If so, please allow enough time to bring it in for a pre-buyer’s inspection. You want to know exactly what your giving. It might look nice and shiney on the outside, and still be a lump of coal. These inspections are very thorough, and will allow you to make a educated decision on whether it is the vehicle you want to purchase. Happy Shopping!! Hope you find the perfect present!!
This morning I went out to my car and it was frozen solid. With the moisture we have here when it freezes at night, it can wreck havoc on your vehicles. When you get done using your vehicle at the end of the day, make sure to turn your windshield wipers off, so that the seat themselves below the windshield. This way they won’t freeze to the windshield and will last longer. Also remember to turn off all of your lights, including the interior ones, so that you don’t drain your battery. The doors of my car were frozen shut, so if my battery would have been dead I wouldn’t have been able to pop the hood to charge it. Make sure your windows are closed, so that you don’t get moisture and ice inside your vehicle. Stay warm and safe!!
There are a ton of Used Cars out there. Some good, some not so much, and some just plain unsafe. If you are looking to purchase a pre-owned vehicle, please, please, please, get it inspected by a reliable shop. It doesn’t matter who you are buying it from, get it checked out before any money exchanges hands. We had a young lady come into the shop today, with a vehicle that she had purchased over the weekend from a friend. She had only had it for a day, when the check engine light came on. She brought it in and we inspected the whole vehicle. It was a mess, mold inside the car, under the seats to start with. Check engine light ended up being a cooling system issue involving the thermostat. On this particular car, it was a big job. The had flipped the tire around so that the bare, cord showing edges were on the inside. The rear brakes were totally shot. After putting the estimates together, the repair bill was more than she paid for the car. Hopefully she will be able to get somewhere with the lot that sold her the car. It was heartbreaking watching her realize what had happened…Don’t let this happen to you!!
Keeping up to date on the Maintenance needs of your vehicle is very important. If your vehicle is properly maintained, it performs better, is less likely to break down, and will last a lot longer. This saves you money on expensive repairs. It also means that you can keep your car for a lot longer than the car payments last. Vehicles are made to go 300-400 thousand miles these days. We can help you make sure that you have your vehicle for as long as you it. If you haven’t been to us before, drop on in and bring your maintenance records, and we will set you up on a plan that works for you.
You may have heard of an “induction system service” also referred to as “throttle body service”, and have been wondering what it is. This is a valuable service that should be performed every 30,000 miles. Maintaining the induction system and throttle body will remove carbon buildup from the throttle plates and intake. This service will maintain the smooth operation of your vehicle and prevent expensive throttle body failures and running issues. Long’s Car Care Center uses BG products to service your induction system. If you haven’t had this done, and have over 30,000 miles on your vehicle, give us a call for an appointment.
How often do I need to flush my cooling system? “Flushing the cooling system” at regular intervals is another one of these maintenance items that is often overlooked.
Coolant that stays in the engine block too long can cause a buildup of corrosion and scale that will eventually block the radiator or heater core.
Coolant also needs to be PH neutral so not to be too alkaline or acidic and attack any metal in the engine. Coolant also lubricates the water pump. This is why we recommend you flush your vehicle’s cooling every 30,000 miles. This will keep the system clean and healthy.
See us for any maintenance needs on your vehicle, or give us a call, we would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Are you planning on a road trip to visit friends or relatives? If so, NOW is the time to get your vehicle into our shop so that we can do a FREE Road Trip Inspection. With all of the snow we just got up in the mountains, we want to make sure you will not get stranded. We will check the belts, hoses, fluids, brakes, shocks, struts, cooling system, and all of your filters, so that you can rest easy knowing that you and your loved ones will get to your destination worry free. We want you to have a safe and fun holiday weekend, we don’t want you to end up like the guys in this picture!
For this Throwback Thursday we wanted to remind you how much we LOVE to work on Classic Cars. We have a special spot in our shop reserved just for them. Randy has been working on Classics for years, as it is his passion. We take great care to communicate with you, so that we are all on the same page and know just what you expect from us, and your timeline. So if you have a Classic that is in some need of some TLC, Long’s Car Care Center is where you need to be.
With the Holiday season fast approaching, you don’t want to get stranded by a vehicle that is not ready to make all of your road trips. Whether you are making a quick trip to the grocery store, heading out to Christmas shop, or taking a trip to visit family and friends, you want to be able to get in and go. Now is the time to bring your vehicle in for a free Health Assessment. Our technicians will thoroughly inspect your vehicle to make sure everything is in tip top shape. Better to be safe, than stranded. Give us a call and we will get you in as quickly as possible.
Are you looking for a local automotive repair and maintenance shop to take your vehicles to? If so we would love to be that shop. We have been in Woodinville for 30 years. We are family owned and operated, plus we are the only AAA shop in town. We are also state certified to do emissions repair. We welcome you to come by our shop and meet us, our staff, and see our facility. We treat our customers with the utmost respect, we know how important your vehicles are to you, and treat them as such. So next time you are in the area, drop on in, we would love to meet you.
