Author Archive | Michelle Long

When things break down

Isn’t it irritating when things break down?  Especially things that you rely on, like you car or the internet.  Today we lost our internet connection.  I spent 2 hours on the phone with our carrier, explaining how this was not only affecting my business but several businesses around us.  The best they could do was tell me they would try to get someone out today, but it would probably be tomorrow morning.  What kind of customer service is that???  Here at Long’s we know how important your vehicle is to you and your way of life.  When you come to us with a car that doesn’t run you are a top priority.  We do our best to get you in and your vehicle diagnosed in a very timely manner.  We want to do the repair and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.  So in the event you have the unfortunate problem of a broken down vehicle give us a call…we certainly won’t put you off until tomorrow!

 

brokendowncar Long's car care center 98072

Being put on hold

Don’t you just hate getting put on hold…I do!  Here at Long’s you are never put on hold.  Whether you are on the phone or here in person you have our full attention.  Between our manager Aaron, Randy or myself, one of us will help you right away.  Answer any questions you have, give you estimates, show you what repairs need to be done, and explain why.  We want to be your one stop shop for all of you automotive needs, so we treat you right, fair and square.  No one is more important to us than you.

 

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Automotive Maintenance

 How important is automotive maintenance?  It really depends on how often you want to buy a new car.   Sometimes we  like to put things off till the last minute or until someone tells we are  ruining something even more by waiting. If your car or truck is not performing to the best of its abilities, it can lead to more costly repairs down the road. Over time, like most things, vehicles need to be maintained with a regular oil change, a cooling system flush once a year, all oils need to be checked and filled, and your tires need to be filled and rotated. If these things aren’t done, your vehicle will soon have problems, which end up being potentially dangerous and costing a lot of money. For your own, and the environment’s safety, as well as saving money, let us help you today. Stop by or schedule an appointment today. Have wonderful week!!
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Belt Squeal

I am leaving for work this morning, and a car passes with a terrible belt squeal.  I wanted to get their attention, as it was a mom with a car full of kids.  It was raining outside, cold and miserable.  I really tried to get her attention, but failed as she ended up getting on the freeway.  Why did I want to get her attention…because that belt squeal just isn’t annoying, it can mean that the tension on your belt is wrong…and the belt could break, leaving you stranded…with a car full of kids, in the rain and cold.  So if your vehicle ever makes that annoying squeal, bring it into the shop and we will check it out for you.  Sometimes it’s just a quick adjustment, sometimes a belt replacement.  But anything is better than getting stranded.

 

strandedintherainwithkids Long's car care center 98072

Lights Out

Driving to work this morning I was amazed at how many people have one if not more lights out on their vehicles.  We recommend checking all of your lights once a month.  Not only is it a safety issue, having a headlight, turn signal light, brake light or license plate light out can lead to getting pulled over and receiving a ticket, which is no fun.  If you check and you have any lights out, most are fairly simple to replace, some not so much.  We will be happy to sell you the bulbs you need for replacement, or if you have a vehicle where replacement is a bit more complicated, we would be happy to replace them for you.

headlight out Long's car care center 98072

My car is not blowing any air

We had a customer call today and say “My car is not blowing any air? This could be caused by the blower motor fan not working properly in her vehicle. One of the most common reasons for this to happen are pest related. Rodents such as mice and chipmunks love to get into these hard to reach places and build nests, just like the one in this photo. This blower motor has had a rodent build a nest out of insulation, which caused the fan not to spin and blow air into the cab. Fortunately for this customer, the fan was cleaned and fixed the issue. Is your blower motor experiencing issues such as this? Our experienced automotive technicians can help.

 

rodentnestinblowermotor Long's car care center 98072

Emissions

Did your vehicle fail the state emissions test?  We are a state certified diagnostic and repair facility, so give us a call for an appointment and we will be happy to diagnose the issue and give you a quote for the repair.  If the repair, for whatever reason is something you don’t want to attend to right now, we will explain the waiver procedure for Washington state.  Out tech take yearly emissions classes so they are very well versed in these issues, and how to diagnose them.

 

failedemissions Long's car care center 98072

Exhaust Noise

If your car sounds louder than normal, it is probably due to exhaust noise.  Exhaust pipes and the muffler can wear out, getting holes in them and causing your car to be noisey.  If this is the case, and you can’t bear it any longer, give us a call and we will get you in and check your exhaust for holes and wear and tear.  We will show you any damage, let you know how much any repair or replacement of parts will be.  Then we will get you back on the road in a jiffy, in a nice quiet vehicle.

mufflerlongscarcarecenter 98072

Rainy Season

Well here in the Pacific Northwest it is the rainy season.  No it doesn’t ALWAYS rain in this area, but when this season hits, it rains a lot.  There is nothing worse than driving in the rain in the dark, especially when your windshield wipers are not doing their job, leaving streaks, making noise etc.  It makes seeing the road more difficult, and you a bit more nervous.  If your wipers are in bad shape, just swing by the shop, we stock wipers and have them in most sizes.  It only takes us a minute to install them and you are back on the road, and can see where you are going!!windshieldwipers Long's car care center 98072

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day.  We know that some of you hold your classic car near and dear to your heart.  She is your sweet heart and you would do anything for her.  If there come a time that your Classic needs some mechanical attention, please consider giving us a try.  WE LOVE CLASSIC CARS!  Randy, the owner, has over 30 years of mechanical experience and has a passion for vintage automobiles.  He has a special spot in our shop reserved for just these projects.  He listens to what you want, and does his best to deliver exactly that.  You sweetheart will be cared for just like if she were our own.

 

classiccars Longs car care center 98072