Navigation

Archive | Auto Repair

Why is my exhaust so loud?

By on November 7, 2018 in Auto Repair

Is your exhaust getting louder as time passes? It could be that you have gotten a hole in the muffler or there is a loose seal somewhere along the exhaust system. It would be best to have your exhaust system inspected by one of our ASE trained mechanics.  Not only can a leak cause the loud noise you are hearing, it can also allow exhaust fumes to into the inside of your vehicle, causing you to become dizzy and/or ill.   So not only is the noise irritating it, the leak could also be a safety issue.  So please give us a call 425-481-1739, so that we can get you in and get your exhaust system repaired, and your commute back to a quiet, and safe one.

Why are my brakes grinding?

By on October 19, 2018 in Auto Repair
If your brakes are making a grinding noise, it is a sign of trouble.  This something that you would to be looked at right away.   It could be  that the Pads are worn down so far they are scraping the Rotors.  Or that there are other broken components in the Brake System or some foreign object, like a rock, is in the system. Do not delay in having a brake inspection done right away.  Here at Long’s brake inspections are free, and usually take 20-30 minutes.  We do not charge for this very important inspection, because we want our customers to be safe on the road.  You and your family’s safety is very important to us.  So if you are having any type of brake related issues, please do not hesitate to give us a call and we will get you in for that Free Inspection as quickly as possible.

How come my headlights are so dim?

By on September 27, 2018 in Auto Repair

It’s that time of year when we are all driving in the dark more, and you might notice that your headlights are dim.  One of the main causes of this is the lens becomes cloudy and foggy over time.  This doesn’t allow your headlights to be as bright as they once were.  Years ago this meant having to replace the headlight lens itself, which was costly and time consuming.  Not any more…we can buff the lens so it is as clear a it was when it was brand new!  You want to be able to see and be seen when you are driving in the dark, so if this is an issue with your vehicle, please give us a call, and we will get you in and get those headlights as bright as brand new!!

 

How much do you charge for Diagnostics?

By on September 26, 2018 in Auto Repair

We get asked how much we charge for diagnostics, at least once a day.  The answer?  There is no set price, it is really dependant on how much time it takes to diagnose the issue.  We have a price range of $50.00 to $150.00.  The customer agrees to this, and if for whatever reason it is going to take longer to track the issue down, we call you and get authorization for more time.  It really depends on what the issue is.  If the check engine light is on We will scan it to see what codes are present, and then go from there.  It’s kind of like getting your blood drawn, then analyzed, and then having the Doctor figure out what the cause of the issue it.  This can be as simple as you need more vitamins and drink more fluids, to you have a major issue and need surgery.  It takes time to figure these things out, and that is the time we charge for…simple less of a charge, more difficult and time consuming, a higher charge.  We keep track of our time, and only charge you for what we needed to correctly diagnose the issue.

Emissions Repair Near Me

By on September 19, 2018 in Auto Repair

Do you need to have some emissions repair work done?  We have been a State Certified Emissions Repair facility for as long as we can remember.  All of our techs are certified by the state to do this type of repair.  We will be happy to explain how the waiver program works, and what repairs you need to have done to pass the emissions test so that you can recieve your tabs.  Please note that you need to take the test first, even if you KNOW you are going to fail.  The state requires this initial test, and then will allow you take to the second test for free.  Once you fail, just give us a call and we will get you in at your earliest convenience.

When should I have my timing belt replaced?

By on September 14, 2018 in Auto Repair

Do you know when you should have your timing belt replaced?  This is a very important question, and knowing the answer can save you a bundle in car repair.  You can give us a call with the year, make and model of your vehicle, and we can look up when the manufacturer recommends replacing.  This is usually based on Mileage.  Some are at 90k, 100k, 105, 120k.  Some vehicles have what is referred to as an interference engine, if the timing belt breaks on one of these it will more than likely cause catastrophic damage.  Any time a timing belt breaks, it will stop the engine from being able to run, but if it breaks within a interference engine, it will more than likely mean replacing the engine.  So please, give us a call, we will let you know when your timing belt needs to be replaced, we don’t want you to have to endure unnecessary repairs.

Why is my Subaru Running so Rough?

By on August 24, 2018 in Auto Repair

Your Subaru may be running rough because of an engine misfire.  Usually your check engine light will come on when a misfire occurs.  A common issue that we see that is causing the misfre are burnt exhaust valves.  What usually causes a valve to become burnt, worn, or cracked, is excessive heat due to either lack of lubrication or excessive combustion chamber temperature as a result of incorrect fuel mixture.  This usually starts out as a bit of rough running when cold, and this will set a check engine light, wit a cylinder misfire code.  If you are having any of these symptoms?  If so give us a call!  We work on Subarus almost daily, and in fact own one ourselves.  Are mechanics are very well versed in working on them.  So if you are looking for a Subaru Mechanic in Woodinville, give us a call!

 

Subaru mechanic in Woodinville

What is that clunking noise coming from the front of my car?

By on June 4, 2018 in Auto Repair

What is that clunking noise coming from the front of my car? Why do I have problems when turning? Why is my car setting unevenly?   A broken coil spring can cause all these issues. Your coil spring and your shock or strut work in connection with each other to keep your vehicle stable. A broken coil spring will compromise the ride of the vehicle, the height the vehicle sits at, the way the vehicle handles turns or cornering, and the overall comfort of the ride. A broken coil spring can be a safety issue. If taking corners too fast, the vehicle may not react in the same way the driver is used to plus if the broken spring comes in contact with the tire it can cause the tire to blow out. If you are having any concerns about your suspension, call us today to schedule an appointment for a complete inspection so that we can assess the health of your vehicle.  We want your vehicle to be as safe as possible, so that you can have some peace of mind.

 

Why is my air conditioner blowing warm air?

By on April 25, 2018 in Auto Repair

When it starts to get warm, we get asked almost every day “Why is my air conditioner blowing warm air?”  There are numerous reason why this could be happening.  The simplest solution is that your A/C system just needs to be serviced.  Most systems need to be serviced every 5 years.  What happens is, overtime, condensation builds up inside the system, which causes it to blow warm air instead of cold.  When we service the system, we pull all of the refrigerant out and store it, we then pressurize the system to make sure there are no leaks, dry the system, and put your refrigerant back in.  Now you will get plenty of cold air.  Sometime when we do this we find that there are leaks, and the refrigerant is gone, hence the warm air.  If this happens, we need to repair the leak, refill, and you are good to go.  Sometimes it’s a part in the system that has failed, usually the compressor, or the condenser, if that is the case,  we replace that part, and you are on your way.  If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, give us a call, we will set up an appointment for you, and get your A/C blowing nice cool air!

 

Why is my battery light on?

By on March 16, 2018 in Auto Repair

Why is my battery light on?” This is a question that we hear from our customers at least once a week. When your battery light comes on, it means there is a problem with your  charging system.   This could be a failed alternator, a broken alternator belt, a bad battery connection, or a bad battery. We won’t know what the problem is until we have a chance to diagnose the problem.  Your vehicle is safe to drive with the battery light on, but you will want to get in to a shop as soon as possible, because  your battery will die soon.   If your battery light is on, give us a call so that we can get your vehicle in, and diagnose your charging system.  We don’t want you to get stranded because your vehicle won’t start, we want you to drive with peace of mind.