Archive | Automotive Maintenance

Who sells Lifetime Oil Changes?

Did you know we have a Lifetime Maintenance Club? You are probably wondering what that means. It’s pretty simple and an amazing program. You buy this membership for about the same cost as 4 oil changes on your vehicle. This then gives you free oil changes for the rest of your life. This membership follows you, NOT your vehicle. If by chance you buy a different vehicle, and let’s say it uses synthetic oil, then you would just have to pay the difference in the price of the membership for that vehicle. The only charge is $5.00 each oil change to cover the cost of disposal. This also makes a great gift. If you are interested either give us a call, or drop on by, we would be happy to let you know how much YOUR membership would cost!

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Should I get my car looked at before the cold weather hits?

It’s always a good idea to have your vehicle inspected when the weather’s going to get cold.  You want to make sure that your cooling system is working properly, to confirm that your coolant is at the right strength and level.  You don’t want that system to freeze and cause damage.  You also want to make sure that your heater is working properly, before it get really cold.  When you bring your vehicle to us for a pre-winter check, we will look at all of these things, including making sure that your defroster is working properly and that your tires are at the proper pressure.  If you need snow tires put on, we can help you that also.  So give us a call, let’s get you in and have your vehicle inspected before the really cold weather arrives.

 

Who does digital vehicle inspections in Woodinville?

At Long’s we do digital vehicle inspections, on every vehicle that comes into the shop.  This is a newer process that we started using about 2 years ago.  Doing our inspections digitally allows our mechanics to take pictures of their concerns, so that we can either email or text them to you.  This really speeds up the process of getting your vehicle repaired and back to you in a timely manner.  You no longer have to come down to the shop to look at the issue, it’s right there on your phone or on your computer.  After we inspect your vehicle we will send the whole report to you, and list what issues in their level of importance.  1.  The concern you brought it in for (if there was one) 2.  Any safety related issues.  3.  Maintenance issues, such as fluid exchanges etc.  We then let you decide what you would like us to take care of, and schedule the rest for a future visit.  We want you to be able to keep this vehicle for as long as you want, and to keep it in top running condition for you.

 

Auto Mechanic in Woodinville

Are you looking for an auto mechanic in Woodinville?  Well, we would like to meet you.  Long’s Car Care Center has been in Woodinville for over 30 years.  We are family owned and operated.  We work on just about all makes and models, except for some of the high end exotic brands.  Our mechanics are all ASE Certified, plus we are a state licensed emission repair facility.  We treat your vehicles as if they were our own.  All of our inspections are digital, so that we can send them to you either via text or email.  They include pictures and videos, so that you can see what we are seeing.  We invite you to come to the shop and meet us and our staff.  We would be happy to show you around the shop so you can see how we operate.  We hope to meet you soon.

Why is my steering wheel crooked?

“Why is my steering wheel crooked or off center?” When was the last time you had a certified mechanic inspect your suspension for worn parts?  When you bring your vehicle in for any type of service we always inspect your vehicle’s suspension and steering parts.  If everything is fine and there are no parts issues, we would then recommend having an alignment done.  This would straighten out your steering wheel, and also prevent uneven wear on your tires, which would mean replacing them sooner than necessary.  It always very important to get your vehicle aligned after purchasing new tires.  If you have any questions and are in the Woodinville area, please stop by or give us a call at 425-481-1739 and we will be happy to help you.

 

When does College start?

We have a lot of customers wondering when does college start?  Well it starts sooner than you think.  If you have a college student that is driving and has been all summer, and is getting ready to leave for college soon, it would be a very good idea to get their vehicle into the shop so that we can do a FREE vehicle health assessment before they leave for school.  Some, not all, young people don’t really pay attention to noises, squeals, rubbing, check engine lights, etc.  Why?  Because they love being able to be mobile, and don’t want to go a minute without their vehicle.  Also they tend to play their music loud so that they really can’t hear anything.  When they see their check engine light come on, they like to think its just a loose gas cap.  So we highly recommend that a parent drive the car, to see if anything is amiss, and then bring it in so that we can look it over, and make sure everything is in good order.  We want to give you peace of mind.  We have had kids away at college ourselves and know first hand how it can be a worry.  Heck even my daughter came home from college one time, missing her muffler…didn’t realize it was gone, due to the volume of her music!!  Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we hope to see you soon.

 

 

 

How often should I replace my belts and hoses?

Customers often ask “How often should I replace my belt and hoses”?  Belts and Hoses can wear thin and crack due to weather conditions and just regular wear and tear.   At Long’s Car Care Center, we provide a “Free” digital vehicle health assessment, every time we see your vehicle.  We take pictures of your belts and hoses, so that we can show you what they look like.  This also allows us to keep a digital history on all of your vehicles.  When we see wear and tear starting to happen we will let you know, so that you can plan for the replacement.  Our goal is to not have any “surprise” break downs..nobody like that.  If you are concerned about your belts and/or hoses, give us a call for and appointment so that we can check them out.

When is it too hot to leave my dog in the car?

The weather is getting warm, and you don’t want to be leaving your pet or your child in your car.  Once the temperature starts hitting the 70’s it can be dangerous, and even deadly to leave any creature or human in your vehicle.  It’s hard to imagine how quickly it can heat up inside your vehicle, with the windows up and no breeze.  It can happen very fast, and sometime those quick stops, can become longer that you intended, and can turn into a tragedy.  So during this time of the year, leave your precious pets at home, and bring you children into the store with you.

Where can I get my vehicle inspected for free?

Did you know that we do Free Vehicle Inspections?  We do a free vehicle health assessment everytime your vehicle is at our shop.  We want to make sure that your fluids, belts, hoses, brakes, suspension, and exhaust system are in tip top shape.  These inspections are then emailed to you so that you can see what we have found.  We take pictures of any issues we may find, plus on the report there are links to videos, so that you can learn more about how your vehicle functions.  After we send it to you, we give you a call, to answer any questions, and to also provide estimates for any needed work.  If you would like a FREE Vehicle Health Assessment, just give us a call, and we will set up an appointment for you!

How much does a Tune-Up Cost?

How much does a tune-up cost?  That is one of the hardest questions to answer, and we get asked this several times a week.  Vehicles have changed so much in recent years, all of the computers, sensors, injectors, spark plugs, wires, and other variables, that can affect the runnibility of your car, there is no way for us to give you an accurate cost until we can inspect your vehicle.  If you have a check engine light on, we will need time to diagnose that, and then go from there.  If your vehicle is running rough, with no check engine light on, we will need to inspect your plugs, wires, and fluids to see what the issue is.  If you are having runnability issues, please give us a call at 425-481-1739, and we will get you in as soon as possible.