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Archive | Automotive Maintenance

Why is my car so bouncy?

By on March 14, 2018 in Automotive Maintenance

Does your car have a lot of bounce and feel unstable when you drive?  Does it take you longer to stop than it used to?  Would you like to have better control and handling? Would you like your tires to last longer? If you answered yes to any of these questions then it may be time to get your shocks and struts checked.  We recommend replacing them every 75,000 miles.  It is amazing the difference in your vehicle’s handling when you put new shocks and struts on.  I know this from my own experience, I couldn’t believe the difference, it was like driving a new car.  Shocks and struts wear out slowly over time, so you really don’t notice anything until they are really bad.  Give us a call or book online, and we will get your vehicle and get it checked out.

When is Spring Break?

By on March 9, 2018 in Automotive Maintenance

Well, Spring Break is right around the corner.  Are you going on a road trip for your vacation?  If so, make sure your vehicle is road trip ready.   Call us for an appointment for your FREE ROAD TRIP INSPECTION!!  We will check your battery, fluids wipers, lights, HVAC system, brakes, belts, hoses, your suspension and tires (including your spare).   We want you to have peace of mind during your vacation.  Nothing is worse than being in the middle of nowhere and having car problems.  We will send you the results of our digital inspection, which will include pictures and videos, so that you can see what we are seeing!  We look forward to helping you get ready for your road trip!!  See you soon!

 

Is it time to replace my brakes?

By on February 7, 2018 in Automotive Maintenance

Do you ever wonder when it’s time to replace your brakes?  Are your brakes grinding or squealing? Is there a pulsation while braking?  Well, nothing lasts forever, including the brakes on your car. Worn out brakes can be a safety hazard to you and your loved ones. If you suspect that your brakes are getting worn, please give us a call 425-481-1739, and we will get you in for a FREE brake inspection, that way we can see exactly what is going on, and give you an accurate price for any brake work you may need.  So, please if you think there may be an issue with your brakes don’t hesitate to call us.

How do you keep mice and other rodents out of your vehicle?

By on February 5, 2018 in Auto Repair, Automotive Maintenance

It’s that time of year when rodents like to find warm places, so we get asked “How do you keep mice and other rodents out of your vehicle? ”  Rodents of all sizes can cause a lot of damage once they get inside your engine compartment, or even worse in side your vehicle.  They chew on wires, make nests, and can just make a stinky mess.  If you have a vehicle that you are not using often, and can store with the hood up, that is best, as the rodents are looking for a dark/warm place to nest.  If that is not possible, do not store pet food in close range, try to seal all of the entrances, put Pine Sol, peppermint oil, or other “smelling” substance in the vehicle, what smells good to us, does not smell good to rodents.  Put traps in the vehicle.  Open the hood every few days, to check things out.  If you find that you do have a rodent issue, give us a call for an appointment, will be happy to help you repair whatever they have damaged.

 

Last Minute Christmas Gift

By on December 18, 2017 in Automotive Maintenance

Are you looking for a Last Minute Christmas Gift?  Do you have someone to buy for, and just can’t come up with any great ideas?  How about buying this special person Lifetime Oil Changes?  This program is our Lifetime Maintenance Package, and the thing that is amazing about it, is that it follows the owner, and not the vehicle.  So it truly is Lifetime Oil Changes…there is a $5.00 fee with each oil change to cover disposal costs, but that is the only charge the owner has for the rest of his/her life.  Let’s say for example the person has a vehicle that take regular oil, and they decided to buy a new car that take synthetic, they would just have to pay the difference in the two plans.  That’s it!  This is a great gift for young drivers, or people that are very busy, and forget about getting their oil change, as part of this program we remind them, by text or call, that their oil change is due.  This helps keep their vehicles maintained and in tip top shape.  We also do a free vehicle health assessment every time we see the vehicle, to make sure there are no leaks, or safety issues.  Our goal is to keep all the vehicles we see running for as long as their owners would like.  If this sounds like a great gift to you, stop on by this week we are here from 7:30am til 5:00pm.  We will need to know the year, make and model of the vehicle…that’s it.  You’re in and out with a fantastic gift in less than 10 minutes!  Hope to see you soon!  Merry Christmas!!

 

Jeep Mechanic in Woodinville

By on December 5, 2017 in Automotive Maintenance

Have you ever wondered where to take your Jeep for service in Woodinville?  You search is over!  Here at Long’s we work on Jeeps just about every day.  In fact in the last 2 weeks we have welcomed 22 new customers and 8 of them have Jeeps.  We will treat your vehicle right.  Every Time we see your Jeep, we will do a detailed inspection, and if there are any issues, we will send you the report along with pictures to document everything.  We keep complete records for you, and send our reminders so that you will never get behind in any maintenance items.  So, come on in and meet us, we will give you a tour of our shop, and explain our maintenance program.  We also offer a Lifetime Oil Change package…wouldn’t it be nice to never have to pay for an oil change again??  We look forward to meeting you!

What does it mean when my Check Engine Light is on?

By on December 1, 2017 in Automotive Maintenance

Ever wonder what it means when your check engine light comes on?  Well, it could be a small issue or it could be something more serious. Is it accompanied by a constant, rattle or other unusual noise? Is there any smoke? Have you noticed a decline in gas mileage? Problems starting or loss of power? Any of these symptoms coupled with the Check Engine Light being on can indicate a serious issue that you should get checked out immediately.   If you are experiencing any of these issues please give us a call so we can get you into the shop before the issue gets worse.  425-481-1739.  We will get the issue diagnosed and repaired and have you on your way as soon as possible.

When is the best to Winterize my vehicle?

By on November 28, 2017 in Automotive Maintenance

Do you ever wonder when it is the best time to winterize your vehicles?  The answer is before it gets cold….so right now would be a good time.
Winter is almost here, and you should make sure all preparations are completed for your vehicle so that they can get through the winter without any issues. Check that all coolant levels are between the maximum and minimum markings. You should also be sure to have sufficient anti-freeze. Anti-freeze is just that… It helps make sure your vehicle’s engine will not freeze.  We check this for you every time your vehicle is in the shop, but things can happen, a leaky hose or water pump.  If you’re concerned, or not sure how to check your levels, just give us a call and we will be happy to get you into the shop, and make sure your vehicles are in good shape for winter.

 

When should I drive with my lights on?

By on November 21, 2017 in Automotive Maintenance

I had a young driver ask me when she should drive with her lights on.  I told her all the time especially this time of year.  It is getting darker earlier, and with the rain and wind it makes it hard to see.  I was driving to work the other morning, it was dark and raining, and a newer car came up behind me with no lights on.  There was no way for me to get is attention, and it bothered me because most new cars will turn on their lights automatically in the dark.  So to be safe and be seen, check your lights.  Have someone walk around you vehicle and make sure all of your lights are working.  Low Beams, High Beams, Brake lights, Turn signals, etc.  Most of these bulbs are easy to replace, but sometimes they are difficult.  If you run into a situation that is difficult, please give us a call and we will get you right in and get those bulbs replaced.  Sometime is can be an electrical issue, so if you change the bulbs and it’s still not working, we can repair that for you also.  We want you to be safe and seen, we are here to help.

 

How often should I check my oil?

By on November 17, 2017 in Automotive Maintenance

You ever wonder how often you should check the level of your oil?  This is a great question, because the level of your oil is very important to the health of your vehicles engine.  If your car is relatively new, and you are not seeing any drops of oil in your driveway, and when you have your oil changed it isn’t low…maybe every couple of months, just to be on the safe side.  If your vehicle is older, you are seeing oil spots, and it is low when you take it in to get the oil change, we would advise you checking it every time you get fuel.  You don’t want to run your engine out of oil, as this could create catastrophic damage to your engine.  If you are noticing oil leaks, bring it in and let us check and see where the leaks are coming from, and let’s get those nasty leaks repaired.  If this is a vehicle you plan on keeping for a while, repairing the leaks will keep the vehicle in good running condition, and you won’t have to worry about adding oil all the time.  We will be happy to show how to check your oil if you don’t know how.