Happy Valentines Day! We hope that each and everyone of you get to spend this day being happy, and having fun. This is a day to reflect on the good things in your life, and the wishes and dreams of more wonderful times to come!!
Archive | Automotive Maintenance
Buying a Used Vehicle
Are you thinking of buying a used vehicle soon? If so, please, please have it inspected by a reputable shop. I know that most used vehicles, “look” great, due to the fact they have been detailed, and are all shiney and clean. But, it’s what you can’t see that can have you regretting your purchase. If the seller will not let you have the vehicle inspected, run away!! The inspection can give you leverage to get a better deal…let’s say the vehicle needs brakes, that’s not a deal breaker, but you should be compensated for that repair. Worst case scenario, the inspection is going to reveal issues, that you may not want to deal with, and it will save you a ton of money. This inspection takes about an hour, and is worth every minute. Although, if we get the vehicle up in the air, and see that there is a rust issue, we will stop right there and let you know what we see, at that point if it is bad enough, we will end the inspection, and return the car, at no cost to you. So please if you or anyone you know is looking to buy a used car, pass this information on, you will be glad you did.
Tune Up
Does your vehicle need a Tune Up? Is your check engine light on? Have you noticed a loss in power and/or gas mileage? Does your vehicle run rough? If you answered yes to any of these questions then it is time to get your vehicle looked at by one of our technicians, to see what services your vehicle needs. We work with our customers to design a Vehicle Tune-Up and maintenance plan based on your specific vehicle’s needs. So if you are ready to get your vehicle running better and also get better gas mileage, give us a call, and we will get you in as soon as possible.
Free Brake Inspections
Why do we do Free Brake Inspections? People call us just about every day asking us what we would charge to repair their brakes, and every time they ask, we say the same thing, “We don’t do brakes estimates over the phone, because we don’t know what you need. But we do offer free brake inspections. When would it be convenient for you to drop by so that we can do that for you.” The reason we do this is because, there is no way to give you an accurate price until we see your brakes. You may need pads, or pads and machine the rotors, or the rotors may be too thin to machine, so we would need to replace them. You calipers may be hanging up. You master cylinder may not be doing it’s job. Have you ever responded to an ad that said “Full Brake Job $129.00” Then when you went to get your vehicle the bill was $500.00?? First we would never spend your money without speaking with you first, and more importantly, this is the main reason we don’t do estimates over the phone for brakes…because there are just toooooo many variables, and we want to give you an accurate quote so that you can make a knowledgeable decision. So if you’re brakes are making a noise, or just not responding the way they should be, give us a call and we will get you in, and give you an accurate price.
What is a Catalytic Converter?
People often ask us “What is a catalytic converter?” Well the catalytic converter is part of your vehicle’s emissions control system that converts toxic exhaust gases and pollutants to less toxic pollutants via a chemical reaction. The catalytic converter is made of precious metals that are a component of the chemical reaction. Most manufacturers warrant their converters for 8 years and 80,000 miles. Proper engine maintenance will extend the useful life of the catalytic converter.
Winter Car Kit
Winter is here, so make sure you have a Winter Car Kit in all of your vehicles. It’s never fun to get stranded, but in the winter when it’s this cold, it can be just plain dangerous. First you want to make sure that your vehicles are inspected to make sure that everything is in tip top shape. We do a free inspection, and check all of your belts, hoses, fluid, battery, brakes, etc. We want to maintain the health of your vehicles. But in the snow and ice, things can happen, so be prepared with a Winter Car Kit.
What is Battery Corrosion?
“What is battery corrosion”?. If this picture on the left is what you see when you lift your hood, you will soon have a car that will not start, a bad battery and possibly ruined battery cables. This could have been prevented with regular service and maintenance and more importantly, prevented this new customer from being stranded. Fortunately we did a battery service and she was back on the road. At Long’s Car Care Center we check on the health of your vehicle every time you visit, to make sure that this type of thing does not happen to our customers. So if your battery looks like hers did, please come on in and we will get it cleaned up, so you don’t get stranded.
Friday The 13th
Did Friday the 13th pick on you? Did your check engine light come on in your vehicle? Did your heater stop working? Did your brakes start making a funny sound? Did your belt start squealing? Did your vehicle start running rough? If any of these things happened to you today, you are not alone. These were issues 5 of our customers had today. They brought their vehicles in, we found the problems, repaired them, and now they are on their way to enjoy the rest of the day and a worry free weekend. We pride ourselves on being able to diagnose issues very quickly so that we can put your mind at ease. Plus our parts suppliers are close and quick to get parts to us, so that we can get to the repair as soon as possible. We know how important your vehicle, and time are to you, so we like to do the quickest turn around as possible. So if Friday the 13th picks on you, come and see us!!
Don’t Drip and Drive
We are proud to be participating in the Don’t Drip and Drive program in our state. It is being supported by the Washington Department of Ecology. What this means for you as the customer, is that we will provide you a FREE visual leak inspection, plus if we do find a leak, you get 10% off your leak repairs. (up to a $50.00 discount). Leaking fluids of any type are not good for your vehicle. Fluids can get on belts, brake pads, exhaust and really interfere with their performance, which can make for even more costly repairs. So if you are noticing spots or puddles of some type of fluid or liquid on your driveway or garage floor, come in for your FREE inspection, and let’s stop that Drip!!
So as a business owner are you active on your community’s Facebook page? If not you should be. I joined our neighborhoods Facebook page a while ago, and I am so glad I did. If I hadn’t been a member I never would have seen the post below. We wouldn’t have known about her situation, and we wouldn’t have been able to help her. As it turned out this simple cry for help, touched our whole community. The responses were amazing. Through giving back to our community, we have seen our business grow and flourish. Doing the right thing…helping those in need, being active in your community will come back to you two fold. I know, I have seen it happen with my own eyes.
The following post was posted on our neighborhoods Facebook page. I hope you take the time to read it. I have told Julie, how proud I am of her to have the courage to ask for help, especially on social media, where people can sometimes be mean. Her asking for help, and us being able to help her touched so many people…it really brought people together, made us stronger.
So huge ask. I asked on my group but really unsure if it is going to happen. I am a single mom on a very small budget as my youngest son has cystic fibrosis so I don’t work as he gets sick often and I don’t have any help to care for him. My van broke down on the side of the road and have no idea what is wrong with it. I have no clue how I will afford to get it fixed but right now just trying to get it towed to the shop. Does anyone have roadside assistance that could maybe help me get it towed? or even come look at my car? Thankyou and Merry Christmas
