AUTO REPAIR & MAINTENANCE BLOG


Maintaining your vehicle at home is a satisfying way to keep your motoring costs down. With the right knowledge and products even someone who isn't very mechanically inclined can take care of many of the smaller issues in everyday driving. Sometimes, however, car issues can be too specialized or complex for the average motorist to take care of by themselves and it becomes time to take your car to the pros. Below you'll find three major warning signs that you need to get to a mechanic ASAP, as well as some of the potential causes behind them.



Engine and Drivetrain Problems

Let's start at the beginning. If your car won't even turn over and start up, then the rest of the problems on this list won't come into play. The simplest cause of this issue is a dead battery, which you can remedy with jumper cables, and the instructions that come printed on their packaging. If jumping the car doesn't work, you may have a larger problem with your ignition system. It's advisable to take your car into the shop at this point because finding the root of the problem will likely involve removing a few parts from your engine. Whether it's dead spark plugs or electrical problems, it's better to have it dealt with by a professional. Likewise, engine surging where the revs rise and fall can mean a problem with your fuel injectors, which are fairly deep within your motor. It's unwise to drive around with a surging engine, as this burns more gas and can cause unintended acceleration. Drivetrain issues are another major issue requiring professional attention. Everybody fears the dreaded transmission repairs, so if certain gears won't engage or they shift at the wrong times you should definitely take your car to the qualified mechanics here at Wilkinson Auto Repair.



Vibration While Driving

This issue can be caused by damaged drivetrain components, but can also stem from misaligned wheels or unbalanced or flat tires. If you feel any vibration or shuddering as you drive along, you should get to a mechanic as soon as you can. At its worst, this issue can lessen your control over the car, potentially causing accidents. This will also wear out your tires more quickly than if everything was straight and true. Unwanted vibrations put stress on important (and costly) components like suspension and brakes while decreasing gas mileage, so it's smart to take your car in as soon as these issues develop.



Poor Braking Performance

Your brakes are vital to keeping you safe on the road and should definitely be cared for by a professional, unless you're absolutely sure you know what you're doing. Common signs of issues with your car's braking system include squeaking or squealing when the brakes are applied, or the brakes feeling spongy and failing to slow your vehicle properly. Squealing brakes are caused by the brake pads wearing through the pad surface to the metal underneath. At this point the metal behind your brake pad is coming into contact with the brake rotor. This can be disastrous and produce unwanted heat, reduced stopping power, and cause you to have to buy new rotors as well as the relatively cheap pads. Spongey and weak brakes can mean there's a problem with your master cylinder, which converts the mechanical pressure of you pressing the pedal into hydraulic pressure to apply the brakes. In either case, it's best to have your brakes seen to by the professional mechanics here at Wilkinson Auto Repair.



There are instances where car maintenance is simple and easy, but if you notice any of these issues developing, it's best to take your car in for a qualified mechanic's checkup so the problems can be remedied before they turn into much more serious issues. Wilkinson Auto Repair has the tools and expertise to have you safely back on the road in no time at all.




Reviews

I brought my the Chevy traverse in because I was having a lot of issues my ABS light would not allow me to turn it on and I had an engine lights on. Wilkins and help me figure out that my alignment was off and my sensor was bad and that's why my ABS light was not working and they also found out that I had numerous other codes going on with my car they were very friendly and very helpful they even told me that when my engine light came back on to bring it back and they will check the codes again to help me figure out what's going on with my car. They worked with me and give me a great price for everything they did for me. Thank you

, 08/05/2021

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I really want to thank the wonderful people at Wilkinson Auto repair for the great work they did on my car today. I was returning home to Alpena when my car broke down while driving north on I-75. My vehicle was towed to Wilkinson Auto Repair due to the proximity of where the vehicle broke down. I don't think I could have ended up in a better place! Despite it being a Friday afternoon, they quickly worked me in to their schedule. They diagnosed the problem as an alternator issue, and were able to a find replacement part quickly. They had me on the road back home within a couple of hours. Everyone working there was very kind and helpful. Thank you to all the wonderful people at Wilkinson Auto!

, 07/12/2021

Transmission leaking, called for service Thursday, and Friday was repaired. Their service is awesome, folks are very personable, price is great. Well recommended for any repair you need on autos.

, 11/10/2020

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