Gilbert Auto Repair

Indulge me for a second while I tell you about an experience I recently had with one of my favorite restaurants. It’s a Thai place that’s a little off the beaten path; one of those rare hidden gems every city has but barely anyone knows about. I’ve been going there for years so you could imagine how devastated I was to hear that they were changing ownership. I was glad to hear that their head chef would be staying on though because the restaurant had received plenty of rave reviews for making sauces and breads from scratch. It was obvious right away that things were different with the new owners. While the chef and the rest of his team were following the same recipes they were using lower quality ingredients; they were using frozen meat and premade bread. It just wasn’t the same. They lost me as a customer and I wasn’t the only customer they lost. It was the same chef, using the same recipe, but he was using low quality ingredients. If you can understand ... read more

The quality of the air around us always affects us. People these days are more aware of air pollution and how it affects them, but have you ever taken the time to consider the air inside your car? Many cars made since 2000 come with cabin air filters. These filters keep the air in the passenger compartment clean and regulated. They are able to clean dust, pollen and even pollutants out of the air in your car. This is particularly helpful for people who have seasonal allergies. You don’t want to be sneezing when you’re trying to drive! If you’re not sure whether or not your car comes with a cabin air filter then just take a look at the owner’s manual. If there is one then the manual will also contain information about how to replace it when it gets dirty. If you live in an area with a lot of dust, pollen and pollution then we recommend getting your cabin air filter changed on a more frequent basis. If you aren’t sure then just bring it in to us and ask on ... read more

How many times have you had a near-miss, whether as a driver or a pedestrian; that involved some idiot using their phone while driving? Technology has conditioned us to automatically respond instantly whenever our phones make a noise. We also live in a more mobile social environment filled with modern conveniences that make us more likely to try and do more than one thing at once. It’s not that uncommon to see people try and eat food or do their makeup while driving. Studies have shown that around 77% of young adults say they are confident enough to be able to text while driving and 55% of them claimed that it was easy to do. The truth is that only around 2% of people are actually able to multi-task to this degree. Do you think you could fly an F22 at Mach 2 like a fighter pilot? That’s true multitasking. The statistics about distracted driving tell us the truth, and here it is; Most crashes happen within the first three seconds of a driver being distracted Around 23% o ... read more

There’s always the possibility that a vehicle will have a design and/or manufacturing problem, no matter how well made and put together it is. If the problem is serious enough the government will order that the manufacturer issues a recall notice and fixes the problem free of charge. The manufacturer will then attempt to contact everyone who has that particular kind of vehicle so they are aware of the problem. As you can no doubt imagine this is no easy feat. A product recall always affects safety so you should always take them seriously. The good news is that it’s pretty easy to find out your car has been recalled or not. The government actually host links on their own website where you can find out including http://www.nhtsa.gov. There are also a number of other websites with this recall information on including www.carfax.com, www.autobytel.com and www.dmv.org. Recalls are always serious business but the good news is that they are also quite rare. There are also smalle ... read more

It’s important that you take care of your car in October before the temperatures drop so you can avoid being caught out in the cold and stuck with an expensive emergency repair bill.  You don’t want to have your car break down in the middle of the cold winter weather. Winter makes the problems your car is having, such as hard starts and sluggish performance, that much worse. Having the car checked at the repair shop or doing all the maintenance yourself is a small investment you can make now to avoid a larger bill should your car break down during extreme weather.  The following is your  checklist that can help you get your car ready for the cold weather and get peace of mind.  For the Heating, Wipers, and Lights  Ensure that your heaters, defrosters and wipers are all working correctly Consider purchasing winter wiper blades and always use cold-weather washer fluid. Remember that you should replace the wiper blades on your car ... read more

When your brakes start making a noise you need to listen. When your brakes work properly it keeps your car safe and easy to operate. As such the Car Care Council says you should always check your brakes if you suspect there could be a problem.  While it’s definitely a good idea to have your brakes checked once a year to keep them safe this isn’t an excuse to ignore any signs that your brakes need some tender love and care.  There are some clear warning signs that you need to have your brakes checked and recognizing these signs keeps everyone that little bit safer.  The following key signs are the warning signs that  every driver should watch out for. If you spot any of these then you should get your brakes inspected. •    Noise: any noise occurring when the brakes are pressed such as screeching, grinding, or clicking •    Pulling: when you brake the car pulls to one side •    Low Pedal: &ldqu ... read more

When the temperature starts going up during the summer it’s important you can tell if your cooling system needs help. A faulty cooling system is the main reason that vehicles break down during the summer. The Car Council says that the four main signs your cooling system needs help are overheating, leaks, being able to smell antifreeze and having to constantly change the coolant.  When you neglect your cooling system it could lead to major damage and could cause your engine to completely shut down and stop your summer trip in its tracks.  When you don’t maintain your cooling system it really becomes a question of when it’s going to fail on you. Checking the belts, hoses, water pump, and fluids on a regular basis will keep your car cool and ensure it lasts much longer on the road.  The coolant system is important because it gets rid of the heat that the combustion process that powers your engine generates. Coolant can reach temperatures up to (and over ... read more

Have you scratched the wheels on your car? There’s not much more frustrating as a driver. It can be hard to find information about what to do if that happens even though there are countless tips on how you can keep the paint job and interior fresh. It seems silly that’s the case given how much damage car wheels are subjected to as part of urban driving. Parallel parking and going up and down the curb can really damage the rims on your wheels. Here’s how to repair your car wheels so you can save yourself a small fortune. What You Need Scratch filling primer Wheel paint in the same color as your wheels Some clear lacquer Paint thinner Bondo Spot Putty 240 and 400 grit sand paper A roll of masking tape What to Do Step 1: Start out by removing the wheel. If you’re going to leave it on then at least cover the care with a taped down piece of cloth to prevent paint splashing onto the car. Step 2: Next you need to clean the ... read more

If you were stranded in your car, would you be prepared or would your car be ready if you had to leave at a moment’s notice? In case you didn’t know September is National Preparedness Month and we would like to remind drivers of the importance of regular maintenance and do-it-yourself checks (as well as a stocked emergency kit). Make sure you check the following to make sure your car is ready for the unexpected: Tire Tread and pressure: Tire tread helps your car grip the road and having low tire tread is very dangerous when driving in wet, flood-like, snowy or icy conditions. May not be a big problem around here but driving up north may be bad with worn out tires. And did you know that if the tire pressure is too low or too high it can affect gas mileage, tread wear and vehicle performance? Check your tires regularly when they are still cold. A quick tip use the PSI (pounds per square inch) number located inside the driver door. Fluids Check ... read more

School has started a few weeks ago here and we want to reminds drivers to make sure their vehicles are kid-safe and road ready with a five-point checklist: 1) Check lights and wipers for visibility. With shorter days and inclement weather ahead, make surelights and wipers function properly so that you can see and be seen.  Check the exterior and interior lights and replace any that are dimming, rapidly blinking or not functioning. Check wiper blades for signs of wear and replace if necessary. 2) Get an annual brake inspection.The braking system is your car’s most important safety feature. Before carpool season gets in full swing, make sure that your brakes are functioning properly. Schedule a brake inspection and look for warning signs that your vehicle may need brake services, such as an illuminated brake light or screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes ... read more