Gilbert Auto Repair

Tires keep your car going, so it is important to take care of them with regularly scheduled maintenance. Here are a couple of main reasons that cause wheel alignment issues for cars (leading to why tires wear out quicker than advertised): Suspension and steering components wear over time as well which can lead to and alignment issues. Of course, a big bump like hitting a curb or pothole can knock a wheel out ofalignment or damage a steering or suspension part. So when wheels are properly aligned they obviously all point i n the same direction. When they are out of alignment, you’ll notice a couple of things. First the vehicle pulls to one side when driving (it could be slight or pretty severe). If your wheels have been out of alignment for a while, you’ll also start to see uneven tire wear – the shoulder on either the outside or inside of the tire is worn down more than the other. And we’re not done, a whole bunch of steering and suspension compone ... read more

For those of us who came from the colder part of the country, it wasn’t unusual to have a car battery that lasted 5 to 8 years. But here in the desert you may have noticed that it’s a different story. The official average car battery life in southern AZ is about 30 months according to this site and according to what we see at the shop it might be more like 24 months! The worst part is that you never know when a battery will fail in this extreme hot climate like my daughter found out last Saturday morning at the mall. Odds are the only thing that you’ll hear are clicking sounds. At least in the cold winter up north you would feel the battery struggling for a while before failing. Still not a good enough reason to move back there… Here are a couple of useful battery tips: Batteries “dehydrate” just like us, fill them up if you can (some batterie are sealed) with distilled water. Here’s more info on maintaining your battery. Make sure that the ... read more

First of all, what is a water pump and why should I care? Water pumps are a critical component (among many others) that circulate engine coolant/antifreeze around the engine and out to the radiator. When they’re not working your vehicle will be overheating and you should stop the car immediately to avoid any permanent damage. Like any mechanical device, they eventually wear out. Some water pumps are driven by the serpentine belt and are bolted on out in the open with the alternator and air compressor and such. Other water pumps are driven by the timing belt. Water pumps that are driven by the timing belt (the belt that controls when your engine intake and exhaust valves open) are attached directly to the engine block. The timing belt system has protective cover. The serpentine belt and all the accessories are located over the timing belt cover. To make a long story short, getting to the water pump requires the removal of a lot of parts – which then need to be replaced. So ... read more

Brakes are your first line of defense against any accidents or collisions on and off the road. So it’s important that you get them checked out before they begin to fail or make noises. If you’re like most drivers in Gilbert, you only get your brakes checked once you notice that something’s wrong. It’s important to get your brakes checked regularly. Note, an easy way to remember is to get them checked each time you go in for an oil or filter change at Spectrum Car Care Not maintaining functioning brakes is a danger to both you and other drivers on the road. Most common signs you need a brake check:Grinding or Screeching noises when you brakeCause: This usually indicates that the brake pads are worn down and need to be replaced immediately. Remember, the grinding and screeching is not a “friendly reminder” to change your brake pads, it is a sign of a mechanical problem. Not replacing your brake pads at this point will result i ... read more