Maple Valley Auto Repair

No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road with a broken-down car. However, breakdowns and accidents can occur, and when they do, it's essential to know when to call for professional help. Sometimes it's tempting to try to fix the problem yourself or to keep driving, but doing so can make the situation worse and put you and others in danger. Here are some situations that may require a tow and when to call for professional help. Engine Failure: If your automobile's engine won't start or stalls out while driving, it may need to be towed. Continuing to drive with an engine problem can cause further damage and potentially leave you stranded. Flat Tire: While changing a flat tire may seem simple, it's not always safe or possible to do so. If you're on a busy road, or the tire is severely damaged, it's best to call for a tow. Overheating: If your car's temperature gauge is in the red or steam is coming from under t ... read more

The heater core is a necessary part of your vehicle's cooling system, and you're definitely going to want it to work for the winter. It essentially is your radiator's partner, and it works to move coolant. Without the heater core, your car will not be able to supply you with heat when it is cold. Besides heating, the heater core helps to defrost your windows.  What Does the Heater Core Do? As you may know, your car's engine heats up a lot when it's running. The coolant disperses the excess heat and moves the air away from the engine and through the radiator. However, the process is altered when you turn on the heat in the winter. Instead, the air gets moved to the heater core to be filtered and warmed up to make you more comfortable. The coolant you add to your cooling system allows this process to happen seamlessly. Over time though, the coolant will age and thus can corrode these parts. If dirty or contaminated coolant is left in your car too long, it can ... read more

When it starts to get cold outside, one of the things you should be preparing for is winter driving. Anything can happen in the winter, whether it be related to the temperature or the status of precipitation in your area. Here are a few things you should do to prepare yourself for winter driving. Check Your Tires Tires for your vehicle can already be a lot of maintenance throughout the year. You have to make sure they have enough tire pressure, plus you have to make sure they have enough treading. As the temperature drops, your tire pressure will drop as well. It may even be a good idea to buy tires meant for winter weather specifically, which usually have longer treading than your average tires. Test Your Wipers In the winter, you never know what to expect weather-wise. Sometimes, it will still rain, and other times, you will get snow, sleet, or hail. Either way, it's a good idea to make sure your windshield wipers are in perfect working condition and top off your wiper fluid ... read more

Buying a vehicle isn’t an easy decision to make, especially if it is on the pre-owned market. For a purchase that large, you want to make sure that it is a good purchase that will last you for a while. The best way to backup your purchase is to get a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) from a qualified auto technician. A PPI is a detailed assessment that gives you a better picture of what the vehicle looks like and how it is doing, inside and out. The mechanic will let you know if there are any problems or concerns with the vehicle. What Does a Pre-Purchase Inspection Include? A PPI typically involves a very thorough visual inspection of the car, including some of its most important and expensive components, such as the engine, brakes, cooling system, body, and more. During the PPI, a professional tech will also hook a scan tool up to the car to perform a diagnostics test. At most auto repair facilities, a test drive will be done too. This helps us look for any unusual signs, sounds ... read more

Driving at night is risky. According to the National Safety Council, the rate of traffic deaths during night driving is three times greater than day time. But still, these accidents are avoidable if you keep yourself on the road by following appropriate safety tips. 6 Safety Tips for Night Time Driving 1. Being extra defensive Most of the fatal accidents that occur at night are a result of drinking and driving. According to the severe incidents, it is clear that alcohol impairment is a major distraction to drivers. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not drink and drive to always keep your defensive driving instincts on high alert. If you suspect another driver is drunk, It's best to distance yourself or inform the authorities.   2. Combat fatigue Midnight and 6 am are usually the most critical times while driving. The most reported cases of fatal accidents are a result of sleepy drivers. Extreme fatigue is also a vice, so you ... read more