Maple Valley Auto Repair

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

Have you ever had a driving experience where you are driving unsuspectingly on the highway and then suddenly your car comes to a dead stop? Well, you are not alone. Most people have had this experience at least once in their driving lifetime. And in most cases the timing belt is the issue behind the inconvenience. So, what exactly happens when your timing belt breaks? The Timing Belt Explained A timing belt is a continuous loop made of rubber designed as cutting ridges. It is purposely designed to get intertwined with the teeth of the camshaft, whose role is to control the valves, and the crankshaft connecting to the pistons hence keeping them in perfect sync with each other. A timing belt thus, serves the crucial role of regulating the time taken to open and close the valve during the up and down of the pistons. The Significance of the Timing Belt You see, the valves and the pistons are strategically located on a collision path. Timing is, therefore, a crucial activity failure to ... read more

Cars nowadays are built with thoughtful engineering and using durable materials. Even with better-performing automobiles, they require a proper level of maintenance. Vehicle parts go through wear and tear, and eventually need to be replaced. One example is the fuel injectors in cars.    Fuel injectors are a part of a fuel delivery system, and they are the devices that spritz fuel for the engine to run. When the fuel injector is clogged or failing to work, you may notice the following symptoms: Bad Odor If you can smell fuel all the time while driving, it is a sign that you have a leak. Fuel leaks are scary because gasoline is flammable. Plus, it can be costly. Your fuel economy will be impacted with a faulty fuel injector, so be sure to repair your fuel injectors ASAP. Engine Struggles Your engine will lose a significant amount of power when the fuel injectors have gone bad. Your car might not accelerate as quickly or at all. Since your engine won’t combust as it ... read more