Yakima Auto Repair

The phone rings, a passenger needs something, or you want to check the next turn. The shoulder looks empty, and you'll only be there for a minute. That minute still puts a stopped car beside traffic moving at highway speed. Save the shoulder for a breakdown or another emergency, or when directed by authorities. A planned break needs a place separated from passing vehicles. A Highway Shoulder Isn't a Rest Area Shoulders provide space for emergencies and road operations. They don't give a parked driver the separation available in a rest area or parking lot. Passing vehicles stay close, and their drivers may be distracted or drift toward the edge of the lane. The danger starts before you open a door. Slowing out of highway traffic, stopping near its path, and rejoining afterward each require another interaction with fast-moving vehicles. A quick break creates all of those movements without a mechanical reason to stop there. The Shoulder Surface Som ... read more

A voltage display shows a higher number than you're used to seeing, or the battery develops a strong smell after a drive. Maybe you've just replaced the battery and worry the new one is already being damaged. It's tempting to compare the reading with one number found online and decide the alternator is faulty. Charging systems don't all behave the same way. Temperature, battery condition, and electronic control can change their voltage targets. The useful test is whether the charging system is behaving correctly for that vehicle under those conditions, especially if there are signs of battery overheating. One High Reading Doesn't Establish Overcharging Older charging systems and modern computer-controlled systems can operate differently. Some vehicles deliberately increase charging voltage in cold conditions or when recovering battery charge. A reading that looks high compared with a familiar older car can be part of a normal control strategy. C ... read more

Automatic transmissions naturally create heat. Fluid moves through the torque converter, clutch packs engage and release, hydraulic pressure changes, and the transmission keeps adjusting to vehicle speed and engine load. A certain amount of heat is normal. Trouble starts when the transmission spends too much time hotter than it was designed to run. Towing, steep grades, heavy loads, stop-and-go traffic, and hot weather can all raise temperatures. One short temperature spike is different from a transmission that runs hot every day, so we look at when the heat occurs and how quickly the system cools afterward. What Transmission Temperature Is Considered Too Hot? There is no single temperature number that applies perfectly to every transmission. Modern units use different fluids, cooling strategies, thermostats, and operating ranges. Some are designed to run warmer than older automatic transmissions. As a general rule, we become more concerned when the temperature kee ... read more

Hybrid battery questions are some of the most common ones we hear from drivers who are thinking about buying a hybrid or already own one and want to keep it for the long haul. The concern makes sense. People love the fuel savings and smooth driving experience, but they also wonder about the battery sitting quietly under the floor or behind the rear seat. How long is it really going to last, and what happens when it does not? At our shop, we think the good news is better than a lot of people expect. Hybrid batteries usually last a long time. In many cases, they last well beyond the point where drivers first start worrying about them. They are built to handle years of charging and discharging, and most manufacturers back them with long warranty coverage because they know the battery is a major part of the vehicle’s value and reputation. That does not mean they last forever, but it does mean most owners are not replacing a hybrid battery the way they replace tires, brakes, or a ... read more

Whenever a customer rolls into Westside Car Care driving a diesel pickup truck or a turbo-diesel wagon, a distinct conversation often starts up in the front office. Other drivers waiting for their oil changes will look out the window, hear that unmistakable low rumble, and ask us if they should consider making the switch to diesel for their next vehicle purchase. The biggest question on everyone's mind is always the same: Is a diesel vehicle actually cheaper or more expensive to maintain over the long haul? At our shop, we work on both gas and diesel platforms every single day. There is a massive amount of conflicting information out there on the internet. Some forums will tell you that diesels are bulletproof machines that live forever with zero maintenance, while others warn that a single repair bill will completely wipe out your savings account. The honest answer from a mechanic's perspective is that it depends entirely on how you use the vehicle. Diesels are not necessari ... read more