So, you are enjoying a lovely morning drive when your car suddenly shakes and vibrates so hard when you hit 60 mph. Well, in most cases, your car tires are the main culprit. Here are some of the tire problems that might make your car shake when you ride at higher speeds. Wheel Balance When your car vibrates every time you drive at 50-70 mph, it is most likely that your wheels are out of balance. The vibrations will emanate from the steering wheel across the seat and through the vehicle's floor. A mechanical expert will measure your car wheel imbalance using a high-tech wheel balancer then help you correct it. Wheel Alignment Wheel misalignment could result from something as simple as bumping a curb. It is another major reason why your car would shake and vibrate when you drive over 60 mph. Fortunately, it is nothing your mechanic cannot handle. Drop by an auto repair shop and have them aligned to enjoy a safe, comfortable ride. What About When My Car Shakes When Starting? If ... read more

You may not know this, but your car has hundreds if not thousands of parts that require various fluids to work properly. In a perfect world, you would have the answer to "what's leaking?" before you even left the parking lot at the gas station. But in reality, it takes some investigation on your part to find out what fluid is leaking and where it came from. Here are six common types of leaks and how you can identify them: Coolant leak Coolant is essential for your engine to function properly. You may have a coolant leak if you notice an increase in the amount of time it takes for your car to warm up or see steam coming from under your hood after driving. Engine oil leak For the uninitiated, engine oil is the lifeblood of your engine. You may have an oil leak if you notice a large pool of liquid under your car or the smell of burning rubber coming from under the hood. Brake fluid leak This is undoubtedly one of the ... read more

Tire rotations are an essential part of what helps to save your tires and your car. Having a professional mechanic do the rotation will help you keep track of what's going on with your tires. They can inspect them for damage, check the strength of the tread, and rebalance them as needed. They can also check the air pressure. A routine tire rotation is recommended at least once every 5,000 miles. And there are many reasons why this is true. One major reason is that you can spread the wear much more evenly across all four tires. With the high cost of getting new tires, this is definitely a worthy investment. Another reason to get your tires rotated once every 5,000 miles is that you will be able to keep the tread even, which helps with everyday driving concerns such as smooth, even braking, and driving safely during times of severe weather. Some tires do wear out quicker than others, depending on their location. For example, front tires wear out much quicker than tires in the back ... read more

Understanding the signs of a dirty air filter can help you maintain the performance of your car. An air filter is playing an integral role in keeping the dust, dirt, and debris out from the air reaching the combustion chamber of your car but over time the air filter can be worn out thus, needing a replacement. You should know when it's time to replace it. Read on for more information. Signs of A Dirty Air Filter Let's discuss some of the signs so that you can keep an eye on your air filter: Car Vibrating Excessively And You Hear Noises If you notice that your car is vibrating excessively and making weird noises like popping then there could be an issue with the air filter as it might be clogged. Air Filter Looks Dirty A simple way to tell is by looking at the air filter as it would appear dirty. If you find it hard to see the dirt as it might not be apparent then it's better to let a mechanic check the air filter for you and let you know about the situation. Exhaust ... read more

With it being summer time a lot of people wash their cars at home. Well if you’re at home washing your car what kind of soap are you going to grab? Most people go in their kitchen and steal their dish soap. DO NOT wash a vehicle with dish soap. If it has been buffed and there is a glaze or any kind of protectant on it (i.e. any kind of wax or sealant.) it’s going to strip it because all of your dish detergents have a type of degreaser in them. So even though it suds up good and cleans really good it’s going to be that much harder to maintain, because it stripped all the wax off of it. You want all the random contaminants to stick to that wax, that way it washes off easily. If the wax is gone and the random contaminants get to the paint they can etch into and damage the paint. So by detailing your vehicle correctly washing it with a good soap and keeping a good coat of wax on it you can keep your veh ... read more

It is important in any season to replace your windshield wipers. If your wipers squeak, streak, or skip across your windshield or don’t completely make contact with the windshield as they go through the motion then the wipers are not cleaning your windshield correctly. The rubber will dry out due to age and use which can cause the rubber to crack and potentially scratch or gouge the windshield. More importantly, worn wipers will cause decreased visibility for the driver of the vehicle. Wiper blade replacement is a simple and inexpensive item that must be maintained. New wiper blades can make the hopping noise as well which could be caused by improper installation or even the quality of wiper blade (It is worth investing in a quality wiper blade if it can make the difference in getting home on a rainy night or not). Sometimes new wiper blades have silicon residue on them from them being molded. A q ... read more

Towing, or using one vehicle to move a disable second vehicle, is a common and useful service. It’s also one that’s much more complicated than it seems, requiring lots of vehicle and industry specific knowledge to ensure safe transport. If your car is broken down at the side of the road, chances are good that you do not have time to call around for referrals, but choosing the right auto shop or towing service is important in getting the job done well. That’s what makes knowing a few tips before you call so important. When it comes to towing services, what you know and do before the tow can save you a lot of hassle later. It’s always important to consider these tips: Know Your Situation Before you call the auto shop or towing service, collect as much information about the situation as possible and provide it to the service. Things like location, type of v ... read more

Vehicles are extremely complicated machines, and any number of parts can malfunction. In a society that relies so heavily on their vehicles for work and recreation, an unexpected breakdown can spell disaster. However, increasing numbers of car owners are neglecting routine maintenance and ignoring the common signs of a need for engine repair that could leave them stranded and with huge repair bills. Getting the most out of your vehicle means keeping it in the best shape possible, and that requiresknowing and acting on important warning signs that your vehicle needs engine repair ormaintenance. If you want to avoid the inconvenience of a breakdown, take your vehicle in to yourauto repair shop when you notice any of these signs of engine problems. Warning Lights That pesky “check engine” light is hard to miss, but many people do not take it as seriously as theyshould, especially if ... read more

So you’ve found out that your brake pads are wearing out, and it’s time for a replacement. But did you know that there are multiple types of brake pads, made from different materials and suited to the different needs of cars and driving styles? Our team at Auto Fitness in Gainesville, GA can help get the brake pads that best fit your car. Here’s a quick guide to help you select the right brake pads for you. Semi Metallic Brake Pads Semi Metallic pads can be made from anywhere from 30% to 65% metal, from copper, wire, steel wool and other metal materials. Semi Metallic pads wear out the least quickly of all brake pads, but they also tend to wear out the brake rotors faster. Low-Metallic These pads are made from a special formula using about 10% to 30% copper or steel. Low-metallic brake pads are optimal for high heat and friction braking, and ideal for high speed ... read more

How to Get Honest Auto Repairs When you take your car in to the auto shop for servicing, you have every reason to expect to be treated with honesty and integrity. However, it's pretty hard to know when you are lied to, over charged, or taken advantage of, when automotive care is not your expertise. So how do you know when you are getting honest auto repairs? It all boils down to the details. What You Should Expect With Routine Maintenance Taking your car into the auto shop for routine maintenance is always a good idea. It prolongs the car's useful life, prevents larger repair bills, and it prevents you from having to deal with unexpected problems and expenses, or wondering whether or not you really need this repair. When you take your vehicle into the auto shop, the technician should tell you what services will be performed, how long it will take ... read more