THE TOP 10 SIGNS YOU NEED AUTO REPAIR SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO
We get it: not everyone is an auto mechanic. That’s why at Standard Auto Care in Sacramento, we do our best to keep our customers informed about their auto repair needs. Our auto mechanics do a full 51 point inspection for our clients, to make sure you’re protected from auto repair issues that you might not know about. Even if you’re just in for an oil change, and your car is running fine, we’ll check, because you never know what you might find. We’re not here to bother you with additional auto repair issues. Our auto mechanics want to make sure your vehicle is safe, and that you get the best value out of it in its lifetime.
We’ve listed some common warning signs to be aware of below. If something feels off with your car, take a quick trip to Standard Auto Care in Sacramento. Don’t let that cloud of uncertainty put a damper on your day. Whatever the issue turns out to be, you can count on Standard Auto Care to give it to you straight.
- The check engine light is on.
This is one of the most prolific issues that brings Sacramento drivers into Standard Auto Care. The check engine light is a light on the dashboard that illuminates whenever the the vehicle’s on-board diagnostic computer determines auto repair or maintenance may be necessary. It could be on because the car needs general maintenance or inspection, but it can also be the early warning sign that something serious is wrong.
The general tendency among drivers today is to get annoyed by their check engine light. Seeing the check engine light come on and not go off can lead some people to take a small piece of electrical tape to cover it up. That is the biggest mistake you can make. This is because many of causes of the check engine light going on could be relatively simple. But not all of them are. If you end up broken down on the side of the road, you would have nobody else to blame but yourself because your car did everything he could to let you know that something was going wrong. Don’t let this happen to you, visit Standard Auto Care in Sacramento and let our auto mechanics have a look.
- There is an odd noise coming from your engine.
The longer you drive your car, the more familiar you become with it. The more familiar you become with it, the more you become used to certain noises and the way it rides. If you notice a specific sound that begins to come from somewhere in front of you while you’re driving, meaning somewhere in the engine compartment, pay attention. Even though the ride may feel the same and you got the same amount of power out of the car, that doesn’t mean that everything is safe and that you should just ignore the noise.
Your car communicates with you through these noises. It could be a wire coming loose or a screw that has loosened up. It could be that something flew under your car in is caught there. It might be something as simple as that, but that is no reason to ignore it. If it’s that simple, our auto mechanics will get it taken care of and get you in and out. That way if another noise or vibration starts happening, you don’t confuse it for one that’s no big deal. Whatever ends up being the case, Standard Auto Care is here for you in Sacramento.
- The car is suddenly running rough.
When you notice that the car is beginning to run rough, that may be caused by poor fuel quality, spark plugs not working properly, the timing being off, and 100 other potential auto repair issues. It could be something simple, such as the gas cap not being tight enough and causing pressure loss in the fuel tank.
Pay attention to the way your engine is running. Even if it corrects itself and you don’t feel the rough running engine anymore, it is still a good idea to bring it into an auto repair service center as soon as possible to have it checked out. Plus, the more details you can give our auto mechanics when you visit, the easier it will be for us to diagnose the issue.
There are numerous reasons why a car won’t start. It could be the starter motor, the timing belt, a fuel filter, or hundred other things. When your car won’t start, this is one of the most common reasons why people contact an auto repair facility. Of course, at that point, you need to get a tow. Keep in mind, most of these cars that don’t start were indicating that they need service before this problem occurred. Regardless of the situation, our experts at Standard Auto Care in Sacramento will work to diagnose the issue and give you the lowdown.
- You’ve been in an accident.
Suppose that you were in a minor fender bender and didn’t bother to exchange insurance information with the other driver because neither one of you considered it to be a major problem. There’s still potential for there to be damage in the engine compartment, the rear of your car, or even the chassis. That’s why it is advisable to share insurance information with the other driver and to bring your car into an auto repair facility to have it checked out. Don’t get burned because there’s damage you didn’t notice at the scene of the accident.
- You haven’t changed the oil in 20,000 miles or more.
This is far too common among drivers today. Especially with older vehicles, people don’t think that it is necessary to change the oil every 5,000 or 10,000 miles. With synthetic oil, they incorrectly assumed that since the oil is a higher quality, it is going to protect the engine much better and for much longer.
The truth is that oil gets dirty and begins carrying around small fragments of metal from the engine cylinders and continues to score the cylinders even more, causing more damage. Make sure that your oil is changed every 5,000 miles. If it hasn’t been changed in at least 15,000 or 20,000 miles, bring it into Standard Auto Care in Sacramento right away to have our auto mechanics check it out. Getting that extra oil change every year could save you the cost of a major auto repair by keeping your engine healthy.
- The temperature gauge moves to the “H” now.
Your temperature gauge might’ve always been situated right between the C and H but now it is moving closer to the H. This could be indicating a major problem that is developing. It might be a simple matter of having no coolant in the radiator. It also might be sensors that have gone bad.
- You can’t remember the last time you had your car checked out.
If you don’t remember the last time you brought your car in to have it checked and inspected, it is long overdue. These inspections can show potential problems that are beginning to arise that will get you an opportunity to address them before they become major expenses.
- The car shakes when you come to stop.
If you notice that the car is shaking when you apply the brakes, it is most likely an issue with the brakes, especially the rotors becoming warped. This can cause you to lose control of the vehicle if you don’t have them replaced or repaired as soon as possible.
- You don’t have the same acceleration that you remember.
Acceleration is related to power loss. If you notice that yours is beginning to decline, it might be a simple matter of changing spark plugs, the timing belt, or doing other general auto repair and maintenance. If the acceleration is less than you remember, bring it into an auto mechanic today. Standard Auto Care in Sacramento will get you taken care of.
We invite you to visit our family-owned and team-operated auto repair facility the next time your vehicle needs service or repair. Tom Hipp is the owner of Standard Auto Care, and his sister, brother-in-law, and mother all work with him. Sister Sue is a wonderful Service Advisor and the customers love her. Randy is Tom’s brother-in-law who takes care of the facilities. Mom is Judy, and she helps out once a week. Our ASE-Certified auto technicians are part of our extended family and we take great pride in our team. Together, we work together well to make an exceptional customer service experience. Come to Standard Auto Care in Sacramento and see for yourself why our clients highly recommend us to their friends and family.