Phoenix Auto Repair

Here are some of the most common misconceptions that I hear on a regular basis:Misconception # 1: Your car manufacturer specifies regular maintenance schedules just to get you back into their shop and make more money off of you. Although manufacturers are making cars that last longer and require less overall maintenance, they do require preventive maintenance. If maintained properly, you can expect your car to go well over 100,000 miles without major repairs. For instance, most engines have timing belts that must be replaced (as maintenance) before they break and cause expensive damage. Misconception # 2: A shop can give you an accurate price quote over the phone without seeing your car. You can waste your time calling 20 different shops and get 20 different prices and chances are every one of them will be wrong. Unless the shop has had a chance to examine or test drive the car in person, there is no way to accurately diagnose your ... read more

Women buy more new cars than men. Paved roads were originally meant for bicyclists and not cars. 80% of millionaires’ drive used cars. Whale oil was used in some car transmissions until 1973. Instantly cool down the car that has been sitting under the sun by rolling down the window on one side and opening and closing the door on the other side for 5 to 6 times. Ferrari produces a maximum of 14 cars per day.  Most manufacturers put out thousands of cars on a daily basis. As a case in point, Ford reaches an astronomical production rate of 8,000-10,000 each day. An airbag takes only 40 milliseconds to deflate. 1 out of every 4 cars produced in the world come from China. 90% of drivers sing behind the wheel. (The others are too embarrassed to admit it!) The automobile is the most recycled product in the world. In 1925, you could purchase a Ford automobile for less than $300 U.S. dollars. 55% of all cars driven at this time were a Ford. A car was created that is ... read more

In a recent study of several hundred people, the question was asked, “Does the auto shop where you take your vehicle employ certified technicians?” The vast majority answered that they assumed that they were certified. Sadly, this is not the case! Someone who cuts hair or does manicures is required to be state certified and take continuing education classes, but a mechanic, who works on tires, engines or brakes doesn’t need a single day of training nor are they required to have the proper tools. The only certification system we have in the automotive repair industry is strictly voluntary and is administered by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) which offers a series of written tests that a technician can take to be certified in many different areas of the car. All tests are voluntary, not required. At Fairway Auto Repair, I require all the staff to be ASE certified and I know many other shops do as well. I recommend using a AAA Approved auto shop because they requ ... read more

Imagine driving along and suddenly pushing down on the brake pedal and “yikes!” … you don’t stop!  That is something we hope you never experience.  Another very scary experience is this; you do stop but not until you slammed the pedal to the floor!  This indicates a brake line leak!  Certainly, you need to have this taken care of immediately!  Today most cars are equipped with a brake “warning light” that will illuminate when you have a leak in your system.  This alert should not be ignored or you may find yourself unable to stop at all. Here are some signs that your brakes need attention! When you apply the brakes, you experience: The pedal pulses or vibrates A scraping noise Squealing occurs A jerky feel The pedal to the floor Your brake system includes the following: Pads and shoes Rotors and Drums Calipers (disc brakes) Fluid Hardware Hoses and steel lines These components work in perfect harmony to make ... read more

Many of our customers at Fairway Auto Repair plan to keep their car going until it can’t go another mile.  If you are in that category, this article is not necessarily for you.  If you do plan to sell your car in the near future, or trade it in someday, read on!  I was reading an article by AAA and they estimate that a vehicle's depreciation costs American car owners $3,571 per year, up less than 1 percent from previous years. They went on to give us pointers on how to give our vehicle more value when it is time to part ways! 1. Keep up with regular maintenance. A good technician can always tell if a driver skipped oil changes or other maintenance. When we do a used car inspection at Fairway Auto Repair for our customers prior to purchase, our technician runs tests that can tell if the fluids have been changed or not. Some leasing companies in Phoenix charge lessees for unperformed maintenance. Make sure you keep receipts to prove you have kep ... read more

There are so many car myths that consumers actually believe, I thought it was time to do a little debunking!  Here is what you need to know when it comes to fuel economy! Better Fuel Economy – Your car uses less gas with the air conditioner on versus opening the windows.  This is not true. Driving with the windows down gives you better gas mileage. Pumping gas in the morning gives you more fuel for your money. Not true! Fuel is stored underground in tanks so the idea that you get more for less as cooler gasoline is denser does not hold true.  Underground tanks keep the temperature of gas steady. Small cars get better mileage. Today’s cars are designed to have peak fuel efficiency so this is no longer true!  You use more fuel starting your car than letting it idle.  This is not true! Modern fuel-injected engines start efficiently whereas idl ... read more

I have noticed people driving around with one headlight out or a brake light and one can only assume a turn signal (though some people just don’t bother to use them for some strange reason!). It is a good idea to test your lights!  You can have someone assist you, ask us to check, or check them out yourself by pulling up to a building and shining your lights, or even do it in your garage.  Seeing well while driving is very important, and it is also important that others see you! If your headlights seem yellowed, we can fix that!  Just contact us and we’ll tell you how we do this (no, it isn’t magic!). When Your Lights Go Dim Your vehicle’s alternator keeps the battery charged.  The alternator replaced the generator of the past.  If your car fails to start as quickly as it used to (hard or slow cranking) or your lights seem dimmer it could be a sign that your alternator needs to be replaced.  If you are used to da ... read more

Each time a driver starts their engine and gets on the highways that car, truck or SUV needs the driver’s full attention and the vehicle needs to be well maintained in order to protect the driver, their passengers and those they share the road with. Here are a few of the ways Fairway Auto Repair can help make sure the vehicle you drive is good to go! 1.  We use the proper oil and filter for your make and model every time we change the oil. 2.  We check your tires because they need to be properly inflated and rotated to keep them and you going for miles. 3.  We always check your vehicle’s fluids and top off as needed. 4.  We check all your vehicle’s filters because only a clean filter can perform properly to capture impurities. 5.  We check your wiper blades to make sure they function properly. 6.  We inspect the belts and hoses to make sure they aren’t cracked or frayed. 7.  We inspect the brakes so you can stop when you need ... read more

These are the brake system components that work together to make sure you can stop your car! This is just a brief overview of what each component’s job is. Brake pads and shoes – Friction works to slow your vehicle down and this takes place in the pads and shoes when they are forced against a rotor or drum.  Due to this friction, they wear out and need to be replaced before you get to “metal on metal”.  Brake rotors and drums – These are attached to the wheels of your car and again, help create the necessary friction needed to stop a vehicle. Brake calipers (disc) – These are clamps, and using hydraulics, they move their pistons out, increasing the fluid pressure.  This makes the pad contact the rotor’s surface and this in turn causes your vehicle to stop or slow down as needed. Brake fluid – Fluid is a very important ingredient in your vehicle and with ... read more

There is a lot of noise out there about the cars of the future.  As a child, I often dreamed of flying around in a car like George Jetson’s.  We are still waiting for that to be the normal mode of transport.  What do we have?  Gasoline Engine:  This old standby is popular because even though we often have reason to complain about gasoline prices, the cost to buy an electric or battery operated vehicle is much higher than the cost to buy a gasoline powered car.  Gas pumps are everywhere as well so you don’t have to map your route based on charging stations. The gasoline engine is still the most convenient, economical form of transport. Electric/Battery Cars: We hear a lot about this “clean” driving.  It is great for the environment, but the high cost makes it a tough sell.  Autonomous Cars:  These sophisticated alternatives to the gasoline engine are all the talk right now.  If the manufacturers can move past t ... read more