Brentwood Auto Repair

April is National Car Care Month, and now is the ideal time to kick-start your vehicle's preventative maintenance regimen, especially if you allowed it to idle during winter. A little TLC goes a long way toward extending the life of your vehicle, keeping it functional and prepared for summer travel and beyond. Spring Maintenance Checklist for Car Owners Replace your oil and filter. Changing your oil and filter at the suggested intervals in your vehicle's owner's handbook is one of the most effective methods to keep your engine operating smoothly. Check your fluid levels. When changing the oil and filter, you also ought to check the fluid levels. Conduct a visual inspection of your power steering, brake, and gearbox fluids, as well as your windshield washer fluid and coolant. Change your wiper blades. If your wiper blades are worn or broken, they will be ineffective in the face of relentless spring rains that impair vision. Conduct a check of your charging system. You s ... read more

In the wake of current events in the world, we're sure you're feeling the weight of it at the gas pump. The national record for unleaded gasoline has soared high. While ditching our cars may sound good, it's not logical for some of us who need to drive to work or take our children to school. Instead, we can alleviate some of the pain by implementing fuel-saving techniques into our lifestyle. Here are several tips that can save you some money and fuel! #1 - Get Rid of Unnecessary Weight Your car is not an everyday storage unit. If you have heavy items like heavy sports equipment, tools, or more, it's best to leave them in your home storage. A lighter car will require less energy to accelerate and brake, making your fuel consumption go down. #2 - Quit Harsh Acceleration and Braking It should come as no surprise that aggressive driving leads to increased fuel consumption. Instead, go for subtle movements, and you'll notice a change in your mileage.  #3 - Keep ... read more

As a vehicle owner, you should know that every car, SUV, truck, van, etc., need consistent care and attention to perform efficiently. You have a responsibility to follow your vehicle's maintenance schedule to ensure it can last you for as many miles as possible. Factory-recommended maintenance, also known as 30/60/90K service, helps prevent problems from occurring and keep your vehicle running smoothly, so you never have to experience breakdowns. Staying on top of this service also allows you better track your vehicle's maintenance history.  Most vehicle manufacturers follow a 30/60/90K rule. These numbers have significance and refer to the number of miles between each major service. They should occur roughly around 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles. Though items like oil changes and oil filter replacements are regular services you should have done more frequently, they can still be a part of your factory scheduled maintenance. What Does 30/60/90 Service Involve? A profe ... read more

There are distinct parts of the automobile that are extremely necessary for your safety. While some are well known, like your brakes, airbag, and seatbelt, some aren't talked about enough, like the power steering pump. Your power steering pump is a vital part that you need to have working for your car to run safely and smoothly. Its job is to apply the right amount of pressure to your wheels so that you can have proper control and steering of your vehicle. Below are several of the signs that your power steering pump may be giving out: Sign #1 - Whining Noise When You're Turning the Wheel Whenever you hear an unusual sound come from your car, you know that it's almost always never a good sign. If it occurs only when you're turning or moving the steering wheel, you know that the problem is probably coming from the steering system. You may have a fluid leak in the power steering pump. If you let it run close to empty, your entire steering system can fail, so please immed ... read more

Wondering if turning on your car heater really helps to stop the car from overheating? According to automotive experts, the answer is yes — at least temporarily.   How Turning On Your Car Heater Helps Combat Overheating When you're driving down the road and your car shows signs of overheating, experts say turning on the heater can help. The reason is that when the heater is running inside of the car; it pulls heat away from the engine.   The engine can begin cooling as it disperses heat into the passenger compartment. If this trick doesn't work, or if your vehicle is constantly overheating, bring your vehicle into our shop.    Why Is My Engine Overheating? After the vehicle cools down and you're in a safe location, the next question to ask yourself is what caused the car to overheat in the first place? The cause of engine overheating can be because of a wide range of factors. Some issues that cause overhea ... read more

Fuses usually shut down as a safety mechanism to prevent the entire system from overloading. Odds are, you're going to experience a burnt fuse in your home and your car at some point in your life. Fortunately, changing a dead fuse is similar wherever it takes place. To swap out a burned-out fuse in your vehicle, please do the following: Step 1: Find the Fuse Panel First of all, you need to find where the hub is located in your car. If you need assistance, please refer to the owner's manual. In most cars, you can find it under the steering wheel. Step 2: Extract the Cover Once you locate the panel and open the covering, look on the opposite side for a diagram depicting each fuse and what part of the vehicle it powers. You might see various numbers and colors that explain different amperages. Step 3: Find the Blown Fuse The blown fuse will almost always be black or look broken.  Step 4: Disconnect the Broken Fuse You can use your hands or some grasping tool to remove ... read more

Changing your oil is one of the most essential and simplest car services your car needs. High-quality, fresh, clean engine oil helps prevent excess friction from taking place within the engine. Additionally, it also prevents corrosion by keeping the engine lubricated. As oil gets dirty over time, it becomes less effective at doing these tasks. If it's been a long while since you've had an oil change, your check engine light may light, or you may notice a leak in extreme circumstances. It can even come as a surprise if you see a puddle of oil under your vehicle after running an errand. Below are of the most common causes of oil leaks: Blown Head Gasket - If you own an older vehicle, the head gasket can get blown. There's also another possibility that the rubber material enclosing the engine block may have decayed.  Damaged Oil Filter - The filter contributes to the flow of oil. A leak may occur as a result. Damaged Oil Pan - Your oil pan sits relatively close to the ... read more

The transmission, sometimes known as a gearbox, is the component in your car that transfers power from the motor to the wheels. With such an essential role in your vehicle, the transmission also requires regular check-ups and services to perform optimally. It can also wear down over time, and it'll signal warnings as a result: warning lights, fluid leaks, burning carpet smell. If you experience any of these indications, we highly recommend you take your vehicle to Monkey Wrenches ASAP.    Your mechanic can do three different types of operations to your transmission: repair, replacement, and rebuild. Transmission Repair A transmission repair is the most economical option of the three services. Repairs are to fix minor mishaps with the transmission. This type of procedure includes repairing specific components, various mods, and resealing. Transmission repairs do not involve the reassembly of the entire system. Our expert team will assess the severity of your transmissi ... read more

Imagine getting into your car and smelling an overwhelmingly sweet smell, similar to pancake syrup. Your first thought may be to check your backseat for any leftovers you left in the car or if you've spilled a sugary snack in the car. However, you don't find anything. When it comes to your vehicle, a consistent sweet smell in your vehicle can be a dangerous sign of a car issue. If you catch yourself sniffing syrup, there's a strong likelihood that you've got a coolant leak.    Coolant, also known to be a mixture of antifreeze and water, has a critical job when it comes to keeping your vehicle cooled. It is responsible for regulating your engine's temperature to avoid overheating. Coolant acts as a temperature stabilizer and transferer to provide heat to your cabin heating and defrosting systems. Furthermore, it can also prevent corrosion in your internal systems. The coolant moves through other parts, including the engine, hoses, radiator, and heater cor ... read more

Belts and hoses are some of the most economical parts of an engine. However, if they begin to fail or tear, they can lead to some relatively severe damages.    In particular, your car's timing belt is an integral part of the engine because of its job. It is responsible for synchronizing and coordinating the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft. Without this movement, the engine valves would not open and close at the appropriate times for operation. The belt uses teeth to provide consistent coordination. If the timing is off or the timing belt connection is weak, it could be disastrous for your engine. For example, the pistons can strike the valves, causing damage to the engine. The timing belt must be correctly installed and maintain a good condition.   Common Causes of Timing Belt Failure There are several different ways that a timing belt can fail. These include: Stripped teeth on the strap Unraveling of the belt's fiber cores Belt breakage (uncommon ... read more