McFarland Auto Repair

What do you do to slow or stop your vehicle? Step down on the brake pedal, of course. But, the brake system is a lot more complex than a simple pedal. It involves many parts to produce the pressure necessary to slow down your wheels’ rotation. Over time, these parts will wear down and need service.    Typically, you can tell when your brakes are going bad using your senses. Fortunately, brakes show early signs of weakness like squeals and squeaks. With routine and regular brake service, you shouldn’t find your brakes fail abruptly. Otherwise, failing brakes can be very frightening and put you and your loved ones at risk of an accident.    Below are some of the symptoms of bad or failing brakes: Brake warning light or ABS light illuminated on dashboard Squealing, squeaking, or grinding noises Spongy brake pedal Shaky or vibrating brake pedal Brake pedal goes straight down to the floor Car pulls to one side when braking Brake pedal feels stiff a ... read more

On a hot summer day, it’s normal for your car’s air conditioning to blow hot air upon start-up… at least until it warms up. It should take no more than a minute or two for you to feel cold air. Otherwise, your auto air conditioning system may be malfunctioning. Don’t be caught melting in the heat this summer by taking your car to Tom’s Auto Center for reliable A/C repair.   When you bring your vehicle to our auto service shop, we will provide a comprehensive inspection and test your car's A/C. We’ve got you covered, from everything including the condenser, blower motor, evaporator, filter, refrigerant, electrical wiring, and more. Common Causes of A/C Problems  Low Refrigerant - Refrigerant is the substance that flows through the A/C system to keep the air cool. If there is not enough of it, it typically means you have a leak that needs to be repaired. Once the leak is patched, a professional mechanic can top your car off with some ... read more

The suspension system in your car helps to reduce jarring and shocks when you're going along the road. The suspension also aids in bettering how the car works. There are many various kinds of suspension systems, but the one that combines shock absorbers and struts is by far the most used. Shock absorbers are utilized on both the front and rear wheels of newer vehicles, whereas they are largely employed on the rear wheels of earlier vehicles and strut assemblies on the front. Shock absorbers' life span Shock absorbers have a minimum lifespan of 4 to 5 years. But the truth is that it depends on the state of the roads. If you usually drive the automobile on well-maintained roads, the lifespan may even increase to ten years. Similar to that, if you typically travel on uneven, bumpy, or pothole-filled roads, it can be less than five years. However, wherever you drive as well as how you drive are the true deciding factors. Signs you need to check your shock absorbers The shock ab ... read more

Whether you are a newbie driver or an experienced one, we all have our own bad driving habits. Some of them are more forgiving than others, while others can cost you additional fuel and repair bills. The good news is that you can always correct your habits to prevent problems down the line. Read on to learn more about some terrible habits that could be hurting your car: Running Over Potholes There are many different areas of the car that you can potentially hurt from speeding into a pothole. If you tend to do it often, it can harm your suspension parts, wheel alignment, and steering components. Plus, it can also burst your tires. It is best to slow down if possible when driving over potholes. Speeding Over Speed Bumps The whole point of a speed bump is to slow down your car. Similar to the pothole, this can also hurt your shocks and struts, tires, and steering system. Plus, you don’t want to damage your bumper or undercarriage either. Next time, try taking it easy. Forgettin ... read more

If you have somewhere to be, there’s nothing more frustrating than getting into your car just to be greeted by engine cranking or a dead battery. If your car can’t start up, it is very likely that you have a dead battery. A drained battery is never fun to deal with especially in the midst of summer, which is typically when your batteries die much quicker.   Here are some tips on how to avoid a dead battery this summer:  Try parking your vehicle in parking garages, out of the sun, and/or in the shade. Heat is your car battery’s worst enemy. So if you want to keep it healthy, please be cautious of how long your car stays sitting in the sun. Have your vehicle charge tested before, especially if you have a road trip or long drive to take. If it has been a while since your last battery check-up or replacement, it doesn’t hurt to have your battery charge tested at our auto repair shop. It can help you better anticipate when you might need to replace it ... read more