Charlotte Auto Repair

Cars require regular maintenance to perform at their best, including the transmission. At the first signs of transmission trouble, such as fluid leaks, warning lights, a burning smell, and other indications, take your car to an auto shop as soon as possible. The transmission is an essential part of your car that needs to be properly maintained. Here's what you need to know about the differences between transmission repair, replacement, and rebuilding. Transmission Repair A transmission repair is a cost-effective way to fix faults within a transmission. Transmission repair is ideal for minor fixes. This type of repair can include fixing specific components, in-car repairs, various adjustments, and resealing jobs. Transmission repairs do not require the transmission to be rebuilt completely. This type of repair is not an option for transmissions with extensive damages. Transmission Replacement Transmission replacement is costly but is an excellent option for transmissions that su ... read more

What is a pre-purchase used car inspection? If you are in the market for a used car or truck, then this article can help you to understand the value of a pre-purchase used car inspection. Sometimes a vehicle can look perfect from the outside. Also, this can seem to be true even if you look up under the hood and scan for defects. The benefits of having a third-party inspection to assist you with buying short or long-distance purchases are immense. Professional Third-Party Having a third party look under the hood and for other problems that are outside the vehicle is an excellent way to ensure that you are getting the best deal. Most good dealers and genuine independent sellers will agree to have a third party to inspect the vehicle. It is imperative to have a close inspection of the car you want to buy. Also, many underlying issues may not be obvious. There are two types of inspectors that you can hire to make sure you are not buying a lemon. If you are buying from ... read more

Wintertime brings many fun activities and opportunities for vacations, including snowboarding and skiing getaways, snow tubing, and sight-seeing. If you’re planning on visiting a colder place for fun winter activities, you may be wondering how to properly prepare for your winter vacation. Here are some tips on how to make sure that you will be prepared for your winter vacation!  Get the right attire for where you are traveling. If you will be having fun in the snow, proper attire is going to be necessary to keep you safe and warm while traveling. In the freezing cold, a winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf, long pants, and water-resistant boots will be needed. You may also need to dress in multiple layers depending on the temperature of your destination.  Check the weather forecast days in advance. The best way to prepare for a winter vacation is to check the weather forecast days in advance to be sure that you understand what weather to expect and what you will need. If t ... read more

At normal operation, your vehicle should drive smoothly and without issue. You shouldn't find yourself feeling too much of the road's imperfections or every single little bump in the road. However, if you start to feel that your vehicle's steering wheel vibrates excessively, there may be an issue with the suspension system, tires, or wheels. Since many different components can affect the steering wheel, diagnosing the problem can be a little bit tricky. The following are some ways that you can narrow down the issue and understand the cause of your shaking steering wheel.  The most common cause of a shaking steer wheel is the tires or wheels. Tire balance is vital to a steady vehicle and out of balance tires can cause shakiness, uneven tire wear, and more. Tire balance can be an issue if you notice that your steering wheel vibrates at high speeds or gets progressively worse the faster you drive.  The wheel bearings can also be a culprit when it comes to a shaky s ... read more

You're driving along and look down at your dashboard to see an alert from your vehicle that one or more of your tires has low air pressure. Like most drivers, you may ignore it and continue driving, maybe even for days or weeks. This may not be the case after you read this blog!  When your tire pressure warning comes on, one or more of your tires is 25% below the recommended air pressure. While most drivers don't think that this is a big deal to have fixed right away, the truth is, having the proper tire pressure is important for a number of reasons.  Have you ever driven on the highway and noticed a piece of a tire laying on the side of the road, or what was left of it? This happens when you have a tire blowout. A tire blowout is when your tire essentially breaks open, which can be extremely dangerous while on the road. Tire blowouts are actually mainly caused by low tire pressure, and trust us - you definitely want to avoid this situation.  Another reas ... read more

You get into your car on a cold morning only to find that your heater is blowing cold air - you wait for your car to "warm-up" yet nothing happens. Is your heater broken, and is it a serious issue?  Your vehicle's heating system is actually complex and is directly integrated into your vehicle's cooling system. The warmth that your vehicle uses to warm the air before it is released into the cabin is actually from the heat of your vehicle's engine, transferred through coolant and the heater core.  A problem with your vehicle's heater core or low coolant can actually cause issues with your air getting warm when you turn on the heater. So while you may think a broken heater isn't necessarily a big deal, the truth is that you may have a cooling system problem. Low coolant or a bad heater core can cause some serious issues when it comes to your vehicle's engine. If heat isn't being rerouted from the engine, your engine can quickly overheat w ... read more

The brake system in your vehicle is what ensures the safety of you and your passengers. Even if you notice the slightest difference in brake performance or a strange noise while braking, it is important to have your brakes inspected as soon as you can. If you suspect an issue with your brakes, bring your vehicle into our experts for fast and friendly service. We will work quickly to repair your brakes and get you back on the road safely.  If there is a problem with your brakes, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:  Brake pedal goes to the floor Brake system light is on Loss of brake power Squealing/grinding noise when braking Vehicle pulls to one side/shakes when braking All of the symptoms above can indicate a problem with your vehicle’s brakes. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, stop by our shop as soon as you can. Our auto repair shop has the latest, state-of-the-art computer diagnostic equipment to accurately diagnose and repair ... read more

A good wheel alignment is necessary when it comes to safe car handling. All of your vehicle's wheels need to be properly aligned with each other in order for the tires to travel straight and avoid premature wear. When you drive with bad wheel alignment, your tires will typically wear down quickly and unevenly and you may have trouble steering or controlling your vehicle. This is why recommend getting your wheel alignment taken care of as soon as you notice an issue. There are a few different things that can cause your wheels to be forced out of alignment. They are typically related to bad driving habits, weather and road conditions, and more.  Having regular wheel alignments performed will keep your tires in great condition, saving you money on tires over the years. You'll also get better fuel efficiency, performance, and protect your vehicle's suspension components from unexpected repairs. Misaligned can be caused by a number of different things, including the follow ... read more

The weather is getting warmer, and it is that time of year when many of us start planning road trips and vacations for the summer months. We know that planning the trip itself may be forefront in your mind, however it's important not to forget that your vehicle needs to be in the best condition to embark on a road trip. The last thing you want is to get stuck on the side of the road in an unfamiliar place, and ensuring proper vehicle condition can help you avoid this.  Before you embark on your road trip, we invite you to schedule a pre-trip inspection here at Woodie's Auto Service & Repair Centers. A pre-trip inspection will check all of your vehicle’s major components to make sure they are all in good working condition and can handle a long drive. Our mechanics will also top off important fluids and make sure there are no obvious signs of major repairs needed.  Our mechanics will suspect the following:  Battery Belts & Hose ... read more

Your vehicle's engine is made up of hundreds of different components, all working together to provide you with a seamless driving experience. One such component, the head gasket, is commonly referred to but it often misunderstood. What exactly is an engine head gasket and what is its purpose? While the head gasket is small and doesn't look complex (a flat piece of metal with holes in it) it has a vital job. There are also many different types of gaskets in your vehicle, not just the head gasket. The primary job of these gaskets is to prevent debris from getting into the engine, maintain consistent internal pressure, and to keep fluids and other vital liquids inside the engine.  While we are on the topic of the engine head gasket, let's take a look at all of the different gaskets in your vehicle and what they do.  Head Gasket - the head gasket in your engine's cylinder has the important job of preventing any combustion gases from gettin ... read more