The Importance of Professional Auto Maintenance, Car Repair and Check-Ups

Autos are always an expensive investment, and can become even more expensive when future car or truck repairs and maintenance are factored in. If not taken care of well right from the start, you may not get another chance at keeping your auto running as well as it should. Having regular maintenance and automotive check-ups reduces the chances of getting pulled over for small vehicle violations like burnt auto bulbs, and increases your odds of finding auto problems before they require extensive or high cost auto repairs. Most importantly, regular professional auto maintenance and checkups will greatly reduces your chances of unexpected break downs leaving you in a bad situation on the side of the road.

A certified mechanic will perform a car or truck repairs with an expert hand, but will also inspect the entire car. Don’t wait for something to go terribly wrong. You should never take your vehicle to just any auto repair shop or mechanic. Think carefully about who you trust to perform your auto repairs and vehicle maintenance.

Professional automotive repair and maintenance means you should be dealing with a true expert in auto repairs. This does not mean that they are looking to charge you hundreds for a replacement or checkup like some may do. A true professional auto repair shop or reputable certified mechanic looks at every part of your car and makes sure that it is working as well as it can. A professional mechanic may want to have a look at the vehicle’s fluids, engine, brakes, tires, air conditioning and heating systems and possibly even your auto glass in some cases.

A mechanic checks often checks fluids for proper levels, normal color and viscosity, and to determine if there is any leakage occurring. Auto repair professionals will measure your coolant, oil, brake and transmission fluids. Proper inspection will make sure your automotive systems both holding fluids adequately and circulate properly.

A reputable mechanic may also want to take a look at your electrical connections and auto wiring. This is to determine if all of your automotive lights, blinkers, flashers and signal lights are properly attached and not worn or stripped away in areas. It is not uncommon for auto troubles to be attributed to things like damaged lines or badly worn cables, which could even cause fires in some cases.

Also to be examined is your brakes. Squeaky, squealing brakes may not cause an accident, but they do require an auto repair. Your auto repair shop can measure the pressure build-up, examine low pressure warnings, locate leaks in your air pressure system and see whether your brakes are responding as they should. Brake repairs of some type are needed on nearly every car or truck at some time or another.

As a final point, it is especially important to check your tires well.  There should be a visual inspection of your tires as well as a check on their air pressure. Underinflated tires heat up easily and reduce your car’s fuel efficiency. An auto repair shop or certified mechanic looks for cracks, damage or areas of excessive wear in the tires that might warrant tire replacement. Driving on bad or nearly bad tires reduces the traction between your tire and the road surface.  This increases your chances of having serious auto accidents.

Bringing your car in for maintenance, auto repairs or other auto servicing should not be simply about fixing a glitch. You need care for your entire car. You need an auto repair shop that cares about your vehicle as much as you do. Come to Sanford’s Automotive Service in Columbia, SC.  Our auto repair shop and ASE Certified Master Mechanic will be happy to service your auto, domestic or foreign.  Sanford’s has served the drivers of the greater Columbia area with the best auto service, superior customer service and affordable auto repair prices since 1989.

Temporary Radiator Hose Repair w Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro

Ever been broke down on the side of the highway, radiator hose spitting and steaming?  Yeah, it isn’t much fun.  While it won’t work for too long, this emergency roadside auto repair for your radiator hose will get you back home or to an auto repair shop.  Remember, this is a temporary emergency radiator hose fix and is by no means considered an actual auto repair.

Never perform cooling system work or radiator repairs on a hot vehicle!  This could cause serious burns resulting in hospitalization. 

When the vehicle has cooled enough for a closer look at the problem, you need to find the exact location of your leak.  If it is the radiator hose, this emergency auto repair can hold long enough to get you to a safe destination.  You need to locate the hole in the radiator hose and dry it off very well.  Next, grab a roll of duct tape!  Yes, duct tape.  If you don’t have any, it is found almost anywhere.  At worst, try finding a passing driver that may have some duct tape you could use.

With the radiator hose hole area completely dried off, get a strip of duct tape approximately 3 inches long.  Place this piece right over the hole in the radiator hose.  Press firmly to seal the hole.  Now smooth the tape on each side, starting from the center and smoothing it outward.  This will become a radiator hose patch.  Now use a much longer piece of the duct tape to secure the patch.  Secure the patch by beginning around two inches above the duct tape patch.  Wrap the longer duct tape strip tightly around your radiator hose.  Continue wrapping from two inches above the tape patch to about 2 inches below.  Wrap tightly and smooth it as you go.

With the radiator hose patched and tightly wrapped, check the radiator fluid levels.  Determine if there is enough coolant to get you to your destination.  If not and you can’t get to the usual cooling system blend you use, add enough clean, clear water to bring the level up.

As I have already said, this is merely a temporary, roadside emergency radiator repair.  A proper auto repair is still necessary, but this should emergency fix should get you home or to the auto repair shop or your mechanic.  While duct tape is great for many things, it will not be strong enough to contain the leak for long.

In the greater Columbia, SC area your best choice for all auto repairs is our auto repair shop, Sanford’s Automotive Service.  Our ASE Certified Master mechanic will take care of you and have you back on the road fast.  Sanford’s Automotive Service is proud to serve the drivers of the Columbia, SC area now and since 1989.  Just take Exit 71 off I-20 to our auto repair shop at 7917 Wilson Blvd. or call us at 803-735-7902 to schedule an appointment.

The Best Foreign and Domestic Auto Repair in Columbia SC at Your Service

We all know, not every auto repair shop is as good as the next.  A good auto repair shop or great mechanic is nothing without their customers.  I’d like to take a moment to thank all of the many, many customers that have allowed me to serve them since 1989.  We have worked hard to create happy, loyal customers here in our auto repair shop in Columbia, SC.  In recent years, we’ve worked to reach out to drivers across the country as we branched out online, doing our best to provide information that is important to any driver.  While I’m always happy to hear from satisfied customers from the Columbia area, I also love the comments and emails that come from the cyber world. 

For over 30 years, our ASE Master Certified Mechanic has been servicing your domestic and foreign auto repair needs.  Our blogs offer advice and how to tutorials on car repairs that can safely be done at home, with a little guidance of course.  As we continue to add more and more automotive related information and auto repair tutorials to our blogs, I wanted to make sure you knew where else you can find all of this great automotive info and mechanic tips.  

In addition to our blogs here and on Merchant Circle, our website offers all kinds of useful information.  You can learn more about the Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro, Mike Sanford, how to find our shop conveniently located off of I-20 on Wilson Blvd., or get all types of automotive related matter from tips to tutorials on the blog.  Our website is updated multiple times a week and you can also set an auto repair appointment there too!  Yes, I said an appointment.  Better yet, we will even set your auto repair appointment for a Saturday.  Just another of the many ways that we strive to make your auto repair experience as easy and stress free as possible.

Read the Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro Blog now!

To keep up to date with the Columbia SC Auto Repair Pro, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or our Google+ page. 

Sanford’s Automotive Service has been offering the greater Columbia metro area superior auto repairs and service at great prices since 1989.  We are located at 7917 Wilson Blvd., all you have to do is take exit 71 off of I-20 and you'll be the best shop for everything from exhaust and muffler repair, to brakes, oil changes, transmissions, rear end repair, or about any other type of foreign or domestic auto repair need you may have.  Contact us any time, online or by phone at 803-735-7902.