The auto mechanics, service advisors, and rest of the Brookside "66" Service team offer old-school service to families throughout Kansas City and Brookside. We strive to continue to stay on the cutting-edge of the ever-evolving automotive industry. We encourage you to take a look at our blog posts. That's where we post engaging, entertaining, and educational posts about auto repair and preventative maintenance.

Tag Archives: auto mechanic

Here's What Happens When You Organize Your Car

Here's What Happens When You Organize Your Car

Photo by Richard Goff on Unsplash   Welcome to our May blog, “Here’s What Happens When You Organize Your Car”!   Do you ever approach your car with a sense of dread, like walking into a mess you didn’t make? Over time, and especially with kids, your car can become a jungle of the things you need but only situationally. It takes reflection and a serious cleaning effort to notice how we clutter our vehicles with things and items we rarely use. One helpful way of breaking through the clutter: organization.   The web is full of great ideas for getting some order back in your car. One of our favorites is a couch remote control holder from IKEA re-purposed as an item holder for your passenger se ... read more

Categories:

General

The Daily Grind: How To Maintain Your Brakes, Gears, and Tires

The Daily Grind: How To Maintain Your Brakes, Gears, and Tires

Welcome to the April blog! We’re going into spring with some thoughts on maintaining your brakes, gears, and tires. Every part of your car experiences fatigue and decline, no matter what model you drive or how well you take care of your vehicle. But there are some simple things we sometimes neglect to do to help keep the three significant control elements-- Brakes, Gears, and Tires-- in better working order. Brakes: The big sin with brakes is not paying attention to the road and then having to slam on the brakes. Every time you hit the brakes hard, you are wearing them down faster. It makes good sense to avoid situations that will force you to brake too hard in a moment of panic. Gears: Our auto mechanics frequently spot two big sins people do every day. The first is drivers not using their parking brakes when parking. When your car is on an incline, that can put pressure on the transmission and causes damage. The other big sin is drivers swit ... read more

Categories:

Auto Repair

How to Protect Yourself When Buying a Car "As Is"

 How to Protect Yourself When Buying a Car "As Is"

Welcome to our March blog! We hope January and February have been good to you. This month, we’re looking into buying a used car in Kansas City.  If you’re buying a used car “as is,” there’s a lot you should know about the vehicle before you give your money over. An essential element is understanding how the law protects you, as the buyer, or know how it doesn’t protect you. The laws in most states cover you if you have a problem with the car you’ve just bought and are unsatisfied. Missouri is not one of those states. In Missouri, the lemon law covers NEW vehicles, forcing the seller to abide by the car’s inherent warranty. But no such protections come with new vehicles. From the Attorney General’s office: “In Missouri, a dealer may sell a used car “as is.” There are no specific warranties, and the warranties normally implied by Missouri law do not apply. You are responsible for any repairs on an “as ... read more

Categories:

Auto Repair

Five Ways You Can Show Your Car Some Love

Five Ways You Can Show Your Car Some Love

Welcome to a new month! With the arrival of February, hearts will begin to anticipate Spring's renewal and the sharing of affections for Valentine's Day. Kansas City may still be under the specter of COVID19, but we still manage to find ways to show love on our special occasions. Just as you shouldn't neglect your spouse or partner, you also shouldn't neglect your commuting partner who gets you to work on time: your car. This month, we're examining five things you can do to show your car some love this Valentine's Day. Look after your tires. Tires and brakes are what keeps you connected to the road. Without the proper tread, you can violently leave the road. Make sure you are getting your tires balanced, rotated, and replaced at regular intervals. Replace your fluids. Topping up your fluids is just a small part of what you can do to show care for your car. If those fluids are running dark (transmission, brake, coolant), it mi ... read more

Categories:

Auto Repair

It’s a New Year: Is Preventive Maintenance Really Worth it?

It’s a New Year: Is Preventive Maintenance Really Worth it?

Welcome to 2021! As we say goodbye to the old year, We welcome in 2021 with our best intentions and the hope that this year will be the one to put 2020’s bad times behind us. With a COVID-19 vaccine on the way, there’s certainly every indication that things are looking up. If we can manage our homes, our vehicles and our lives in the next year, we might just prosper. As people consider the expenses of the year, there will be some who choose to neglect certain parts of their life to handle others. Perhaps they may hold off on an oil change a month longer than expected. Ignore that rattle sound. Just bear with that vibration in the engine. For some people, the pandemic has forced them to live hand-to-mouth and to cut back on everything. And it may have you asking, is preventative maintenance for my car really worth the cost? If you’ve never really committed to preventative maintenance before, there’s one thing you need to understand: preventative maintenance sav ... read more

Categories:

Auto Repair