Kansas City Auto Repair

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

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

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

When our kids finally get their learners permits and begin to drive for the first time, there’s a tendency for some to drive timidly and without the confidence they’ll need to avoid causing traffic spots. Especially if they sense you are afraid of their driving, or lack confidence in their abilities. At Brookside “66” Service, we see families with new drivers each year, learning the ropes and trying to keep out of trouble in their first year. Something we are frequently asked is, “How do I instill confidence in my kid as they learn to drive?” Start easy and build. Begin by taking them somewhere they can learn to drive safely in, typically the empty parking lot of a closed store, or a school out for the weekend. Buy some orange cones and talk them through the steps. Be calm and soothing, or let someone else do the instruction-- if they associate driving with your panic, they may never get confidence. Make certain you are teaching good habits, such a ... read more

October is Car Care Month, and the team at Brookside “66” Service knows that when your car makes spooky noises, it can feel like something’s haunting your car! No matter how scary it is, it’s always the best practice to investigate those noises, as they can indicate that there may be something bigger going wrong with your vehicle. More than likely, you already know what your car sounds like when it’s running without trouble. When it starts to make an odd noise out of nowhere it’s easy to hope for the best and continue to ignore it. But that’s the worst thing you could do! For example, if you hear high-pitched sound that continues on after your engine is turned off, you might have an issue with your radiator pressure cap. The rubber gasket attached to it may be worn, and may need replacing.  You might also hear a continuous ticking while your engine idles. If that’s the case, shut your engine off and wait around ten minutes for it t ... read more