Olympia Auto Repair

  Most people don’t think twice when it comes to spark plugs; some don’t even know what they are and what they do. They might be small, but they are very mighty and are a crucial part of keeping your car running. Here are the tops signs that your current spark plugs are failing:   Your Engine Fails to Start Your spark plugs have a critical function in your vehicle: to provide the spark that powers the engine! Old, worn-out spark plugs have a more challenging time creating the spark that actually powers your motor. If your car stalls when you are trying to turn it on, there could be a problem with spark plugs or damaged spark plug wires.    You’re Getting Gas More Often If you notice that you aren’t pushing the exact miles per gallon (MPG) and stopping for gas more frequently, then it might be time to look at your spark plugs. Spark plugs that are worn down can increase your fuel consumption because they aren’t effectively burning ... read more

The timing belt works to synchronize your car's crankshaft and camshaft's rotations to ensure your engine's valves open and close at the proper times. Essentially, when the timing is off, the top and bottom halves of your engine are no longer in sync. At the moment a timing belt fails, the valves get stuck in the position they are in, but momentum forces the pistons forward directly into the valves, damaging them. Even a loose timing belt can cause problems. The belt can loosen causing it to skip a tooth resulting in out-of-sync timing. Issues with timing can cause serious problems such as misfiring or a decline in power. My timing belt snapped: Is my car a lost cause? The main fear behind a broken timing belt is the need to replace the engine. Often drivers decide to cut their losses and invest in another car. But potential damage to your engine depends on your car's type of timing configuration. Interference engines: The pistons and valves in an interference eng ... read more

An oxygen sensor is a device which measures the amount of oxygen within the system of your car. It plays a vital role in the internal combustion inside the engine. For this process to work, your engine needs 14 grams of oxygen for every 1 gram of gas. So when it gets low, its time to have a look at it. Your oxygen is located right on the exhaust pipe of the catalytic converter and is responsible for moderating your fuel efficiency system. When you lose oxygen, you could burn up a lot of gas, so knowing what to do when it goes bad is good for saving money. Too much oxygen results in a lean ride. But if you have too little of it, the results become serious. You will feel the engine vibrate as you go. This could be a sign of an overheated engine. Since the job of the oxygen is to keep it cool, it should come as no surprise that your exhaust will eventually get affected. If your vehicle starts to emit an unusual amount of pollution, your problem could lie in the oxygen sensor. When the ... read more

If you want to improve the performance of your car, you might be wondering what other regular maintenance your car needs besides oil change. If you know what's important for your car, it can improve the life span. Read on for more information. Regular Car Maintenance In order to keep your car in good condition, consider the following: Make sure you focus on the brake services. If your tires produce a squeaking noise and it doesn't resolve then it's time to let a mechanic inspect the braking system of your vehicle. You should also focus on tire rotation/balancing, wheel alignment, checking/topping off fluids, and inspections. It's important that you are keeping an eye on the performance of your car. Everything in life requires appropriate maintenance. If you neglect the needs of your vehicle then it can lead to poor performance. It's especially important to focus on such services if you drive your car around the city more often. Don't neglect the windshield ... read more

When properly maintained, the transmission in your car may just last forever. At the same time, this does not always happen. Many things can go wrong along the way. Failing to take care of your transmission as you should can lead to engine trouble down the road, so it is important to take heed of this advice. If it does get to the point where your transmission needs to be either rebuilt to replaced in its entirety, it is important to know your options. What is Involved With a Transmission Rebuild? A trained and experienced technician should do the rebuilding of a transmission. It involves taking it apart and completely putting it back together. The overall aim is to return it to a like-new condition so that your vehicle can get many more miles of service out of it. When the transmission has been removed and dismantled, the technician will clean all of its parts with proper chemicals. If there are any seals or gaskets that have been compromised, your mechanic should replace them. The ... read more

Car maintenance is the only thing that helps your car perform the way it was intended. The average car tires cost $137 per tire or more. For SUVs, tires cost at least $187 per tire. Here's what you need to know about caring for your car's tires. Tire Rotations Tire rotations help you get the most from your tires by helping them tread evenly. Evenly treaded tires ensure they last longer and are safer to drive. Tire rotations not only help your tires last longer, but they also help your car's engine and your car's overall performance. Tire Pressure You should check your tire pressure at least once a month. Make sure you inflate your tires when they need to be inflated, but don't overinflate them. Overinflating your tires can cause rapid wear in the center of your tires. You also need to make sure you're not underinflating your tires. Underinflated tires cause the outer edge of your tires to wear. The best time to check the tir ... read more

If your car begins to have starting issues when you turn the key in the ignition, you could be facing a fuel injector problem. Old fuel and gas residue often get caught inside the fuel injector and can result in your ignition not wanting to turn on at startup. With that being said, there are a few simple basics you should know about fuel injectors and how they work. There are a few basics you should know about fuel injectors and how they work. The fuel injector receives the gas through the fuel pump, which feeds it through. From there, the fuel injector "injects" it into the intake manifold with the utmost precision. After that, both oxygen and fuel mix within that manifold before undergoing the final process of compression within the combustion chamber, which is where it officially powers your engine right at ignition. Driving problems will sometimes have their roots in dirty or clogged fuel injectors. Since the fuel injector is primarily responsible for the even flow of y ... read more

Winter, Christmas, white snow covering everything – sounds lovely doesn’t it? It really is! However, with the cold weather that winter brings, there are certain car care things you need to know. Let us look at some car maintenance tips:Coolant Do you know what the role of the coolant is during the winter? Its purpose is to make sure that the water in your car’s cooling system doesn’t freeze over the cold nights. As you can guess, that is of the highest importance, so check the amount and condition of your coolant. The coolant should be a mixture of antifreeze and water in an about 50/50 ratio but that may vary based on the type of antifreeze you have chosen. Battery Put in simple words – your car’s battery performance may suffer in the winter due to the low temperatures. This is due to the fact that the vehicle requires a stronger current from the battery in order to start the engine. You can c ... read more

After you have your vehicle for years, you start to recognize just how much your full tank of gas costs you and how much a full tank will last you throughout the week during your usual routine. If you notice that your vehicle is getting as good of gas mileage as it used to, there may be an underlying issue. There are certain car problems that can happen that may leave you with a fuel economy that has decreased and you might be filling up your gas tank more often than usual. So what are these car issues, and how can you prevent them? Failing to properly maintain your vehicle is always a reason behind bad fuel economy. The better care you take of your vehicle, the better it will perform and the longer it will last you. You'll spend less on gas and repairs when you invest in proper vehicle maintenance. A regular vehicle inspection here at Olympic Transmissions & Auto Care will keep your vehicle always running at its best and ensure that you get the best fuel effici ... read more

When driving, you rely on your brakes to slow or stop your car when you need to. You don't think twice about it - you step on the brake pedal, and the system does its job. However, have you ever had to deal with bad brakes? A failing brake system can be really scary on the road and is definitely something you want to avoid as a vehicle owner. How can you best maintain your vehicle's brakes, and what are the signs of brake trouble to look out for?  While some brake issues can be obvious, some can be more subtle. The best thing you can do is get to know how your vehicle drives, that way you can quickly identify an issue with your brakes. Here are some of the symptoms to look out for that can indicate a problem with the brake system: Brake warning light has turned on Squealing, grinding, or squeaking noises Vibrating or wobbling when braking Leaking brake fluid Soft or spongy brake pedal Car pulls to one side when braking Car bounces up and down when it stops short Ne ... read more