Olympia Auto Repair

There's nothing worse than opening your car door and realizing the smell lingering in the air is coming from your vehicle. When something pungent wafts from your car's cabin, your first instinct might be to start searching the interior for the source. But if the smell is a sulfuric, rotten eggs smell, it's a sign of something more serious than a forgotten bit of lunch rotting under your seat.   What causes a vehicle to smell like rotten eggs? The most common cause of a rotten egg smell in your car is a faulty catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is an essential part of your car's emission system that removes harmful gasses from your car's emissions before they can be released into the environment. When it stops working, all those gases are released into the air, turning your car into a stink bomb of sulfuric gas.   If your catalytic converter is broken, it will need to be replaced by a qualified mechanic, but there are a few o ... read more

An engine head gasket is a ringed panel that is located between the engine block and cylinder head. Its primary function is to barricade the cylinders from potential coolant leaks or oil leaks. The head gasket is situated next to one of the hottest parts of your car. And when your engine is on the brink of overheating, it can cause the head gasket to fail. A blown head gasket can cause immense destruction to your motor, and a professional should inspect it as soon as it’s safe to do so. To prevent this catastrophe from happening, you need to look out for any of these three warnings: Engine Misfiring and Rough Idling Depending on your car, sometimes you can find some head gaskets between combustion chambers. If you have a blown head gasket, the assemblies can not withstand the stress and pressure, which will result in rough idling and engine misfiring. White Exhaust Smoke  Coolant could escape into the combustion chamber if a leak exists within the system and get burned a ... read more

The month of October may mark the start of the holidays as we kick off the start of Fall and Halloween. To mechanics, we recognize October as Fall Car Care Month. This means you should start getting your vehicle ready for the cooler months ahead. The weather will begin to change rapidly in Olympia, WA, and it will bring new challenges to your daily commute. Now is the perfect time to be aware of what your car needs! We highly suggest you inspect these fall maintenance items: Brakes - The fall will bring unexpected rain, fog, and even ice. Braking in these conditions can be tricky, and bad brakes can make the situation more dangerous. Your mechanic should examine the rotors, fluid, pads, and lines to ensure that everything is working correctly. Battery - A dead car battery isn't unusual during the colder months, so make sure that your battery has the power to hold a charge. Our techs at Olympic Transmission & Auto Care can test your battery and determine whether you need a rep ... read more

There's nothing better than pulling out of your car shop knowing your car is safer and more controlled. This is especially true after your brake pad replacement. However, you are caught off guard moments later when you hear the annoying squeak (again)! Are new brakes supposed to squeak? Well - sometimes. The truth is that new brakes can cause noises, but you need to use your context clues and listen carefully in case it is a brake problem. Let's go over the reasons why your new brakes may be squealing!   MOISTURE If it is raining or snowing, the precipitation can get onto your pads and rotors, causing them to squeal. Likewise, overnight condensation accumulating on the metal parts can also cause the same effect. The noise should subside as you drive, so do not panic. CONSTANT USE With new brake pads, you probably feel like you can take on anything! Well - not everything! You should remember that constant pressure on the brake pedal and aggressive stops can cause ... read more

Among the various automotive services we provide at Olympic Transmissions & Auto Care, one of the most vital services for nearly all vehicle owners is the basic tune-up. A tune-up at Olympic Transmissions & Auto Care includes replacing the Spark Plugs, Ignition Wires or Boots, PCV Valve, and the Air and Fuel Filter. Tune-ups are among the most significant factors in preserving your car’s value and operational functions as it ages. All in all, regular tune-ups offer valuable benefits in numerous areas.    FEWER REPAIRS  The principal value of a tune-up is its preventive measures. Our skillful technicians can inspect and catch issues before they turn into more severe problems. For instance, a dirty filter may not seem like a significant problem at first, but it will restrict air from reaching the engine if left unchecked. As a result, you could end up wasting fuel and cause the engine to run roughly. Nevertheless, engine trouble could later spread to other ... read more

If you have a home with a driveway, take the pleasure of washing your car at home. It is not as complicated as you'd think, and it is a wonderful way to cool off in the summer heat.    Why Should I Keep My Car Clean? - Keeping it clean will almost guarantee that it holds the highest resale value in the future. - Clean mirrors, windows, and windshields are required for someone to see all angles correctly when driving. - It can simply give you a boost of serotonin. Having a tidy car will make you feel confident and comfortable getting you from point A to B.   While it may seem appropriate to grab your water hose and random soap to start, there are specific things you want to consider when washing your car. The last thing you want to see after your hard work is an over stripped car or one with white water spots.    Use a microfiber cloth or specially made fabric for cars. Using an old t-shirt or rough rag to do the scrubbing can result in scratches on ... read more

  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