When to get new wiper blades?

Wiper blades are one of the most ignored parts on cars today. Many blades are worn out or just in general bad shape.  They might look okay but they do a bad job of wiping the rain off.
   
Did you know that more than 50% of our quick thinking and maneuvering driving actions are based on timing and a clear view? If the wipers are skipping, streaking or failing to wipe cleanly, you need new blades -- NOW!
    We at Bill Tyson's Auto Repair think wiper blades should be replaced every six to twelve months for optimum performance. That's because wiper blades don't last forever it doesn't matter what type of rubber it is made from. Natural rubber deteriorates over time. Halogen-hardened rubber and synthetic rubber provides longer life but get warped and need to be replaced. 

How does this happen?  Wipers may develop a permanent formation or like a curve, that stops full contact with the windshield. This tends to be more of a problem on vehicles that are parked outside in the hot sun all day like in Florida. The sun bakes and hardens the rubber, so it shrinks up and becomes deformed over time. Then when the wipers are needed, they streak and skip because they've become a different shape and now can't curvature of the windshield. It can be very annoying and dangerous in extreme rain like we get during the summer.

 Heavy use can be hard on wiper blades, too, because dust, abrasives, road grime and even bug juice wear away the edge that the blades need to wipe cleanly. When the blade loses its edge, water gets under the blade and remains on the glass. The result is a smeared wiping. 

 

Check it out...

A simple check is to try your windshield washers. This is the opportunity to check your windshield washer system. Do both squirters work? If not, a nozzle may be plugged with dirt or a hose may be kinked or loose. Does the spray hit the windshield where it is supposed to? If not, the nozzles need adjusting. Does the washer pump deliver an adequate stream of solvent? If not, the vehicle may have a weak washer pump, or a clogged, or loose hose. Most washer pumps have a screen to filter out dirt. If this screen itself is clogged up, it can choke off the flow of solvent to the washers.

 After you've checked the windshield wipers, check the rear wiper.  It's just as important to see what's behind you when backing up in the rain as it is to see what's ahead. Feel like you're unsure if its doing well or not? Bring it in to our Royal Palm Beach or Wellington location. Its free for us to look at it. We just want to make sure you are safe out there.

 

Wiper Arms, Not Blades!

 How well the wiper blades perform also depends on the condition of the wiper arms and holders. A blade's wiping ability is affected by the amount of spring tension on the wiper arm, the number of pressure points or claws that hold the blade, and the design of the blade itself. If the springs in the arms are weak (older vehicles), the wipers may not be pressed against the glass firmly enough to wipe cleanly. Replacing the blades won't make any difference because the problem is weak arms not bad blades. 

If the blades can be pulled away from the glass with little resistance, it's time for new arms.  
Check the tension on the rear wiper arm, too, because rear wiper arms are often damaged by drive-through car washers.

  Another factor to keep in mind is the design of the blade holder. A blade holder needs to distribute the tension of the wiper arm evenly over the blade while also allowing the blade to flex as it follows the changing curvature of the glass. The better quality replacement blade holders typically have six to eight claws to spread the pressure of the wiper arm over the blade. More claws also increases flexibility so the blades don't lose contact at the sides of the glass. 

Replacements

You can come on in to Bill Tyson's Auto Repair locations to have the blades checked. It's better to be safe than sorry. We are already in hurricane season and the wet weather. Please make sure you and your family are ready in these bad driving conditions. We have all been through it where the rain is coming down like sheets. It is actually a very inexpensive fix.
Right now we even have a deal going on for Anco wiper blades which fits most cars and can be done for under $20.
Come on over to Bill Tyson's, we are happy to help you with quality service at an honest value.

What Does It Mean If My Car Is Vibrating?

If you own a car long enough then there's a good chance you'll develop car problems to some extent. One of the most common issues is shaking. It happens slowly but surely and then one day you find yourself wondering how you drive like this! Is this safe? What does it mean if my car is vibrating? There is no substitute for our ASE certified mechanics. However, you can develop a good feel yourself for car problems that are relatively common, like the shaking.

 Here is some good and sound advice from us at Bill Tyson's as to why your car may be doing this, what it can mean and why you should bring it in.

The fix could be something relatively cheap and simple, like a tire rotation or balance. It could signal more serious car trouble - something not as simple, like steering or suspension problems. Coming in to our Wellington or Royal Palm Beach location to just have the car looked at may seem like a hassle at first. We understand and will try to get you in and out the door as soon as possible because we understand you have a busy schedule. We are here to save you from bigger car trouble down the road.

Sometimes a shake or shudder will come from the engine compartment, because the engine isn't getting enough air, fuel or spark that it needs to run in top condition.

Symptoms like:

• Shudder or jerking when speeding up
• Sharp, disconnected shaking like driving over cobblestones within a specific speed range
• Car starts and drives fine and later begins to vibrate

These symptoms could be signaling that it's time for a new set of spark plugs. If the plugs are fine, it could be that the spark plug wires need to be checked (connected in the right order) or replacing them.
A dirty air filter or clogged fuel filter can starve the engine of the oxygen or fuel it needs. Easily prevented by replacing them at the manufacturer's recommended time frame.

Is the shaking coming from the steering wheel? On most modern cars, wheel bearings are meant to last the life of the car/or truck. But as you may already know, if you drive worse-than-typical wear-and-tear (off-roading, hard driving, high mileage), it's going to wear out.
Another thing to look for is how much a wheel deviates from a perfectly circular rotation when it is turning.
Other sources of wobbly wheels include the tie-rod ends or ball joints. If they're worn out, they'll allow too much play in the wheel.

Tires can contribute to the shakes:

• Car vibrates at certain speeds= tire balance
• Tires have separated tread or roll unevenly = needs replacements
• Uneven tire wear = tire rotation

Please feel free to call seven days a week. We can narrow it down even more. Make an appointment or just bring it in and tell us what is going on. Our mechanics are seasoned and will find what is wrong in a hurry. We will always tell you what you need and won't try to sell you something you don't. Honest work at a great price so you can get back on the road safely.

When is it time to get new brakes? How do I know when to get new brakes? We have the 411 for you

Brakes giving you a fit? Does your car seem like its not slowing down on time? That won't end well for the squirrels!



Brake for squirrels



Bill Tyson's Auto Repair Brake Jobs Saving Squirrels

 

 

It usually happens slowly, over a period of time. At first, you start to feel your brake pedal just doesn’t seem its old self. Then you hear a little noise when you come to a stop. That’s when you know its time for a brake job. It happens to all vehicles sooner or later no matter what. The average, depending on how you drive, is about 35,000 miles on front brake pads and about 55,000 miles on rear brake shoes. This article is a little information so that you have an idea of what you need to know to get your vehicles brakes back to original working order. After all, braking is the most important thing that your vehicle can do.

You should have your brakes inspected, often, by an ASE certified and trained professional mechanic like us at Bill Tyson's Auto Repair every time you have your tires rotated. We recommend that you rotate your tires every 5,000 miles. That way you can avoid the costly mistake of wearing your pads or shoes past the wear indicators and damaging the rotors or drums. Inspections should include checking the brake lines, wheel cylinders, and master cylinder for leaks, checking the brake pads and shoes for wear, and checking the brake fluid level. We have two locations for you to have us check it out. We can check your brakes in Wellington or Royal Palm Beach.

TIP: never add brake fluid to your master cylinder. If its low, there is a reason, and the system should be looked at by a technician.

 If your vehicle needs a brake service be sure that the proper pads or shoes are installed, and that they are a quality product. When it comes to brake pads or shoes, you get what you pay for. There a lot of different compositions to brake pads, (organic, semi-metallic, and metallic) Make sure that you get what your vehicle manufacturer recommends no matter where you decide to have the brakes done.

Come in to our Bill Tyson's Auto Repair in Royal Palm Beach seven days a week. Or if it's more convenient for you come to our Wellington store Monday through Saturday. We will even give you a ride home or to your local destination while your brakes are being replaced.

Call today to make an appointment.

Wellington 561-753-6101

Royal Palm Beach 561-753-6122

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Why do I have to change my oil?

 

Oil lubricates the moving parts of your engine. It keeps them cool by lowering friction and carrying the heat away. It also keeps any grit or tiny particles from scratching tightly-fitted parts.

Heat breaks down oil and in this Florida weather it can happen faster than you are thinking. It can make the oil gummy or watery or possibly even both, so that it doesn't lubricate properly. The longer it's in the engine, the dirtier it gets. This could lead to bigger problems down the line causing the engine to overheat or fail.

Replacing old oil with new fixes all these problems and is even a preventative measure to stop other problems from happening. Think of it like taking a daily vitamin. You aren't sick now, but you are insuring the possibility of being sick at all.

The fresh oil lubricates and cools. Once we flush the old oil out, we will also flush away any grit or dirt that has been collecting in it.

Getting your oil changed regularly is probably the single best thing you can do for your engine. To reduce the cost of major repairs and improve overall performance, follow your manufacturer's oil change recommendations listed in the owner's manual of your car. If you aren't sure you can always call us and we will be happy to give you helpful information. Either our Royal Palm Beach, Florida store 561-753-6122 or our Wellington, Florida store 561-753-6101.

Choose the oil change that's right for you or we can help you to get to know more about your car's makeup and what it needs to stay happy and healthy. Come and see the oil change cost for your car or truck at either of our stores. We currently have a $59.99 oil change package, which works for most vehicles, that includes a year's worth of oil changes for the price of two standard oil changes. While you're here, we'll give you our complimentary inspection, which includes checking belts, hoses, fluids and more.

We want to keep you safe out there!
The Royal Palm Beach location is open seven days a week for your convenience and is located at 1213 State Road 7 Ste 7 Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411 just on the southwest corner of Okeechobee and State Road 7. Our Wellington location is located at 3031 Fortune Way A-7 Wellington, Florida 33414 and is open 6 days a week for your convenience.

Come on in, we are happy to help and answer any questions you might have about our fantastic discounts.

Summer Tips - What Makes a Car Overheat & Avoiding Overheating

 

   

 

Happy summer! Vacation, the beach, no school and barbeques are all things to look forward to, but there are also parts of our lives the summer effects that we don't think about. The summer sun and extreme weather can mess with your car, but in places like South Florida it can really effect your car's mechanisms and even the mileage it gets. The sizzling temperatures and high humidity are not only dangerous for people and animals but also to the cars we rely on to get us to and from home each day. Did you know that there are operating systems in your car, just like a computer, that cannot function to their ability if it becomes overheated? We have suggestions for you on how to cool down when the heat is on.

Get A Tune-Up

If you have not yet scheduled your car for a summer tune-up, call us to make an appointment today. Extreme heat can weaken belts, hoses and other parts needed for your car to function without pushing it to an unsafe limit. Before the blistering days keep rolling in, have an ASE certified technician inspect for any damage that may indicate a break down in the future. You should ask for an inspection of your cooling system to prevent hot weather problems from occurring.

Giving The Engine A Break

As the temperature outside rises, the temperature on the road surfaces soar. Air conditioning will keep the inside of the car cold, however the strain on your engine could prove to be too much. If your car is showing signs of overheating, turn off the AC, wind down the windows and give your engine a break.

Avoid Hot Situations

We know changing the weather is not an option. What you can control to an extent is where and when you are driving. Driving during the hottest point of the day will be harder on your vehicle more than the early morning or late evening. If it is possible avoid routes with construction or stop and go traffic. These changes might be enough to ward off an overheated engine that can lead to bigger issues and expenses.

Our full service maintenance and repair services include everything from "while you wait" services such as oil changes or a wheel alignment. We also will give complementary rides to you when there is a major service needed like a transmission flush, brake repair and new tires or full service repairs but you need to go somewhere else or maybe just need a ride home.

Where We Come In

Bill Tyson's Auto Repair takes great pride in our beautiful shops, our friendly and experienced ASE certified mechanics, and a very welcoming environment. We service foreign, domestic, hybrid, and classic vehicles. We have the best warranties in the business and are competitively priced. Bill Tyson's Auto repair wants to take care of your car, your family and their safety.

While your car is in the care of our experienced mechanics, be secure in knowing you are having exceptional auto repair service. Our store managers will be honest and open about prices, wait times, and the services your car needs now, may need in the near future, or those that can be put off for awhile without affecting anything negatively. We want to be the best auto repair shop for you with the best value in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida.

We know from our own experiences that chain shops, dealerships, quick lube and fly by night tire stores can sometimes be a hassle to deal with. Sometimes is can involve the long waiting times, being strong-armed by the dealership, the overly expensive repairs, the upselling from the counter person who works on commission, and even being without a car for the rest of the day. We understand your frustrations and that you have a busy schedule. Bill Tyson's Auto Repair want to offer you a different kind of automotive experience that won't stress you out. We want you and your family to count on us for comfort, honesty, quality, affordability, and the inviting atmosphere of our living room style shops.

 

 

 

Call us today at 561-753-6101 in Wellington, Florida 33414 or 561-753-6122 in Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411. We have 10%off, 15%off and 30%off offers with fantastic package deals.