Car issues that make you anxious like the Walking Dead with Ebola

Bill Tyson's Auto Repair

   Bringing in your car when you know something other than an oil change may be needed because it's been acting funny can make anyone nervous. This is like watching the Ebola virus come closer to Florida or waiting for the next Walking Dead episode. It gets tense. We get it. We know that a $10,000 estimate is ridiculous but has happened to you before.

Here are the top things that you can do, should do in the future and what you should never do.

CAN DO
- ask friends or family for a trusted auto repair shop
- bring it in as soon as possible for an estimate
- if you still don't feel right get a second opinion

SHOULD DO
- in the future, if you notice anything, don't let it go for too long
- look for reviews on Yelp, Facebook, and talk to people who you know have had work done on their cars. If they had a less than great experience, they will tell you where to AVOID.
- find an auto repair store near you, like Bill Tyson's Auto Repair, that does a thorough 21 point inspection even when you bring it in for something small like an oil change. We let you know if their is trouble ahead for free.

SHOULD NEVER DO
- you do NOT have to stick to the dealership service center (it will not void your warranty)
- do NOT let a small problem sit until it becomes a big expensive problem
- do NOT be afraid to ask about Loyalty and Discount Programs, we have one at Bill Tyson's Auto Repair




we fix horse trailers. we fix fleet trucks. we pack wheel bearings. whats wrong with my car. my ac isn't working.

Hey everyone! Have you ever had your check engine light come on? Did you panic? Or just ignored it and kept driving? Do you pull to the side of the road and call a tow truck? What does that annoying little light really want from your life? We at Bill Tyson’s Auto Repair are here to tell you!

Don’t panic. It IS a warning light so something is wrong but it could be a few things.  The check engine light has two ways of showing up.

A flashing light is serious. You need to get to Bill Tyson’s Auto Repair in either Wellington or Royal Palm Beach – NOW! If your check engine light is on and flashing, you should not tow horse trailers, haul heavy loads or drive on the highway. Any of these could lead to serious damage or danger or both!

A steady check engine light is less serious, but that doesn’t mean it can wait for weeks. You should plan to get your car inspected. I know it can be a pain and you have work or school. Don’t worry, we have overnight drop off or you can bring it in first thing in the morning and if you have to go to school or work locally we can take you. Your safety is important! Let us help you. It’s free for us to drive you locally so you can get on with the rest of your day and we will call you or email you as soon as we know more.

We are always happy to give free advice in store, on Bill Tyson's Auto Repair Facebook or Twitter or on our blog.

Whatever it is, we are happy to help!

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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