Grand Rapids Auto Repair

Tire rotations are essential to regular maintenance for your vehicle, but do you know the benefits and why they're so important? Tire rotation is a process that involves moving your tires to different positions on your car to ensure proper wear. Why You Should Rotate Your Tires The primary purpose of tire rotation is to prevent uneven wear patterns from developing in one tire more than another. When one side or area of a tire wears down faster than the other, it can cause vibration, which can be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous while driving. Regularly rotating all four tires can help keep them wearing evenly and extend their lifespan. Benefits of Tire Rotation When done correctly, tire rotation offers numerous benefits: Improved fuel efficiency Properly inflated tires that are rotated regularly will last longer, reducing the money spent on new tires and improving gas mileage. Increased safety By ensuring your tires wear evenly, you can ... read more

With winter coming, it means Christmas is near and snow will cover the grounds. While it may sound beautiful and dazzling, the colder weather also brings a number of challenges for our vehicles. To ensure your ride stays reliable and gets you home for the holidays, there are some maintenance items that you should not skip! Battery  Your vehicle’s battery is going to suffer from the drastic change in temperature as it needs a strong current to start the engine. You should have your battery tested to determine if it is strong enough to hold a charge. Use this time to clean off and corrosion as well. Otherwise, you may need to replace it. Tires It is vital that you check your tire treads before the bad weather hits us. Your vehicle needs even treadwear that is deeper than 4/32-5/32” to handle driving in the snow. For the very best tire traction, we recommend investing in a good set of winter tires. These are designed to work best in co ... read more

We spend so much time in our vehicles that they sometimes feel like home. So when something is off, like a strange noise coming from the engine compartment, we know immediately. The same is true for odors inside the vehicle. For example, the rotten egg smell. You've looked everywhere inside your vehicle, but the source of the smell isn't in the vehicle. The rotten egg smell comes from a small amount of hydrogen sulfide (sulfur) that didn't combust with the rest of the gas inside the engine. It should have been converted into odorless sulfur dioxide. The obnoxious smell won't hurt you, but it signifies something is wrong. Damaged or blocked catalytic converter: When gas combustion happens, the exhaust contains other gasses like hydrogen sulfide. The catalytic converter turns the hydrogen sulfide into sulfur dioxide, which then comes out with the rest of the car's exhaust. The intent is to reduce ozone-harming gas that contributes to climate change. If your car ... read more

When your vehicle is properly cared for, it will achieve higher fuel efficiency. Considering how high gas prices are nowadays, saving on fuel is more important than ever. Not only will you be saving money on gas, but you’ll be making an impact on limiting emissions over time. Tips on How to Improve Your Fuel Efficiency Change Your Oil and Use the Right Oil It doesn’t matter whether you change your oil at home or at Auto Centric, it is imperative that you get them done on time and use the right oil. You can find the recommended oil type by your automaker in the owner’s manual. Ease Into Accelerating When you make quick demands on your vehicle, accelerating or braking, it can strain your vehicle’s components. Stepping hard on the gas pedal will result in quick overconsumption of fuel. Next time, go easy. Avoid Idling You should turn off your car instead of idling for long periods. Most people are under the impression that they should let the car warm up for ... read more

A wheel bearing is probably something most drivers have not heard of before, but it is an integral part of your wheel, tire, and driveline. It connects the axle to the wheel and tire and allows it to spin.    The component itself is held together by a ring and ball assembly. A good quality wheel bearing keeps your wheel intact and prevents it from wobbling. It connects to a hub that allows your wheels to spin as much as it needs.  Can Your Drive with a Bad Wheel Bearing If your wheel bearings are worn or faulty, you may only be able to drive for a short period of time. In the long run, you may notice unusual signs like humming noises, wobbliness, uneven tire wear, vehicle vibrations, pulling steering wheel, and more. When you notice any of the symptoms, please have a professional mechanic check your bearings during the inspection.   The sound of a bad wheel bearing is most noticeable. It can sometimes sound like humming, squealing, or even grinding. You&rsquo ... read more