Grand Rapids Auto Repair

Good tires can be costly, which is why you need to be extra careful on the road to extend the life of your tires. Since a vehicle's tires are the only part that touches the ground, road debris, including rocks, gravel, branches, glass, debris, road salts, metallic objects, and more, can severely hurt your tires. When drivers notice road debris ahead, most of them don't have time to avoid it, so they end up obstructing it. Encountering these unpleasant road obstacles is inevitable for most drivers. Even if the debris does not pierce your tire, it can cause your tires to wear down unevenly or prematurely. Below are several of our tips on how to drive with the following road obstacles: Gravel/rocks  — If you have to drive on rough grounds or gravel roads, please remember to move slowly and cautiously.  Branches — Slow down and try to change the lane safely if possible. If the branches or tree is too large, make sure to turn around and reroute safely. Poth ... read more

An overheated car is one of the most popular reasons behind vehicle breakdowns and engine damage. A great way to prevent your vehicle from wreaking havoc is by getting a cooling system flush. This type of preventative service ensures your engine will run smoothly day in and day out. Regularly changing out your coolant/anti-freeze can make a world of difference in preventing larger problems down the line. What Even Is the Cooling System? The cooling system is a system within your vehicle that helps stabilize your engine temperature. As you may know, the engine runs at very high temperatures. The cooling system comes into play by transferring the heat away from the engine to prevent overheating.  In most vehicles, the cooling system works by circulating coolant (a mixture of anti-freeze and water) through parts, like the radiator and water pump, to draw the heat away from the motor. The radiator sits at the end of the cycle, and it converts the heat to cooler air if necessary. It ... read more

The lovely smell of maple syrup: yummy at a Waffle House or IHOP but not inside or around your car. The smell of syrup isn't necessarily bad, but it can definitely signal a massive problem with your car. Today, we will talk about what that smell is, what it may mean, and what to do if you catch the scent.   We use our senses day in and day out. So whenever you notice something off about your vehicle, you're not crazy, and you should probably check it out. For this particular example, the smell of something sweet, like maple syrup, is no different. This smell is usually a sign that you've got a coolant leak.   Coolant (sometimes referred to as radiator fluid or antifreeze) is an essential liquid for your vehicle, and it has a vital job. It moves throughout the engine, hoses, radiator, and heater core. Coolant serves to regulate your engine's temperature to prevent it from overheating. The sweet solution also transfers the warm air in the winter to provide h ... read more

  As the weather continues to drop in Grand Rapids, MI, you wouldn't want your car's heater core to stop working right before winter. The heater core is the component that warms the air up when you turn up the heat in your car. It is also responsible for keeping the defroster's air warm so that it can clear your windshield for better visibility. At Auto Centric, our team can inspect and repair your heater core just in time for winter! Here are 5 signs that indicate you need heater core repair: Fogginess Inside Your Car Two things can only cause a haze inside your car. The first explanation would be that the heater core is malfunctioning, causing the defrosters to stop working. Secondly, the core itself could be blowing fog or smoke into your vehicle's cabin.  Sweet Scent  A sweet syrupy smell in your car is never a good sign. When the heater core leaks, it will leave behind the scent of coolant fluid through the vents. Cold Air Blowing Instead of War ... read more

Auto repair shops regularly see something missing from customers' cars – the most common being the locking lug nut tool. Often, the car owner never received the tool when they bought the car. The same may occur for more than a dozen other items. In some cases, the solution results in hundreds of dollars. If the car purchase was from a dealer, the odds of retrieving missing items are almost zero. If the purchase was from a private owner, sometimes the things are still in their possession, but they often cannot find them or throw them away when they realize they were for a car they no longer own. A few minutes spent with a simple checklist can save a lot of time, effort, and money. We recommend you make this part of your next vehicle purchase. View our checkist here!