Sarasota Auto Repair

Check all the fluid levels and top off as needed.  Check the drive belts for fraying and wear. Check all coolant hoses, they should fell soft and not crunch when pinched. If they crunch that means they need replaced. Check the battery terminal and battery condition. Its a good idea to have the charging system tested also.  Check the tire pressure and tread depth.  Check tires for any signs of weather cracking in the sidewall or tread. The weather cracking could be dangerous. The tire could blow out due to a weak structure.  Check the brake pad thickness. Check the air and cabin filters. Check all light operation, headlamps, turn signals, brake and hazard lights.  Make sure you are not loading the vehicle with to much weight. There is a label in the drivers door opening either on the door or the pillar opening. It will have the maximum weight you can carry including passengers and luggage,    If you cant do all of the things listed to should ... read more

You should start by looking at the vehicle on a sunny day. Look at the paint color to make sure it matches, especially where the body panels meet. Look at the fender to door color match, also the fender to the bumper color match. Compare the front door gaps to fender to see if they have the same spacing or gap.  Also look at the overall gap on the fender to front door for the same gap at the bottom versus the top of the door. These are all signs of possible body repair done when the vehicle was in a accident. Make sure all the doors shut with the same force and sound the same. Inspect the trunk operation and make sure the hood will open and close easily also. The hood and trunk lines and gaps should also be checked for fit. You can ask for a Carfax; this will usually tell someone if the vehicle was in a accident or not....but not always.  Check for any moisture in the headlamps and tail lamps. These components could need to be replaced soon aft ... read more

Brakes for Breasts, along with the Cleveland Clinic, is a great cause to partner with as they are trying to find a vaccine to prevent breast cancer. Maybe you have lost a loved one to breast cancer, maybe you are the one fighting, or the one helping a loved one fight.  This is the second year our shop has partnered with the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Vincent Tuohy.   In the spring of 2017, Dr. Tuohy's research program was awarded funding to launch a greatly anticipated clinical trial to begin testing the vaccine.  Brakes for Breasts is an organization that unites Independent Auto Repair Shops for a common cause, to find a preventive cure for breast cancer.  The customer gets free brake pads, up to a $79.99 value.  We donate 10% of the labor and any other parts needed to Brakes for Breasts/Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Fund.  In 2018, We gave away 36 sets of brake pads and raised ... read more

                                                                     We are proud to be associated with Napa and what they stand for. The Napa brand symbolizes customer trust and quality.  Napa has been around since 1925.  They have over 14,000 independent repair shops that are affiliated with them. When a repair is done at a Napa Autocare you can been assured that the repairs done at that facility has a nationwide warranty. Most repairs are covered for 2 years/24,000 miles. If you have a problem within 25 miles from a Napa Autocare you simply go back to them.  If you are further away simply call the Napa warranty administrator at 1-800-452-6272 and you will find one close to where you are.  Napa offers training for service technicians as well and we send our technicians to the classes ... read more

R1234YF is the new refrigerant that is the automotive industry accepted solution for a low (GWP) global warming potential refrigerant. The R1234YF refrigerant has a 99.7% lower (GWP) than R134A Freon.  This means that it will dissipate and not stay in the atmosphere as long as R134A does.  When refrigerants stay in the atmosphere for a long time it is a known fact that it damages the ozone layer.  In order to service vehicles with R1234YF system, service technicians must be certified. All refrigerants used in automobiles/trucks must be recovered into approved containers and not vented into the atmosphere.  In the United States all new cars are suppose to have the new refrigerant R1234YF by the model year 2021. Some US manufactures have had the new freon put into production as early as 2013.  There are many vehicles that are on the road now that have the R1234YF refrigerant now.  The R1234YF and R134A freon are not interchangeable.  We have a new R ... read more

Most people do not realize or think of a wheel alignment as a maintenance item.  A vehicle should have a wheel alignment done as preventive maintenance to help ensure tires do not wear out prematurely.  We recommend a wheel alignment every 15,000 miles and every time the tires are replaced.  Visible signs that your wheels are out of alignment: the steering wheel is off-center and/or tire wear.  If your vehicle has rear independent suspension, there are usually adjustments to bring the rear of the vehicle back into factory specs. We have a Hunter alignment machine and can perform a four wheel alignment on your vehicle.  Also, the tire pressure should be checked once a month with a good quality air gauge when the tires are cold.  You can refer to the sticker on the drivers door jam/opening area that states the manufacturers recommended air pressure for your vehicle.  It is good to familiarize yourself with this information, as the manufacturer ha ... read more