Timing Belt Replacement

Mikes Auto Repair is here to help with your Timing Belt! It can be quite easy to forget that most cars need a timing belt replacement every sixty to ninety-thousand miles. So if your loyal 4-door is behaving a little strangely, a worn out or excessively old timing belt may be to blame.

In technical terms, the timing belt controls the frequency at which the engine valves open and close. In some cases, the timing belt will also help operate the water and oil pumps. This may help you imagine what will happen to your car should the belt start skipping "teeth". Because of its design and construction, a timing belt will start skipping teeth rather than snap. This is because there are High-Tensile fibers (like Kevlar) running the length of the belt. These fibers keep the belt strong long after a normal piece of rubber would wear away. Because it is quite rare that a timing belt will just snap, it is important to keep an eye out for a few tell-tale signs that your belt is worn out.

Uncommon amounts of exhaust
Difficulty getting the engine started
Your car shakes, or vibrates.
Your engine shuts down while driving, or starts abnormally fast

Paying attention to these signs can stop you from paying more than you need to for repairs. Allowing your timing belt to operate in disrepair can result in a breakdown nothing less than catastrophic, possibly requiring a complete rebuild of your motor. We at Mikes Auto Repair urge you consider the health and longevity of your engine. We know that no one likes to hear that their car needs a weekend stay at the mechanics for major repairs.

Unfortunately to replace a timing belt is not the cheapest of all repairs, but it is far less expensive than the alternative. Let Mikes Auto Repair save you from an automotive nightmare by performing this important maintenance step. The timing belt is an integral part of your automobile; it ensures the smooth operation of a few components of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, it’s not as simple as just slapping a new belt into place. The belt tension must be precisely set. If the belt is too loose it will "flop", making excessive noise and wear down the belt way before its time. Too tight and it will force your engine to work harder and can cause a "whining" noise.

Some technicians may recommend that you replace the water pump during a timing belt job even if there is nothing wrong with it. This is because 90% of the labor to change the water pump has already been done with the timing belt job and some technicians consider it good insurance to replace the pump at this time. The mechanic also inspects components inside the timing cover and, if necessary, replaces oil seals, tensioners, and idler bearings. But because we understand that no one likes to see extra’s on the bill, we will always ask permission to perform any maintenance you may require

At your request, we may also be able to improve the performance of your vehicle with an aftermarket timing belt. Many of the standard timing belts tend to stretch when your car reaches high RPM’s, higher quality belts will retain their tension and maintain proper timing even when your car is pushing the limits of its performance.

Engine Repair or Rebuild, Phoenix

We at Mikes Auto Repair know it is never an easy choice when confronted with the decision of engine replacement, vs engine rebuilding. How much will it cost? How long will it take? Is it cost effective? Should I just buy a new car? Seriously, you should be considering all of your options. All these questions and more can be answered by our qualified technicians. You'll feel at ease knowing your vehicle is being taken care of by the best Auto repair shop in Arizona.

Engine Rebuilding

There is a good chance that engine rebuilding could save you a whole ton of cash, depending on the root of the problem and the parts required to fix it. As one of the few shops in partnership with NAPA, you can take comfort in the knowledge that we use only the finest NAPA auto parts and have the skill required to integrate them seamlessly into your engine.

At times, rebuilding your engine can save you anywhere from 20 to 50% of the cost of replacing the engine completely. Depending on the parts needed and the amount of man hours required doing the job. We are well aware that our ability to fix your problem cost effectively is one of the most important things to our customers. Often, repairing the engine will also give you a good opportunity to replace a few parts that would have otherwise been neglected. Let us take care of your cars needs, you may also find there are a few upgrades you would like to make while we have our heads under the hood.

Root Problem Diagnosis

The vast majority of engine rebuilds could have been avoided with proper diagnostics from a qualified and honest mechanic. We at Mikes Auto Repair are ready to be realistic and forthcoming with what we know is one of your most important investments. An accurate diagnosis of the root issue is extremely important in saving you money, both in parts and the cost of labor. Unlike other mechanics, we are dedicated to the ideal that healthy engines make for happy people. Fixing the problem correctly the first time and gives you, our customers: a reason to come back.

In some cases, simply replacing the engine may be one of your better options. It will add valuable years to the life of your engine and turn a once problematic and fickle vehicle into the working and reliable car you require as a driver. Replacing the engine also removes the quick and potentially annoying addition of miscellaneous parts such as hoses, belts filters and coolant. Rest assured, our number one priority is providing you with the best option for returning your vehicle back to you in a stable working condition.

Whatever your choice, repair, rebuild or replace, Mikes Auto repair is here to make your life less complicated. By providing you with the knowledge to make an informed decision and demanding the very best from our technicians, we can guarantee your experience with us will make you like your mechanic again.

Radiator and Coolant

As with many systems in the automobile, the radiator and cooling system repair can become quite costly, but a few simple steps can save you tons of time and money. As drivers in Phoenix AZ, Mikes Auto Repair knows how important it is to keep ourselves cool while we go about our daily lives, and it is just as important to make sure your car can keep from overheating.

The radiator is not a particularly complex component of a vehicle; however if you let it go without checking its health you may find yourself surprised at the damage it can cause. A few simple steps will ensure that your radiator does not turn into a maelstrom of cash stealing steam. For example, most drivers are not aware that it is best to have a radiator coolant flush about once every two years.

Let’s go over a few problems that could lead to your radiator performing less than perfectly or at the worst, overheating. Quite often people simply forget to check for proper coolant levels, this can put significant strain on the radiator and cause it to overheat or corrode the radiator fins. It is always prudent to check for proper coolant levels before a long trip. Another problem that arises from time to time is a collapsed bottom radiator hose. A collapsed radiator hose generally occurs when the hose has degraded over time or a slight vacuum has formed due to the expansion and contraction of the coolant.

If for any reason your car does begin to overheat, one way to disperse heat from out of the radiator is to turn on the heater and let it run, although uncomfortable it may help save your vehicles radiator from a complete meltdown.

A lot of drivers wonder if it is possible to do this procedure from their own garage. Although it is possible, we at Mikes Auto Repair have the proper tools, know-how and experience to carry out this procedure with precision and speed. Furthermore we will dispose of the old coolant properly, with minimal impact to the environment. We will also be able to do this process in a timely fashion, hugely important to the hustle and bustle world of today. To top it all off, no matter if you are resident here or just passing through, we will come and rescue you from your overheated nightmare by towing your vehicle to our shop for repairs free of charge.

Transmission Repair

One System of a car that is often overlooked is the vehicle's transmission. Necessary to the smooth operation of the car and expensive to replace, the transmission is too often forgotten about until it is too late. Many drivers do not know that it is recommended that your transmission be serviced about once every 50,000 miles. Once again your friends in the heart of Phoenix AZ at Mikes Auto Repair can handle all your transmission needs. As we all know, knowledge is power so we have compiled a short list of the major parts of a transmission and how they work.

• Gears: Even if you are driving an automatic transmission, the gears inside your transmission are shifting on a regular basis. These are broken into two groups, the Main and Planetary gears. Both of these are necessary to drive.
• Fluid: Both manual and automatic transmissions need fluid to operate smoothly, without the fluid your entire transmission will literally come to a grinding halt.
• Filter: The transmission filter is in place to keep your transmission fluid clean and ensure the smooth shifting of your gears.
• Bell Housing: Bell housings exist to protect the internal components inside it, namely a flywheel and torque converter. The bell housing is bolted directly on the engine block, depending on whether your vehicle is front wheel, rear wheel or 4 wheel driven, it could be in a variety of places on the car.

Because your vehicle's transmission can be one of the most costly systems to repair or replace, we at Mikes Auto Repair urge you not to allow this system to degrade. Regular maintenance on your transmission will extend its life by leaps and bounds and save you tons of cash in the process. If your transmission is acting up, one thing you can do to troubleshoot is check the fluid levels. Be sure to check the levels multiple times as one check may not be totally accurate. If your fluid levels are lower than they should be, you may have a slow leak. A slow leak can be especially detrimental to your transmission because it will drop the fluid levels to a point where it causes excessive wear. But a faster leak will get your attention and force you to deal with the problem immediately.

We offer a comprehensive analysis of your transmission or drive train problems, including:

• Fluid Levels - The level of your transmission fluid is crucial to the transmissions life. It is the coolant, the hydraulic fluid, and the lubricant. It also should be free of particles, clear in color, and odorless.
• Road Test - During the road test of your automobile we'll check for shifting sequences, variations in operating ranges for gear selections, slipping, etc. You may accompany our driver/technician and he will explain what is happening.
• Engine Operation - We'll check for possible problems that would appear to be transmission related. If your engine is not functioning properly, it will have a definite effect on the efficiency of your transmission. We will diagnose the problem regardless of whether it is the transmission or the engine.
• Axles, CV Joints, Boots, etc - A failing universal sounds bad and shakes the car. It’s a minor part and replaced easily. CV joints and boots will do the same, although a little more costly to replace.
• Transmission and Engine Mounts - A bad mount will cause the engine and transmission to move under power and change the shifting sequences of your transmission.
• Leaks and Seeps - A bad seal or loose connections could cause loss of fluid significant enough to drop levels to a point where operation is effected, normally a simple repair.
• Drive Shaft and Undercarriage - Moving parts that could cause a problem that might sound or act like a transmission related difficulty when actually it’s really something else.
• Check Transmission Linkages - Worn and damaged parts cause erratic behavior in shifting and also computer and sequence processing.
• Cooling System Operation - Your automobile’s cooling system keeps the temperature of your engine within normal operating range. What you don’t see on your instrument panel is the operating temperature of your transmission. Overheating is a certain death to a transmission. We’ll also check all other peripheral areas for leaks including brake cylinders, power steering, etc.
• Differential Operation - We'll check for leaks and evidence of bearing or gear noise.
• Transmission Pan - We'll drop the transmission pan to check for excessive metal in the pan or in the filter. Obvious broken metal parts in the pan are indicative of the need for further exploration into the internal parts of the transmission. These large metal parts are from some hard part within the transmission that has failed and will continue to get worse, causing even more interior damage and greater cost to you for repairs.

We have have been servicing transmissions for over 15 years, and we can save you time and money with a proper assessment of your transmission's health. If your car is not driveable, we will TOW FOR FREE to Mike's Auto Repair (with major repairs). One quick call is all it takes to make an appointment, or to have one of our crew pick up your car - and you're on your way to solving your transmission problems with a proper, professional approach.