Benefits of using a local auto mechanic service

Maybe we are biased, but at Steve Sorensen Mechanical in Browns Plains, we believe that a local auto repair shop is a much better investment for vehicle owners, than a large dealership or a large chain. Your vehicle is your pride and joy and needs to be kept running safely with as few costly repairs as possible, so the auto mechanic service you select, must tick all the following boxes:

• Cost: Without a doubt, car dealerships and large chains will charge a lot more to service or repair your car than your local auto repair shop. Cost, however isn’t always the defining factor on who you chose to service or repair your car. However, knowing that the costs are reasonable and you are not being over charged is a good feeling. I am not saying that car dealerships and large chains deceive you, but it is only sensible to compare costs and decide for yourself, how much you want to pay for services and repairs.

•  Experience: Your local auto repair shop relies on the local community for their livelihood, so they are going to be highly experienced in all aspects of vehicle repairs and servicing. Most likely, you will find that the owner works in his own shop and gets his hands dirty every day. Compare this to the large chains who hire people with no real investment in the company or in the customers. At Steve Sorenson, we go out of our way to give you the best service and repairs possible and we even suggest ways you can save money and still keep your car running well. That’s because we have the experience and the desire to engage with our customers, unlike a hired hand in a large chain.

•  Confidence: You need the confidence in knowing that the local auto repair shop you chose, has the experience and the knowledge to do a good job at a reasonable price. Local auto mechanic services remain in business because their customers keep coming back, year after year. They build a solid reputation in their local community and build their customer base via word of mouth and customer referrals. If a local mechanic is not good at his work and is too costly, he will not stay in business for long.

So if you are in the Browns Plains area, pop in and see us at Steve Sorensen Mechanical. We are well known in the local community and very competitively priced.  

How to tell when your car’s automatic transmission needs repairing

At Steve Sorensen Mechanical in Browns Plains, one of the most frequent services we do is an automatic transmission service. This is because our customers know that if they ignore problems and leave it too long, that automatic transmission repairs can be costly.

So it is always wise to have your automatic transmission serviced regularly. In between services however, there are certain signs that all is not well with your transmission and if any of the following occur, you need to book your car in as soon as you can, for at the least a service and at the worst, an auto transmission repair.

• Engine warning light: If this is on, it doesn’t necessarily indicate something is wrong with your transmission, but if the engine light is on and you also have any of the other problems described below, then you need to book your vehicle in for a transmission check immediately. In fact, don’t ignore your engine light even if you don’t have any of these signs, something is wrong in your engine if this light is on and it needs to be investigated.

• Vibrations: When the vehicle changes gears, it should be effortless and there should not be a shaking feeling or any vibrations felt at all. This can mean that your clutch is in trouble and is a clear indication that you need the problem investigated by an expert.

• Leaking fluids: If you notice red oil leaking onto the ground, this could either be from your transmission fluid or your power steering system. So check both levels and keep an eye on them. If the leak is only small and both levels remain within good limits, then you have some time on your hands, but if either level drops below minimum, then it needs to be booked in and checked quickly. 

So there you have it. The best way to avoid costly automatic transmission repairs is to be vigilant, check your levels and if any of the signs above appear, talk to your mechanic and have the problem investigated by an expert.