5 maintenance tips to keep your car driving smoothly

At Steve Sorensen Mechanical, we know that the cost of vehicle repairs and servicing can add up over time. The problem is that if you don’t take care of your car, those expenses can sky rocket and you can be out of pocket sooner rather than later.

Vehicle repairs and servicing

 
If you want to save money on costly repairs, then you need to have regular services to keep your car in tiptop shape. In between services, there are also other actions you can take, which will help to keep your car running smoothly. These are fairly inexpensive, when compared to vehicle repairs and servicing and will help to lengthen the life of your car.

So make sure you incorporate the following 5 tips into your maintenance schedule and help reduce your vehicle repairs and servicing costs.

1.    Check your brakes: Brake pads can be inexpensive to replace, but they can cause a lot of additional damage if you ignore the warning signs and end up with metal on metal.

2.    Check your oil: Not many people check their oil as often as they should. If you engine runs dry then you are really in trouble and I don’t want to tell you the cost of replacing an engine. So don’t go there. Check your oil at least monthly and keep it topped up with the correct oil for your engine.

3.   Check your tyres: Underinflated tyres cause your engine to burn more fuel, so check your tyre pressure monthly. Also rotate your tyres regularly to ensure an even wear.

4.   Check your coolant: If your engine overheats, you can be in big trouble so check the level of your coolant monthly and keep it topped up. 

5.   Check your air filters: Clogged filters can reduce the running efficiency of your engine and result in higher fuel costs. So check your filters and replace them when needed.

So if you want to avoid costly vehicle repairs and servicing, make sure that you keep your vehicle in good shape between your regular mechanical services. Call us on 07 3809 2711 for all your servicing and repair needs.

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.

Expert Auto Repairs: Car Brake Service

Vehicle maintenance services, in particular car brake services, are essential to keeping ourselves, our families and everyone else on the road safe. Too often however, people either forget about having their vehicle serviced or just keep putting it off until a more convenient time.

We all need to find the right balance in life between being too busy and getting things done. It can be hard, especially if you are doing it tough, but sometimes there is no other way than to bite the bullet and book in for a vehicle maintenance service. You know it is the right thing to do, especially if you are due for a car brake service.

CAR BRAKE SERVICE

So how do you know that you need a car brake service? Well one of the best ways is to ask your mechanic – he or she can tell you how often you should have your brakes checked. Failing that, here are 5 reasons why you should definitely book your car in for a car brake service:

• Noisy brakes – this can indicate worn brake pads or linings and you need to have them checked before the situation deteriorates to the point where you need major work done on your brakes.

• Brake pedal sticks – if your brake pedal stays down when you put your foot on it or it is slow to release there may be a problem with the master cylinder – get it checked.

• Vibrations – if your car or steering wheel starts to vibrate when you depress the brake, then it could be a whole host of problems – book it in for a service.

• Pulling to one side – if your car pulls to one side when you depress the brakes you might just need a wheel alignment, but it could also be a problem with the calipers – call your mechanic and get it checked.

• Locked up brakes – if your brakes lock when you depress the pedal, you might just have some grease or oil on the linings which can be easily fixed. Sometimes it can indicate something more sinister is wrong – so book it in for a check-up.

As you can see, there are many indications that something is going wrong before the point of no return. It’s important to not only your wallet that pick up on these signs, but it’s also vital to avoid serious accidents and injuries in the case of your brakes failing. So make sure to book in for a car brake service and head off any major costly in the future.

Call Steve Sorensen Mechanical in Browns Plains on 07 3809 2711 for all your vehicle maintenance services.

Looking For Vehicle Repairs Services In Browns Plains?

If you are looking for vehicle repairs and servicing in the Browns Plains area, then you have come to the right place. Car mechanics services are essential to the safety of your family and at Steve Sorensen Mechanical we love what we do. Steve Sorensen has been an A grade mechanic for more than 30 years and has been in the area for over 20 years. He owes his success to being honest, to being an expert mechanic and to being there for his clients when they need him.

Car mechanic’s service

If you own a car then vehicle repairs and servicing is just a part of life that we all have to do at some time or another. The good thing about a car mechanic’s service is that it minimises the risk of needing costly repairs. If you make sure to have your car checked and maintained by a reliable and trustworthy mechanic on a regular basis, then you can avoid having to pay for repairs that could have easily been avoided.

Lots of people try and perform their own vehicle repairs and servicing and there is nothing wrong with that – if they know what they are doing. Problems arise when something has been missed that could have been picked up by an experienced mechanic and then they end up emptying their wallets paying for costly repairs, that didn’t need to happen.

Another problem is that we are all so busy in our daily lives and even though we are full of good intentions, we just don’t seem to have the time to get around to servicing the car ourselves. That’s why it is important to know there is an experienced and trustworthy mechanic in the area, that will do the job right and at a reasonable cost.

Vehicle repairs and servicing

At Steve Sorensen Mechanical we provide vehicle repairs and servicing for clients in the Browns Plains and surrounding areas. We strive to excel at everything we do and take great pride in our work. If your vehicle needs a car mechanic’s service, call us and we will fit you in at a time that is suitable for all of us.

Without our clients, we would have no business, so we go out of our way to make sure that we meet your needs. If your car needs repairs, then we will take a look and give you an estimate of the costs involved. We are very reasonably priced and we have clients that have been coming to us for years – because we give value for money, every time.

So if you are searching for vehicle repairs and servicing in the Browns Plains area, call Steve on 3809 2711 and let’s get your car back on the road.

Steve Sorensen Mechanical: Tips on choosing the best vehicle repairs and servicing centre

When it comes to vehicle repairs and servicing, you want to find a car mechanics service that is honest and reliable. That’s really the bottom line when it comes to finding a car mechanic service shop.

So what’s the best way to find a reliable mechanic and how do you really know that you have picked the right one? Many people avoid the warning signs that their car needs a service or that something might be wrong, because they are afraid of being ripped off by unscrupulous mechanics. No-one wants to be charged exorbitant prices and pay for things that don’t need fixing.

Items like brake and clutch repairs can be costly, so you want to be happy with the car mechanics service that you have selected. You want to be sure that if the mechanic says something needs to be fixed, that they are being honest with you and that they charge a fair price.

So here are 5 tips to help you find the right mechanic for you.

1. Ask family and friends: If people you know and trust recommend a mechanical shop to you, then that really helps in making your decision. Ask them what repairs they had done on their car and how much they were charged.

2. Compare prices: Make sure that you get 2 or 3 estimates for your work and compare the prices. Just because a car mechanics service is cheap doesn’t mean that they are competent. Cost should only be one element in your decision, you need to consider other factors as well.

3.   Location: Vehicle repairs and servicing can take anything from a few hours to a couple of days, so think about whether you can you walk from the car mechanics service centre to your work or home. Alternatively, can they drop you off at work or home in your car, and then drive it back to the mechanical shop?

4. Do they listen to you: Be wary of mechanics who appear to dismiss your questions or your concerns. The mechanic needs to explain clearly to you what needs to be done and to know that they need your authorisation to perform extra services. This gives you the opportunity to ask more questions and to take your car to another car mechanics service for a second opinion, if you believe the quotes are too high.

5. Go with your gut feelings: Once you have sorted out the first 4 points above, go with your gut feeling. If their shop is dirty, unkempt and looks disorganised, even if they are cheap, maybe you want to look elsewhere.

For brake and clutch repairs, log book servicing, minor or major servicing or any type of mechanical repairs, call Steve Sorensen Mechanical at Browns Plains on 07 3809 2711. 

Steve Sorensen Mechanical: How car service log book services keep your car in top shape

As Steve Sorensen’s car care centre in Browns Plains, we know the value of regular car maintenance. We see cars coming in all the time that need really expensive repairs, repairs that could have been avoided if the owner had maintained regular services at our Browns Plains auto shop.

Mechanical problems can be picked up really quickly with regular services, avoiding the costly repair bills that come when warning signs are ignored. It just makes sense to prevent a catastrophe, rather than try and cure one.

So one of the things that we get hot under the collar about at Sorensen’s Browns Plains auto shop are car service log books. The log book is a schedule of minor and major services that the manufacturer has said are necessary to maintain your car in tip top shape. It also includes the intervals when these services should be performed.

Lots of people ignore these services and just top up the vehicle’s fluids now and again, kick the tyres and hope for the best. The problem is that ignoring the scheduled services, set out in your car service log book, is just a pathway to disaster. You will end up paying more for repairs down the road, more than the costs of all the missed services put together – and then some more again.

So at Steve Sorensen’s car care centre in Browns Plains, we encourage all of our customers to bring their cars in for regular servicing as a preventative measure against costly repairs, which can blow out your future budget.

Depending on your kilometres, your car service log book will state whether a minor or a major service is required. If you know your way around a car you can do these minor services yourself, however a certified mechanic needs to sign your logbook.

This is because your logbook is a valuable asset when it comes to selling your vehicle. It is proof that your car has been regularly serviced and is a record of all the repairs undertaken. An up-to-date log book helps you achieve top dollar when you sell your car. So a certified mechanic needs to sign your logbook for every service.

What if you don’t have a car service log book?

Sometimes when you buy a used car it doesn’t have a log book. So if this has happened to you, pop in to our Browns Plains auto shop and ask us how often your car needs to be serviced to keep it in good shape. We can come up with a schedule for you and if you keep records of these services and the receipts, this will be as good as a log book when you come to sell your car.

So pop into Steve Sorensen Mechanical, the car care centre in Browns Plains and let us help you keep your car in tip top shape.