Why should I have my car serviced?

Lots of people just fill up their car with fuel and kick the tyres every now and again. They forget that regular vehicle repairs and maintenance is a necessary part of owning a car.

At Steve Sorenson Mechanical – a Logan auto repair shop, we know that regular maintenance is a lot better than costly repairs down the road. Sometimes even the smallest of problems can create havoc if left too long unattended.

It doesn’t matter where you live in South-East Queensland, there are always more cars on the road – especially it seems in Logan. Auto repairs are the one item on our list that we can all do without, but sometimes they are unavoidable. The one thing you can do to reduce these costs is to have your vehicle regularly serviced, so any potential problems can be picked up early.

And if you are still not convinced - here are 3 good reasons to have your car regularly serviced:

1.    Safety: As a road user, you cannot ignore the safety of yourself, your loved ones and of everyone else on the road (including pedestrians and cyclists). It doesn’t take much time to check your tyres and brakes – at the very least. Imagine driving in heavy rain and your brakes don’t work and your tyres are bald - both of these could save your life one day.

2.    Performance: If you keep your car well maintained, it not only runs better but your fuel economy is much better. Old oil gets gluggy and prevents your engine from running smoothly. This increases fuel consumption and costs you money. So make sure you change your oil and filters regularly.

3.    Cost: Ignoring vehicle repairs and maintenance can turn simple problems that could have been fixed easily into very costly repairs. Well maintained cars also last much longer, saving you money on replacing the vehicle sooner than you ever thought possible.  

It doesn’t matter where you live in South-East Queensland, there are always more cars on the road – especially in Logan. Auto repairs can be a very costly expense that can be offset by regular maintenance and repairs of your vehicle.

So drop by and see us at Steve Sorenson Mechanical in Logan. Car services are our speciality - call us on 07 38092711 to book your car in for a service or fill in our enquiry form.

Logan auto service – Do I need a dealer to service my car?

You might have noticed that there are a number of car dealerships and mechanical auto shops in Logan. Auto services are a necessary part of car ownership – it helps keep your car roadworthy and safe.

Quite often though, at Steve Sorenson Mechanical (we are a Browns Plains car service auto shop), a customer asks us whether we can service their car for them - or do they have to return to the dealership.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS ABOUT YOUR WARRANTY
In essence you don’t have to return to the dealership for your car services – any qualified mechanic can service your car.
The law that governs this choice is the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, which in layman’s terms states that a car manufacturer cannot void your warranty if you choose to go to an independent mechanic.

So the choice of where you have your car serviced is up to you. There are a few points that you should consider though, when deciding who to go to.

MAKING THE DECISION

One thing to consider is the use of original equipment (OE) parts. Whilst many non-genuine parts can be cheaper to buy (not all OE parts are more expensive), if your car is still in the new car warranty period and a part fails – then you could have a problem on your hands.

The problem is in deciding who is liable for the part failing and any subsequent damage to the car – the car or the parts manufacturer? If you use genuine parts however, then it is more difficult for the car manufacturer to reject your claim against them.

This is also good practice, even if your car is out of the new service warranty period – as any failures due to genuine parts need to be addressed by the car manufacturer.

At Steve Sorenson Mechanical, we are proud of our reputation in Logan. Auto services are one of core business practices and we take great care ensuring your vehicle is serviced well and correctly.

We are located in the Logan area – right in the heart of Browns Plains. Car services help to keep your car safe and roadworthy – call us on 07 38092711 to book your car in for a service or fill in our enquiry form.
 

7 Signs Your Car Needs an Automatic Transmission Service

The transmission is the gearbox of your car. But a lot of people forget just how important a regular automatic transmission service is – and they suddenly remember when they bring it in for an automatic transmission repair!

At Steve Sorensons Mechanical, we always recommend an auto pre purchase inspection. This is because the last thing you want is to buy a second hand car and have to pay for an automatic transmission repair.

So here are 7 signs that your car (or a car you want to buy) needs an automatic transmission service.

1.    Check engine light: Sounds simple but the check engine light goes on for a number of different reasons, and one of them is a problem with your transmission. So an overall check including an automatic transmission service can save you a lot of money down the road.

2.    Slipping gears: In an automatic, if it feels like the gears are changing at the wrong time or too often this can be a serious safety issue. Slipping gears can be a safety issue.

3.    Slow engagement:  When you put your automatic in Drive and hit the gas, if there is a delay in moving - then there could be a problem with your transmission. Avoid a costly automatic transmission repair bill and have a check up soon.

4.    A burnt smell: This could be your transmission fluid. And means that your transmission is overheating and the fluid is getting very hot. Book it in and get it checked.

5.    Leaking fluid: This is one of the easiest problems to notice. Automatic transmission fluid is bright red so spotting a leak is easy. Another sign of a leak is if you need to top-up your transmission frequently.

6.    Jarring transmission changes: In an automatic, the gear changes are very smooth. If you feel anything other than a smooth transmission – get it checked out.

7.    Car does not move: This is another easy one! If you put your car in Drive or Reverse and hit the gas – if the car stays right where it is (you did take the brake off didn’t you?) – then you might just have a problem with the transmission.

So call us for your next auto pre purchase inspection or automatic transmission service or repair on 07 3809 2711, fill in our online enquiry form or drop in for a chat at Unit 1/7 St Jude Court, Browns Plains, QLD 4118.

The Beginner’s Guide to a Car Brake Service

At Steve Sorensen Mechanical, our clients ask us a lot of good questions. But there tends to be three common themes – leaks, weird noises and brakes. And it is the third topic we are going to take a look at today. Specifically – a car brake service or an auto brake service.

A car brake service comes under the umbrella of vehicle maintenance services and can also be part of a good pre purchase inspection.

So let’s talk about the common brake jobs we do here at Sorensen’s:

 Replacing brake pads: This is a quick job and many people try this at home. The problem with just replacing the pads is that this can be only half of the problem. That squealing you hear when you put your foot on the brake can be caused by a combination of worm brake pads and rotors. So just replacing the pads might not fix the problem.

 Replacing brake pads and rotors: The brake pads are seated on the rotors and depending on how worn they are, they may also need to be replaced. But sometimes they are too worn and they just have to be replaced as part of your auto brake service.

If you leave it too long to replace your brakes, then they will eventually fail. Here are 5 signs you need a car brake service:

 Your brake light comes on! But quite often this is only for the front brakes – so if your back brakes are the problem you the break light won’t tell you this.

 You are taking longer to stop than usual.

 Your brake pads are less than 6mm thick – you might need to remove the tyre to see this. Check both the inside and the outside pads for wear.

 At first you will hear a high pitched squeal when you touch the brakes, but as they continue to wear you will hear a grinding sound.

 Your car pulls left or right when driving or braking. This could indicate a problem with the brake system, the tyres or your suspension. Best to have an auto brake service to find out for sure.

So give a call for all your pre purchase inspections and vehicle maintenance services or if you think you need a car brake service.

Please Call us on 07 3809 2711, fill in our online enquiry form or drop in for a chat at Unit 1/7 St Jude Court, Browns Plains, QLD 4118.

How To Tell IF You Need Your Car Breaks Repaired

Most of us have been in that dreaded situation where you’re driving your car through town, go to stop at a sign or stop light and hear a loud, sharp screeching sound coming from your breaks. Many people will try to carry on through their day, ignoring the sound that they had heard earlier, as they might think its not a big deal or a hassle to take the car in to be checked. Unfortunately, the longer you go without having a mechanic look at your car, the more damage you may be causing to your breaks and your vehicle.

If you hear a squealing sound coming from your breaks, you may very likely need car brake service. That high-pitched squeal is a warning coming directly from your breaks, which may or may not also be accompanied by the feeling of your breaks grinding. The breaks are the most important part of the vehicle and it is essential that they work for your safety and the safety of others who are on the road. Any changes in the way they are sounding or functioning should cause you to seek out a car mechanics service.  

If you have been putting off those brake and clutch repairs due to lack of funds or time to take it in to shop, don’t delay any further. What may be a simple, quick and inexpensive fix could become an expensive job if left unchecked. You may cause extensive, and expensive, damage to your car and break system by neglecting to have them looked at immediately. 

The best way to keep your vehicle in great shape and working properly is to have regular maintenance completed and to promptly take care of any parts of the car that aren’t working as they should. This is extremely important as it will help you to avoid unnecessary accidents while on the road, keeping yourself and other people around you safe. The next time you happen to hear your breaks squealing as you come to a stop, make sure to get them checked out and repaired immediately. It is simply not worth the risk. 

We’ll Help You Stay on the Road with Professional Transmission Services

Neglecting to take care of your vehicle's transmission can causes problems similar to  the kind of medical issues affecting your health when you neglect to eat right, exercise and drink plenty of water. You start to lose steam,  leak fluids and chug along until you can't function anymore.  Since transmissions can't take care of themselves like we can, it is your responsibility to make sure your vehicle receives regular automatic transmission service upgrades so that it doesn't suffer from "chugging". 

While many car parts (including the engine) usually make alarmingly loud noises when needing repaired or replaced, transmissions could be considered an automobile's "silent killer" because they tend to quietly exhibit mechanical problems before totally giving out.  For example, low transmission fluid due to leaky, worn-out hoses can make your car act like it is in neutral. You press on the gas--and nothing. No movement and no noise --only the sound of your engine revving.

Experiencing gear slippage while driving can be frightening, especially when motoring down the freeway and traffic is bumper to bumper.  Finding the reason behind slipping gears requires that an experienced automatic transmission service technician perform manual and diagnostic tests on your transmission to pinpoint slippage problems associated with mechanical distress, parts degradation or lack of sufficient transmission fluid.

Waiting until your transmission is on the verge of gasping for the last time can result in expensive and sometimes lengthy repairs that will leave you without transportation or force you to rent another vehicle. Avoid future transmission problems by taking your car to a dependable and reputable transmission service in Browns Plains. At Steve Sorenson Mechanical, we treat customers like one of the family and understand how important it is to have reliable transportation when you need to get to work, pick up children or do necessary shopping.

Don't let costly transmission repairs and the stress of getting stranded without transportation ruin your day. Call Steve Sorenson Mechanical today at (07) 3809-2711 to make an appointment or fax Steve at (07) 3800-7171. While on Facebook, you can visit our Facebook page or simply stop in at our Browns Plains Centre at your convenience. 

Simplyfying Car Diagnostics

Most motorists know that car engines are controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU), but how many realise that a modern car has more computing capability than the Apollo spacecraft that travelled to the moon. In fact, many cars have up to fifty microprocessors, which control the different electrical systems in the car linked together by a CANbus communication protocol. 

In many cars, almost every electrical piece of equipment is controlled by an ECU, even interior lights and headlamps. When a component malfunctions, it is no longer a case of tracing the wiring back through the switch to the fuse and to the battery. Sadly, all the average motorist can do is to replace a burnt bulb and check the oil. 

Despite this, advances in automotive engineering mean that cars are more reliable as their electronic systems are robust and self diagnostic capabilities alert drivers to potential problems so that they can be repaired before a breakdown occurs. Engine ECUs are so clever that when they detect an unsafe condition they will cut engine power and allow the motorist to get home safely without ruining the engine. 

Does this level of technology mean that motorists have to have their cars serviced and repaired by appointed dealers? Manufacturers would like them to believe that. 

But the truth is that, thanks to the American EPA, nearly all vehicles have standard OBD-II ECU connectors and manufacturers have defined protocols for their cars. This allows local auto repair centres to use universal diagnostic equipment to perform vehicle diagnostics on all makes of vehicle. 

Steve Sorensen Mechanical, an award winning local car care centre in Brown Plains specialises in vehicle diagnostics, car service, log book service, and other repairs. Their highly trained staff excels in the diagnosis and repair of electrical faults on all makes of cars, while their first class auto mechanic service professionally carries out all other car repairs. 

Contact Steve Sorensen Mechanical now. They are located in Unit #1, 7 St Jude Court, Browns Plains, QLD 4118 or make a booking by phoning on (07) 3809 2711 or through their website.