KANSAS CITY AND OVERLAND PARK AUTO REPAIR

Sometimes, it’s a struggle just to find space for all of your road trip gear. But have you ever considered packing your car safely? Yes, properly packing your car is one of the most important car safety tips out there. Interestingly, this is also one of the most overlooked car safety tips. At Sallas Auto Repair, we care about the safety of our customers, so we’ll share some car safety tips specific to packing your car properly. At-Risk Objects “Safety Research and Strategies, an accident investigation company, estimates ordinary objects in cars are responsible for 13,000 injuries a year,” reported ABC News. What’s more, though, is the fact that objects that are typically considered “safe” can become some of the most hazardous things in your car. Unsecured booster seats and car seats, for example, have the potential to become extremely dangerous in the event of an accident. To put things in perspective, consider that “At 55 miles per hour, a 20-pound object hits with 1,000 pounds of ... read more

Motorcycles are an especially-popular choice of transportation during the summer months. Warmer weather is a good time to enjoy your bike, but it is imperative that you take the proper precautions to ensure your safety. If you are not a biker yourself, always be aware and double-check for them to prevent severe accidents. The Stats Unfortunately motorcycles kill thousands of people each year. The Department of Transport has just released its latest findings regarding motorcycle safety. The most-recently reported data is for 2011, showing that 4,323 motorcyclists died in the U.S. during that year. Unfortunately, this is a 2% increase from 2010. Additionally, 289 people were killed on other bikes such as three wheelers and mopeds. A total of 49% of all fatal motorcycle crashes were due to the bike crashing with another vehicle. 6% of 2011 motorcycle deaths were a result of someone hitting the bik ... read more

Taking care of your car includes taking care of the transmission. The transmission is the part of your automobile that sends power from the engine through the gears and drive shaft to turn the wheels. Muck this up and you’re, well, shafted! Take care of your transmission. First off you should love your transmission. Treat it well, don’t abuse it and it will love you back. This means: Don’t tow too much or tow too fast. Summer is boat season but knowing how much boat you can tow is critical. When you overwork your transmission it gets hot. When it gets hot it gets mad and can actually blow seals, gaskets and your mind. Know how much weight your vehicle can tow and most manuals will tell you keep it at or below 55MPH. Do not tow your pontoon boat with your Fiat! And don’t drive 70MPH all the way to St. Louis transporting heavy treasures on your trailer. Change your tran ... read more

Driving in the rain is inevitable. During a torrential downpour, your best and safest option is to pull into a parking lot and wait it out. If you are not in a position get off the road, follow these safety tips to ensure you arrive to your destination safely. Don’t… Turn on cruise control. This can make your car hydroplane, which means it is traveling on the water and has little to no traction with the pavement. If you do hydroplane, let off the gas and do not make any sudden movements. Tailgate another vehicle. A good rule to remember whether it’s raining or not is to keep at least a car’s length in front you for every 10 miles per hour you’re moving. For example, if you’re moving at 30 miles per hour, keep a distance of at least 3 cars between you and the next vehicle. Drive through big puddles. If you can’t see the ground through the flowing water, don’t drive through it. It is easy to u ... read more

Fall is on the way here and chances are the kids are back in school and summer vacations are over. This is a great time to give your car a thorough cleaning. Sallas Auto Repair has some tips to get your car back in shape and ready for leaf peeping road trips. A clean car is a happy car. -Your car always needs a good washing to protect it from damage from sun and dirt. Fall is also a great time to wax it in anticipation of road salt and ice in the winter. -Give your car a good vacuuming. If you’ve been carting kids around you probably have all sorts of debris on your floors from picnics, the pool, or the beach. Sand is a killer on a car’s interior so be sure and get under and in-between seats. -Clean and condition your seats. More and more cars have leather seats and they can take a beating from the sun, especially if your car sits outside all day. Wipe them down with a cleaner made especial ... read more