KANSAS CITY AND OVERLAND PARK AUTO REPAIR

Driving your car on a nice day is a great thing. You may have the radio on, the top down or sunroof open, dog hanging out the window, kids hanging out the window, nothing but a lovely stretch of road and the wind at your back. Until you have to stop. Stopping is a very important part of driving. Otherwise we’d all be on the Santa Monica Pier. And when it comes to stopping your car your brakes are your best choice. Keeping your brakes in good condition means safer driving. Routine maintenance is your best bet to prevent brake problems. A thorough inspection should include: Brake fluid level Rotor thickness Brake lining wear Brake line and hose conditions Dashboard lights Brake lights A good test drive to diagnose any potential issues Having a good mechanic like those at Sallas Auto Repair perform maintenance on your braking system is always a good idea. But you should also know the wa ... read more

According to the Humane Society of the United States there are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States. That’s a lot of Fido’s hanging around, sleeping on our sofas, stealing food from the kitchen counters and generally making our lives better. And as vacation season is in full swing we naturally want to put our buddy in the car for a trip to the campground. Or even just a trip to the store for barbecue supplies. So if Sam is riding shotgun there are things you can do to keep him safe and sound. Keep your dog safe in the car. Sure they love to do it, but don’t let them hang their heads out of the window. It may be a traditional sign of warm weather but they can easily be injured by flying debris. Unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents annually, according to a AAA report. That can be as simple as Buster Brown jumping into the front seat or as devastating as a flying dog ... read more

At Sallas Auto, we are proud to employ ASE-Certified technicians to work on your vehicles. We care about your car or truck as much as you do,and take careful measures to ensure that your vehicle is well-cared for. Technicians who are ASE-Certified are the best in the business. They spend several months attending training classes or studying in order to refresh their auto repair knowledge. They then take a difficult national test to prove competency. Once at least one of the difficult tests is completed and the technician has two years of experience, they are given the distinction of ASE Certified. For auto repair technicians like our own Nick Sallas who have completed all of the ASE tests and have at least two years of experience, they are given the title “Master Technician.” Just as any other professional, ASE auto repair technicians can be certified in their areas of specialty. When looking for a repair shop, ask about the technicians and if they are mater certified, or specialize ... read more

Do you know where your car’s timing belt is? Do you know what it does? Most people don’t but it’s a vital part of your car and once it breaks your car will simply stop. In its tracks. No matter where you are or where you’re headed. The timing belt controls, guess what, the timing of your engine. More specifically, the precise speed the camshaft turns. It may last for years, and usually does, but if you don’t check it now and then you could be in real trouble. If your timing belt breaks your car will cease to move and this could be a problem if you’re on a busy street or highway. If your car is equipped with what’s called an interference engine that could mean real repair problems. An interference engine lacks good clearance between valves and pistons so when a timing belts breaks it could mean bent valves or a broken piston and that adds up to high repair bucks. Even a small slip in belt ... read more

Car crashes typically kill between 30,000 and 40,000 people in the United States annually. The most important thing you can do to avoid injury or death in a collision is use your seat belt. Aside from that, there are other important safety devices that could prevent crashes or protect you if there is one. Some are relatively new, and others are older features that have drastically improved over the years. These top 10 car safety features could save your life. 1. Antilock Braking System (ABS) Antilock braking prevents your brakes from locking up and your car from skidding when you slam on the brakes. The system pumps your breaks up to 20 times per second, which allows you to stay in control of your vehicle. 2. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) This feature applies the brakes to individual wheels when skidding is detected. ECS could prevent single vehicle fatal crashes by 50%, according to the ... read more