KANSAS CITY AND OVERLAND PARK AUTO REPAIR

“How long should the battery in my car last?” That’s a question we get asked a lot. The average car battery can last between 3-5 years, but the actual life of your battery depends on several factors. The quality of the battery when first purchased. You don’t have to spend a fortune, but don’t be cheap about it. How well you maintain it. Battery maintenance goes a long way toward longer life. Include your battery on your checklist whenever you take your car in for routine check ups. Don’t forget the cables and terminals and keep them clean. The weather. Check the top of your battery to see the temperature specifications. If you live in a cold climate make sure you purchase one intended for your area. Cold weather reduces the cranking power of your battery so an older battery will experience more issues in the winter than a new one. Car batteries can even freeze and explode so if you think your battery is fro ... read more

While we realize that nobody enjoys spending their hard-earned cash on tires, it’s one of the critical functions of car care and car maintenance. While forking over some hard-earned dough for tires may be difficult, it’s well worth the alternative of having an accident, hydroplaning, or getting a flat tire because of poor tire maintenance. While just about every driver knows that tires must be cared for (like aired up and all…) many don’t know the signs of tire wear, and when they’re in need of replacement. So here are some helpful, easy tests, for knowing when your tires need replaced. Test #1 – Test the steering. While it can be a slight difference, if your car is having a difficult time steering or navigating the roads, it might be an indication that your tires need replaced – or at least balanced. Test #2 – Are you Hydroplaning? One of the number one purposes of car tires is to (yes keep the ca ... read more

Our cars have to operate in a wide range of Kansas City, MO temperatures and our engine coolant must be able to perform ‘no matter what’. Think for a moment about the environment where the coolant works. Very hot, high pressure, corrosive… And all the while, it has to protect the components of the cooling system from corrosion. These components are made from steel and aluminum, plastics and rubber. The coolant has to be formulated to protect against corrosion for all of these different materials. That’s why different manufacturers recommend different types of anti-freeze for our Kansas City, MO vehicles. There are several different ‘families’ of anti-freeze available to us here in Kansas City, MO. Your owners’ manual will tell you what kind you should use. Of course, Sallas Auto Repair will know what to put in your car. It’s important to stay on top of this because coolant system failure is the most common mechanical problem people have here in Kansas City, MO. Regular service at Sal ... read more

If you’re in Kansas City this summer, you are probably looking for ways to beat the heat! With temperatures reaching the 100′s this month, we’re all looking for some ways to cool down and find relief from the heat wave. While standing in the sun is practically unbearable, getting into a hot car and taking a long road trip in a warm car can feel even worse. BUT ~ so is having your car break down and needing emergency roadside service with the sun beating down on you and your car. If you’re planning on taking a road trip anytime throughout the rest of the summer, here are a few tips about how to beat the summer heat, and take caution in the sun, as you’re driving down the road: 1. Make sure to grab your cell phone and other emergency items. Most of us ALWAYS have our phones ~ but if you are like me ~ you forget it sometimes! Having your phone will get you quick help so that you don’t have to suffer in the sun in the event your car bre ... 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