Graham Auto Repair

Is it time for an Oil Change Service?  It's always a good idea to be prepared and up-to-date on your vehicle maintenance services. So if you're asking yourself, "Is it time for an Oil Change?" then the answer is most likely yes! Regular oil change services are essential in keeping your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently. For most vehicles, you should schedule an oil service every 3-4 months. Why? Oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle. It ensures that all of the vehicle components are properly lubricated. This helps to reduce friction between the moving parts, which can improve overall engine performance and efficiency. Keeping up on your maintenance services assists in preventing future breakdowns!  With every service at Graham Auto Repair, our Technicians will perform a digital vehicle inspection. This inspection is free! Why do we do this? Because it's our goal to keep you and your loved ones safe when you're on the road! We do this by inspect ... read more

Winter is here! Many of us are getting ready to travel for the holidays. You may be asking, "How do I prepare my car for winter driving? It can seem like a daunting task. But we're here to help you! With these 4 maintenance services, you will be better prepared on the road this winter. We also have 1 more bonus tip for you at the end! 1. Tire Rotation One of the most important services to prepare your car for winter is a tire rotation. When you don't rotate your tires, they wear down unevenly. This can lead to dangerous conditions while driving in the snow. It's super important to have good tire grip when driving on ice and in the snow! By rotating your tires every few months, you'll help them to wear evenly. This will prolong the life of your tires as well.   2. Change Your Air Filter & Cabin Air Filter Did you know that most vehicles have more than one air filter? There is the engine air filter and the cabin air filt ... read more

How do you know when to change brake pads? Knowing when to change your brake pads is important! Not only for your safety, but for the longevity of your vehicle. Brake pads are located between the caliper and the rotor. Their purpose is to create friction to help slow down or stop your car. Over time they will wear out, which will impact their performance and your safety. There are a few signs that indicate its time for a change! When Braking it Feels Spongy Pay attention to how the brakes feel when you use them. Does it feel spongy when you press down on the brakes? Spongy may feel like you're pushing against a spring. This may indicate there is air in your brake system or that you have contaminated brake fluid. You may also have a bulging brake hose or a sticking caliper. In some instances it can also mean that the brake pads have worn down and need to be replaced ... read more

The video above is meant to make you laugh! But expensive vehicle repairs are not fun! It is our job to partner with you in maintaining your vehicle. We know that you have places to go! You want to get there safely, preferably without any breakdowns. By completing Maintenance Services you can extend the life of your vehicle. How do maintenance services extend the life of your vehicle? When you keep the fluids inside your engine clean, they can do their job better. Their job is to protect your engine and keep your vehicle running smoothly. Performing maintenance services will reduce the wear and tear of the engine and it's components. In turn this extends the life of your engine, and keeps you on the road longer! There are many different Maintenance Services that should be performed on your vehicle. Which ones and how often will depend on many different factors. The year, make, and model of your vehicle is one part. It will also depend on how often you drive, th ... read more

Meet Bill, our ASE Certified Master Technician. Bill has specialized training in European Vehicle repairs. Which cars does Bill enjoy working on the most? His favorite is BMW repairs and Mercedes Benz repairs. Bill started out in the Automotive Industry in 1998 and he has been serving on our Team since August 2020. One thing that you may be interested to learn about Bill: He does Autocross Racing and has earned multiple awards! What does it mean to be an ASE Certified Technician? Bill has completed all of his ASE Certifications and continuously renews them, every time they expire. Acquiring these certifications isn't easy! And in order to renew them, you have to re-take the tests. What does "ASE" stand for? I'm glad you asked! ASE stands for "Automotive Service Excellence." In case you'd like to read more about the ASE testing, check out their site ... read more

  How Do I Save Money on Gas? With gas prices on the rise, we are all looking for ways to save money at the pump! Other than not driving or car-pooling (those aren't always options) what can we do?? I asked my team for help. Keep reading to find out some pretty simple tips we can follow in order to increase our fuel economy. Give us a call if you have any questions! Our Service Advisors will be happy to tell you which services are applicable to your specific vehicle. 1. Complete an Oil Change Service Engines are made up of many moving parts which need to be lubricated to avoid damage. By maintaining your vehicle with regular oil services you will improve your gas mileage and your vehicle's longevity. Ready this blog, " ... read more

Why is My Check Engine Light On? We all know that the Check Engine Light means something is wrong! Unfortunately finding what is wrong can be difficult. Why? Because it could be so many different things! The check engine light can mean something simple like a loose gas cap. But it could also mean your engine is misfiring. There are many different things in between! My Check Engine Light is Flashing! You definitely shouldn't ignore any check engine light. But if the light is flashing it can mean something more serious. Please don't ignore it! At Graham Auto Repair we have trained and certified Automotive Technicians ready to help you diagnose your concerns. Give us a call as soon as possible!   When you call, the more information you can provide us the better! Let your Service Advisor know of any possible concerns you have been experiencing. Has your engine been making strange noises? Does it hesitate when you drive? Any details you can provide will help our Technicians ... read more

Digital Vehicle Health Inspection At Graham Auto Repair our Automotive Technicians will complete a Digital Health Inspection of your vehicle with every service. This is a courtesy service with no additional cost for you. During the vehicle inspection our Technicians take pictures of everything that they find. The inspection includes a walk-around where they inspect things like the overall body condition, the headlights, windshield, tire depth, vehicle mileage and warning lights. They also perform a Test Drive where they inspect the horn, chassis, parking brake, engine performance, shifting, steering, braking, and acceleration. They check all of your fluids, including the engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid and power steering fluid. They inspect the battery, spark plugs, air filter, drive belts and cooling system hoses. They check for fluid leaks and perform a visual inspection of the brakes, tires and struts. After the vehicle inspection is complete, o ... read more

What is Brake Rotor Resurfacing? When your Brake Rotors are no longer in optimal condition, you may have more than one option. One option is a Brake Rotor Replacement. There may be some cases when it’s possible to Resurface the Brake Rotors instead. What is Brake Rotor Resurfacing? It's a process where we remove a small amount of the Brake Disc’s material using a Brake Lathe. This process will remove any corrosion and/or Brake Pad deposits. It will also smooth out any surface irregularities that can cause vibrations. How do you know if you should have your Brake Rotors Resurfaced or Replaced? That will partly depend on the condition of your Brakes. It's not always going to be possible to Resurface them. We will first need to inspect them to ensure that the Brake Discs are free of cracks and grooves. They will also need to have enough material left to maintain safe operational thickness. Either way, it's important to ensure that your Brakes are performing at the ... read more

Why is My Car A/C Blowing Hot Air? There may be huge gaps in time when you don’t need the Air Conditioning in your car. Especially in Washington State! When it gets hot you finally reach for that A/C button … You wait expectantly for that refreshing cold air! If you are reading this blog you are probably not that lucky. You may be asking, "Why is my cars ac not blowing cold air??" There are multiple things that can cause your car's A/C to stop functioning properly. It could be caused by low Refrigerant (also called Freon) or by a breakdown of the Compressor. There could also be a problem in the Electrical System or with the Cooling Fan. These are just a few examples. To find out what's going on in your A/C System you can schedule an A/C Service with us at Graham Auto Repair. How Can We Help? At Graham Auto Repair we have an Air Conditioning Service to diagnose your A/C concerns. I will give you a quick run-down of the steps that are performed during t ... read more