Author: benchung
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Why Do I Have Squeaky Brakes, Even Though The Pads are New?
We had a new client come in this week because her brakes were squeaking. She just had new pads and rotors installed about 6 months ago, and she was a bit frustrated and concerned about what was happening. Unfortunately, brake noise and dust is not all that unusual, even when it’s so soon after a… Read more
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6 Signs You Need New Shocks or Struts
Shocks and struts are important components of your car. Not just for comfort, but also for safety. They stabilize the up and down motion of your vehicle, help you steer, and keep your tires firmly on the ground. The pounding your shocks and struts take on rough roads eventually causes them to wear out. And… Read more
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How to know if you really need the repairs your auto shop is recommending
When a new customer comes to us for the first time, the one question they often have (but keep to themselves) is this: Will we recommend work they don’t need? Sometimes, it’s based on bad experiences with other shops. Sometimes, it’s just because they don’t know us. We haven’t had a chance yet to earn their… Read more
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Why do I need a timing belt replacement?
Timing belts are one of those maintenance items that car owners don’t often think about but should. The timing belt is a critical part of your engine. If it fails, your car will stop running and, in some cases, incur major engine damage. To help you head off any unexpected or costly surprises, let’s cover… Read more
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How to Know When You’re Getting a Good Deal on Your Auto Repair
Getting a fair price for your auto repair is on every car owner’s agenda. But how can you know when you’re getting a fair deal and when you’re getting ripped off? Fortunately, there are some solid principles for helping you to know a fair price from a padded one before agreeing to the repair. Here… Read more
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If Your Battery is 3-5 Years Old, It’s Time to Have it Tested or Replaced
Question: I’ve had my car for awhile now, and I’ve never given the battery a second thought. When should I worry about replacing it? Answer: A car battery isn’t very different from a regular battery. If the battery in your cell phone dies, you’re not going to be making any calls. When your car battery is… Read more
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Car-Related Gift Ideas To Steer You Through Your Holiday Shopping
With the holidays coming upon us quickly, many of us are trying to figure out what to buy everyone on our shopping list. To help you find the perfect gift for your favorite car enthusiast, we’ve assembled a list of our favorite car-themed gift ideas: Car Seat Warmers Many newer cars come equipped already, but if you… Read more
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12 Days of Fun Family Car Games: Traditional vs. iPads
“Where’s my iPad?” Have you tried to make that promise of not giving in to technology to entertain your children in the car? We know how hard that can be! Here are several ideas for traditional games you can play in the car with your kids this holiday travel season—along with educational and entertaining opportunities on the… Read more
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Pet Travel Safety: Traveling in the Car With Your Furry Friends
With more hotels and resorts opening their doors to pets, more families are including Fifi and Fido in their vacation and holiday travel plans. As we head into the holiday travel season, we thought it was an ideal time to look at ways of keeping your pets safe in the car. First, did you know… Read more
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Car Myth Buster! True or False?
Question: My son is convinced that putting a potato in the exhaust pipe will cause the engine to blow up when we start the car. Can you confirm that this is not true? Yes we can! You can assure your son that the potato will just shoot out. There’s all kinds of automotive information out… Read more
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When Do I Need New Tires?
Question: I took my minivan to a quick lube for an oil change last week (it’s near my office), and they said I was due for new tires. I only have 40,000 miles on the vehicle. How can I be due for new tires already? Answer: While 40,000 miles doesn’t seem like a lot, tires… Read more
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How Do I Choose the Right Tires for My Car?
Are you in the market for new tires? Many of our clients bide their time through the summer and make a plan to buy new tires in September and October…still leaving plenty of time before the snow flies. While many of you have a go-to brand or rely on the team at Hong Kong Auto… Read more