Stratford Auto Repair

The timing belt in your vehicle has a very important job - it allows the crankshaft and camshaft to move in sync and ensure that engine valves and pistons operate smoothly together. A severely aged timing belt can snap unexpectedly which can actually cause your engine to fail completely, which is why having your timing belt replaced before it breaks is vital to preventing additional engine damage and avoiding vehicle breakdowns.  Most vehicles can go up to 100,000 miles before needing a timing belt replacement, however, your vehicle's owner's manual will advise you on how often your vehicle will need this service completed. If your timing belt is nearing the end of its life, you will notice one or more of the following aging timing belt warning signs:  Engine will not start Ticking noise coming from underneath the hood Engine slips or misfires Engine runs roughly Poor vehicle performance and fuel efficiency  As soon as you notice any of the symptoms ab ... read more

Potholes in the road are always something that we try to ignore as drivers. Driving over potholes never feels good, and it seems obvious that they usually cause some damage to our vehicles if driven over fast enough. There are certain measures that you can take while driving over potholes that can help minimize damage to your vehicle and make your ride smoother.  Potholes happen when water gets into the soil under the road, which eventually freezes and then thaws, weakening down the road. An excessive amount of driving over these areas can cause potholes to form.  Here are some tips on how to drive with potholes in the road:  Learning how to safely avoid potholes is very helpful. If you live in the area, you may be familiar with your surrounding roads.  If you can't avoid the pothole, try to slow down when driving over them and keep a tight grip on your wheel.  Make sure your tires are always inflated to factory recommendations to avoid a tire blowout ... read more

Getting into your car to discover that it won't start up can be a hassle. You may hear that “click-click-click” noise of your ignition attempting to start your car, or hear nothing at all. The good news is - a car battery is typically an easy fix. It just depends on what the exact problem is.  If your car won’t start, one of the first things you can attempt is starting your car with jumper cables. You may need to enlist a family or friend to help you out, as you will need another vehicle. If jump starting your car works - great! That is always a good sign. However, it doesn’t mean that your car battery is good to go. If you are successful at jump starting your car, you should drive your vehicle into your local trusted auto repair shop for a quick check. We will use a tool to check your battery and see how much life it has left. It will also help us determine if the issue was caused by the battery itself, or by a component in the starting and char ... read more

Our brakes are an important safety feature of our vehicles, helping us slow down and stop efficiently on the road. This is why it is so important to be aware of what a brake problem can look like and what to look out for. If a brake problem does happen, we recommend having your vehicle inspected as soon as possible to protect your safety. Brake issues can show in a number of different ways, including strange noises or a change in performance.  Here are some signs that your brakes may be failing: Pedal feels “spongy”  Vibrating when you press on the brakes Lack of performance Squealing or screeching noise while braking Pedal goes to the floor If you’re experiencing any of the issues listed above, bring your vehicle into our shop as soon as you can. We will perform a full vehicle inspection to determine what the issue may be. You may need new brake pads, a brake rotor resurfacing, and more.  Some of the most common brake problems include: Master c ... read more

If you own a vehicle, you’ve probably seen a warning light pop-up on your dashboard a couple of times, whether it be a check engine light or other system warning light. Most are familiar with the check engine light and understand that once it appears, it’s time to have your vehicle inspected. However, there are many other warning lights that can appear that represent issues with other systems in your vehicle. Here are some of the most important warning lights and what they represent:  Check Engine Light - The most common warning light, indicating an issue with the engine.  Engine Temperature Warning Light - This symbol looks like a thermometer in an ocean. This indicates that your engine is overheating, and needs to be inspected immediately.  Tire Pressure Warning Light - This light looks similar to the shape of a tire, and indicates that one or more of your tires have low pressure. Tire pressure should always be correct, so try to get this fixed as soon a ... read more