by | Dec 7, 2020 | Car Care & Driving Tips
If you are planning a road trip, you want to make sure your car is in good working condition and will be able to get you where you are going with no problems. Road trips can be a lot of fun but car problems can put a damper on things and cause you to have to cancel the trip or turn around and go back. They can also lead to costly tow bills and repairs. It’s best to have your car tuned up and check out before you leave for your trip. You can do that at a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop. Let Network Automotive Service Center help you.
Inspections
The easiest thing you can do to make sure your car will be dependable for your road trip is have it inspected but professionals who know what they are doing and will be able to identify any issues that may show up. You can make an appointment to have you car inspected before you go. Make sure you do so a few days before you are planning to leave to ensure the mechanics have time to make the repairs and order any parts that are needed.
Safety
You want to make sure your family is safe while traveling and if ur car is not in the best condition possible, that can’t happen. You don’t want to be stranded on the highway, in bad whether, or an area that is dangerous and if ur car stop working and stalls, you never know where you might get stuck. When you have your car inspected before you leave so you won’t have to worry about anything on your car breaking or causing other issues that could affect your entire trip
Peace Of Mind
You can’t enjoy yourself or the trip if you are always worried that something might go wrong. If you haven’t had your car tuned up or inspected before you leave, you may find that you are always wondering if something will go wrong or sensitive to every noise or bump. Give yourself some peace of mind and have your car inspected by professionals before you leave. Make the necessary repairs so you can enjoy your time on the road and arriving at your destinations on time.
If you are planning on taking a road trip and want to make sure it’s safe for your family, it’s a good idea to make sure your car is in good working condition. Even little things shouldn’t be left unfixed. If you need help, you can make an appointment at a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop. You can reach out to Network Automotive Service Center to schedule an appointment and have your vehicle inspected and repaired if needed. We are happy to help you ensure your vehicle is ready for the road and will get you to your destination without any problems. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment for repairs.
by | Nov 23, 2020 | Car Care & Driving Tips
If you have pets you probably have to travel with them occasionally. Whether it’s a trip to the vet or a cross-country vacation, you want to make sure they are always safe no matter what. Keeping a pet safe in a car is different from keeping a child safe and it will require you to take different precautions and safety measures. If you are looking for ways to keep your pet safe in the car, consider some of these tips from a Chandler, AZ auto repair shop.
Pet Seat Belts
Your pet might not fit in a regular seat belt, but they do make pet seat belts that are available for pets of all sizes. These connect to the seatbelt holder just like a regular seat belt but they attach to your pet’s harness or collar. This helps keep your pet secure in the car so they can’t run around and get hurt, jump out a window, or cause an accident. It can also help keep them safe if you are in an accident or if the car would stop suddenly.
Gate Separators
If you have a pet that you need to keep in the back seat for their own safety or for the safety of the driver or passengers, you need to get a separator that goes between seats and keeps the pets in one spot. Some pets get nervous or sick in the car and may move around a lot which can lead to injuries. If you want to make sure your pet is safe and no scared, you will want to consider keeping your pet in one part of the car so they won’t be injured or jump around to prevent accidents.
Crates
If your pet is a nervous rider or if they move around a lot and you would prefer to keep them in one place, you may want to keep your pet in a crate while in the car. There are a lot of different crates that come in different sizes so you can easily find something for your pet that will meet your needs. You can even seatbelt the crates in place or secure them in other ways to make sure they do not move around and will keep your pet safe in the car at all times.
If you have a vehicle and are planning a trip with your pet, you may be looking for a way to keep them safe and secure in the car. There are a lot of ways you can do this and the above are just a few of your options. If you need help keeping your pet safe, consider trying one of them. If you need to have your vehicle serviced before your trip to ensure it is safe for everyone, be sure to reach out to a Chandler, AZ auto repair shop. You can call Network Automotive Service Center for help with all your auto repair needs. Just give us a call or stop by.
by | Nov 16, 2020 | Car Care & Driving Tips
If your vehicle is in need of repairs and you have been putting it off, now is the time to make sure they are done. Winter is the next holiday and you will want to have all the repairs done before the cold weather sets in completely. If you are wondering why you need to find a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop to work on your vehicle before winter, be sure to consider all of these reasons to have your car serviced now.
Save Time
When winter weather hits it can be hard to find a time to have your vehicle worked on. The poor road conditions can make accidents more common. This means there will be more cars trying to get into the shop for repair and you may have to wait longer to have your car worked on or to get it into the shop. If you are worried about having your vehicle worked on in a timely manner you will want to make sure you have it serviced in the fall when there are no as many vehicles involved in accidents and in need of repairs.
Save Money
The winter can cause serious problems for your car and if there is already something wrong, the winter could make it worse. That means you could pay a lot more for vehicle repairs. Instead of putting it off any longer try to get your repairs made before the winter weather hits. This can allow the car repair shop to make the repairs and look for other problems that might cause issues for you during the winter. This can help save you a lot of money that can be used for the holidays or other winter expenses.
Keep Your Car Safe
If you want to make sure your vehicle is safe for the winter and you want to trust it to get you where you need to be, you should have your car serviced in the fall. This will make it possible to get all the problems fixed before it gets cold or before they become worse. It can make your vehicle more reliable so you don’t get stranded somewhere when it is cold outside and so you can feel confident in your car being dependable when you drive it wherever you need to go.
If you have a car and you need to have some repairs made, don’t put it off any longer. You want to have the car in good condition when you drive it during the winter. One of the ways to ensure it’s reliable and won’t cause problems is to take it to a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop in the fall before the winter weather hits. The above are just a few reasons you should do this. If you are ready to get your car serviced make an appointment with Network Automotive Service Center. We are here to help with all your automotive needs.
by | Nov 2, 2020 | Car Care & Driving Tips
Dirty car windows are more than a cosmetic problem. Glare from a hazy windshield at sunrise or sunset can wipe out your view of the road in an instant, and here in the Mesa area, between desert dust, monsoon storms, hard water spots, and months of harsh sun, glass gets dirty fast and in ways that a quick swipe will not fix. Clean windows are one of the simplest safety upgrades you can give your car, and doing the job right takes only a little technique. Here are the tips that make the difference between streaky glass and a crystal-clear view.
Use the Right Cleaner and the Right Cloth
Household glass cleaners are not always safe for cars. Many contain ammonia, which can damage window tint and dry out rubber seals over time. Choose an automotive glass cleaner labeled tint-safe, or make a simple mix of water with a splash of white vinegar.
The cloth matters as much as the cleaner. Paper towels leave lint and can scratch over time, and an old bath towel just pushes grime around. Use clean microfiber towels, and use at least two: one to clean and one to dry. Wash them separately from laundry with fabric softener, since softener residue causes streaks. A dedicated set of glass-only towels is a small investment that pays off every time.
Do Not Forget Your Wiper Blades
Sometimes the smeary mess on your windshield is not the glass at all. Wiper blades collect dust, grit, and oily road film, and every time they sweep, they drag that grime across your freshly cleaned windshield. Wipe the rubber edge of each blade with a damp microfiber cloth or a bit of vinegar until the cloth comes away clean.
Arizona is brutally hard on wiper blades. Months of intense sun bake the rubber until it cracks and hardens, and many drivers do not discover their blades are shot until the first monsoon downpour hits. If your blades chatter, skip, or leave streaks after cleaning, replace them. It is one of the cheapest safety fixes on the entire car, and it is far better done before storm season than during it.
Clean Inside and Outside, and Know Which Side Is Dirty
Window grime builds on both sides of the glass. Outside, it is dust, bugs, and water spots. Inside, it is a hazy film that comes from plastics in the dashboard slowly off-gassing in the heat, plus fingerprints and residue from the defroster. That interior film is a major cause of nighttime glare, and Arizona’s cabin temperatures speed it up considerably.
A useful trick: wipe the outside of the glass with horizontal strokes and the inside with vertical strokes. If a streak remains, the direction tells you instantly which side it is on. When cleaning the inside of the windshield, use a dry microfiber first to lift the dusty film, then follow with cleaner sprayed onto the cloth rather than the glass, which keeps overspray off your dash and electronics.
Dry Properly and Work in the Shade
Streaks usually happen during drying, not cleaning. Use a fresh, dry microfiber and finish with light, overlapping strokes. A squeegee works well on large outer glass if you keep the blade clean.
Timing matters more here than most places. In the Arizona sun, cleaner flash-dries on hot glass before you can wipe it, leaving spots and haze. Work in the shade or in the garage, ideally early morning or evening, and never spray cleaner onto glass that is hot to the touch. If your water leaves white mineral spots, our hard desert water is the culprit; wiping dry promptly prevents most of it.
When Dirty Glass Signals a Bigger Problem
A few glass problems are not cleaning problems:
- Washer fluid that will not spray can mean an empty reservoir, clogged nozzles, or a failed pump.
- A film that returns quickly on the inside of the windshield can sometimes point to a coolant leak in the heater core, especially if it comes with a sweet smell.
- Fog on the inside that will not clear can indicate an A/C or ventilation issue.
- Chips and cracks scatter light and grow with heat and vibration, so deal with them early.
If your windows keep fogging, filming, or your washers and wipers are not doing their job, have it looked at rather than living with it. You can reach Network Automotive Service Center at (480) 444-0242, and you will find more everyday upkeep advice in our car care and driving tips.
Mirrors, Cameras, and Sensors Count Too
Clean visibility is no longer just about glass. Modern vehicles see the road through backup cameras, parking sensors, and the camera and radar units behind the windshield that power lane keeping and emergency braking features. When those lenses and sensors are coated in desert dust or monsoon grime, the systems that depend on them work poorly or throw warnings.
Add these to your cleaning routine:
- Backup camera lens, usually near the tailgate handle or license plate. A gentle wipe with a damp microfiber restores a sharp image; grit rubbed dry can scratch the lens.
- Side mirrors, including the small blind spot indicators built into many of them.
- Parking sensors, the small round buttons in the bumpers, which misread when caked with dirt.
- The windshield area in front of the rearview mirror, where driver assistance cameras look through the glass. Keep that patch spotless inside and out.
After a dust storm rolls through the Valley, a two minute walk-around with a microfiber cloth brings all of these back to full strength. If a camera stays cloudy or a sensor keeps complaining after cleaning, it may need professional attention rather than another wipe.
See the Road Clearly
Clean glass, healthy wipers, and working washers are a team, and together they cost almost nothing compared to what they protect. Network Automotive Service Center is family-owned and has served East Valley drivers since 1995. If anything on your vehicle needs attention, from wiper systems to complete inspections, browse our services and call (480) 444-0242 to schedule a visit. We will help you keep your view of the road as clear as it should be.
by | Oct 26, 2020 | Car Care & Driving Tips
If you are thinking about buying a new car or if you have recently purchased one and you want to make sure it is running well and everything is working as it should, you should consider taking it to a nearest Car Repair shop. In most cases, new cars leave the lot running properly, but that doesn’t mean thee couldn’t be a small problem with your vehicle that could later lead to a larger one. While you might not want to think about taking your new car to a shop as soon as you get it, it can help you avoid more serious problems and could help you find them before they become worse. Here are a few reasons why you should consider this option.
Warranty
If your vehicle has a warranty, it may cover the cost or parts and labor if there is a problem. Sometimes the warranties last a few months and other times they are only good for a short time after you drive off with your new car. If you want to make sure any issues are found and paid for before the warranty expires. You don’t want to waste any time. Having your car inspected as soon as possible to ensure you are not paying more than necessary for repairs.
One reason to service your new car before you drive it is because many dealerships offer a warranty if you have the service done before you take possession of the car. That warranty may cover certain repairs, such as radiator repair, that are needed within a certain amount of time after you buy the car.
Prevent Bigger Problems
While new cars usually don’t have a lot of miles on them and haven’t been driven far enough for an issue to occur, some can come off the manufacturing line with issues and the dealer may not even know it. If nobody has driven the car, it can be hard for these issues to be known. Once you drive the vehicle you may notice them. The longer you put off fixing these small issues, the worse they can become, and the harder they will be to fix. If you want to make sure you handle them early on so they don’t get worse with time.
If you don’t service your new car before you drive it, you could run into some big problems down the road. One of the most common issues is a rattling exhaust. This can be caused by a loose heat shield or an accumulation of dirt and grime in the exhaust system. If left unchecked, it can eventually lead to engine damage. servicing your new car before you drive it will help ensure that everything is properly tightened and cleaned, preventing any expensive repairs down the line.
Save Money
You don’t want to buy a car that has a lot of problems and issues. You want to buy a car that you can trust. If you have purchased your vehicle new and you take it to a shop and find out there are problems with it, you may be able to return it. It’s a good idea to have the car inspected as soon as possible to find any issue or problems in time,
If you are buying a new car or if you have recently bought one and you want to know that you made a smart purchase and have a good car, you may want to consider taking that car to a Chandler, AZ auto repair to have it inspected. You can make an appointment with Network Automotive Service Center to have your vehicle inspected and checked today to ensure it is working well and will be dependable. Give us a call or stop by today to make an appointment to have your vehicle serviced.
by | Oct 19, 2020 | Car Care & Driving Tips
If you are planning a vacation, it may be an exciting time. You have probably been working on the plans for a while and getting everything ready to make your trip. When it comes time to start preparing, be sure to consider taking your vehicle to a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop to have it inspected before you leave. There are many reasons you should consider doing this. Here are some of them.
Safe Driving
Everyone wants to feel safe while on the road and when you have your vehicle inspected and get the okay from the car shop that the vehicle is safe to drive. You can feel confident that your car will not have any major issues. You can ask the car shop to check your brakes, tires, engine, and other things that are important and help keep your vehicle safe on the road. You can also ask them to give it a tune-up so you know everything is good to go and your vehicle will be dependable. This ensures it won’t fail you and you will get to where you need to be on time
Better Gas Mileage
You may be surprised to learn that your vehicle gets better gas mileage when it is running properly and has been recently maintenance. This is because your vehicle doesn’t have to work as hard to do basic things. If you are going on a long trip, this can save you a lot of gas and a lot of money. That’s money that can be used for other things on your trip that can bring new memories and special moments to your family. If you think your car is not getting the gas mileage it should get, you can bring this up at your appointment and have a mechanic check it out.
Better Ride
Long trips can be exhausting and if your car is bumping or the steering is difficult, it can be even harder to feel comfortable or enjoy the trip. If you want to make sure your car is running well and will drive well, you will want to have your tires, wheels, shocks, and brakes checked before you leave. These things all determine how your car handles the road and how many bumps and turns you feel. The better it rides, the better your trip.
If you are planning a trip or vacation and you want to make sure your vehicle is ready for the ride, be sure to consider taking it to a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop. The right shop will make sure your vehicle is ready to take on your trip and will get you where you need to be. You can make an appointment with Network Automotive Service Center to learn more about our services and to have your vehicle looked at and repaired for your next vacation. Give us a call or stop by to learn more about our services and all the ways we can help you.