by | Jul 26, 2021 | Car Care & Driving Tips
In many states, it is unlawful to drive a vehicle if the driver or the vehicle isn’t protected. Individuals who dismiss this law frequently face enormous fines and can even have their permit suspended. Numerous individuals face the challenge of driving without protection consistently in light of the fact that they think they can’t manage the cost of protection. Numerous vehicle insurance agencies offer reasonable protection. Some even permit you to pick your own rate. If you want to help reduce insurance costs, be sure to take your car to a Chandler, AZ auto repair shop to keep it running and keep these other tips in mind.
Compare Prices
Start examination shopping. The Internet makes it simple to analyze different insurance agencies without leaving the solace of your home or going through hours on the telephone. Utilize a web index to look for modest vehicle protection or visit the site of the vehicle insurance agencies you know about. You can likewise utilize a protection correlation site to get the rates from the absolute most famous organizations.
Compare Policies
Compare your options, limits and cost. On the off chance that you are thinking about a modest protection bundle, analyze the least expensive one from each organization to track down the one that offers the best approach and most inclusion. On the off chance that you are intending to buy protection from an organization that allows you to pick your own cost, be certain that the most minimal value choice gives the lawful measure of inclusion expected to drive a vehicle in your state. On the off chance that you are uncertain of how much inclusion is required, talk with a specialist or contact your neighborhood Department of Motor Vehicles.
Have It Serviced
When you try to get insurance, the company will look at previous claims. If your car is not in good condition and is more likely to break down and cause an accident, your rate could be higher or they may even refuse to cover it. The best way to prevent claims and help improve your chances of getting a low insurance quote. It can help to make sure your car is serviced regularly and is always in the best working condition so you can avoid an accident and show that you are a safe driver.
If you are planning to get new insurance coverage or if you have a new vehicle and you want to be able to make sure you get the lowest price for the best policy, you want to make sure you keep the above tips in mind. If you want to be able to show that your car is safe, be sure to have it serviced often by a Chandler, AZ auto repair shop. You can reach out to Network Automotive Service Center. We are happy to help you with all your vehicle repair needs and any issues you may be having.
by | Jul 19, 2021 | Car Care & Driving Tips
On the off chance that you are arranging a get the nation over and can’t drive your vehicles yourself, you might need to consider having them delivered all things being equal. There are numerous organizations that work in getting vehicles the nation over and can help make your moving experience less unpleasant. Since your vehicle is an important belonging, you will need to ensure it is taken care of mindfully and with care from a Chandler, AZ auto repair shop. There are a few interesting points while picking an organization to send your vehicle.
Compare Services
Various organizations utilize various techniques for transportation to get vehicles the nation over. Some may tow the vehicles, some make drive it and others will pull it on a huge transport or even a train. In the event that you have an inclination with respect to how your vehicle is dispatched, discover an organization that offers your favored strategy for transportation. Talk with the client support branch of each delivery organization to discover how your vehicle will be moved. Get some information about different administrations that are remembered for the move. A few organizations may clean your vehicle previously or after it is moved or offer other discretionary types of assistance.
Compare Prices
Utilize a value examination site or visit a few diverse vehicle moving organization site to get a statement on your turn. Some site may offer online moment statements and others will expect you to call their client support division to supply data about your vehicle and the move before they can give you a statement. Remember that the least expensive organization may not really be the awesome. It is imperative to consider administration and cost when contrasting costs and organizations.
Have It Serviced
Before you spend the time and money to have a car shipped to someone who has purchased it, you might want to make sure it is in good condition. You don’t want to waste your time shipping the car if it has a lot of problems. You can have your car serviced to ensure there are no mechanical issues and you can rest assured that it will run properly when it arrives at the destination. Whether you are planning to drive the car yourself or you are selling it and sending it to the buyer, it’s a good idea to have it serviced before you ship it.
If you are ready to have a car shipped across the country for one reason or another, it makes since to do it the smart way. Be sure to keep all the above things in mind when making your plans to ship it. There may be other things you want to think about as well to ensure the car makes it correctly. If you are ready to think about shipping your car and you want to be able to have it serviced, be sure to call a Chandler, AZ auto repair shop. Network Automotive Service Center is happy to assist you with getting your car ready to ship.
by | Jul 12, 2021 | Car Care & Driving Tips
Cars almost never fail without warning. Before a breakdown, there is usually a stretch of weeks or months where the vehicle was quietly asking for help: a new noise, a hesitation, a light on the dash, a spot on the driveway. Drivers who learn to read those signals catch problems while they are small and affordable. Drivers who ignore them meet the same problems later, on the side of the road, at several times the cost. Here are the signs a car needs service, from a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop that has seen where each one leads.
Dashboard Warning Lights
Start with the obvious one, because so many drivers still ignore it. A check engine light is your car’s computer reporting that something is out of range. Sometimes the cause is minor, like a loose gas cap. In fact, if the light appeared right after a fill-up, snugging the cap is the one no-cost fix worth trying first. Sometimes it is a misfire that is actively damaging your catalytic converter. You cannot tell which from the driver’s seat, which is exactly why the light deserves a prompt professional scan and proper engine diagnostics rather than months of hoping.
Two rules of thumb: a steady check engine light means schedule service soon; a flashing one means stop driving and get help now, because flashing typically indicates a misfire severe enough to cause damage. And any red warning light, such as oil pressure, temperature, or brakes, means pull over safely and investigate before continuing.
New Noises That Were Not There Before
You know your car’s normal sounds better than anyone. When something new joins the soundtrack, pay attention:
- Squealing when braking: Often the built-in wear indicator on brake pads telling you replacement time has arrived.
- Grinding when braking: Pads are likely gone and metal is contacting metal; this is urgent, and it gets more expensive by the day. Our brakes archive covers these symptoms in more depth.
- Clicking that speeds up with the wheels: A classic sign of a failing CV joint.
- Squealing on startup: Usually a belt, and Arizona heat ages belts fast.
- Clunks over bumps: Suspension components asking for an inspection.
None of these sounds improves on its own. The car is not being dramatic; it is being accurate. When you describe a noise to your shop, note when it happens (cold start, braking, turning, over bumps) and whether it changes with speed. Those details are diagnostic gold and can shave real time off finding the cause.
Changes You Can Feel Through the Wheel and Pedals
Some warnings arrive through your hands and feet instead of your ears. A steering wheel that vibrates at highway speed often points to tire balance or wear. A car that pulls to one side may need an alignment, or may have a brake or tire issue. A brake pedal that feels soft, low, or pulsing deserves immediate attention, because brakes are not a system to gamble on. A transmission that hesitates, slips, or shifts hard is asking for service while the problem is still fluid-and-adjustment territory rather than rebuild territory.
The pattern to notice is change. Any difference in how the car steers, stops, shifts, or rides is worth a look, precisely because you have a baseline to compare against.
Leaks, Smells, and Smoke
Fluids belong inside the car, so anything on your driveway is information. Brown or black spots are engine oil. Red or reddish-brown usually means transmission or power steering fluid. Green, orange, or pink is coolant, which matters enormously heading into a Mesa summer. Clear water under the front on a hot day is usually just AC condensation and is normal.
Smells carry warnings too: a sweet smell can mean leaking coolant, a burning odor can point to oil on hot components or slipping clutches, and a rotten-egg smell often implicates the catalytic converter. Visible smoke or steam from under the hood means stop driving and call for help. If you spot a leak or smell something new and are not sure how serious it is, call (480) 444-0242 and describe it; a two-minute conversation can tell you whether you are looking at an emergency or an appointment.
Falling Fuel Economy and Hard Starts
Some signs are gradual. If you are filling up noticeably more often on the same commute, something is off: it might be tire pressure, a clogged air filter (monsoon dust is rough on filters here), a lazy sensor, or an engine running inefficiently. Slow cranking or hard starting is another quiet warning, and in Arizona it very often means the battery is nearing the end of its heat-shortened life. Batteries in the Valley frequently die younger than their ratings suggest, and the failure usually comes on the hottest week of the year. A quick electrical test at any service visit gets ahead of it.
A Two-Minute Monthly Check That Catches Most of This Early
You can spot the majority of these warning signs with a simple monthly routine. Once a month, in the driveway:
- Look under the car for fresh spots after it has parked overnight.
- Walk around the tires checking pressure, visible wear, and anything stuck in the tread.
- Turn everything on: lights, blinkers, wipers, AC, and listen to the car idle for a minute.
- Check the oil and coolant reservoir levels if your vehicle allows easy access.
- Note anything that changed since last month.
That short ritual builds the baseline that makes every other warning sign obvious, and it costs nothing.
The common thread in every section above: early attention is cheap, and delay is expensive. You do not need to diagnose anything yourself; you just need to notice changes and act on them. Network Automotive Service Center has been family-owned since 1995, serving East Valley drivers who would rather fix small problems than fund big ones. If your car is showing any of these signs, or it has simply been a while since anyone looked it over, explore our services or call (480) 444-0242 to schedule a visit. Your car has been telling you what it needs; we will help you translate.
by | Jul 5, 2021 | Car Care & Driving Tips
When you decide to sell a car, the instinct is to spend as little as possible on it from that moment forward. After all, it is about to be someone else’s vehicle. But that instinct often costs sellers real money. Buyers pay for confidence, and a car that runs right, looks cared for, and comes with service records sells faster and for more than the same car with obvious neglect. Here is how getting your car serviced at a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop before listing it can pay for itself, and where to draw the line on pre-sale spending.
Why Buyers Pay More for a Serviced Car
Put yourself in the buyer’s seat. Every used car is a gamble, and buyers price that risk into their offers. A rough idle, a warning light, worn tires, or an A/C that blows warm all scream future expenses, and buyers respond by lowballing or walking away. Even honest sellers lose deals over issues that would have been inexpensive to address.
A car that starts instantly, idles smoothly, stops confidently, and blows cold air removes those doubts. In Arizona especially, working air conditioning is non-negotiable. Few things end a test drive faster in Mesa than warm air from the vents in the middle of summer.
Start With an Inspection, Not a Guess
Before spending anything, have the car professionally inspected so you know exactly what you are working with. An inspection gives you three valuable things: a list of what is wrong, a sense of what each item means for safety and drivability, and the ability to make informed decisions instead of emotional ones.
It also prepares you for the buyer’s mechanic. Serious used car buyers often request a pre-purchase inspection of their own, and you do not want their mechanic discovering problems you did not know about mid-negotiation. Knowing the car’s true condition first keeps you in control of the conversation.
The Pre-Sale Services That Usually Make Sense
Every car is different, but these items consistently return more in sale price and speed than they cost:
- Oil change and fluid top-off. Fresh, clean oil on the dipstick signals a maintained engine. Dark sludge signals the opposite. Our oil change and maintenance articles explain what buyers are looking at.
- Addressing warning lights. A lit check engine light devastates a sale price, often far beyond the actual cost of the fix, because buyers assume the worst.
- Brake service if there are symptoms. Squealing or grinding during the test drive is a deal killer.
- Battery check. Arizona heat shortens battery life, and a car that hesitates to start makes a terrible first impression.
- A/C performance check. As noted above, cold air is essential to selling a car in the Valley.
Do Not Skip the Cheap Cosmetics
Mechanical condition earns the price, but appearance gets buyers in the door. A thorough wash and interior detail costs little compared to what it returns. Clean the engine bay lightly, empty the trunk, remove personal items, and get rid of any smoker or pet odors, which are among the most common reasons buyers walk. In the desert, pay attention to sun damage: faded trim and cloudy headlights make a car look older than it is, and cloudy lenses can often be restored inexpensively.
Gather Your Service Records
Documentation is one of the strongest selling tools you have, and it costs nothing. A folder or file of oil changes, repairs, and maintenance receipts proves the car was cared for and backs up your asking price. If one shop has handled most of your service, ask them to print your vehicle’s history. Buyers consistently reward sellers who can show the story of the car instead of just telling it. If we have serviced your vehicle, call us at (480) 444-0242 and we can help you pull together the records.
Know When Not to Spend
Pre-sale preparation has a limit. Major repairs rarely return their full cost at sale time, so if the car needs something substantial, you are often better off disclosing the issue and pricing the car accordingly rather than paying for the repair yourself. The goal of pre-sale service is to remove doubts and small objections, not to restore the vehicle to new condition. An honest conversation with a shop you trust can help you sort which repairs will pay for themselves and which will not. That is a conversation we have with East Valley sellers all the time, and you can learn more about how we work on our about page.
Think About Timing and Presentation
When you list the car can matter almost as much as its condition. In the Valley, a vehicle with strong, cold air conditioning shows best in the warmer months, when buyers feel the benefit the moment the test drive starts. Convertibles and recreational vehicles tend to draw more interest in the pleasant seasons when buyers are imagining weekend use. There is no perfect formula, but listing a car whose strengths match the season gives you an edge.
Presentation finishes the job. Photograph the car clean, in good light, from multiple angles, and include honest photos of any flaws, because surprises discovered in person kill trust and deals. Write a listing that mentions the recent service work and the records you have gathered. A buyer who arrives already knowing the car has been inspected, serviced, and documented is a buyer who negotiates less and decides faster, which is exactly what you want.
One last presentation tip: choose where you show the car thoughtfully. A shaded meeting spot in the Arizona heat keeps everyone comfortable, lets the buyer take their time, and gives your air conditioning the chance to demonstrate exactly what it can do on the test drive.
Sell With Confidence
A serviced, clean, documented car attracts better buyers, sells faster, and commands a stronger price. It also makes for a smoother transaction, with fewer surprises during the buyer’s inspection and less haggling at the end. Network Automotive Service Center has been family-owned since 1995, helping Mesa and East Valley drivers with everything from routine maintenance to pre-sale checkups. Explore our services and call (480) 444-0242 to schedule an inspection before you list your car. A small investment now can mean a much better handshake later.
by | Jun 28, 2021 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires
When you are experiencing a car that rides or drives rough or seems to be pulling or swaying, you might be wondering what is going on. The most common problem that can make these issues appear is tires that need to be aligned. You can have them aligned by a professional and get your car back on the road in no time. Here are some things to watch for that can tell you if your car’s tires need to be aligned and when to take it to a professional at a Chandler, AZ auto repair shop.
Pulling One Way
Obviously, if your wheels aren’t pointing a similar way as one another, you will encounter sped up tire wear. The most widely recognized offender is one side pulling more than the other and causing lopsided wear across the tire, however a lot of negative camber can likewise make tires tear down quicker on the internal edges. To guarantee the best ride from your vehicle, you will require the greatest contact fix between the tire and the street. Inaccurate wheel arrangement will lessen the contact between your tires and the street, influencing slowing down and cornering execution. This means your tires need to be balanced by a professional repair shop.
Decreased Fuel Efficiency
Likewise, additional exertion is needed to viably push the tires across the street if the front wheels aren’t equal. Envision you are rolling the haggle down a line out and about. It’s very simple and the wheel will roll uninhibitedly. Presently envision turning that wheel at a 45-degree point and attempting to move along a similar line; substantially more exertion is needed to push the wheel along the line, as it normally needs to go off at an alternate point – the equivalent is valid if a vehicle’s toe in/out settings are erroneous.
Unbalanced
Another basic issue with wheel arrangement, explicitly the toe settings, brings about the vehicle needing to pull aside of the street. In the event that the front wheels are pulling or pointing away from one another the vehicle will normally need to pull aside, since when one wheel is in the dead ahead position, the other wheel is attempting to turn a corner. This can make for a really bumpy ride and it can even be dangerous. This issue can make it harder to steer and could result in an accident.
If you are noticing that your car is not riding as well as it once did and you think you might need to have your tires aligned, you should consider calling an experienced Chandler, AZ auto repair shop. If your wheels need to be aligned, it could be causing a lot of issues and leading to wear and tear on your vehicle that is more than normal. You can make an appointment with Network Automotive Service Center to have your vehicle inspected and have your tires aligned as needed. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you.
by | Jun 21, 2021 | Oil Change & Maintenance
If you are planning to get your vehicle ready for spring and you want to give it a tune-up, you have a lot of different things to keep in mind. You will want to make sure your car is ready for the season and that means you might want to take it to a Mesa, AZ auto repair shop to get a tune-up. There are a few reasons you might decide that spring is the best time to get a tune-up for your vehicle. Here are a few of them to keep in mind.
The Mileage Is High
Your vehicle maker suggests a checkup at certain mileage focuses. For more seasoned vehicles, it’s standard practice to have it done each 10,000-20,000 miles, while more up to date vehicles can be driven the extent that 100,000 miles before a checkup is required. Regardless of whether your vehicle shows no manifestations, focus on the producer proposals, and take the vehicle in for overhauling in the event that you’ve arrived at the suggested mileage point. Performing essential support currently will forestall more costly auto fixes later on.
Car Is Running Slowly
Slowing down can likewise occur for an assortment of reasons, however a typical explanation is that the sparkle attachments and connectors aren’t touching off the fuel appropriately – which implies you need a checkup. In case you’re encountering this side effect, focus on when it occurs: does the vehicle slow down when the motor is hot or cold? Does it slow down when you turn on the a/c? ; Tell your specialist when the slowing down happens in light of the fact that this data can help pinpoint the issue.
It Idles Rough
On the off chance that the vehicle is sitting generally or when you apply the gas, it regularly implies chambers are “missing” in light of the fact that the flash attachments aren’t touching off the fuel. Additionally, if your vehicle “thumps” when speeding up or climbing slopes, while it very well may be an awful combination of gas, however it could likewise be an eco-friendliness issue. In any case, a checkup may fix the issue. Sometimes the issue can seem like a car idling rough, but really it could be something more severe with the motor. You always want to make sure you know what kind of problem you are dealing with and a professional will be able to identify the cause of the issue.
If you are experiencing problems with your car or if you are just ready to get your car ready for Spring, you may be looking for the best way to give it a tune-up. You don’t have to do it yourself, you can trust at Mesa, AZ auto repair shop to do the repairs for you. Be sure to reach out to Network Automotive Service Center. We are happy to help with all your auto repair and tune-up needs. Give us a call to learn more.