Eugene Auto Repair

A clear windshield contributes to safe driving, especially during the cold, snowy winter months. However, windshield wiper blades are often overlooked by many drivers. Not until they find themselves in unpleasant situations on the road, caused by harsh weather, do they think of their windshield wipers. Only then do they realize that they need properly-working windshield wipers and enough washer fluid to go on with their journey. Overlooked wipers and let you down at the time you need them most. That’s why you should regularly inspect your wipers in search of faults and have them repaired quickly. From the effects of harsh weather, windshield wipers tend to deteriorate. The Sun causes the rubber that encloses the wiper blades to crack over time. This leads to a rough wipe that won’t work properly.  Remember, always look for cracks and wear, making sure your wipers are working properly and if they are unable to move over the windscreen smoothly, replace them. When you ... read more

Your tires are a critical safety feature when it comes to your vehicle. They are the only things between your car and the road and help to ensure that you are able to accelerate, stop, and turn when you need to. Bad quality tires can cause a number of different issues, ranging from poor handling to tire blowouts. Good tire maintenance keeps you safer on the road and also allows you to save money on new tires throughout the years.  One regularly overlooked tire maintenance item is checking that your tires are filled up to the proper air pressure. When your tires are low in pressure, excessive tire wear can occur, and blowouts can happen. It isn’t safe to drive with low tire pressure, so checking it regularly and having it taken care of as soon as you notice that they are underinflated or overinflated can save you money. You can usually do this yourself at your local gas station that provides free air or we can help you here at our shop! Another tire main ... read more

You rely on your vehicle's brakes to slow or stop your car when you press down on the brake pedal. Over time, you get to know how your vehicle runs and you'll understand how much time you need to come to a complete stop according to how much pressure you apply to the brake pedal. However, if you begin to notice that your vehicle starts taking longer to brake, or that there is an annoying squealing sound when braking, these are symptoms not to ignore.  Finding yourself on the road without working brakes can be scary, and is definitely not a situation that most ever think they'll have to experience - and we don't want you to, either! The best way to keep your brakes healthy is with regular maintenance and inspections. There are a number of brake system components that will wear down over time that will need to be replaced, and getting them taken care of before they cause you any major issues will keep you safe on the road.  It's also important to get to kn ... read more

A properly running engine should run and start smoothly without excess noise or vibration. If you being to notice that your vehicle is “running rough”, meaning that you start to notice loud noises, vibrations, and an overall decline in performance, you are likely dealing with an engine problem. As soon as you notice a change in your vehicle’s drivability, it is important to have your vehicle inspected. Engine problems should never be ignored and the sooner you fix the problem, the more money you’ll save yourself over time. As soon as you start to notice drivability issues, be sure to note down the symptoms you are experiencing. Do you notice that your engine is “running rough”? Is your car idling rough? Does your car stall between switching gears? Is your engine revving without you pressing on the accelerator? Do you notice any other strange noises, smells, or vibrations?  Letting our experts know exactly what is going on with your vehicle wil ... read more

While the summertime is the perfect season to jump in the car and head out on an adventure, the warm temperatures can definitely take a toll on your vehicle. With the increase in driving and the hotter weather, it is important to remember not to neglect your vehicle and to stay on top of your car's summer maintenance needs over the next couple of months.  Most car owners don't realize how much the heat can actually affect their vehicles. Realizing what you can do to help your vehicle through the heat can allow you to avoid costly breakdowns and repairs that can put a wrench (no pun intended) in your summer plans.  Here are some of our top summer tips to help your vehicle survive the heat:  Have your battery tested and cleaned. Battery juice tends to evaporate quickly during the warmer days, and a battery that is already nearing the end of its life may die completely unexpectedly. A quick battery test can tell you if your battery is in good condition and cleani ... read more

Many Americans will gather on July 4th each year to celebrate Independence Day of the United States. It's typically a celebration full of fun, food, and vibrant fireworks shows. With the increased amount of vehicles on the road, it's important to plan out your day and ensure that you are comfortable getting to your destination. Did you know that July 4th is the most dangerous day to drive in America based on a study by Geotab completed back in 2017? Why is July 4th considered a dangerous day to drive, and what measures can you take to keep you and your family safe on the road?  The main reason why July 4th has an increased amount of accidents and fatalities is due to the high amount of alcohol consumption. This leads to drunk driving, which causes 28% of all vehicle crash fatalities according to the CDC. This is why it is so important to never drink and drive, and help encourage others to avoid doing the same as well. If you or your family are partaking in consuming alcoh ... read more

The engine of your vehicle is kind of like the heart of your vehicle - it is essential to the overall function of your car. Without it, your vehicle simply wouldn't run. So, how long does the engine last, and what are some of the signs that you may need engine repair.  Your vehicle's engine is subject to a lot of wear and tear over the years because of the amount of heat it endures on the daily and the vast amount of moving parts. With proper maintenance, your engine will last you years without trouble. However, a poorly maintained engine can bring trouble sooner than you expected. We recommend having your vehicle's engine serviced regularly according to manufacturer recommendations to prevent engine problems from occurring.  If there does happen to be a problem with your vehicle's engine, you may start to notice one or more of the following symptoms:  You hear a knocking sound coming from underneath the hood You notice exhaust smoke Your vehicle sme ... read more

With stay-at-home orders in place, you may be wondering about your vehicle sitting idle. Or perhaps, you own a vehicle that you don't have much use for that has been collecting dust in the garage. Whichever is the case, you may wonder whether or not a vehicle that is sitting idle and isn't being used needs to still be maintained.  It may seem that a vehicle that isn't used doesn't need to be maintained - however, this isn't always the case. An idle vehicle should still be prepared and taken care of in certain aspects. We want to share with you our idle car maintenance tips for cars that aren't being used for weeks, months, or even years.  It is important to prepare your vehicle for storage, which you can do in a few ways. It is recommended to wash your vehicle, making sure to remove any grime or dirt. Waxing is also a good idea. This just helps to protect the integrity of your vehicle's exterior and prevents rusting.  It also helps to put i ... read more

Over the past few weeks, the COVID-19 virus has spread rapidly throughout the United States, and our government has recommended that American's shelter in place to avoid spreading and contracting the virus. Gov. Kate Brown has officially ordered the people of Oregon to stay home when necessary, only leaving home for work and getting essentials such as groceries.  With all of these business shutdowns and shelter in place orders, what does that mean for auto repair? Auto Repair is considered a necessary business and is allowed to stay open during this time. There are many people who still need to use their vehicles to get to work, to the store, or to check on at risk loved ones, and in order to do so your vehicle needs to be working. If your vehicle needs a service or you find yourself without a working vehicle when you need it most during these tough times, you can have peace of mind knowing that Small World Auto Center in Eugene is here to help. We know that many folks in Eu ... read more

Timing belts, located in the front of the vehicle, are responsible for controlling the timing of a vehicle’s crankshaft and camshaft, with the timing belt being made out of rubber. This sophisticated rubber compound can get worn very quickly and become cracked from wear and tear. If your vehicle’s timing belt breaks, the engine will stop running immediately, and significant damage to your engine may ensue. Timing belt replacements can be a very costly expense, however not replacing it can damage your engine. Our technicians always recommend that you consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual as it will give a mileage reference point for when it may be time for a replacement. Depending on the vehicle manufacturer, timing belt replacements are usually recommended around 60,000 – 100,000 miles. You can also contact our ASE certified technicians at Small World Auto for a diagnostic. Just by looking at the timing belt, it’s hard to tell if it deserves a replac ... read more