How Much Should I Pay for Clutch Repair?

Posted by & filed under Parts, Transmission, Warranty.

If you are in need of a new clutch or clutch repair, it helps to have an understanding of what is involved to appreciate the cost. Central Avenue Automotive can provide you with a rough estimate for clutch repair cost based on the following factors:

  • Which make and model you own
  • What type of vehicle you own
  • Where you drive your vehicle
  • Whether or not new parts are used
  • Whether or not remanufactured parts are used
  • Whether or not you replace all the parts or just the clutch friction parts
  • General labor costs

The cost to repair a clutch can range between $500 to $2,500. It really depends on the car. Performance cars, exotic cars, and European cars are more expensive to replace the clutch than Japanese economy cars. Four wheel drive vehicles cost more than two wheel drive vehicles. Regardless of these varying factors, a correctly done clutch job should include the following:

  • Replacement of the clutch disk
  • Release bearing pilot bearing
  • Resurfacing or replacement of the flywheel
Clutch Repair Kent

Photo Credit: The Pug Father via Compfight cc

Here are a few examples of the cost to repair the clutch for specific makes and models:

Toyota clutch repair:
A clutch in a Toyota pickup will cost is between $600 – $900, depending on what parts need to be replaced, whether the car has a v6 engine or a 4 cylinder, and if it’s a 4×4 truck. A clutch in a Toyota Camry costs between $600 – $900, depending on what parts need to be replaced and whether the car has a v6 or a 4 cylinder engine.

Mazda clutch repair:
A clutch for a Mazda pickup costs between $550 – $800, and depends on what parts need to be replaced, whether the car has a v6 or 4 cylinder engine, and if it’s a 4 wheel drive.

Honda clutch repair:
A Honda Civic clutch costs $499 – $800, depending on what parts need to be replaced and what type of 4 cylinder engine it has. An Si Honda Civic will cost more than a standard model Civic.

Volkswagen clutch repair:
The clutch for a Volkswagen Jetta is between $500 – $1500. Some of these cars use a special flywheel that requires replacement, so that adds considerable cost to the repair.

BMW clutch repair:
BMW vehicles, such as a M3, can cost over $2000 dollars to replace the clutch. It depends on the year of the vehicle, too.

Mini Cooper clutch repair:
A Mini Cooper’s clutch cost will vary widely, depending on the model. On average clutch repair will cost about $1200 – $2000 if you need to replace the flywheel.

Ford clutch repair:
Clutches on Ford F-150 and Ranger pickups will range between $600 – $900, but these vehicles also have an internal slave cylinder. You should always spend the extra money, typically $150 – $200, to have this component replaced. It will save you in the long run, believe us. In order to replace this component, you must remove the transmission to gain access to it.

Front wheel drive clutch repair:
Vehicles that are front wheel drive usually cost more than other vehicles because these vehicles require more labor to remove the transmission. In some cases, front wheel drives will require the engine to be removed in order to replace the clutch. Yes, that’s lot’s of work, but we’re happy to do it.

Finally, when you go to have your clutch replaced, there are some things that you should ask about. These are the three main things to ask your clutch repair technicians:

Warranty — A good warranty on a clutch should be at least 3 years or 36000 miles.

Parts — You should also make sure that all the parts are new and that you replace the clutch disk, pressure plate and release bearing. Some vehicles also use a pilot bearing and some also use a internal slave cylinder (or hydraulic release bearing). You should also make sure that your flywheel is resurfaced or replaced. Some replacement flywheels can be very costly but if you don’t replace them or resurface them. How do you know your flywheel needs repair? Your vehicle will vibrate badly in first gear and reverse when you are letting out the clutch. A bad flywheel will prematurely wear out the clutch and will cause other damage to the vehicle.

Transmission Service – Replacement of the transmission fluid and a few engine fluids are very inexpensive to do when the transmission is already removed. If you choose to have them replaced after the transmission is back in, it could be very pricey. Examples include the crankshaft rear main seal and the engine freeze plugs behind the transmission. The freeze plugs and the rear main seal should be inspected and possibly replaced when the transmission is removed.

For any of these or our other services, make an appointment online today.

Easy Miles ‐ Do Kent Driving Conditions Affect Service Intervals?

Posted by & filed under Service Intervals.

 

Have you ever noticed that your car maker has a schedule in your owner’s manual for what is called “severe service” maintenance? Let’s define what severe driving conditions aren’t: The easiest driving a vehicle experiences is traveling on the interstate for twenty miles or more at a constant rate of 65 miles per hour in 75°F weather with only passengers on board. Change any one of those parameters and you are adding stress to your engine. Change them significantly, and you are driving under severe conditions.

Let’s look at the critical parameters one a time. First, the length of the trip. Short trips around Kent are harder on an engine than longer ones. As your engine cools down, water in the air condenses onto the engine. When you heat the engine again, the water evaporates off. This is healthy. But on short trips, the engine doesn’t stay hot enough long enough for all of the water to evaporate so it starts to build up in the engine oil leading to sludge, which can clog up your engine and lead to serious engine damage. If most or all of your trips around Auburn are less than four miles, you should consider using the severe service maintenance schedule. Changing your oil more frequently at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent will help prevent the formation of sludge.

Each SUV engine has a “power band,” or the range of RPM’s in which it runs most efficiently. Generally this power band falls in the range of WA highway speed driving. So if you’re driving around town in Kent all the time, your engine has to work harder. That’s why MPG ratings are so much better on the freeway than in the city. Again, this type of driving is considered severe and requires more frequent maintenance for your transmission, cooling system and brake fluid.

Most of us Kent drivers think of severe WA weather conditions when we think of severe driving conditions. And we’re right. Cold Auburn area weather takes its toll on the oil in your vehicle. Remember how water has to evaporate out of the oil to keep your engine healthy? It can take up to ten miles of driving for an engine to get hot enough to get rid of moisture in the oil when the weather is cold.

Hot Kent weather is also detrimental for SUVs. When an engine runs, it gets hot. The longer it runs, the hotter it gets. If it gets too hot, it breaks down. So it has to be constantly cooled to keep running. Hot WA weather means your cooling system has to work harder to keep your engine from getting too hot.

Another critical element of severe driving is the conditions we drive through. Dusty, polluted Kent areas are harmful to your filters. Dirt, dust and contaminants will also get into your fluids, and they’ll get dirty faster, so they’ll need to be changed more often as well. Finally, when you’re pulling a trailer around Kent, carrying heavy loads or using a car-top carrier, you are putting more stress on your engine. The engine, transmission and brakes are all working harder to handle the extra load.

So, in the end, most of us Kent drivers drive under severe conditions some of the time. Smart Kent drivers will ask themselves the question: “Should I follow the severe service maintenance schedule?” An honest evaluation of our driving habits is the best way to determine which schedule to follow.

The Central Avenue Automotive Guide To Vehicle Diagnosis

Posted by & filed under Diagnostics.

Why is my check engine light on?

Modern Kent vehicles have several computers on board that control all kinds of things like engine functions, transmission shifts, traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability control, emissions – and on some vehicles, even steering, braking and the throttle.

Think about that for a minute – things that used to be controlled by simple mechanical connections now have electronic controls that rely on computers, software and sensors. It’s no wonder that when something goes wrong with their SUV it can be pretty complicated for Kent motorists to track down the source of the problem.

To help your Central Avenue Automotive technician figure out what’s wrong, your SUV is equipped with on-board diagnostics. The Check Engine Light comes on to tell you there’s a problem and the engine management computer stores a trouble code. Your considerate Central Avenue Automotive service professional connects a scan tool to your vehicle’s diagnostic port and retrieves the trouble codes as well as other important data.

Trouble codes are like clues for the Auburn technician to follow as he diagnoses what’s wrong with your SUV. In a way, it’s like going to your Kent doctor with a problem. She’ll run some additional tests and gather the information she needs to make a diagnosis and form a treatment plan. How much a vehicle diagnosis costs at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent depends on how much time it takes to sort out the symptoms and find the underlying problem.

Give us a call

Central Avenue Automotive
253.854.6762
1514 Central Ave S Ste A
Kent, WA 98032
https://www.centralaveauto.com/

Are You a Car Repair Detective?

Posted by & filed under Diagnostics.

One might say the most challenging part of being an automotive service technician at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent is diagnosing a car repair problem before it can be fixed.

Cars are made up of a bunch of complex systems. There can typically be a number of reasons for any given symptom, so it’s challenging to track down the actual cause of the problem. It can be frustrating for the vehicle owner because it can take time and money to get to the bottom of an issue. If it’s not something obvious, it’s easy for the customer to focus on the fixing and not the diagnosing.

Let us introduce you to something we’ll call Customer Detective Work – that is, helping your technician find clues as to what’s wrong.

We start with the detective basics: What, Where, and When. Play along with me. You come in to Central Avenue Automotive and your car is making a funny sound.

    • Q: Where’s the sound?
    • A: Around the right front wheel.

 

    • Q: What kind of sound?
    • A: Kind of a clunk, clunk sound.

 

    • Q: When do you hear the sound?
    • A: When I turn and accelerate.

 

  • Q: Right and left? Forwards and back?…

Do you see where we’re going? You’re gathering additional information to help your favorite technician know where to start with your car repair. Based on your car and the tech’s experience, he’ll know where to look and can start with the obvious suspects.

You can see how that would be more helpful than dropping the car off with a note that says “making a funny noise.”

When you think you need to bring a vehicle in, make some notes about the problem. Rather than just saying “it’s leaking,” tell the tech the color of the fluid, and approximately where under the car you see the puddle.

Things like “the car is stalling or sputtering” are often very hard to diagnose because they’re intermittent. They may not happen every time you drive and usually aren’t happening when you actually bring the car in. So, it is a big help for you to describe what’s happening in as much detail as possible.

Your technician at Central Avenue Automotive will need to be able to duplicate the problem if possible, so he needs to know details, like “it stalls after it’s been driven for about 20 minutes and I go over 50 miles an hour.”

If the tech can experience the problem personally, he’s better able to make a diagnosis and car repair, then test to see if the repair solved the problem.

The Key to Long Lasting Cars

Posted by & filed under Service Intervals.

New cars cost so much these days. Add financing and insurance, and, well, a new vehicle may not seem so attractive. A lot of Kent area drivers are hoping to make their cars last a lot longer.

The good news is that with the current state of automotive engineering and manufacture, there’s no reason a modern vehicle can’t be made to last for a 150,000 miles or more. Long lasting cars are easy to come by if you treat them right!

There is an old saying that says “a stitch in time saves nine,” and that is really true when it comes to taking care of your car. A great example is coolant service.

 

Over time, coolant becomes corrosive and actually starts to damage your radiator and other parts. That’s why you need to have your cooling system serviced on a regular schedule.

The same is true for your power steering system, brake fluid, air conditioning system, differential, and transmission. Also, your oil changes should be done right on schedule to avoid the buildup of harmful oil sludge.

Don’t let your brake pads go too long, or else they’ll be worn to the point that they cause damage to rotors. Preventive maintenance is a great way to keep your operating costs down.

Replacing belts and hoses is much cheaper than repairing the damage that can be caused by failure.

Now this is a lot to remember. Central Avenue Automotive can keep on top of this stuff. We can tell you what your manufacturer recommends and help you with a plan to take care of it. It’s the key to long lasting cars!

Bottom line – take care of this stuff on schedule and you will reduce operating costs, prevent costly damage, and maintain your warranty coverage. Call Central Avenue Automotive today for an appointment; you can reach us at 253.854.6762.

Take good care of your car, and it’ll take good care of you.

Save Fuel By Watching Your Weight

Posted by & filed under Fuel Economy.

Most Kent auto owners are all talking MPG right now. Better gas mileage. Fewer emissions. WA folks want to save the environment and our pocketbooks.

And we Kent car owners all know — or should know — that preventive maintenance will help maintain maximum fuel efficiency. But is there something more we can do? After all, some of us Kent car owners can’t cut back on our driving, and others would like to do more to economize.

Weight is one major enemy of MPG. The more you lug around in your vehicle, the more fuel you have to burn to get from Kent to Federal Way to Burton. And that means buying more gas and producing more emissions.

Of course, your vehicle’s weight isn’t negotiable. And you can’t do much about the weight of your passengers. And this isn’t an article about diet and exercise.

But look around your car. Are you hauling a bunch of unnecessary weight around Kent? Do you really need your golf clubs every time you leave your Kent neighborhood? Store sports equipment in the garage. Load it when you need it and store it when you don’t. Who knows? The extra exercise just might reduce the other type of weight in your vehicle.

The same goes for anything else in your SUV: make-up kits, music collections, extra electronics, spare clothing; whatever your particular extras may be. Pack it when you need it; store it when you don’t.

Clean out your vehicle. You’d be surprised how much weight you’re lugging around in plain old junk. Toss old papers, leftover food, and regular old dirt. Even if it’s not a lot of weight, you’ll feel better when you get into your car. A good cleaning is also part of good car care.

Now, don’t toss stuff you really do need. You do need that spare tire — the one in your trunk. And a kit of emergency essentials is not a bad idea. But just carry around the day-to-day essentials. You can pack a more extensive kit and store it in your garage, then toss it in the car when you go on a longer trip, but you don’t have to lug it around Kent all the time.

After all, are you a driver? Or are you a junk chauffeur?

Lose the junk and save some income.

When Should You Replace Your Air Filter?

Posted by & filed under Engine, Maintenance.

Just as our bodies need clean air to function properly, your SUV engine needs a clean air filter to operate efficiently. Let’s go egghead for a minute. For every gallon of gas we burn driving on WA interstates, twenty pounds of carbon dioxide comes out the tailpipe. Question: how can a gallon of gas that weighs a little over six pounds produce twenty pounds of carbon dioxide?

The answer is that the carbon comes from the gasoline, but the oxygen comes from the air. You see, it takes about twelve thousand gallons of air to burn a gallon of gas in your engine. Clearly, your SUV needs a lot of air to keep going. A lot of clean air is best.

You’ve seen the pictures of people in Japan wearing face masks. They want some kind of filter to keep unwanted pollution and germs out of their lungs. Well, your SUV also works better when its internals are clean. When your SUV air filter is dirty, it simply can’t trap any more dirt, so the pollutants just pass through into your air intake system. From there, it can clog your fuel injectors and even get into the motor itself. Not surprisingly, burning dust and pollen in your SUV engine does you no good.

engine air filter

Photo Credit: aperture_lag via Compfight cc

 

So, we’re talking potential damage for SUV drivers, but another big thing is wasted fuel. Your SUV engine management computer tries to mix the correct amount of air in with the fuel. If the filter’s clogged, there isn’t enough air for the optimal fuel to air mix, and that really messes with fuel efficiency.

In fact, replacing a dirty air filter at Central Avenue Automotive can improve your fuel economy by up to ten percent. At today’s fuel prices, you should be able to pay for a new air filter before your next oil change.

The verdict: When your SUV engine air filter needs to be replaced, it needs to be replaced. How often depends entirely on the level of air pollution where you drive. A simple visual inspection at Central Avenue Automotive will tell you when you need a new engine filter.

When you look at the filter on your furnace at home and see it’s all clogged up with dust and dirt, you don’t hesitate to replace it. When your Central Avenue Automotive service advisor shows you your nasty engine air filter, you now know why you should go ahead and replace it.

Drive Defensively In WA

Posted by & filed under Safety.

Car care is a critical part of auto safety in Kent. But the most important thing we can do to improve safety on WA roads is to drive safely.

Defensive driving is safe driving. And defensive driving is all about attitude. You have to decide that you will be a safe driver in WA, no matter what anyone else is doing.

Kent car owners can start with awareness. Always maintain awareness of your surroundings, the road conditions, other vehicles on the Kent road or interstate and road hazards. Have you ever suddenly realized that you have arrived somewhere, but you don’t really remember driving there? That is unsafe driving.

Never assume that other Kent auto owners are paying attention. You be the one on alert. You be the one to take initiative to stay out of the way of other WA drivers. And don’t let familiarity dull your alertness. Remind yourself to pay as close attention while driving on the roads near your Kent home as you would in unfamiliar territory around WA.

Prepare your SUV so you can give the road your full attention. Secure passengers and pets before leaving the driveway. Secure loose items in your SUV so they can’t become projectiles if you have to brake suddenly. If children or pets become a distraction while driving, pull over and take care of the problem before re-entering traffic. Unclutter your windows. Take down the danglies from your rearview mirror. And don’t use your SUV dashboard as an office. Move distractions and clutter to the backseat. Keep your windshield clear.

Properly maintain your SUV. Preventive maintenance doesn’t just prevent repairs; it prevents unsafe vehicles. Make sure your tires, lights, brakes, suspension, alignment and steering get regular check-ups at Central Avenue Automotive. Also, listen to your considerate Central Avenue Automotive service advisor when he gives you auto advice about other systems in your SUV. Knowing about the wear and tear on your SUV can help you avoid dangerous situations.

Avoid driving when you are sleepy or angry. Get a good night’s sleep before a road trip in WA, and learn to set aside relationship, job or other issues while you are in a vehicle. Again, you have to take charge of your own safety. Don’t daydream in your vehicle. Also, talking to passengers can be a distraction. Keep your mind on the road. Conversations may keep you from daydreaming or excessive boredom on a long trip, but always keep your driving foremost in your mind.

Maintain a proper speed. Driving too fast is dangerous on crowded Kent roads, but driving too slowly can cause accidents, too. At night, don’t overdrive your headlights. Your stopping distance needs to be shorter than the distance your headlights are illuminating.

Never drink and drive. Alcohol plays a part in half of all fatal accidents in WA and nationally. Also, don’t drive drugged. Pay attention to the warning labels on any medications you are taking.

Other Burton motorists need to see you and know what you want to do. Use your SUV turn signals, and stay out of other WA drivers’ blind spots.

If you can, avoid driving over debris in the road. You can damage your SUV or end up in an accident. Of course, if swerving to avoid the debris is dangerous, then slow down and navigate as best you can. Do what you can to alert other car owners to the problem. You may want to pull to the side of the Kent road and report the debris or move it to the side of the road, if you can do so safely.

Never follow too closely on Auburn roads or highways. Observe the two-second rule. Choose an object ahead such as a tree or traffic sign. As the car in front of you passes it, start counting: one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand. If you reach the object before you’re done, you’re too close. Back off.

If you are on one of the WA interstates, or if you are hauling a heavy load, or if you are tired, or if in any way you are not the model of the alert and attentive driver, then increase that two-second rule to three seconds. Give yourself an added measure of safety. If the Auburn weather is bad, increase the rule to five seconds.

Inevitably, someone always pulls in front of you when you are trying to follow the “seconds” rules. Don’t get mad. Just back off and leave them to their bad driving habits. Remember, you are not going to give up your safety for anyone else’s cussedness. It’s always a bad trade.

If someone is following you too closely, pull over and let them pass. Give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going. If you’re late, worry about it after you’re there, not while you’re on the road.

If you see a vehicle driving erratically in Kent, stay away. Take the next right or the next exit off the expressway. Notify the Kent police as soon as you are safely stopped.

And of course, don’t be the idiot driver we all complain about in Kent. Don’t contest your right-of-way, don’t race to beat someone to a merge, and don’t cut into someone else’s two seconds of space. Winning these types of ego trips may end up losing you your SUV—or worse, your life or the life of a friend.

The professional automotive team at Central Avenue Automotive wants all Kent auto owners to stay smart and stay safe.

Hitting The Brakes In Kent

Posted by & filed under Brakes.

Hello Kent, let’s talk about brakes. Braking, as all WA motorists know, is slowing or stopping your vehicle. As you can imagine, brakes are engineered to work well on a particular vehicle application. For example, you would expect more powerful brakes on a heavy-duty pickup that routinely hauls big loads and pulls trailers, than you would on a compact car. And a Corvette that can go over 180 miles per hour would have much different braking needs than the family mini-van you drive around between Kent, Auburn and Kent.

Hitting The Brakes In KentBut the mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake pump and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.

Let’s step back. A new SUV or truck rolls off a local Kent showroom floor. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and pump are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the tires are brand new, with full tread. It is ready to go.

Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance. Now the miles start to add up on the SUV. Kent car owners tend to focus on the brake pads. In the automotive business, the pads, and shoes on drum brakes, are called the friction material. That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the vehicle. The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life – it’s not until they are worn so thin as to be out of auto manufacturers’ specs that they lose their ability to stop.

The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while breaking. Over many miles around WA, these wear and get gummed up. They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail – a scary possibility That’s why a regular brake inspection at Central Avenue Automotive is important for your SUV and your family’s safety. At Central Avenue Automotive we can test the operation of the brakes and see if any parts need cleaning or replacing.

That leads us to brake fluid service at Central Avenue Automotive. Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the SUV fluid system are depleted over time. That and moisture building up in the system reduce the performance of the brake fluid. A brake service at Central Avenue Automotive cleans out deposits, water and dirt. Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.

The tires are what connect the SUV to the road. Stopping force all comes down to traction. The better the tires grip the road, the quicker you’ll stop.

This is especially important on wet Auburn area expressways and surface streets. Studies have shown that wet stopping distance increases significantly as tires wear down. WA motorists need to understand that they can have brakes that are operating at peak efficiency and yet still be in danger because their tires are worn out.

Time for Transmission Service

Posted by & filed under Transmission.

If you think you can skip transmission service before a quick trip, think again. Do you have any plans for the weekend? Maybe you and some friends and are taking the boat up to the lake. Maybe you’ll be having a lot of fun water skiing and doing a little fishing. You got the boat all ready. It’s all gassed up. You packed lots of snacks and the cooler’s stocked – ready to go.

How about your tow vehicle? It has plenty of gas and you’ve even vacuumed it out, but is your auto maintenance up to date?

Stop and think. You’ll have some heavy traffic on your way out of town. Hilly terrain as you get to the lake. Some dirt roads, possibly some hot weather, and all the time you’re going to be towing around several thousand extra pounds.

trip inspection transmission service

Photo Credit: Kamal H. via Compfight cc

 

That all adds up a lot of severe strain on your engine, brakes, and transmission. Your transmission’s going to be working overtime, spending more time in lower gears. The internal transmission temperature is going to be much higher than normal. What’s a fun little blast to the lake for you is really serious work for your car.

It’s important that you have enough transmission fluid. If you’re running low, the transmission will run to hot and won’t have the protection it needs to cope with the added stress of towing.

If it’s time for a transmission service, you really should have it done at Central Avenue Automotive before your trip. Transmission fluid breaks down and gets dirty over time. Whether you have an automatic or manual transmission, you need to have it serviced on schedule to make sure it runs efficiently.

Automatic transmissions contain a maze of passages that the fluid has to pass through to keep it shifting smoothly. If you neglect transmission service, the passages can get clogged up and you start to have problems. Neglect your transmission for too long, and it can fail. Believe us – you don’t want to pay for a major transmission repair.

You know, most of us in the Kent area do a lot of our driving under severe conditions. Towing or hauling a big load is obvious, but there are lots of other things that constitute severe driving conditions. Things like short trips or driving in very hot or very cold weather. Also, dusty roads, city driving, and most driving that’s not at highway speeds or under ideal conditions is severe driving. We all need to think about whether or not we need to follow the severe service schedule.

So, consider going in for a full service oil change before you leave for the lake to make sure everything has been looked at. Ask for a trip inspection while you’re at it. Your service technician at Central Avenue Automotive can also check your belts and hoses and let you know if your brakes are in good shape.

Don’t forget the sunscreen. To thank your service technician, how about bringing him back a nice trout?