Spencer Auto Repair Blog

Our School Program is Back for the 2019/2020 School Year!

The Valley is back to school which means the Spencer Auto School Acceleration Program is back too! We are so excited to reopen our voting and start sending checks to local schools in our community!

What is the Spencer Auto School Acceleration Program?

In 2017, Brittney and Geoff Spencer started their Spencer Auto School Acceleration Program. Through this ongoing program Spencer Auto donates a portion of every repair each month to a local school near each of their 5 locations. That means every month Spencer Auto Repair sends a donation to 5 local schools in the Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, and Florence Areas. The money is given directly to the school to obtain supplies, technology, or whatever the school feels would most benefit them! 

How do I Vote For My School?

Simply visit www.spencerautorepair.com/givesback

1. Select the location near your school.

2. Fill out the form to the right of the page & select your school from the drop down menu.

3. Don't forget to share with your friends & family.

How much did Spencer Auto donate last year? 

During the 2018/2019 School Year Spencer Auto Repair donated $7,430.00 to local schools in Arizona!

What if my school is not listed?

If your school is not on our list and is located in Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Scottsdale, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, or Florence email us at [email protected] and we would be happy to add it! 

We are so blessed and honored to be able to give back to local schools in our community! Please feel free to share and don't forget to VOTE! www.spencerautorepair.com/givesback

Coolant is designed to remove heat from your vehicle's engine. Coolant is also known as antifreeze and there are many different vareties. It is always important to consult your owner's manual to see what type of coolant your vehicle requires. 

What does coolant do? 

The role of the exhaust and cooling system is to ensure that the engine stays cool. The coolant absorbs the heat from the engine and helps prevent the water from boiling in hot temperatures. When the water boils in your cooling system you run the risk of having engine damage and other large issues. Coolant also helps to prevent plastic parts from corroding and metal parts from rusting.

Why should I get a coolant flush?

Coolant flushes provide many benefits to your cooling system:

1. Lubricates your Water Pump- New coolant contains additives that lubricate your vehicle's water pump. This can help lengthen your water pumps life. 

2. Removes Rust and Other Deposits- Coolant flushes remove rust and other deposits that build up overtime. These deposits can cause overheating and damage to your cooling system.

3. Help Prevent Your Water Pump from Rusting- The additives in new coolant can help prevent rust build up in the water pump which helps improve the efficiency of the cooling system. 

4. Helps Prevent your Coolant from Becoming Acidic- It is important to keep the coolant from becoming acidic because it can damage the aluminum components of the engine, rubber hoses, and the bearing on the water pump. 

5. When you get a Cooling System Flush You will Receive an Inspection- This inspection can help identify any large issue before they arise. Anytime a vehicle is at Spencer Auto you will receive a courtesy inspection!

Not sure if you are in need of a vehicle cooling system flush? You can check your vehicles owner's Manuel or give us a call! We have access to manufacturers maintenance schedules and help you get what you want out of your vehicle! Visit one of our 5 east valley locations in Chandler, Tempe, Mesa, San Tan Valley, or Florence. 

Book Online: www.spencerautorepair.com/appointment 

Living in Arizona, The Valley of the Sun, it is so important to make sure your vehicle's A/C system is working properly! It is recommended to get a precautionary A/C Performance Check at the beginning of summer season! This will help prevent any unexpected failures and help preserve the life of your A/C system! Here are a few tips to keep in mind as we move towards the hottest part of the year:

1. Make sure your Cabin Air Filter is Clean- A dirty Cabin Air Filter will restrict air flow and requires your vehicle's A/C system to work harder. Also, a dirty Cabin Air Filter can cause your vehicle's cabin to smell poorly and cause your passengers to breath less filtered air. 

2. Expect your Vehicles A/C System to Produce Air 40 Degrees Below Ambient Temperature- For example if the outside temperature is 90 Degrees a properly functioning A/C system will produce air that is around 50 Degrees.

3. An Air Conditioning System Can be Low on Refrigerant and Still Produce Cold Air- Your vehicle's A/C system uses refrigerant, in most vehicles R134a or in newer vehicles 1234yf, to regulate the temperature in your vehicle's cabin and also to help prevent the A/C Compressor from overheating. If your vehicle is still producing cold air you may not know your A/C sysytem is low on Refrigerant. That is why it is so important you get a preventative A/C Performance check as we enter into the warmest months of the year. 

4. Turn your Vehicle's Air Conditioner off Recirculation when you Park- On a 100-degree day your vehicle's interior temperature can reach as high as 180 degrees within an hour! This is much hotter than the exterior temperature. If you take your vehicle off recirculation it will pull the air outside the vehicle instead of the extremely hot cabin. By doing this your vehicle will cool down quicker!

Now is a great time to get your vehicle's Air Conditioning checked at Spencer Auto Repair! We are offering Free A/C Performance Checks and $79.99 Evacuation and Recharges until the end of May at all 5 of our East Valley Locations: Chandler, Tempe, Mesa, San Tan Valley, and Florence. Our technicians are certified and properly trained to diagnose your vehicle's A/C system. All of our air conditioning repairs are backed by our 3 year, 36,000 mile nationwide warranty!

Summer is Coming! Warning Signs Your Vehicle is Overheating 

For your vehicle to run properly your vehicle must control the operating temperature. A mixture of coolant and water circulates through your cooling system to regulate the temperature. With good maintenance you can help prevent getting stuck on the side of the road with an overheating engine. If your vehicle is overheating the best thing you can do is pull over as soon as possible. 

Here are some warning signs your vehicle may be overheating:

1. Your Vehicle May Display a Warning Light. This light will illuminate on your dashboard. This light can vary depending on the type of vehicle you have. It is best to check your owner's manual!

2. Temperature Gauge is Higher Than Normal- When your cooling system is operating properly the needle of the gauge will sit in the "normal" range. When your vehicle is overheating that needle will rise. 

3. Leaking Fluid- If you are noticing a loss of fluid that may be a sign that your vehicle can overheat! Anytime you notice any kind of leak it is vital that you take your car to a service center.

4. You Notice Steam or Water Vapor- This means your coolant temperature has exceeded the boiling point. If you notice steam or water vapor you should pull over and turn off your vehicle as soon as possible. 

5. Your Air Conditioning May Stop Working- This happens because oftentimes the vehicle will shut off the A/C to attempt to lessen the load on the engine. Also, often times the A/C Condenser is located in front of the radiator so when the vehicle is overheating its pulling hot air from the radiator into the condenser. The Air Conditioner will produce warm air. 

When your vehicle overheats it can possibly lead to catastrophic damage and lead to costly repairs. So remember if you experience any of these warning signs make sure you pull over as soon as possible. We are your cooling system experts. Our technicians are properly trained to test and inspect cooling concerns and your cooling system and get to the root cause of the issue. All of our repairs at Spencer Auto Repair have a 3 year, 36,000 mile nationwide warranty. Book an appointment today: www.spencerautorepair.com/appointment 

Moms are the best! That is why in honor of Mother's Day Spencer Auto Repair is giving away a $100.00 Spencer Auto Gift Card to 1 deserving mom! Want to nominate your mom or a special mom in your life? Just click the link below. Nominating your mom is easy and the winner will be announced May 11th, 2019! 

Nominate your mom here: https://spencerautorepair.com/mothers-day-giveaway

Shocks and Struts Play an Important Role in Vehicle Safety!

Did you know shocks and struts play a critical role in the safety of your vehicle? There are three very important roles shocks and struts play.

Steering: The first is steering. Shocks and Struts evenly distribute your vehicle’s weight over all four tires, improving handling during turns. Worn shocks and struts can increase the chance of losing control of your vehicle especially in less than desirable conditions such as rain.

Stopping: The next role shocks and struts play in your vehicles safety is stopping. Shocks, struts, and brakes work together to help you stop sooner by keeping tires and wheels in contact with the road. Think about all the times that you are forced to stop quickly? Maintaining your shocks and struts can ensure that you have the best chance to stop when you need to. Also, maintaining your shocks and struts can help prevent premature wear of your brakes, which can save you money.

Stability: Finally, properly maintained shocks and struts can improve your vehicles stability. Shocks, struts, and tires work together to maximize tire-to-road contact improving your car’s stability and minimizing weight transfer.

Like many other suspension parts, through normal operation, shocks and struts wear over time. Now is a great time to come in and get your shocks and struts checked.  During our Ride Safe Event, we are offering up to $300.00 off Struts and $200.00 off Shocks. Do not wait this offer only lasts until October 31^st 2018 so give us a call today! Keep your family safe on the road and save some money this October with Spencer Auto Repair.

Get offer here:

Tempe: https://offers.spencerautorepair.com/tempe/shocks

Mesa: https://offers.spencerautorepair.com/mesa/shocks

San Tan Valley: https://offers.spencerautorepair.com/santan/shocks

Florence: https://offers.spencerautorepair.com/florence/shocks

We are your Timing Belt Experts- Some vehicles are equipped with a timing belt which is an internal engine component that is responsible for driving and synchronizing the camshaft movement with the crankshaft movement. Your vehicle’s timing belt is a vital component and is recommended to be replaced based on your manufacture’s specific interval. Due to wear and repeatedly being exposed to stress over time this component can fail. Unfortunately, in many cases your timing belt can fail without warning. When your timing belt fails it could cause serious and costly engine damage and cause you to break down.

At Spencer Auto Repair we have access to all the manufacture’s maintenance intervals and can inform you when your vehicle's manufacture recommends replacing your timing belt. We take the welfare of our customers vehicles very seriously and make recommendations based on time and mileage to help prevent the need for larger repairs in the future. We are committed to provide a long-term partnership with our customers centered around customer education. It is our goal to help our customers get what they want out of their vehicle. Timing belt replacements are backed by our 3 year, 36,000 mile nationwide warranty.

Spencer Auto Repair is proud to be serving customers at our 4 valley locations: Tempe, Mesa, San Tan Valley, and Florence. We are family owned and operated and have technicians with over 40 years’ experience. If you are concerned about your vehicle's timing belt or would like us to review your manufacture's maintenance schedule with you just visit any of our locations and our friendly staff members would be happy to assist you. Need a ride home? Spencer Auto Repair offers complimentary Uber/ Lyft services for our customers. 

Visit our website for an appointment today: www.spencerautorepair.com/appointment