Vehicle Maintenance

  • Bumper Cover Damaged Or Loose?

    bumper on a white car with lights on

    Your bumper covers are always in danger. Between other drivers, obstacles in the road, flash floods, or any other hazard you may encounter, at some point it’s likely your bumper covers will accrue some damage. At Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV, we can fix that.

  • Check Engine Light On? We Can Help

    check engine light on in dash

    Is your check engine light on? Whether you can tell a difference in the way your car, truck, or SUV is running, your car is trying to tell you something. At Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV, we can help.

  • Check Engine Light Staring You in the Eye? Here's Why You Should Pay Attention

    Check engine light on the dash

    There’s a huge percentage of vehicle on the road, right now, with the check engine light illuminated. Many of them have had it on for years, even. Frequently, a check engine light will illuminate, but pose no immediate problems, so people just get used to it and learn to live with it being on. However, Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV would like you to know that it’s worth having it looked into. Typically, the problem can be diagnosed by simply plugging your car into our computer; the vehicle gives us a code, and we know what the problem is immediately.

  • Checking Transmission Fluid Level, Why It's Important!

    Checking the fluid level on your transmission is fairly easy, but a bit more complicated than checking your oil. Firstly, this only applies to automatic transmissions, and secondly, some modern vehicles don’t have dipsticks or dipstick tubes to check and add transmission fluid. With that in mind, here are some tips from Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV in regard to checking your transmission fluid.

  • Checking Your Fluid Levels - How 3 Minutes Once A Month Can Save Your Vehicle

    At Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV, we know how easy it is to overlook vehicle maintenance when everything is working as it should - we also know firsthand the toll neglected maintenance takes on a vehicle. Here’s an easy thing you can do yourself, that might save you an engine, transmission, or avoid numerous other problems.

  • Choose Us & Treat Your Vehicle Right

    Your vehicle is a vital part of your life; it takes you wherever you need to go and can last you a very long time if taken care of properly. A part of the care it takes to maintain the vehicle is taking it to repair shops in order to receive any necessary maintenance or fix any problems you may be experiencing. By choosing Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV, you can rest assured that your vehicle will get the proper care and maintenance required to remain durable for as long as you need it.

  • Clutch Problems are a Big Problem

    bad clutch

    This is a clutch gone completely wrong and something you want to be sure doesn't happen with your vehicle! So how do you ensure you are not having an issue with your clutch when most drivers simply get in and drive? What do you look for? That is a question many of our customers ask us here at Nick's Automotive in Reno and one this driver did not.

  • Common Problems with Belts and Hoses

    belts and hoses

    Your vehicle's belts and hoses are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems, and the engine. Don’t take these routine replacement intervals for granted because they can break down and leave you stranded.

    What is the purpose and importance of your belts and hoses? The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft mechanically synchronized to maintain engine timing. Whether serpentine, V-belt, or fan belt (the belts on the outside of the engine), they all transmit power from the front of the engine to accessories that need to be driven, such as the air conditioning, the charging system, and fans. Radiator and heater hoses carry coolant to and from the engine, radiator, and heater core.

  • Coolant Flushing to prepare for the cold weather

    coolant being poured into the car

    Whether you drive a BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche (some exclusions apply), Subaru, or other performance automobiles, your car has a cooling system. With winter right around the corner, at Nick's Automotive we want to make sure your cooling system is ready for the cold.

  • Coolant Leaks - What to Watch Out For, and How to Find Them

    technician smiling under the hood of the car

    Coolant leaks can be a pain - they’re elusive and have a lot of damage potential. Fortunately, at Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV, our technicians know exactly how to diagnose and repair a coolant leak, no matter where it is. Knowing more about where these coolant leaks appear and why they're a problem will help you to recognize a problem and get it repaired before it does further damage.

  • Could That Noise Be Your Suspension Bushings?

    suspension bushings

    At Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV, we understand how frustrating it is when your vehicle makes mysterious noises that it shouldn’t be making. Here’s a rundown on suspension bushings, to help you figure out what that sound is you keep hearing.

  • Dash Warning Lights

    multiple dash warning lights

    It doesn't matter if you are driving a car or truck, jeep or SUV, a diesel 4x4 or a classic when those dash warning lights go off the first thing you do is think "how bad is it?" and "how much will it cost me?" followed quickly by "when was my last service visit?"!!  Driving your vehicle longer safely is all about getting it serviced based on what your vehicle manual recommends and these warning lights are alerting you to a situation that requires your attention. 

    While not all warning lights are a sign that disaster is imminent, no warning indicator light should ever be ignored!

  • Diagnosing a Bad Brake Master Cylinder

    brakes on car

    Your brake master cylinder is an integral part of your brake system. When one fails, some odd symptoms may arise, and it may be difficult to diagnose. Here’s some information to help you decide if yours has gone bad. At Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV we want you to know what to look out for so that you can be safely on the road.

  • Different Types of Automotive Headlights

    jeep image front headlights

    Every car, truck, van, and SUV on the road today has headlights. However, you've probably noticed an increase in different types of headlights in more recent years - gone are the days where every vehicle on the road had the same bulb. Here is some information on headlights, from Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV.

  • Disconnecting a Battery from A Vehicle

    man taking battery out of car

    If you’re ever in a situation where you must remove the battery from your vehicle, it’s important to know what you’re doing. It seems pretty straight forward, and it is. However, there are some important things to remember when disconnecting the battery in your car, truck, or SUV. Here are some tips on disconnecting a car battery, from Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV.

  • Do You Know How Your AC Works?

    hand on car air conditioning vent

    When you get in your car, truck, SUV, or minivan to drive and the A/C does not work what could be wrong? Here at Nick's Automotive, we have some simple answers to help you understand how your vehicle A/C system works. The first question we are asked is "Why isn't my air conditioner blowing cold air?" Let's talk about what could be happening. 

  • Does Your Car Have Keyless Entry?

    hand holding car remote start

    While some keys or key fobs can only be obtained from dealerships, most cars can be programmed to accept a new key or key fob without expensive dealer intervention. At Nick's Automotive in Reno, we often provide such services, at a fraction of the cost.

  • Don't Forget a Coolant Flush!

    technician working on your car

    At Nick's Automotive in Reno, NV, it’s important to us that your car, truck, or SUV is ready for any condition. Coolant flushes are an important part of getting your vehicle ready for winter - here’s why.

  • Don't Neglect These Signs, You May Need New Brakes

    braking

    Your brakes have a lot to do with how your car drives. Brakes are a frequently neglected item on a lot of people’s checklist, and many drivers on the road have subpar brakes and don’t even know it. A car that brakes well and brakes correctly are just as important as acceleration, handling, or any other aspect of a vehicle’s drivability. A car with brake issues has the potential to be a far more enjoyable ride when fixed.

  • Don't Neglect Your Brakes

    brakes

    Obviously, your brakes are essential. However, it’s easy to neglect or ignore brake issues, and even miss them altogether; as long as the car, truck, or SUV still stops, many people don’t see the need to have their brakes serviced. From Nick's Automotive in Reno, here are some common brake issues, and why you should fix them.

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