Cary Auto Repair

Years ago, misinformation and bad advice used to travel by word of mouth.  Now with the presence of the internet and social media, incorrect information can be anywhere.  When reading on the internet it is often difficult to discern what is truth and what is fiction. That can certainly be the case with the proper ways to care for and maintain your car.  Even after owning a vehicle for years, many people only know the basics of car care, and some of that may be forgotten or misconstrued over time. With so much misinformation and bad advice out there, we wanted to share some popular pieces of advice, often designed to help save time or money, and tell you why you should not follow those recommendations. To save money, fill your windshield wiper fluid reservoir with water or heavily dilute it with a mixture of water and wiper fluid. On the surface, it may sound logical.  Why not save some money, and just put water in the windshield washer fluid ... read more

  Drive long enough, and unfortunately, something will go wrong. Maybe not terribly wrong, but not every trip is going to be a smooth one. Here are a few “what if…” scenarios and some recommendations on what can be done to deal with those situations. What if… your car overheats. If the temperature gauge light has come on and you are in heavy traffic with no immediate place to turn, you might be able to keep your car going briefly if you turn on the heat full blast. That is certainly not ideal if it’s summer, but the idea is to take heat away from the engine in order to keep it cool. If that doesn’t work, turn on your hazard warning lights, pull over as soon as you can, and turn off your engine. Have it towed to Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary as soon as possible so our professionals can inspect your vehicle to see what is happening. Otherwise, i ... read more

  You maintain your health by getting regular checkups with your doctor. It helps you and your doctor catch any changes in your health before they become big problems. It’s a vital part of keeping yourself healthy. Well, your vehicle is no different. It requires regular checkups to keep it running strong and to catch any potential problems before they can develop into big issues. That’s why routine maintenance will make a big difference in the life of your vehicle, whether your vehicle is brand new or it has some miles on it already. Performing regular maintenance is a preventative measure to keep the major systems working properly and to ensure longevity over the course of their useful life. When you stick to a recommended schedule of maintenance, you can improve the life of your vehicle and catch any issues when they are less serious and won’t require as much time or expense to fix. What’s the best schedule to know what should be checked and when? Chec ... read more

Some car problems can be easy to identify and some require diagnostics to identify. You see a major leak under your car, it’s probably more than obvious that something is wrong.  If there is smoke coming from your car or it is shaking as you drive, you probably know it would be a good idea to bring your vehicle into a Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary immediately to be checked out. But smells can be different. A smell can be faint enough that you don’t notice, or it’s a scent that you have become used to. Sometimes just because your car smells odd, it doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong. But sometimes that is exactly the case. Many smells are signals that your car is in trouble, and you need to get it checked out. Here are some tips and suggestions about some common smells that come from your car and what you should do about them. What does it mean if your car smells ... read more

  Most people agree that your brakes are the most important safety system of your vehicle. They are vital to your safety, but do you know how to detect the signs of failing brakes? Here is a close look at some of the signs that may indicate brake failure with your vehicle: Strange noises If you hear a screeching or grinding sound while your braking, your brakes need immediate attention. The most likely cause is that the pads are worn out and need to be replaced. It is important to do this as soon as possible because it can lead to further damage requiring more expensive repairs. A hot or burning smell Overheated brakes will put off a hot burning smell. It is important to note that this is not normal and should be brought to the attention of an auto technician immediately. Overheating brakes can be caused by many things and if not repaired could lead to further damage to your braking components. Low brake pedal This one can be a ... read more

  If you enjoy murder mysteries, here’s one for you. Who is killing your car? The surprise ending might be that the murderer is you. Unfortunately, even the best car owners can get lax in maintaining their vehicle. It’s very easy to take any vehicle for granted and forget all the little things we need to do, to keep our cars running well. So, no worries. But if you want to take better care of your car, here are at least four ways that perfectly well-intentioned people end up hurting their vehicles. Putting off repairs. Nobody wants to hear that they need to replace and alternator or fix a coolant leak. It’s true that car problems often come at financially inconvenient times but delaying something that needs fixing could later put you in a real fix. For instance, your car won’t start without a properly operating alternator. Usually an alternator will work intermittently before is stops working all together. If your alternator is ... read more

As a member of the automotive industry, we strive to include everyone and make everyone feel included. Too often, people without extensive knowledge of automotive services are wary of taking their cars in for repairs. The most common group of people who feel uncomfortable in auto repair shops are women. At Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary, we strive to change that and make women feel comfortable in our shop. Our President, Nikki Sargent and her husband Steve Sargent, understand the importance of providing the best service to women better than anyone else. “We founded Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary with a focus on Customer Service by treating people as we would want to be treated. People depend on their vehicles, and therefore, they should be able to depend on us. Our perception of the auto service industry was one that did not often inspire trust and tra ... read more

If you and your family are planning a road trip this holiday season, Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary has several things to keep in mind to get you there in the safest and most cost-efficient way. While we previously discussed how to prepare your car for a road trip we didn’t talk about what tends to happen to your car on vacation. That is, you’re about to spend a lot of money on gas. Even a staycation, if it involves going to the zoo, the nearby park or museum can involve spending money to get there. We’d like to offer up a few tips to help you pay a little less at the pump, so your money can stretch a little farther. First, be aware of the cost of gas. Through the middle of 2019, the average cost of gas was $2.71 a gallon. That is about 15 c ... read more

There are a lot of popular myths in all walks of life.  Myths can be fun to believe but they can be problematic, too. You can imagine how troubling car myths are. If you believe in a car myth, you could end up draining your bank account and wind up stranded along a roadside. Here are four car maintenance myths, though we guarantee that there are many more out there. See if you’ve fallen for any of them. CAR MYTH #1: Your car’s regular maintenance must be performed at your dealership – if you want to keep your factory warranty valid. The truth: Your car’s regular maintenance does not have to be performed at the dealership. As long as you are on schedule and do the required maintenance services your warranty will remain intact. The key is to maintain accurate records of all of the work performed by the shop(s) that are performing the service. Look for a shop that maintains records on your vehicle if for some reason you cannot find all your paperw ... read more

As frigid temperatures start to settle in, we are reminded of the importance of taking care of our cars in these sometimes freezing conditions. As the new year approaches, you may make a resolution to lead a healthier lifestyle, it may be time to pledge your loyalty to your vehicle with routine maintenance and these need-to-know winter car care tips from Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary. Engine Coolant Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water and is extremely important as it keeps your vehicle’s engine from freezing in cold temperatures and also protect the internal components of your cooling system by reducing corrosion. It is recommended that coolant be flushed and refilled every two years, but this may vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Be sure to check coolant levels and examine your engine for potential leaks early in the season. Remember, a 50/50 blend of antifreeze a ... read more