Posts tagged with "auto parts Apopka"

The simple answer is “yes.” But the real question is whether you should bring your own auto parts to Apopka. It would be best if you considered all of the possible effects of bringing your own parts to your auto repair mechanic. Things to consider include:

Cost – If you think you are always going to save money when you bring your own parts to a mechanic, think again. Even with the ability to shop around, you will rarely find the same deals afforded to mechanics when they go to buy parts. It is also important to know that the cheap parts you find may not be compatible or of lesser quality. You might also lose out on any warranty the mechanic offers if the part breaks.

Vehicle – Parts change for different makes and models. They can also change through the years for the same makes and models. That means it is easy to end up purchasing the wrong part for your vehicle when you go looking for the best deal. It also drastically increases the chances of buying a lower-quality part that can end up doing more damage to your vehicle.

Mechanic – To be fair, most mechanics aren’t going to be thrilled about the idea of you bringing in your own parts. Installing an inferior component at the insistence of a customer could jeopardize their hard work. Mechanics have the experience and knowledge to find the best parts at competitive prices that can deliver performance and longevity. If a customer brings in a bad part and the mechanic installs it, they know it could lead to physical damage, personal injury, or a lawsuit—three things they don’t want to be associated with their business.

When you trust your auto mechanic enough to do the work on your car, you can trust them to select and use the best parts for the job.

Driving while distracted is a very dangerous behavior. We know we shouldn’t text and drive – even talking on the phone while driving can be majorly distracting. There are lots of other dangerous behaviors that can compromise your safety behind the wheel, but today we’ll focus on three hazardous habits.

Using Touchscreen Systems
Touchscreens have become common in many new vehicles and are used for everything from navigation to entertainment systems and dashboard displays. While they are a convenient tool, they require more attention, thus distracting you while driving. Looking at the screen while driving means taking your eyes off of the road. Do your best to avoid unnecessary usage while driving or pull over if you must use them.

Eating
Who hasn’t been guilty of eating while driving? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the likelihood of a crash increases by 80% as a result of eating and driving. Think of that the next time you need to open a packet of ketchup or unwrap a sandwich. Never take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel. Instead, pull into a parking lot to eat your meal before hitting the road.

Grooming
Red light beauty maintenance is a problem and needs to stop. Applying mascara, combing your hair, or flossing your teeth at a traffic stop diverts your attention from the traffic light and road in front of you. Don’t pack your brush or mascara for on-the-go grooming when you’re running late. Take the few extra minutes at home or wait until you’ve parked to finish your grooming needs.

When you need reliable and affordable auto parts in Apopka, call Millikan Battery and Electric, Inc. You’ll get quality service from reliable professionals on all your auto service and repair needs.

Springtime temperatures in Florida can get hot, so summertime temps in Florida are nothing short of scorching. While that warm weather is welcome for heat-lovers, all that sun and humid air can have negative effects on things, too. Did you know that the warm sunny climate is also a problem for your car? Fortunately, there are ways to protect your vehicle to minimize heat damage. Check out this guide for protecting your vehicle now and all year long.

Interior Protection: Surely, you’ve opened your car door after it’s been sitting in the hot sun and it felt like a sauna. Your dashboard, leather, carpet, and other surfaces absorb the sunlight and trap the heat in the car. The solution is to park in the shade when available, purchase shades for the front window, or install window tinting.

Top Off The Fluids: Just like you, your car is thirsty when it’s hot. It uses plenty of oil, coolant, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid, and is working hard and burning even more fluid to keep it cool. During the summer or before long road trips, make sure all of the fluids are properly topped off and check them more frequently than in cold-weather months.

Tire Troubles: Under-inflated tires are more likely to overheat and cause a blowout than properly inflated tires, and the problem is only made worse by hot roads. The solution is to make sure your tires are inflated to the pressure recommended in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

For assistance preparing your car for summer or ahead of a long road trip, visit Millikan Battery and Electric Inc. for replacement auto parts in Apopka.

As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” and while we look forward to the blooming of flowers and new leaves on the trees, all that rain can cause trouble driving. Springtime downpours mean driving conditions often include mud, muck, slush, and standing water.

Spring weather conditions present their own driving challenges, including a high number of accidents due to wet pavement. To help keep you safe on the roads in the coming weeks, here are a few spring driving safety tips to follow.

Navigating Heavy Rain
Before you go out in spring driving conditions, make sure that your windshield wipers are new and that you have plenty of windshield wiper fluid. You’ll also want to make sure your tires are in good condition with proper air pressure and with enough tread. If you find either is overly worn or broken, replace them with auto parts in Apopka.

Beware of Standing Water
During or immediately after heavy rainstorms, pools of standing water can form on the road. If you can, avoid the puddles altogether. If there’s no way to switch lanes safely, try to drive through it very slowly, so you don’t slide. Hydroplaning is another major danger with standing water. This occurs when your tires are riding on top of the puddle, rather than gripping the road. Your main defense is to go slow.

Be Cautious of Mud
Steer and brake very carefully when there’s mud on the road to avoid sliding. If you do start to slide, treat it as you would an ice slide and turn your car in the direction of the slide, slowly pumping your brakes.

Like any system that works hard day in and day out, your vehicle’s radiator can fail and require repair. The main reason for radiator failure is a leak, which can lead to the cooling system failing. If the coolant has not been checked or topped correctly, the inside of the system will begin to rust and become clogged. Corrosion will eventually result in small holes developing, causing engine coolant loss, and a need for radiator repair.

Symptoms of Radiator Failure
The most common sign of radiator failure is coolant leaks. To ensure your vehicle’s radiator has the proper amount, you should check it regularly. On most cooling systems, there will be a maximum and minimum level indicator you can use to judge the level of coolant – ideally, it will always be between those two marks. Coolant levels will decrease naturally, but a significant drop over a short period of time will indicate a radiator leak. Other faulty radiator symptoms include frequent engine overheating (keep an eye on the temperature gauge), or a puddle underneath the engine (this will indicate a leaking radiator).

Repair or Replace
In some cases, a radiator repair is a better choice than replacing the radiator, but not always. At the first sign of trouble, call us for exceptional radiator repair and auto parts in Apopka. Our expert team of mechanics at Millikan Battery and Electric Inc., will diagnose and fix the problem and get you back on the road quickly.

Save yourself the headache of finally getting out the door and into the car only to find out the battery has died. There are warning signs ahead of this happening that will clue you in on a potential problem. Don’t wait until your vehicle doesn’t start to identify the issue and have the battery inspected or replaced.

Signs of a Dying Car Battery
#1 Old Battery
All parts wear out over time, and vehicle batteries are no different. If your battery is more than a few years old, it may likely be nearing the end of its life.

#2 Dashboard Warning Lights
When the battery icon appears on your dashboard, it’s a warning from your vehicle that the battery isn’t reloading correctly or there’s potentially another electrical system issue. When this happens, take your car to have the battery inspected as soon as possible.

#3 Slow To Start
This is a classic bad battery symptom. If you start the car and the engine is sluggish or takes longer to start than usual, it’s time to get the battery tested.

#4 Clicks But Won’t Start
A long crank or just a clicking sound is usually the next step after the slow start. If you give it a jump start and it runs, the battery is the issue, and you should replace it immediately.

#5 Battery Corrosion
If the dashboard battery light is on and the car is sluggish to start, pop the hood and check on the battery. If you see a lot of corrosion – usually at the positive terminal – or a clear film across the top of the battery case, this is an indication of a problem.

When it’s time to have your vehicle’s battery, alternator, or starter inspected, you can count on Millikan Battery and Electric, Inc. to get the job done quickly and efficiently. We pride ourselves on our honesty and will never recommend replacing auto parts in Apopka unless it’s warranted. Stop in or call ahead to schedule an appointment.