KANSAS CITY AND OVERLAND PARK AUTO REPAIR

Motorcycles are an especially-popular choice of transportation during the summer months. Warmer weather is a good time to enjoy your bike, but it is imperative that you take the proper precautions to ensure your safety. If you are not a biker yourself, always be aware and double-check for them to prevent severe accidents. The Stats Unfortunately motorcycles kill thousands of people each year. The Department of Transport has just released its latest findings regarding motorcycle safety. The most-recently reported data is for 2011, showing that 4,323 motorcyclists died in the U.S. during that year. Unfortunately, this is a 2% increase from 2010. Additionally, 289 people were killed on other bikes such as three wheelers and mopeds. A total of 49% of all fatal motorcycle crashes were due to the bike crashing with another vehicle. 6% of 2011 motorcycle deaths were a result of someone hitting the bik ... read more

Taking care of your car includes taking care of the transmission. The transmission is the part of your automobile that sends power from the engine through the gears and drive shaft to turn the wheels. Muck this up and you’re, well, shafted! Take care of your transmission. First off you should love your transmission. Treat it well, don’t abuse it and it will love you back. This means: Don’t tow too much or tow too fast. Summer is boat season but knowing how much boat you can tow is critical. When you overwork your transmission it gets hot. When it gets hot it gets mad and can actually blow seals, gaskets and your mind. Know how much weight your vehicle can tow and most manuals will tell you keep it at or below 55MPH. Do not tow your pontoon boat with your Fiat! And don’t drive 70MPH all the way to St. Louis transporting heavy treasures on your trailer. Change your tran ... read more

Driving in the rain is inevitable. During a torrential downpour, your best and safest option is to pull into a parking lot and wait it out. If you are not in a position get off the road, follow these safety tips to ensure you arrive to your destination safely. Don’t… Turn on cruise control. This can make your car hydroplane, which means it is traveling on the water and has little to no traction with the pavement. If you do hydroplane, let off the gas and do not make any sudden movements. Tailgate another vehicle. A good rule to remember whether it’s raining or not is to keep at least a car’s length in front you for every 10 miles per hour you’re moving. For example, if you’re moving at 30 miles per hour, keep a distance of at least 3 cars between you and the next vehicle. Drive through big puddles. If you can’t see the ground through the flowing water, don’t drive through it. It is easy to u ... read more

Fall is on the way here and chances are the kids are back in school and summer vacations are over. This is a great time to give your car a thorough cleaning. Sallas Auto Repair has some tips to get your car back in shape and ready for leaf peeping road trips. A clean car is a happy car. -Your car always needs a good washing to protect it from damage from sun and dirt. Fall is also a great time to wax it in anticipation of road salt and ice in the winter. -Give your car a good vacuuming. If you’ve been carting kids around you probably have all sorts of debris on your floors from picnics, the pool, or the beach. Sand is a killer on a car’s interior so be sure and get under and in-between seats. -Clean and condition your seats. More and more cars have leather seats and they can take a beating from the sun, especially if your car sits outside all day. Wipe them down with a cleaner made especial ... read more

While driving, one of the most frustrating things that can occur is getting a whiff of an odor that is not normal for your car. Knowing what different car smells mean can help you better diagnose your vehicle’s problem and get it properly fixed. Hydrogen sulfide in your exhaust could be causing your car to smell like rotten eggs. If you are like me, having a foreign smell arise in your car can be frustrating. That is why we at Sallas Auto have taken the time to put together a list of top car odors and how to clear them out of the air, literally. Rotten Eggs If you have ever turned your car on and smelled rotten eggs it is time to check the exhaust, not for eggs, but for hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is produced when your catalytic converter is not working correctly. If you smell eggs you should definitely take your car into a trusted auto shop, the smell suggests you have trouble. A trusted shop w ... read more