Union Square - Somerville Community Blog

Somerville Auto Repair Tips: Your Brakes Might Be Talking

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Fri, Oct, 27, 2017 @ 15:10 PM

Wait a minute - do you hear that? If you stop and pay extra attention to your car, you might realize that your brakes are trying to tell you something. Whether it's a sound, a feel or an obvious warning light, your brakes can and often do, communicate with you.

Our friends at the non-profit Car Care Council put together this great infographic that sums up nicely, what you should be on the lookout for.

Auto Repair Somerville Brake Tips

We hope this infographic helps! And remember - if you have questions about brake service or any other Somerville auto repair needs - we're always here to help!

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Somerville Auto Shop, Somerville Auto Service, Car Tips, Infographic

Somerville Auto Repair Tips: Engine Talk

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Sun, Apr, 30, 2017 @ 13:04 PM

Here at Mike's, we get a lot of questions about engines. Our customers often ask not only how their engines work, but want to know what's behind the name. Why is it called a V6? What's the difference with an Inline 4? Well, our friends at CNET have put together a great video that explains it all.

 

 

Does the video answer all of your questions? If not, we're only a phone call away. Whether you're looking for quality Somerville auto repair, or just have questions - we're always happy to talk to anyone who needs help! It's what we do!

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Somerville Auto Service, Somerville Car Repair, Car Tips, Video

Feeling Thankful For Somerville Auto Repair Award

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Wed, Nov, 23, 2016 @ 12:11 PM

It's Thanksgiving, and we have a lot to be thankful for. We've completed another year in such a great city - not to mention 36 years in business! More importantly, we've met and helped so many wonderful new people that have moved into our city, or just needed a locSomerville Auto Repair Award - Scout's Honored.jpgal guy to take care of them.

So, when people speak up about the great service they've received at our shop, it means the world to us!
And we're so humbled that it's happened again. Mike's was awarded the 2016 Scout's Honored Award for Best Auto Repair.

We were the first Scout's Honored winner in the Auto Repair category back in 2014. The category was briefly retired in 2015, but brought back for 2016. Winning it again, the first year it was brought back, felt great. It reminded us that people really appreciate what we do. And we're happy to say that we're going to keep doing it!

So, if you're looking for quality Somerville auto repair, just remember, we'd be honored to help you!

 

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Somerville Auto Shop, News, Awards, Somerville Car Repair

Somerville Auto Repair Tips: Automatic Vs Manual Transmission

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Fri, Sep, 30, 2016 @ 20:09 PM

Believe it or not, we service a decent amount of vehicles with a manual transmission. A lot of people are surprised when they hear that. After all, wouldn't most people want an automatic transmission? Well, not exactly. To better explain the difference, we found an infographic that sums it all up, nicely!

Somerville Auto Repair | Automatic or Manual Transmissions

We hope this helps! And remember, if you've got any more questions about transmissions, or are looking for a new Somerville auto repair shop, you can always reach out and ask us - we love making new friends!

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Somerville Auto Shop, Somerville Car Repair, Car Tips, Infographic, Transmission

Somerville Auto Repair Guys Talk Toyota Connected

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Fri, Jun, 24, 2016 @ 12:06 PM

We all know that the cars of today are advanced - every car has multiple computers in it that all talk to each other, in order to give you a great ride. Well, it turns out that what we already have is just the tip of the iceberg! The automotive world got big news recently from Toyota - the launch of Toyota Connected.

Toyota is about to make major use of data - yes, your data. But in a good way. The Japanese power houseSomerville_Auto_Repair_Toyota.jpeg is making major investments in being able to use both opt-in and public social data, to predict customer behavior. That may sound a bit scary, but it is so much more awesome!

For example, Toyota will know which sports teams you like. And if it senses that you're headed toward the stadium, it will offer to prepay your parking. That's is truly amazing!

Toyota Connected CEO, Zack Hicks, is on a mission to free people from the "tyranny of technology." The idea is to use technology to work for us in the background - and get the phones out of our hands! Now, that idea is a revolutionary as the technology he'll use to do it!

We're big fans of Toyota - we work on a lot of them! And we share their passion for technology and desire to make a better experience for their customers.

So, if you've got a Toyota Camry, Corolla, Highlander, or any other Toyota model, remember that these Somerville auto repair guys have got you covered!

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Somerville Auto Shop, News, Somerville Car Repair, Toyota

Mike's Celebrates 35 Years of Somerville Auto Repair

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Tue, May, 26, 2015 @ 15:05 PM

The month of May is always a great time of year in Boston - the flowers are blooming, the warm weather returns and summer is upon us. But this May offers something extraordinary: We're celebrating our thirty-fifth anniversary!

As many of you know, it all started back in May of 1980, in a small one-bay shop. Mike set out on a mission to provide unparalleledAuto Repair Somerville auto service and to protect local residents from the big pricey dealerships and lack-luster chain shops. Now, thirty-five years later, that mission is alive and well - it has evolved into an ongoing journey, rather than a destination. And one that Mike is happy to be a part of!

You see, thirty-five years is a long time. We've witnessed a lot over these years providing Somerville auto repair and have watched our beloved city progress into an amazing urban community - one that we're proud to call home!

One of the best things about coming to our shop is knowing that we've been here for a long time  - and we'll always be here!

So, we hope you'll join us in celebrating our thirty-fifth anniversary. It certainly means a lot to still have you with us. We'll keep doing what we do - helping you and protecting you, every step of the way.

Oh and, here's to another thirty-five years!

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Somerville Auto Shop, Somerville Auto Service, News, Somerville Car Repair

Somerville Auto Repair Guys Win Scout's Honored Award

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Sat, Sep, 20, 2014 @ 09:09 AM

We're always humbled when our Somerville auto repair services are recognized with an award. We received another one this month that we're extremely proud of - The Scout's Honored Award from Scout Somerville.

What's the best part about receiving this award? We're the first! You see, auto repair is a newSomerville Auto Repair category and we're the first shop to receive the award. Now that's something to be proud of!

At Mike's, we love firsts. We were the first shop in the entire State of Massachusetts to receive the Angie's List Super Service Award, back in 2005 - and we've won it every year since! It's nine years later and we're just as excited to receive this award from Scout.

All the winners were gathered this week at the Somerville Theater for an awards ceremony. The house was packed with the area's finest from Somerville and Cambridge. A common thread of all the award winners: socially concious businesses. Every business that won an award doesn't just offer great products or servivces - they truly care about our community as well.

We hope that winning the Scout's Honored Award gives you one more reason to try Mike's. And we hope you check out all the other winners too!

Which Scout's Honored Award winner is your favorite? We'd love to know!

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, News, Awards, Scout's Honored Award, Scout Somerville

Somerville Auto Repair: The Smell Test

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Wed, May, 21, 2014 @ 11:05 AM

At Mike's, we get a lot people who come in because their car has a certain smell. They're always baffled by what the smell could be and if they should be concerned. As a qualified Somerville auto repair shop, we always figure it out. But you can now have a head start - our friends at the Car Care Council put together a neat infographic that that will provide some more insight on what that smell may actually be - and why you do need to be concerned.

 

Auto Repair Somerville

 

Hopefully, with this information in hand, you'll have a better idea of what may be going on with your vehicle the next time a strange smell arises. Have you had any other funky smells that aren't on this list? Let us know - we'd love to hear what else is brewin' out there!  

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Vehicle Fleet Maintenance, Somerville Auto Shop, Somerville Car Repair, Car Tips

Somerville Auto Repair Resolutions

Posted by Mikes Automotive on Thu, Feb, 06, 2014 @ 16:02 PM

Well, it's that time of year again - time for New Year's resolutions! At Mike's, we're urging our customers to include their vehicles when setting goals for 2014.

Auto Repair SomervilleOur friends at the non-profit Car Care Council, explain why resolving to spend a little time on your car now, can lead to a great year ahead.

“Regular auto care shouldn’t be one of those New Year’s resolutions that goes by the wayside,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Preventative vehicle maintenance pays off all year, every year.”

To be car care aware, the council recommends incorporating the following service interval schedule items as part of your New Year’s resolution:

      • Perform monthly checks of tire pressure and the condition of tires, lights and windshield washer fluid. The vehicle should also be cleaned monthly.

      • Every three months or per the owner’s manual, check the engine oil and filter, check the levels of other fluids including automatic transmission, power steering and brake, and check the battery and cables, belts and hoses. The exhaust and fuel filter should also be checked at this interval. 

      • Every six months or 6,000 miles, the chassis lubrication should be checked and windshield wipers should be replaced.

      • Every 12 months or 12,000 miles, the brakes, spark plugs, coolant and steering and suspension should be checked.

As a local Somerville auto repair shop, we're happy to pass on these tips. We hope you'll keep up this resolution a lot longer than the one you made for going to the gym!

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Somerville Auto Service, Somerville Car Repair, Car Tips

13 Vehicle Fleet Maintenance Tips

Posted by Mark Pedersen on Thu, Mar, 14, 2013 @ 12:03 PM

It seems to happen after the start of every new year: People come into Mike's and ask about preventative maintenance. They want to know what to do on a regular basis, in or to protect their cars.

Although each vehicle has its own manufacturer maintenance schedule, there are certain things for you to do in order keep your car in running smoothly. Our friends at the Car Care Council have put together a handy tip list of 13 actions for you to take:

  1. Get regular oil changes since they are your best investment toward the longevity of the engine.Vehicle Fleet Maintenance Boston
  2. Get regular brake inspections which are the best way to ensure safe and reliable breaking and minimize the cost of repairs when break service is needed.
  3. Make sure your gas cap is secure and tight. A loose gas cap can trigger the “Check Engine” or “service Engine Soon” light.
  4. Ensure your tires are properly inflated. Proper tire inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3 percent when maintained regularly.
  5. Get regular alignment checks — they are your best way to maximize tire life and ensure that your car performs on the road as originally designed.
  6. Get routine tune-ups and engine performance checks — they can be your best assurance of good performance and fuel economy. A healthy running engine maximizes the life of expensive emission system components.
  7. Frequent washing and polishing is the best way to protect your car’s finish from the damaging effects of acid rain.
  8. You should check the condition of the coolant each spring and fall to make sure the additives that protect against corrosion still function.
  9. Have any suspicions of a leak checked out at once. Carbon monoxide from your car’s exhaust is odorless, colorless-and lethal.
  10. Try to replace your car’s fuel filter every two years or 24,000 miles for best results.
  11. During normal driving, you may not notice a light that isn’t working; inspect your car’s lights at every oil change.
  12. You should test your battery every fall. If your car’s battery is three years old or more, consider replacing it since the chances of failure increase.
  13. Improper ride height of your car can impact alignment angles and cause premature wear of some steering and suspension parts.

These tips make great sense. And of course, when you bring your car to Mike's, we'll have all of this taken care of for you! We continuously inspect and advise you on all of these items. 

So, whether you're a local person looking to keep your car in tip-top shape, or a company looking for vehicle fleet maintenance services - Mike's has got you covered!

Want to know more about what we can offer your fleet? Click the button below to get started!

Vehicle Fleet Maintenance Boston

Tags: Somerville Auto Repair, Boston Auto Repair, Vehicle Fleet Maintenance, Car Tips