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Courtesy Auto Service is the Tacoma Auto Shop for You
Your Tacoma auto shop is Courtesy Auto Service. Located in Tacoma, Washington, we are the premier one-stop shop for all your automotive needs. No matter if you need tires, various vehicle repairs or a new set of wheels and tires, you can count on...
5 Warning Signs You Need a New Alternator
Is Your Alternator Going Out? Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma sees many issues in their shop and a failing alternator is common. Having a failing alternator can cause many issues and there are warning signs to look out for. Sometimes, when...
Truck Repair Shop Tacoma: Courtesy Auto and Tire Service – We’ll Get You Back on the Trail!
If you are looking for the best repair shop Tacoma has to offer, look no further. When you are looking for a reputable truck repair facility that is reliable, efficient and affordable, consider the Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma. We are...
The Best Blogs of the Year – Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma
Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma is your premier repair and tire shop in the Tacoma, WA area. Courtesy Auto Tacoma is a company that is based on quality service and customer satisfaction. Throughout the year, we have published advice and...
How to Tell If Your Timing Belt is Going Bad
Do you have a timing belt issue? Courtesy Auto Tacoma can help! When your car starts to run slowly or it stops working properly, you may think it's time to replace your timing belt. This is a common problem in a lot of vehicles, and if it isn't...
Signs of Radiator Issues
There are many things you can do to diagnose radiator issues. One of the main things is a smell. Don't go get a fancy freshener from Amazon, get help from a pro. After you decide it’s the radiator, the best thing to do is to repair a radiator. That...
Why Should You Get Your Tires Rotated and Balanced?
Proper tire maintenance dictates that you should rotate and balance your tires – and at Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma, we agree! It is extremely important to practice proper tire maintenance and that includes rotation and balancing the...
The Importance of Vehicle Alignment
Getting a vehicle alignment is an important maintenance task and one that you should not overlook. It can help to prevent uneven tire wear and tire blowouts while also making it easier for you to steer. Wear and Tear on Your Tires Having the proper...
How to Tell if your Car Heater is Failing
Car heaters are one of the most important functions of a vehicle – and here’s why: Sometimes our most underappreciated vehicle functions fail in our vehicles, like car heaters. Those chilly mornings sneak up on us quickly, especially in the Tacoma...
What Are the 4 Components of a Tire?
The best tire center Tacoma, WA has is Courtesy Auto and Tire Center. No matter if you need a vehicle service or tire service, they are the place to go! Tires are made of several different components and at Courtesy Auto and Tire Service of Tacoma,...
Low Tire Pressure Season
It’s low tire pressure season! The sun is setting sooner, Halloween decorations are up, the leaves are turning a lovely orange and those TPS sensors are going off like crazy. Get in for you tire pressure checks today! Why Does Cold Weather Mean Low...
Facts and Components of Tires: Learn About Your 4 Wheels!
There are so many common items that we see every day but never wonder about. For instance, tires are an integral part of a vehicle’s system of operation, but all we see are round, ridged circles that get us to and fro. Let’s dive deeper into the...
Common Car Issues: 6 Expert Troubleshooting Tips
Common car issues troubleshooting tips are important for anyone. Owning a car means fixing something at some point. There are several common car troubleshooting tips that you can try to solve a problem. Faulty ignition coils, wheel bearings and...
How to Reduce Braking Distance
Braking distance is the distance a vehicle travels when braking or stopping. There are many factors that can affect braking distance. Some of these factors include road conditions, car upkeep and reaction time. Regardless of the cause, you can...
How Can You Protect Your Vehicle? 7 Tips!
We have all asked ourselves “how can I protect my vehicle?” There are many things you can do to protect your vehicle in various ways. From parking indoors, to rolling up windows, there is no measure too small when it comes to ways you can protect...
6 Ways How Cold Weather Affects Your Vehicle
There are a variety of ways in which cold weather can affect your vehicle. Your car's behavior, performance and fuel efficiency may all change as the temperatures drop. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the effects of cold weather on your...
The 4 Most Popular Vehicle Modifications
Body modifications are a great way to make your vehicle truly your own. While many pre-owned vehicles come with great standard equipment, it may not be exactly what you need or want out of your vehicle. That's where vehicle modifications come in....
How Do you Change a Tire?
Step By Step Have you ever asked yourself how much you know about servicing your own vehicle, like how do you change a tire? When it comes to driving on the any road, highway or freeway, there are several important things to know to be a prepared...
What Are the 2 Different Types of Brakes and Important Things to Know
Have you ever wondered how a vehicle’s different types of brakes? Are you unsure of what types of brakes your vehicle has? We are here to help you learn all there is to know about the basics of passenger vehicle braking systems. Read along with...
Catalytic Converters: What’s the Big Deal?
It’s a topic that is unavoidable these past few years – catalytic converter theft is rapidly rising in communities all across America. You’ve seen posts on your community Facebook pages, heard talk in line at the post office. Despite awareness,...
Why is There Water Coming From My Exhaust (When to Worry)
Have you ever been parked for a while and realized that there was water coming out of your exhaust pipe? While Washington is a pretty rainy state, water coming from the exhaust can be alarming for obvious reasons. The good news is that in most...
What Does a Multi-Point Inspection Entail?
We’ve heard it time and time again: the best way to prevent a problem is to catch the warning signs before it becomes a bigger issue. This applies to many things in life, an important aspect being your vehicle. Having a well-functioning vehicle is...
3 Signs of Clutch Issues
For those of you who drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, you know how essential the clutch is to (literally) getting where you need to go. Your clutch is what allows the driver in a manual to shift gears. In an automatic, this process is...
7 Items for Your Summer Trip Vehicle Maintenance Checklist
Summer is on the horizon, that means it’s time to plan for a road trip! To ensure traveling is free of unforeseen mechanical issues, it's a great idea to make sure your vehicle has a trip inspection. This is a great idea because an ounce of...
4 Signs of Radiator Issues
Your radiator is a key part of your cooling system that helps keep your car from overheating. If your radiator isn’t working, your cooling system will be unable to regulate internal temperatures. This can lead to an overheated engine, stalling, and...
3 Reasons for Wheel Shaking
If you’ve ever driven down the freeway or a winding mountain road and your wheel begins to shake you know how concerning it can be. Whatever the cause, wheel shaking can be a sign of a serious issue with one or several components of your vehicle...
Spring Safe Driving Tips
It’s spring here in Tacoma! As we transition into a season marked by longer days and renewed activity, it’s important to make sure that you stay alert as a driver to new possible distractions and dangers in the environment and on the road. Here are...
When to Change Your Fuel Filter
We all know that air filters and oil filters need to be changed every now and then to make sure your car is functioning properly. But how often should you change your fuel filters? What are fuel filters? Fuel filters are filters designed to filter...
8 Deadly Driving Distractions
In driving school we learn lessons like defensive driving and being wary of drunk drivers. But in the modern era where time is limited and distractions abound, it’s important to understand how daily habits like applying makeup or responding to that...
What are Carbon Deposits and How Do They Effect Your Engine?
If you’re a car owner, you may have heard of carbon deposit buildups. But what causes carbon deposits to build up? In this blog we’re going to look into what causes carbon deposits to build up, why they’re bad, and what you can do about them! What...
5 Things Every Driver Should Know How to Do
There are some thing that should definitely be left to the experts. But on the flip side, there are some things you can’t afford not to know. Having a little bit of car maintenance know-how isn’t just helpful for saving money; it can be a real...
Replacing Tires: A Comprehensive Guide
Our tires play the single most important role in connecting our vehicles with the road. Without them we quite literally wouldn’t be going anywhere. That’s why it’s so important to make sure they’re in great shape. It's also important to start...
The Importance of Tire Rotation and Balancing
Tire rotation is an important part of tire maintenance and overall driving safety. In 2019 alone, the US saw over 600 deaths from tire-related crashes. Just like an oil change, tire rotation shouldn’t be seen as optional. Instead, you should plan...
4 Simple Tips for Defrosting a Windshield
Winter is coming. As the weather begins to dip below freezing at night, you can expect to wake up to frozen windshield on cold winter mornings. Not only are frosty windshields inconvenient, they can signifiants obscure your field of vision and...
How Cold Weather Can Affect Your Car
It’s officially winter next month and that means colder freezing temperatures, rain, and maybe even snow. And just like the summer season can affect how your car runs, cold weather can do the same. As we enter the coldest months of the year it’s...
4 Great Tips for Dealing with Foggy Windshields
’Tis the season for pumpkins, sweaters, and holiday fun. But with the changing weather comes the nemesis of many: foggy windshields. Fogged up windows can be super annoying, especially in the morning when you’re running late and your car isn’t warm...
Snow-driving in Western Washington
Winter is on its way, and with it comes inclement weather and snow! While snow is a Winter Wonderland dream to some, it can be a nightmare for drivers unaccustomed to snow-driving. Make sure you stay safe this winter with these snow-driving...
Child Passenger Safety Week
Kids are the pride and joy of many of our lives. This week is child passenger safety week, and our team here at Courtesy Auto and Tire Repair of Tacoma wants to highlight best practices for keeping our little ones safe. It can be easy to...
4 Important Fall Maintenance Checks
Fall Maintenance Checks to Keep You Safe Fall is just around the corner here in Tacoma. You can feel it in the air. The weather is cooling down, the leaves are starting to get that faint red hue, and no doubt you’ve noticed buses are back on the...
S.O.S. What To Do When Your Car Starts Smoking
It feels like the last few years these summers in Washington State have been characterized by smoke. But besides smokey weather, there’s something else that we all dread even more: when your car starts smoking. Smoke coming from your car is always...
What to Keep in Your Disaster Kit to Stay Prepared on the Road
If you’ve got plans to hit the road this summer it’s a good idea to make sure you’re prepared! In addition to maintenance, tire pressure, and fluid level checks, it’s a great idea to make sure you have the basic necessities in case of an emergency....
What Your Check Engine Light Means (and 3 Reasons It Might Be On)
Having your Check Engine Light come on usually comes with groans of frustration and worries about what’s gone wrong. An illuminated Check Engine Light can mean anything, from something as small as a failing sensor or missed connection to a bigger,...
Identifying Different Smells Coming From Your A/C
During these hot, hot days it’s always a relief to get in that car and crank the A/C to full blast. But have you ever gotten in your car and turned on your A/C just to be hit by wall of smells coming from your A/C? It can be horrible and quickly...
Why Oil Changes Are Important
Have you ever gotten busy with life and forgotten to change your oil? If you have, you're not alone. Depending on driving conditions, make, and model, oil changes should be between 3,000 and 10,000 miles. But what happens when you don't get an oil...
The Wonderful Alternator: What It Does and Why It Matters
Here's a scenario. You're driving on a dark backroad somewhere on the outskirts of Tacoma trying to escape I-5 traffic. But you get lost. There are no street lights. There's a chill in the air. Your headlights are flickering, but you're more...
Premium Gas: Does The Type of Gas You Buy Really Matter?
With gas prices soaring to nearly 4 dollars here in Tacoma, you might find yourself wondering if that premium gas is actually doing anything to help save your tank. While there’s no question that strictly diesel cars should only use diesel and vise...
Driving On a Spare Tire
Picture this: you're driving down I-5 at 10 pm through a downpour when you feel a pop and a bump. Your car slowly loses traction and you pull over to see that you've blown a tire. Luckily, you have your trusty spare tire in the back. With some...
Cruise Control Not Working?
Are you living in the Tacoma area and experiencing issues with your cruise control? Here are some of the possible reasons why. What is Cruise Control? Cruise control is a helpful way for you to maintain speed while on the road. Your cruise gives...
3 Signs of a Failing Transmission
A failing transmission is never a good thing. Your transmission is the part of your car that allows the gears to shift as you drive. Whether automatic or manual, it is essential to making your car move and letting you control the speed you drive...
A Helpful Guide to Navigating the Auto Service Menu
It can be tricky trying to understand what what you’re actually getting when you look at the auto services menu. To make it easy on you, we’ve constructed this comprehensive list of what each of our auto services entail. What Our Auto Services...
The Special Needs of Your Car
f you own an import, it’s important to know that for you, not all auto shops were created equal. European imports have specific maintenance and repair needs that you may not be able to get at the average repair shop.
How to Check Your Tires and What to Consider When Replacing Them
Having a good tire tread helps give your car traction and keep you safe in any road condition. Living in the Pacific Northwest, where our weather can turn wet and rainy in an instant, it’s important to make sure your tires are good before any problems arrises.
What Makes Hybrids Different
Hybrid cars are becoming a more and more attractive option for car-owners. With great mileage and low fuel consumption, hybrids save gas money and help reduce your carbon footprint. As a green business, we here at Courtesy Auto understand the...
Extending the Life of Your Brakes
Like most things, your brakes will eventually have to be replaced. But if you're smart about how you drive and take care of your vehicle, you can make them last longer. Certain driving habits can lead wear your brake pads down quickly. Here are...
Synthetic Oil Over Conventional Oil
If you haven’t heard, now is the time to consider using synthetic motor oil in your car. Why? Synthetic motor oil maximizes engine power and fuel economy. Synthetic motor oil is a better alternative to petroleum based oil. It doesn’t gel or...
Tacoma Drivers Severe Service Maintenance Schedules
Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Tacoma drivers, some vehicle manufacturers issue two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Tacoma auto...
Clean Air For Your Engine
Every Tacoma car owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told that their engine air filter is dirty. But why does it matter anyway? Why a Clean Engine Air Filter Matter Think about a dirty furnace filter in your home. When it’s...
Maintaining Your Older Car in Tacoma, Washington
Over the years, the price of a new car has skyrocketed. With new cars becoming more expensive, many people in the Pierce County area are driving their cars longer, making the knowledge of maintaining your older car vital. The average car household...
3 Helpful Tips on How to Make Your Vehicle Last
Tips like changing oil regularly (seen above) are essential when learning how to make your vehicle last. Even though times have changed, sometimes fixing things is better than replace them. Knowing how to make your vehicle last can save you time...
The Importance of Your A/C
Your Air Conditioning unit is a vital tool in your car or SUV. While it provides a cool refuge on blazing summer days, it also serves practical and essential functions in winter months as well. The A/C unit is responsible for defrosting your...