Gardner Auto Repair

When asked, most people think they are good at multi-tasking. Scientific studies, however, reveal that only around 2% of the population can truly demonstrate the capacity to effectively multi-task. For the rest of us who are not so biologically wired, no amount of practice can increase our effectiveness at multi-tasking. Turns out, multi-tasking is almost a superpower. Think of fighter pilots: capable of maintaining their orientation in three-dimensional space and performing specific and highly complicated functions while accessing life-threatening situations and coming up with an appropriate response. Admit it – you can’t do that. When it comes to driving, we seem to think we are very capable of safely operating a motor vehicle with a myriad of distractions. 77% of young adults feel somewhat confident that they can safely text and drive while 55% claim ... read more

We've all heard a car or truck in our Olathe and Gardner neighborhoods that needs a new muffler. But there's more to the exhaust system than just the muffler. Exhaust gas is poisonous. You don't want it getting into the passenger compartment. For example, carbon monoxide can be deadly. That's why you should never run your engine in a closed garage. If you have a leak in the exhaust system, exhaust could get into the passenger cabin and make you sick or even kill you. If you smell exhaust in the vehicle, roll down your windows and get it inspected. You may smell or see exhaust coming from the engine compartment or under the vehicle if you have a leak. Sometimes the sound from an exhaust leak is loud and obvious. Sometimes it's a ticking sound when you start the engine that goes away as you drive. That could be a small crack or a bad fitting that leaks when it's cold but seals up when the metal heats and expands. Now, let's address the environm ... read more

Think of how much technology has changed vehicles in the last several years. And there's a lot more coming. Many will remember when drivers were the ones who had complete control of several driving functions: steering, braking, and skid and accident prevention, just to name a few. Thanks to computers, high-tech systems in the vehicle now assist with many of these. Anti-lock brakes help the driver stop while avoiding uncontrolled skids, traction control helps reduce slippage, and stability control can minimize the chances of losing control. Backup cameras let drivers see what's directly behind them, things they could never see before. Sensors warn drivers if a vehicle is crossing in front of or behind them. Even more sensors and fish-eye cameras alert drivers when they're getting too close to something. And those are just a few of the advances. The quest for self-driving vehicles has produced features that are already making their way into today's cars, trucks, and SU ... read more

When we drive, it's important for us to be able to see well. That means, of course, keeping the glass in our vehicles as crystal clear as we can. If you've ever driven your car directly into bright sunlight, you know dirty, scratched or fogged windows can render you almost completely blind. Not a good thing when you're moving down the road. And, it's important to be able to see your mirrors and other vehicles behind you. So, a little clarity here can go a long way. Let's take a look at how you can maximize your visibility: Clean windows with the right cleaner. Don't use cleaners that have ammonia or alcohol in them. Ammonia can cause the surfaces of your vehicle's interior to dry out and can damage some window tints. Special automotive glass cleaners are available, and your service advisor can make recommendations. Don't use abrasives on your windows. Some kitchen sponges have a pad on one side meant to clean pots and pans. Don't use those! That ... read more

By David Kelly  What’s it like to produce a Super Bowl ad? I have been involved with the production of three ads and worked with several different clients and ad agency creative directors on the whole question of whether they should spend the money on the biggest TV audience of the year. The attitudes range from “We gotta go big,” to “let’s just try to have a solid ad as if it was any other time of the year,” to “I’m not paying that kind of money for a TV audience only to have my ad bashed by places like USA Today, Advertising Age, Adweek and  ... read more

There are different grades of shredded tire product on the market. Tire shredders are pretty tough and durable and can also be adjusted  With good quality tire shredders, you simply have to put car and truck tires into the feeder and the tire shredders will do the rest right from sizing it, cleaning it up and creating the quality product that customers​ are looking for. Some tire shredders are designed to break the rubber to bits, as well as separating the rubber pieces from the smaller steel bits.  Making Concrete from Shredded Tires (Derived from Tire Shredders) The Rubber crumbs that are obtained from shredded tires with the help of tire shredder are incorporated to make Recycled rubber roads. Researchers have shown that the percentage of crack formation in rubberized concrete reduces by more than 90% as compared to normal concrete. The polymer fibers present in tire crumbs ameliorates the resilience of concrete and hence makes it long lasting ... read more

After they’ve had an accident, some people in Olathe and Gardner wonder why their airbags did not go off. Movies and television lead us to believe that airbags go off with the slightest bump. The reality is much more complicated. First, airbags come out with great force and speed. Now getting hit in the face with an airbag is way better than getting hit in the face with a windshield – but if the accident impact isn’t hard enough that you would be severely injured, the airbags may not be triggered at all because they could do more harm than good.   So how does your vehicle know when an accident is likely to result in life-threatening injuries that would merit deploying the airbags? Well, there are sensors all around your vehicle that send information to the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) computer that decides which airbags should be deployed and when. There are impact sensors that measure the direction and intensity of an impact in the front, rear and side ... read more

Well, your problem could be caused by several things. Let's start with a likely suspect: your alternator. The alternator is like a little electrical generator. It is spun by the serpentine belt on your engine and makes electricity. This electricity is used to power the electrical systems required to run your vehicle. It also powers all of your electronic accessories like your stereo, navigation, heated seats, and air fans, as well as charging all the electronics you have plugged in. After the alternator has done all that, any electricity that's left over is used to charge your battery. You can see where we're going: if the battery isn't getting enough electricity to stay charged, the problem may have something to do with the alternator. Now it could be that the alternator is bad – they do wear out over time. There are a number of failure points within the alternator, but in practice, it costs less to simply replace the alternator than to take it apart and r ... read more

 One of the few things that can make a morning commute worse in the winter is if the heat stops working inside your car. Have you ever turned on the fan for it only to blow cold air and wondered: “Why is my car heater not working?” If yes, then you know the struggle is very real. Not only is it terribly uncomfortable driving in a cold car, but it can actually be dangerous, as you can’t defrost the windshield, either. Here are some things that could be causing your heat not to work. 1. Coolant System Your engine’s cooling system works, in part, by the coolant traveling through a heater core that heats the inside of your car. Basically, it’s a small radiator that hot coolant flows through. The fan inside your car then blows heat off of it to give the cabin heat. If your ca ... read more

  We sure can show you the problem! We have a new video inspection that sets us apart from the rest! You will see exactly what our techs see. We send the video to you via text or email, so you have a better understanding of the repairs that are needed.  Just another reason Bret's Autoworks is the place to turn for honest auto repair.