Gardner Auto Repair

New tires are a big ticket item for most drivers. You're not only concerned about the price, but you want to know that it'll be a long time before you need to buy new tires again. And of course there's the safety aspect as well. The tires do a lot of work – they carry the weight of the vehicle and you and your passengers around. They need to be up to the task. You want to be sure they hold the road and provide good traction. Drivers who carry heavy loads or tow a trailer need a high load tires to be up for the job. The tire professionals at Bret's Autoworks think it's important that  drivers understand the effect of price on a tire's performance and durability. The major tire brands sold in the area that you're familiar with are known in KS as&nbs ... read more

Reports say that the median age for cars on the road is over nine years and that two-thirds have over 75,000 miles (120,000 kilometers). In recent years those numbers have continued to rise here in Gardner and across KS. Many Gardner & Olathe  residents are keeping their vehicles longer. The KS economy has influenced that, but the fact that modern cars and trucks are more durable and reliable means that owning a high mileage vehicle doesn't have to be a painful experience for Gardner or Olathe.  Gardner & Olathe drivers with over 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) on their vehicles often ask us at Bret's Autoworks about what service intervals they should follow. Let's start with the special needs of the older vehicle. The reality is that time and mileage will take its toll. The engine and transmission will have more sludge. The fuel, steering and brake systems will have gum and varnish built up ... read more

Bret’s Autoworks made the New Year a bit brighter for a local family, donating a van to the family with the assistance of the Southwest Johnson County Multi-Service Center. Smiles, laughter and a few tears filled the afternoon as the family was handed the keys to their van. “I am proud to be part of a community that truly takes care of one another. This was combined effort of Bret’s, the wonderful staff at the Multi-Service Center,” says Leo Murry co-owner of Bret’s, "and to Gardner Napa Auto Parts for parts donations on the van". The family drove away with a new sense of freedom because they now have a vehicle to call their own! “This is a great family, we were so happy to donate the van. Thanks to the Multi-Service Center for introducing us and providing the opportunity to help”, states Shawn Fischer co-owner of Bret’s Autoworks

This might just look like some really worn tires, and while that is true, the real culprit is on of alignment. This is what could happen when tires are not put up on a lift and checked during a routine maintenance for rotation and alignment.  The wear and tear on the tire ion the left s completely   through to the backside of the inner lining.  The wear on the tire on the right is through to the steel belts.  In both cases, the wear and tear occurred on the interior edge, so if the tires are just inspected on the ground, the side facing out, might look just fine. 

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) help you stop faster. That is not always the case on loose gravel or snowy surfaces. Anti-lock brakes, in fact, are designed to help you maintain control of your vehicle in an emergency braking situation. Imagine you are driving on a snowy KS road. You need to slam on your brakes and your rear wheels lock up. Chances are good that the rear end of your vehicle will try to pass the front end and you can easily lose control. What would happen in the same circumstance if your front wheels locked up? Well you certainly would not be able to steer properly, and your front end would go to wherever momentum leads it. The ABS modulate your brakes on and off as many as 15 times a second. This keeps your wheels from locking up while providing the greatest amount of braking possible. You are better able to steer your vehicle and maintain control. Gardner service advisors often talk about the 3 S's of anti-lock brakes: Stomp – Stay – Steer. Stomp on the brake ... read more

We did it Again! 7 Years in a Row!Bret’s Autoworks Earns Esteemed 2016 Angie’s List Super Service AwardAward reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service Bret’s Autoworks has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of customer service to members of the local services marketplace and consumer review site in 2016. This achievement is particularly significant as Angie’s List experienced unprecedented member growth in 2016. More than 1.6 million consumers, many of whom were eager to quickly hire highly qualified service pros, joined Angie’s List after the company added a new, free membership tier. “Companies that can meet higher demands without missing a beat in their exemplary performance standards truly do stand apart from their peers,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Only a fraction of the Auto Repair companies in Kansas City ... read more

This is too much “stuff” on a key ring. The weight could cause damage to the ignition lock cylinder. So “lighten up

Your air conditioning system uses refrigerant to create cold air. The most common reasons Olathe drivers lose their cold air have to do with the refrigerant. The first is not enough refrigerant. Refrigerant is a gas in the system and very small holes in a hose, seal or coupler can allow enough to leak out to prevent the creation of cold air. Another potential problem for Olathe auto owners is contamination. Over time the inside of the rubber hoses can deteriorate and little bits of rubber can clog up various filters and other parts of the vehicle A/C system, preventing proper circulation of the refrigerant. And a component could also be worn or broken. So the first step for Olathe drivers who can’t cool their vehicle is a thorough air conditioning inspection, looking for leaks and worn parts. In fact, Federal law requires an inspection before adding refrigerant. Some states do not allow topping off a leaking system. Once any repair ... read more

Let’s look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value. Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: KS weather conditions, Kansas City terrain, Olathe temperatures, etc. Most new family vehicles in KS come with all-season tires. They can be used all year long and do pretty well in most KS road conditions – but they aren’t ideal at the extremes. Winter tires have a more aggressive tread for handling snow and ice on roads and they have a rubber compound that helps them have better traction as temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Definitely better stopping and road-holding characteristics for Olathe vehicles than all-season tires in winter weather. Dedicated summer tires enhance warm KS weather performance driving for Olathe. If you drive off-road around Kansas City , there is a wide spectrum of tires from all-terrain (a good mix of highway and off-road capability) to dedic ... read more

How do you know your spark plugs should be replaced? Well it can be confusing because there are several types of spark plugs and some last longer than others. Your owner’s manual will have a recommendation for when your spark plugs should be changed. Here’s a little background from Bret’s Autoworks. Spark plugs are in the combustion chamber of your engine. They send a little spark between two electrodes at the end of the spark plug which ignites the gasoline. This little spark goes off thousands of times a minute. Over the miles, the electrodes on standard grade spark plugs wear away increasing the gap between them. When that happens, the spark isn’t as strong and the fuel doesn’t burn as well. Several Types of Spark Plugs The standard grade is copper core. They are great for quick starts and may last 12,000 to 13,000 miles. Single platinum spark plugs use platinum on one of the electrodes. These typically last 30,000 to ... read more