Have you checked your brakes lately?   I know you expect them to stop your car or truck when you step on that brake pedal, but when they don't work as expected it's too late and then you have an accident with damage to your vehicle but more importantly to the people inside your car and those on the road who may be in your path. 

Let's avoid that issue!  Test your brakes by lightly tapping them in different situations when the roads are both wet and dry.   If your vehicle is pulling to one side, your brake pedal pulses up and down or the steering wheel shakes when the brakes are applied, you are very much overdue for a brake check.  Getting in early will save you money as it is always easier to fix a problem before it becomes a huge issue and your brakes are gone requiring new brakes, pads, rotars, and drums. 

When in doubt stop by our shop and have one of our professional automotive repair technicians take a look.    Don't wait until it's too late to solve these problems and let us help you stay safe on the road!  After all, that is the reason we raise these garage doors every day and open these tool boxes.  We love what we do and want to ensure our drivers can stay on the roads longer with their vehicles safer and more cost efficiently.

How often should you get your transmission fluid changed?  The transmission industry's standard is 25,000 to 30,000 miles or every two years.  If you tow a trailer, 15,000 to 20,000 miles is recommended depending on the amount of towing. Motorhomes can vary with the amount that they are driven. The best thing that you can do is check the fluid regularly; notice the color, odor and level of the fluid. If you notice a change in the color, odor or level, have it checked by one of our trained technicians.

What type of fluid should you use? The suggested fluids differ from one manufacturer to another and you can check the owner's manual to ensure the correct transmission fluid is utilized per your specific auto or truck make and model.  However, here our technicians have a computer program that will insure the right fluid goes into your transmission. We offer a full line of transmission fluids to cover all the various demands of any car or truck.

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Care and Maintenance Tips Keep Your Car Running in Top-Notch Condition:  We’ve compiled our best expert advice, surprising tricks, and car care tips to prolong the life of your automobile!

1. Be patient during the break-in period:  You’ve bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer’s lot:

• During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
• Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
• Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods — this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
• Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.

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We’ve all heard a car or truck in our neighborhoods that needs a new muffler. But there’s more to the exhaust system than just the muffler.   The exhaust system has three main functions:

• To safely get hot exhaust gas from the engine out the tailpipe
• Treats the exhaust to remove harmful pollutants
• Muffle the engine noise

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"A great, honest place to take your car. They get the work done fast, but if you have to wait a few minutes, they have a big TV and WiFi."   -Ryan Hooley

"My entire Richmond family have been going to Stuart Rolfe Muffler and Auto for decades.  Always receive great service and always honest. I never feel like I've been ripped off!  Go here! These guys are great!"   -Connie R.

"Always excellent service. I will always recommend this shop to a friend because I always feel that I being treated fairly, getting the necessary repairs, and not getting repairs that I do not need is a perfect business."   -Claude N.

"All I can say is great, great, and I will come back for any and all service or repairs."   -Charles L.