Tacoma Auto Repair

Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter in the Pacific Northwest   Happy November, Bristow's Auto Family; pardon us for saying a well-used phrase, but Winter Is Coming. Winter-proofing one's vehicle is key to saving you money and time in the long run. Given our past knowledge of what winter looks like in the PNW, we feel there is no better time like the present to remind you of some essential safety tips you should take to ensure your safety on the road during our fast-approaching PNW winter.    Below is a list of key vehicle systems to have inspected:   Car Battery A common winter-car issue is your battery dying. PNW cold can be a recipe for disaster for my car batteries due to cold weather slowing down the chemical reactions in your battery. Your engine's oil will thicken as it gets colder, which means your battery has to work harder to move the oil where it needs to go when cranking the engine over. The cold also means that your vehicle has the added ... read more

Warmer days are finally happening here in the beautiful PNW! Given the sunnier days and UV rays, a day trip up to Mt. Rainer is a Washington must. Mt. Rainer offers some of the most beautiful sights and thankfully is around 60 miles from our shop! There is so much to explore in this active volcano national park from hundreds of hikes, waterfalls, and wildflower meadows that here at Bristow's Auto Repair, we wanted to share them with you. So, buckle up and take the drive over to the 14,410-foot-tall Mt. Rainier National park for a great adventure! Paradise is a fitting name for glorious mountain views and the fields of wildflowers that you'll find at this popular hiking trailhead. Paradise offers multiple hikes from its base. For a more family-friendly and stroller compatible hike, try the Nisqually Vista Trail, and at 1.2 miles, it's perfect. The Skyline trail to Myrtle Falls offers a wheelchair-accessible path and is around a mile long. Make sure to pack ... read more

Have you ever found yourself stuck on the side of the road? If not, you are lucky or very good at preventive maintenance. We all plan to have a safe drive; however, just in case things don't go as planned, it is good to have an emergency kit packed in your car for that just-in-case. What should you keep in your vehicle emergency kit? Great question! At Bristow's, we have put together a list of items to consider packing before you take off on your Great Escape.   First Aid Kit Purchasing a first aid kit that is pre-packed is a no brainer. It comes with gauze, bandages, antibiotic ointment, tape, scissors, gloves, aspirin, tweezers, hydrocortisone, and a thermometer all packed into an efficient little bag. You can pick them up for about $25, and it is sure to come in handy. If you can find room to add a few things into the bag, we suggest you tuck in a flashlight, extra batteries, and a spare phone charger. Adding a handwritten note with your insurance information, prefer ... read more

A tire blowout while driving can be a harrowing experience, especially while on a highway, interstate, or another high-speed road. Bristow's Auto Repair wants to make sure you are prepared and know how to handle an experience like this in the safest possible manner.   If you suddenly get a flat while you are on the road, it can be difficult to keep your vehicle going in a straight line. You will want to take hold of the steering wheel at the 10 and 2 positions, take your foot off the gas pedal and allow your car to reduce speed slowly. It is crucial to avoid slamming on your brakes; you want to let your vehicle slow down gradually so as not to further damage the wheel or create a traffic hazard.   Check your breathing; make sure you take long, deep breaths, full, slow inhale, and exhales to help stay calm and keep a clear mind. You have got this!   When you find yourself in a middle or left lane, you will want to carefully work your way toward an exit or a brea ... read more