Tacoma Auto Repair

Happy February to our Bristow's family! For February, we want to tackle a Pacific Northwest issue that, specifically, Washington Drivers have to deal with frequently. How to best prepare yourself & your vehicle for flooding roads & how to drive in the rain safely. Weather.com states that "Seattle experiences an average of 152 rainy days a year", which is a lot more than most states in our country. This is why it's so important to know how to drive in these PNW conditions! We know that driving in the rain -whether a sprinkle or a heavy downpour, can be one of the most challenging driving situations one can encounter. When you add darkness falling around 5 PM, it certainly doesn't help. It's crucial to keep in mind that wet roads & reduced visibility will affect how your vehicle enables you to drive safely in rainy conditions.  Your vehicle must be in prime working order before going in the rain. Make a point to make sure your headlights, taill ... read more

Whether you are driving a brand new Audi or a vintage Porsche, regular preventative maintenance is important for your European automobile. DO not underestimate the grave importance of keeping your vehicle's maintenance routine down-pat. You want to keep your engine and systems running at peak performance for as long as you can, and in this blog, we will go over the importance of having a professional auto mechanic (we prefer the term automotive technician) maintain your performance driving machine.    Who's ready to learn how to keep your European car running like new for many years?  Let's go! First, it's essential to understand the difference between preventative maintenance, scheduled service, and vehicle repair. They are all different but aim towards the same goal.    Preventative maintenance is knowing possible failures of anything related to your automotive or mechanical system. With this knowledge, you can be proactive towards prote ... read more

It is vital to understand the importance of tire rotation & balance to keep your vehicle running correctly & extend the life of your tires. When our trusted technicians rotate and balance your tires during an inspection, we manage the tread of your tire wear to extend the life of your tires. It’s important to note that tire balancing and tire rotation are different services, but people often think they are the same. We will break each different service down & explain the risks of not rotating your tires.   During a tire rotation, each tire is moved to a different position on your vehicle. For example, the tire under the left front may be moved to the back rear. This ensures that your tires wear more evenly, reduces noise & vibrations, & provides a better driving experience.    The consequences of not rotating your tires can be deadly. Without routine rotation, the tire treads can wear and cause unsafe driving situations in the form of hydrop ... read more

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

Taken from https://www.kimiraikkonen.com/   Happy October, Bristow's Auto Repair family! For our October blog, we have decided to highlight our owner - Pete Bristows favorite F1 Driver. A driver that many professionals have called "A bit of a legend," "very unique," and "an incredible talent." A driver whose nickname is "The Iceman," as he is world-renowned- for his emotionless interactions through the years with reporters and overall aura of "no-shits-given attitude." Bristow's Auto Repair team presents why Kimi Raikkonen is Pete Bristow's Favorite F1 Driver.    INTERVIEWER: "WHAT IS YOUR FEELING BEFORE THE RACE?" KIMI: "IT'S ALRIGHT."   It's fitting to highlight Kimi and his awe-inspi ... read more

Happy September, Bristow's Auto Repair family! Given that the fall season is descending quickly upon us, it is a perfect time to talk about fall preventative maintenance tips for your vehicle.  Let's start by loosely defining preventative maintenance. Preventive maintenance refers to regular, routine maintenance/upkeep to help your vehicle stay up and running; by taking these measures, you prevent expensive downtime/costs from unanticipated equipment failure. Preventive maintenance involves carefully inspecting your vehicle's systems and equipment where potential problems are detected and corrected to avoid a breakdown. Preventative maintenance can include many different services, and our ASE Certified mechanics at Bristow's Auto Repair can help you extend the life of your vehicle. In this blog, we want to highlight the most common fall preventative maintenance tips for you and your car!    Vehicle Cabin Air Filter Replacement No one wants to get st ... read more

Given that August is upon us all & the extreme heat waves that we've seen throughout the country, there is no time like the present to talk about the implications of your vehicle overheating. The last place any of us want to be during these sweltering days is stuck on the side of I-5 with an overheated/smoking vehicle. Given the expected high temperatures surrounding a running engine and the aid from mother nature, heating the pavement and air around us, the end of summertime creates the perfect storm of conditions for an overheated vehicle. The team here at Bristow’s Auto Repair wants to ensure the safety of everyone on the road & to keep your vehicle from overheating, so we present Summer Car 101 Overheating Edition.   Overheating Warning Signs Hot Hood:  Although it's normal for a hood to feel warm when the engine is running, especially in the summer. One fundamental way to tell if your hood is too hot is if you can't touch the hood for more th ... read more

  We are so close to summer finally being here in the PNW! Given the pandemic and social distancing guidelines loosening up, we at Bristow's wanted to put together a summer weekend getaway for our customers. However, as you'll notice throughout this guide, we try to include primarily outdoor and socially distant activities for you and the family. Just a drive away from exploring what Washington offers in its warmer months! Let's go!     Do You Love Kites? Visit Ocean Shores   If you travel two hours West from our shop and stay on Highway 8, you might find yourself exploring Ocean Shores! While staying in the blissful and quaint town, some outdoor exploring is needed. Check out the North Jetty beach area, and you might spot some spectacular wave action from views on the beach, as well as checking out the tide pools for hidden marine life and shells. If you wanted to trade up transportation methods, try another ocean shore staple, horseback ridin ... 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

So you've decided to take a weekend trip around the tri-pass! These passes consist of Cayuse Pass, White Pass, and Chinook Pass. Your car is all gassed up and ready to go, and your first stop is Cayuse Pass on state route 410. Cayuse Pass is just 41 miles southeast of Enumclaw with an elevation of 4675 ft. Cayuse Pass is typically closed in November due to heavy snow and outstanding avalanche danger caused by the high elevation. It usually opens in May and is known to have a snow depth at the summit of up to 15 feet. Cayuse Pass is tucked away in the Cascade mountains consisting of windy turns intersecting state route 123 and 410 is the second-highest pass in Washington. Cayuse Pass is on the east side of Mt. Rainier National Park and is a backcountry skiing destination.    The next pass you'll be going through is Chinook Pass, which has an elevation of 5430 ft and is located on the crest of the cascade range just a few miles up from Cayuse Pass. It is also usually ... read more