Vehicle Maintenance

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we have seen our fair share of preventable engine failures. Frequently, engine disaster could have been avoided if the driver had known beforehand what the warning lights or gauges on the dashboard indicated. While some dash lights are fairly benign, others indicate imminent trouble. This guide from Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL will prepare you for the next time your vehicle shows you a warning you shouldn’t ignore.

Once you’ve determined a vehicle needs to have the engine replaced and is in good enough shape to keep on the team, it’s time to find an engine. Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL is here to help you choose the right one. There are a variety of replacement options when it comes to engines.

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, a big part of our job is helping you make decisions that are right for you, and your car, truck or SUV. When it comes to replacing a transmission there are a lot of options out there; we’re here to help you make the right choice.

Don’t you hate it when potholes sneak up on you? There is a lot of money being spent on vehicle damage due to potholes. Do you know what parts of your car could receive the most damage.

The exhaust on your truck is an important series of components, that work together to ensure smooth, reliable operation. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, we also know that exhaust systems are especially susceptible to damage and rust; pipes, mufflers, and other parts are exposed to hazards on the road, and to the environment. This situation, combined with caustic emissions and extreme heat, creates a perfect opportunity for problems to arise.

If your transmission isn’t shifting correctly, you’ll want to be careful about how you choose to proceed. The best thing to do is turn the vehicle off and have a professional take a look at it, but if that isn’t an option, there are some steps you can take to ensure nothing gets damaged. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL we can take a look at your issues and also give you some tips on what to do when that option isn't available yet. 

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we understand the importance of a job well done. You need it done fast, but you also need it done right - cutting corners in the home stretch is obviously a bad idea.

If you drive a Mercedes, Porsche, Subaru, BMW, Jaguar, or other performance and luxury vehicle, you’re a person who appreciates the value of quality. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire, we share that appreciation - that’s why we specialize in quality cars and take pride in quality work.

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we pride ourselves on specialty knowledge and ability. Once you’ve settled on a transmission to invest in, it’s important not to cut corners on the homestretch. We’ve got you covered here and you can expect top quality repairs for your top quality product.

Once your engine is installed, you’ll want to keep it running right. Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL has you covered. Sometimes, engines just wear out - however, most of the time they meet an early demise as a result of improper maintenance. Keep your engine running like new by maintaining it the way your technician recommends.

Tires may be the only part of a vehicle that physically meets the road, but your shock absorbers are next in line. Working with the suspension springs, they absorb shocks from bumps and cracks in the road, while simultaneously controlling bounce and body roll.

Tires may be the only part of a vehicle that physically meets the road, but your shock absorbers are next in line. Working with the suspension springs, they absorb shocks from bumps and cracks in the road, while simultaneously controlling bounce and body roll.

Oil changes are integral to the performance, longevity, and reliability of your diesel truck. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, our expert mechanics understand the importance of good quality oil, changed at correct intervals, in allowing you to get the most out of your Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax diesel.

While transmissions are extremely complicated and it takes a professional hand to work on one, taking care of the one you have isn’t difficult. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we understand the importance of caring for your transmission properly, so that it stays in good condition for as long as possible.

Have you ever noticed your dashboard ABS icon lit up? If you have it means there is an issue that needs to be diagnosed, ABS issues don’t need to be ignored long. The anti-lock braking system, or ABS, is an important feature on every modern car, truck, or SUV. It has been legally mandated since 2013 in the US but was standard on almost every vehicle even prior to that. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your ABS system doesn’t fail, from Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL.

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, we know the key to making your vehicle last; good maintenance. An overwhelming percentage of the problems we see, especially the really catastrophic ones, are a result of poor maintenance. While properly maintaining a vehicle can seem a like a bit of a hassle, it is absolutely worth the payoff. Good maintenance is the only difference between a car that lasts 80,000 miles and a car that lasts 400,000 miles. Preventative maintenance and repair when a problem occurs are are your two concerns, and both will keep your car on the road far longer, if observed properly.

Your vehicle's radio and headlights, plus a slew of other important functions, are powered by an electrical current generated by your vehicle’s engine. A vital part of generating electricity is having a place to store it while it’s not being used, which is where a car battery comes into play. The battery holds electrical energy while a car is off in order to help the engine turn over and create a spark to start internal combustion. Without a working battery, your car will not be able to start. If you perform proper maintenance, however, an average car battery can start your car reliably for roughly four years.

There are multiple types of tires on the market for almost every car, truck, or SUV. The type of tire you want depends on a variety of factors, from climate to how you drive. Here’s a short rundown of common street tires that’ll suit your needs.

Whether you drive a Chevy, Dodge, or Ford diesel truck, there are a variety of options out there for a replacement engine. Depending on your truck's worth, it may depend on the type of engine and the amount of money you want to put into it. You can purchase a used, rebuilt, remanufactured, or even new diesel engine to replace your old. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we’re here to help you choose the right one. 

Your gas mileage mostly depends on what kind of car you drive; engine displacement and vehicle weight are the largest determining factors on gas mileage, and there’s not much you can do to change either of those. That doesn’t mean attempting to improve your fuel economy is a completely hopeless endeavor, however. With these tips from Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, you might be surprised how much your fuel mileage can be improved.