Good protein is Alaska’s new gold rush. Safe, truly nutritious protein is an elusive component of daily life in the American economy. It has never been as obvious to Alaskans as it is now that they enjoy an unusual marketplace of pristine meats. However, this protein is not sold in stores. It requires the initiative […]
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Frost Heaves and Potholes: How They Trash Your Car
When you are thrown by a frost heave or slammed into a pothole, does it ever make you wonder if your car is OK? So many key components are destroyed when vehicles encounter road damage as extreme as the frost boils and potholes that routinely surface on roadways every summer in Alaska. None of these […]
Read MoreUnderstanding Motor Mounts: Symptoms and Repairs
Motor mounts are essential. They are literally what fastens two hundred horses to your car’s frame! Think of them as the saddle for your engine. Without being securely fastened, you could be in for a very bumpy ride. What are motor mounts?Motor mounts (also known as engine mounts) are brackets that attach the engine to […]
Read MoreWhat is a Catalytic Converter?
Car exhaust has never been so expensive, both to the environment and to motorist’s wallets. You WISH your body had a catalytic converter! A Catalytic Converter is the vehicle equivalent of a fat-burning miracle machine. Engine exhaust is picked apart and turbo-digested (converted) into relatively harmless, spent waste. Here’s How First Layer: Metal It looks […]
Read MoreThe Auto Mechanic Hierarchy Business Model
Does your Fairbanks Auto Repair Shop have a pecking order of “master technicians” vs. “lube-oil techs?” In the historical and currently prevalent business models in the automotive industry, “Master Technician” refers to individuals who both get run over or left behind because they sit still. Evolution is something to keep up with on Earth. We […]
Read MoreSmart Winter Tire Storage Tips
If you want to add a couple of seasons to your winter tires, pay attention to how they spend their summers When you get your tires home, here’s your to-do list: Take them OUT of the plastic bags the tire store gave you. Most people don’t realize it, but these bags are meant only to […]
Read MoreSummer Salt Corrosion is Big Business
DOT has been busy all winter keeping roads cleared. But summer is when the salts used in road maintenance get BUSY. Your car, snow-machines, water haulers—anything that has been on a paved road since the first snowfall—needs your attention. If you are not proactive you can look forward to 20-50% more on equipment repair than […]
Read MoreThe Mechanic’s Point of View
Rebecca Levey 2 min read This is what we see when a customer comes in reporting “a deafening roar under the seat upon starting vehicle”. Sadly, we don’t have to look far to find the cause. Catalytic Converter theft has become as common as moose on ski trails. To us at METRO, it is startling […]
Read MoreIf you drive these vehicles, you are driving a $3,000 repair this week in Fairbanks.
Vehicle vandalism has become a pandemic within the Pandemic. Specifically, the systematic extraction of expensive exhaust parts has become an economy in Fairbanks. If you drive these cars, you are the supply chain*: Honda Element Toyota 4-Runner Toyota Tacoma Toyota Tundra Toyota Prius (especially 04-08 second generation) Nissan Pathfinder All four-wheel drive pick-up trucks 1998 […]
Read MoreSEIZED BRAKES. Stop doing this to yourself.
Let’s debunk the “Parking Brake” Myth Put your car in “P” for park. This is more than enough to keep it still. Reefing on the hand-brake after parking has become the emotional equivalent of cinching a good knot so your pony doesn’t run off. But you know what’s funny? It’s been 50 years since anyone’s […]
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