We Make it Our Business to Keep Your Car Safe and Reliable
It used to be that a “tune-up” included new spark plugs, a valve adjust, new ignition components, etc. Now, when customers ask for a tune up, they mean ‘routine maintenance’. With modern cars, this can be anything from a simple drain-and-fill oil change, to a new battery, to a new timing belt. In Fairbanks, routine maintenance means routine inspections by a trained and professional Alaskan Mechanic. Our staff knows exactly what to look for when tuning up a car or truck that needs to handle our harsh environment. Through regular inspections, each METRO mechanic gets to know individual customer cars. We flag upcoming work and make detailed notes about rates of decay or wear. Our personalized touch will help ensure that all of your vehicle needs are being met now and 3,000 miles later.
AC & Heater Repair Fairbanks, AK
Climate control in modern cars and trucks are microprocessor-controlled electronic systems with a few mechanical components. In Fairbanks, the mechanical components that wear most often are the blower motor and air conditioner compressor pulley. Thorough and consistent inspections are the key to uninterrupted climate control.Problem Area
Symptoms
- Intermittent fan operation
- Fan works only on certain settings
- Heat works only on high
- Syrupy, humid smell when starting car
- Coolant leaking on passenger floor
Air Filter Replacement Fairbanks, AK
Factory service specifications for most cars and trucks set air filter replacement at 12,000 to 15,000 miles. Interior Alaska has a climate that makes those factory-recommendations irrelevant. Everything from birch seeds to spruce pollen to mostly dirt roads, put debris and dust directly in the path of your vehicle’s combustion intake. Clogged filters result in crippling performance issues. Regular maintenance is the answer, and it's what we do best.Problem Area
Symptoms
- Filter with visible debris
- Filter looks ashen gray
- Filter looks black
- Abnormal engine performance
- Poor gas mileage
Alternator Repair Fairbanks, AK
The alternator is an integral component of your car or truck’s electrical system. Alternators convert mechanical energy from the engine to electrical energy, keeping your battery charged and your car moving. Most people don't know this, but the battery and alternator have a symbiotic relationship (they depend on each other). When one falters or fails completely, the other is actually at risk. Drivers often make the mistake of incorrectly diagnosing charging system issues by identifying either the battery or alternator for replacement. An incorrect assessment leads to the new part being ruined upon installation. The charging system in modern cars is a complex system of microprocessors, relays, fuses and connectors which provide refined and targeted electronic signals and power through literally miles of transmission lines within the car. Accurate diagnosis in such a comprehensive system requires advanced diagnostic tools. Let us save you money and time!Problem Area
Symptoms
- Lights dim while engine cranks
- Battery freezes (sides bulging)
- Battery doesn't hold a charge
- Difficulty starting vehicle
- Vehicle stalls
Battery Replacements Fairbanks, AK
A vehicle's charging system can be thought of as an energy storage and distribution center. Your car battery is literally a storage container for electricity. The circuitry in a car acts as transmission lines that distribute this power. The most common need for a battery replacement is degradation due to the passage of time, which no one has figured out how to stop! An unnecessary and avoidable cause for battery replacement is neglect. Consistent inspections of winter heaters, as well as of the the charging system output, will increase your car’s battery-life exponentially.Problem Area
Symptoms
- Dim or flashing lights
- Bulging battery case
- Corroded battery terminals
- Engine struggles to start
- Clicking sound when turning key
Oil Change Services Fairbanks, AK
An oil change is the most misunderstood service interval for a car or truck. When the fluid is changed and the filter replaced, this is the smallest detail of this service. The most important part of an oil change is the inspection that goes along with it. This requires the care and attention of a highly trained and caring mechanic who is proud of what they do. This describes our staff to a T!Problem Area
Symptoms
- Check engine light is on
- Oil light is on
- Engine makes rhythmic, metallic tick
- Dark black oil
- Engine "knocks"
Transmission Service Intervals Fairbanks, AK
Intense cold creates stress and wear for any mechanical system. Car and truck transmissions are finely-tuned and automated systems that depend on consistent temperatures in order to function properly. Transmission fluid and gear oil are lubricating agents that require constant monitoring, especially during the winter months. All gearboxes and transmissions require several fluid exchanges over the life of the vehicle. In Fairbanks, these exchange intervals can increase by half!Problem Area
Symptoms
- Vehicle hesitates after shifting
- Sluggish shifts
- Dark, burned-smelling fluid
- Slipping-feeling in shifts
Radiator Repair Shop Fairbanks, AK
Car motors, fueled by gasoline or diesel, are propelled by spark and superheated explosions, which are confined within sealed metal cylinders. These explosions produce excessive heat that needs to be carried away from the cylinders and other engine parts in order to protect them from thermal damage. This is what your car or truck radiator does. Car and truck radiators are a mesh of tubes designed to dissipate heat via the circulation of fluid throughout the engine's cooling jacket, which surrounds the cylinders. The most common radiator repairs we see in our Shop are due to the many fittings where the cooling liquid (coolant) passes through up to 45 connections in the system. These seals and fittings fail due to vibration, corrosion, materials fatigue, and extreme temperatures. At METRO, we know what to look for and where to find it on each make and model we see. We have decades of experience. When we inspect your vehicle, our mechanics shine a light on each of these various intersections. We love staying ahead of repairs for you.Problem Area
Symptoms
- Brown or tan coolant
- Coolant drips under car
- Plastic coolant reservoir empty
- Engine overheating
- Heater fan blows cool air
