Automotive News & Information - Jim Van Dyke's Automotive Center

By far the BEST automotive service center I've been to, very family & spiritual oriented establishment. Fair & reasonable prices, mechanics very knowledgeable & observant. If they see another issue going on with your vehicle they try to advise the owner, in my case I got two of my vehicles in there for repair, one needed lower control arms replaced but on the other vehicle, they pointed out an issue with front end on vehicle & the potential hazard if not rectified. Needless to say, the owner Jim took care of me & the vehicles got repaired & I no longer have concerns or worries about my wife driving an unsafe vehicle, especially when transporting our niece & nephews. I recommend them to everyone. God Bless! - Chris R.

Tune-ups are an important and frequently neglected aspect of automotive care. Most drivers don’t really consider the mechanical condition of their car, so long as nothing is wrong with it. However, if a vehicle is tuned-up and maintained correctly, many mechanical failures (and expenses) will be avoided altogether.

Tune-ups may also give your car, truck, or SUV an increase in performance you didn’t expect. Often when a vehicle needs to be maintenanced, it has slowly fallen into a state of inefficiency, meaning you may not have noticed it was even happening. A tune-up will restore your car’s performance, and might remind you why you bought it in the first place. Call or drop in at Jim Van Dyke in Washington CH to talk to your tune-up experts about getting your car up to speed today.

The weather has begun to shift, which means changes to road and driving conditions are right around the corner. If you’re from here, you understand that the weather can change at the drop of a hat; sandals turn to boots before you know it. At Jim Van Dyke in Washington CH, we will prepare your vehicle for that inevitable moment, and you can rest easy knowing your automobile is ready for whatever curveballs the weather throws you.

As cars become more technologically advanced, the importance of your vehicle’s battery becomes continually more important. In the old days, a car battery essentially worked or it didn’t; if it was good enough to start the car, it was good enough. Moderns vehicles are a different story. A faulty battery can cause a variety of issues, including engine codes, sensor failures, irregular transmission behavior, and the list goes on. Battery failure often causes issues that are commonly misdiagnosed, and in the hands of the wrong auto repair shop, a mechanic may spend hundreds of your hard earned dollars chasing problems that don’t exist. At Jim Van Dyke in Washington CH, our mechanics are ASE certified and familiar with modern vehicles and the problems that accompany them.

Here at Jim Van Dyke, in Washington CH we want to remind you the importance of preparing your car to make sure your car is ready for the unexpected.

I like the color green myself, but I tell our Washington CH drivers that when you see it on the ground by your car or truck, it is a BAD SIGN! First, be sure to gauge how much of it is on the ground and remember if your car or truck has been parked overnight, what you see could be a HINT of what has really leaked out. This beautiful green color is your antifreeze on the ground vs in your vehicle where it belongs and your radiator.

We tell our Washington CH drivers to call us immediately here at Jim Van Dyke if they have a radiator - antifreeze leak like this as it could mean extreme damage if they try to drive that car or truck should there be enough of a leak and the engine overheats completely. Here it is all about keeping you safe and those repair bills down so you can continue to drive your favorite car or truck and get on with your daily activities. Talk to our team of experienced mechanics any time you have a question about your vehicle maintenance or engine performance. Something as small as as antifreeze could save you serious money.
NOTE: It is poisonous for animals (see pets information here) and people alike (see information for people here) so don't leave it on the ground. Antifreeze was developed to overcome the shortcomings of water as a heat transfer fluid in your engine keeping it from over heating.
2nd NOTE: DO NOT EVER OPEN THE RADIATOR CAP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOT OR EVEN WARM - THE FLUID IS HIGHLY PRESSURIZED.

I couldn't more pleased with my experience at Van Dyke's, very professional and helpful group of people. They installed a new Jasper Transmission in my son's first truck and they never hesitated to answer any questions I had along the way. They have earned my business going forward, I would highly recommend them to anyone! - Jason G.

Some times you just know when it needs to be changed and it's that easy. This is a prime example where no words were needed when our Washington CH driver saw the filter.....it was a done deal. It is a shame you can't see these things from the outside and in this case the filter itself isn't that bad it's the animal that was making a home in the filter that was the issue. When you get home from a trip and haven't moved your car or truck take a look under it after moving it to see if any debris is under the vehicle parking spot. If so let us check it out here at Jim Van Dyke in Washington CH to see just what it may be before they become TOO COMFORTABLE! It's our job to help you avoid high repair costs.