Monday, January 16, 2017

An Auto Mechanic Who Really Does It All!

So many car mechanics specialize in one make of vehicle when it comes to repair.  We see German auto repair, foreign cars in general, or “we specialize in trucks”.  When you are driving a specific type of vehicle that may be okay, but give me someone who is adept at repairing everything on four wheels.

There are hybrids and diesels and mini-vans and trucks all over the Raleigh area highways and bi-ways.  If you see a mechanic that you are confident has all the knowledge to do the job right you want to adopt that person to do all of your preventative maintenance in 2017.  That man really does exist in this age of specialization!

He is the ultimate shade tree mechanic, Jim Liacos.  You see, Jim learned all about the repair and maintenance of cars and trucks decades ago.  Unlike some of the young guns who just go to school to learn about a specific type, he has become proficient at repairing nearly all of them.  He really is Raleigh’s true full-service auto mechanic.  Call him for an appointment at his shop on 3711 Tarheel Drive at (919) 824-4566.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Winter and Your Vehicle in Raleigh.

Raleigh is not Milwaukee, but it’s not Miami either.  Wintertime can and will take a toll on your vehicle if you are not prepared.  Have you had your coolant checked recently?  It could really be out of whack if you have too much water and too little antifreeze proportionately.  When temperatures drop below 32 degrees that water in your radiator will freeze.

Maybe you have neglected your windshield wipers.  If we have a rainy, slushy, snowy spell they will be in almost constant demand.  You had better be sure your car’s wiper blades are in tip top shape.  Have your tires checked as well.  A sudden cold snap will suck some of the air right out of them and the tread needs to be as close to new as possible.

There are probably about 100 things that can inhibit your driving this winter.  There is one way to avoid all of that - preventative maintenance from a mechanic you have counted on for the last 40 winters.  His name is Jim Liacos.  Jim is the Raleigh area’s ultimate “shade tree mechanic”.  He doesn’t have the overhead so he keeps his prices lower.  Drive into his shop at 3711 Tarheel Drive or call for an appointment at (914) 824-4566.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Happy Holidays from a Full-Service Auto Mechanic.


Not to put too fine a point on it, but when you find a family doctor that you trust you do not ever want to leave him or her for any reason.  When the kids start going to a dentist that you really like you want them to continue visiting that particular practitioner.  The same should apply to your auto mechanic…shouldn’t it?

If you see a nationally recognized name on the front of the building that COULD give you some comfort I suppose.  Here is the downside of that.  You don’t necessarily come to know your mechanic year-in-and-year-out.  There is something to be said for having the same person repair and maintain your 2017 vehicle that you also trusted with your 1978 Chevy.

For more than four decades Jim Liacos has been the ultimate “shade tree mechanic”.  He repairs as well as maintains domestic, foreign, European, even hybrids.  If you are located anywhere in the Raleigh Durham Triangle area you can count on him to treat your vehicle with the same TLC that he did your father’s car.  Make him your new auto mechanic by calling (919) 824-4566.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Headed North for the Holidays?

Just because you had the good sense to move to Raleigh doesn’t mean all of your relatives did the same.  You may have kin folk in New York, New Jersey or some other northern state.  Now it’s time to make that annual pilgrimage for a holiday visit.  DO NOT leave the warmer, more temperate climate of our area without a complete check-up of your vehicle.

How old are the tires on your car?  They not only have to hold up under the distance, but the changing weather conditions that you will probably face.  What about an oil change?  If you are even close to 3000 miles do not try to just skate by until you return to beautiful Raleigh for the remainder of the winter season.

Being stranded up north is cold (literally and figuratively).  To take preventative measures, make an appointment to see Jim Liacos.  He is the owner of Jim’s Auto Service, your Raleigh area cold weather vehicle maintenance professional located at 3711 Tarheel Drive.  After Jim gets under the hood you will be ready for winter driving.  Call for an appointment today at (919) 824-4566.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Your Car’s Oil and Coolant vs. Old Man Winter.

If you feel the bite of winter, then you can be sure that your car is feeling the same thing in its own way.  Unless you are driving in a bubble your car is exposed to the harsh change in temperature.  Your vehicle is counting on you to take care of it so you can get from point A to point B as easily as you did when the weather was not a factor.

If you make sure that you are current on your oil changes then your car will turn over easier in cold weather.  If you use a full synthetic oil that will help even more.  Just as important as the oil is the coolant.  The proper mix of water to coolant will protect your car’s cooling system from freezing and your engine block from corroding.

No one wants to be stranded along the side of the road during freezing weather.  To help avoid that make an appointment to see Jim Liacos.  He is the owner of Jim’s Auto Service your Raleigh area auto winterizing professional.  Some minutes under the hood and Jim will have you ready for winter driving.  Call for an appointment today at (919) 824-4566.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Test Your Battery for Winter.

You can almost count on it.  Your battery will fail just when you need it most.  Weather changes challenge your battery every year.  Think back…when was the last time that you even had your battery checked?  Is it fully charged?  When did you have it installed?  After all, it is the heart of your vehicle and needs to be treated as such.

The other thing to keep in mind is having a fresh oil change at the beginning of winter.  Your engine is effected negatively in cold weather with oil that has been running through it for more than 3000 miles.  This is NOT the time of year to squeeze a little extra out of your vehicle because you are too busy during the upcoming holidays.

How about combining both with one visit?  Make an appointment for an oil change and a FREE tire rotation and battery test.  You get all of that from Jim’s Auto Services.  Jim Liacos has been repairing and maintaining vehicles in the Raleigh area for 4 decades.  Call Raleigh’s auto care specialist at (919) 824-4566 and make an appointment with Jim at his shop located at 3711 Tarheel Drive.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Engine Maintenance at a Fair Price.

There’s a loaded statement.  You don’t have medical insurance for our car so at times we trust a perfect stranger to repair our car’s “heart” at a fair price.  That is quite a leap of faith.  Did you know that the average tune-up nationwide has been charged anywhere between $100 to $1000?  That is quite a variable isn’t it!

Obviously, a lot goes into the pricing of a tune-up, such as mileage and make among other factors.  You know that the procedure is necessary.  Your vehicle will run more efficiently and in the long run you will save a lot of money in major repair costs.  Your owner’s manual is the best place to discover the projected lifespan of your car’s engine.

The next step is where to go.  How about a true shade tree mechanic who treats every vehicle like his own?  Jim Liacos has been repairing vehicles of every type for 40 years.  We are lucky to have him in the Raleigh area.  Call Raleigh’s fall tune up specialist at (919) 824-4566 and make an appointment with Jim at his shop located at 3711 Tarheel Drive.