Brooklyn Auto Repair

  What are some indicators that my vehicle's transmission may need to be serviced?   Your car's transmission is one of the most critical components of its engine, responsible for transmitting power from the engine to the wheels. Unfortunately, like any mechanical component, transmissions can develop faults and problems over time. At MINH's Automotive, we have seen our fair share of common transmission faults. Here are a few that you should be aware of: Transmission Slipping: This occurs when the transmission shifts gears randomly, causing the engine to rev up without the car accelerating. Transmission slipping is usually a sign of a worn clutch or damaged transmission bands. Delayed Engagement: If you notice that there's a delay between shifting gears and the car actually moving, it's a sign of a delayed engagement issue. This is usually due to low transmission fluid levels or worn transmission components. Shuddering or Vibrating: A shuddering or vib ... read more

There are several potential reasons why a car's AC may not be functioning properly, including: Low refrigerant levels: This is a common reason why the AC may not be blowing cold air. Low refrigerant levels can be caused by leaks in the AC system. Faulty compressor: The compressor is a key component of the AC system, and if it is not working correctly, the AC may not function properly. Clogged or dirty air filters: If the air filters are clogged or dirty, this can restrict airflow, which can lead to reduced cooling performance. ​Electrical issues: Electrical problems such as faulty wiring, blown fuses, or a malfunctioning thermostat can also cause the AC to malfunction.​ At MINH's Automotive, we recommend bringing your car in for our qualified technicians to diagnose the issue with your car's Air Conditioner system. Once diagnosed, we will recommend the necessary repairs, which may include fixing any leaks in the AC system, replacing faulty components, or cleaning/repl ... read more

Volkswagen Audi engine timing chains come in many variations specific to the vehicle but have the same responsibility to keep mechanical synchronization within the engine to ensure smooth operation. The engine in question is a 2.0 CAEB TFSI. Here are some insights:   What is a timing chain? It is a metal chain that wraps around sprockets within the engine that are attached to crankshaft and camshafts to synchronize the stages of intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust for the engine to produce power. What are symptoms of a bad timing chain? Some may include: CEL Light- The check engine light is on and may have timing codes stored in the ECM module. Hesitation- Vehicle is having trouble starting or may not start at all.  Rattling sound- A rattling sound can be heard from the engine with accordance to applying gas.  Misfire-  ... read more

Having a safe car to drive is an important part of car ownership, especially proper brake maintenance and care.     What Are Brake Pads? Brake pads are an important part of a safe car and brake maintenance. Brake pads are located between your brake shoe and your brake drum. Here are some helpful tips to know to give you clues on when to schedule changing your brake pads.  Squealing, screeching or whining noises - This can mostly be heard while braking and happens continuously.   Grinding Noises - Some brake pads have small metal ridges placed at the bottom of the pad as a way to make a loud noise and alert you that it’s time to get new brake pads. If you hear this often it’s a sign your brake pads are ready to be changed.  Vibrating Brake Pedal – If you find it difficult to press down on your brakes and stop your car, this is a big sign your brakes are worn out. You will also feel a vibration pressing down on the brake which is ... read more

Struts inevitably wear out, and when they do, it becomes a danger to you and your passengers New struts enable your vehicle to stop as much swiftly, as much as 10 feet's worth The suspension system comprises of wheels, tires, shocks absorbers, springs, and every other part that forms a connection between the car body and the tires. it is necessary to maintain your suspension system some of the most important parts of the suspension system: springs, Dampers/Shock Absorbers, struts, Roll Bars/Anti-sway Springs - one of the most important parts of the suspensions system. In most cars the springs are usually made up of steel because of its incredible elasticity. A spring is the only part of the suspension designed to last a lifetime and is the only thing that needs little or no maintenance. However, it is better to get it checked after some time Dampers or shock absorbers - mechanical components that are designed to limit the oscillat ... read more

The piston rings, on the 2.0 and 1.8 TFSI engines pre-dating 2012 (majority of the reports being from the 2.0), let little oil seep through to the cylinders. Once there, they result in high oil consumption due to burning. As the driver, this issue will come to your attention by way of the ‘add one litre of oil’ notification. If and when this does happen, we recommend that you add a litre of the right grade oil as soon as possible, though you don’t need to stop the vehicle as soon as you see it. If left unattended, this problem will exacerbate. Thick smoke from acceleration, damage to the cylinders, etc. To get out ahead of the problem as an owner of a 2008–2012 2.0 or 1.8 TFSI engine, we suggest that you fill your oil to maximum capacity and then proceed to reset the odometer. The way you will know whether or not you’re affected by this problem will be the ‘add one litre of oil’ notification after having driven your Audi less than 1,200 m ... read more

As a dealer-alternative European auto repair shop serving Bay Ridge Brooklyn, we have over a 25 year track record of exceeding customer expectations. We provide general repairs and maintenance on all domestic and import cars and offer specialization services for BMW, MINI, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and Porsche vehicles. The three things which set us apart: Unparalleled level of protection Dealer quality service, for less than the dealer price Customer service that goes above and beyond 1. Unparalleled level of protection - 3 Years – 36,000 Miles Nationwide warranty on our service. A job well done in conjunction with a piece of mind. We are one of very few shops in al ... read more

Internal combustion engines depend heavily on robust car batteries, which are still as much of a necessity for a vehicle as they were 80 years ago. Modern day car batteries last longer, need less maintenance and malfunction less frequently. Any battery that goes through multiple charge/discharge cycles (like the battery in your laptop or phone) will begin to weaken and degrade with time. Car battery life can be extended for years. If your battery isn’t at least 2-3 years old, and it seems to have failed, then it might be that it’s not actually dead. Car batteries can lose their charge occasionally, if you don’t drive for a long time, since shorter drives can lead to earlier corrosion and crystalline deposits on the negative terminal of your battery. Cold weather can also be a factor, since most car batteries are less capable of maintaining their charge in these conditions. At a temperature of 20 degrees, a battery can only deliver about 50-60 percent of ... read more

It's that time of the year, when we're all eagerly waiting for our tax refund. The wise among us, once it arrives in the mail, will choose to invest it. The not-so-wise will splurge on frivolous things and then look back shaking their heads with regret (we've all been there). So here's a great place for you to consider allocating your refund dollars for reaping long-term dividends, according to the Car Care Council: your car. By putting your refund towards auto maintenance, however un-sexy as it may be, you will enjoy a better performing car with a longer lifespan, save gas money, and push the major blow to your wallet that is having to purchase a new car further down the road ... read more

As you know, Winter's off to a rough start in 2017/18 and we're not out of the woods yet. With the bomb cyclone (hopefully) behind us, and who knows what else ahead of us, we want to share six valuable tips for our readers to employ in avoiding roadside emergencies this, and any other, Winter. They are as follows: To decrease the odds of moisture forming in the gas lines and potentially freezing, keep your gas tank at least half full. Because tires are prone to losing pressure in cold temperatures, vigilantly check/monitor your tire pressure. Cold weather can obviously forces you to drive with the windows closed. This makes carbon monoxide leaks that much more dangerous. So have your exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks. Freezing temperatures make oil in your engine & transmission longer to circulate, so take longer than usual to warm up the car. Low-viscosity oil flows more easily in cold, so change to it during Win ... read more