Keeping your wheels perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other extends the life of your tires and keeps your vehicle straight while driving. When your wheels are poorly aligned, your ability to drive safely is impaired. The vehicle will drift to one side, or the steering wheel will vibrate. This forces you to overcompensate your steering to drive straight. Often, you may not even notice your wheels are not aligned despite the damage being inflicted on your tires. That’s the best reason for getting regular tire alignment checkups – preventive maintenance. But, when you notice steering wheel vibrations or the wheel alignment feels wrong, we can make the alignment right.

What we do:

• Inspection: We inspect your vehicle’s suspension and steering systems, including tire condition and tire air pressure. We measure your current alignment settings using laser sensors while your vehicle is on an alignment rack.
• Remedy: Newer vehicles require four-wheel alignments to adjust both front and rear wheels.

We do Geometric Wheel Alignments for older vehicles where the rear wheels are aligned to the vehicle’s centerline. We do Compensated Wheel Alignments for vehicles with damaged chassis where both front and rear wheels are adjusted parallel to each other with a centered steering box. We do Four Wheel Steer Alignments for vehicles when all four wheels move when the steering wheel is turned.

TIPS offers complete vehicle wheel alignment solutions for customers that come mainly from the West Atlanta and Riverside communities.

You may have a bad alternator if your vehicle has:

• Starter problems
• The Gen/battery warning lights up on the dashboard
• Dim headlights
• A battery that keeps dying
• The odor of burning wires or rubber
• A whining noise

When your vehicle misbehaves with any bad alternator symptoms, bring it to TIPS so we can check out the components of your electrical system. We’ll inspect to see how the alternator, starter and battery perform at idle, at high RPMs and under high voltage conditions. After we’ve isolated and determined what’s causing the problems, we’ll discuss the options of replacing or repairing a defective alternator or starter.

TIPS offers complete vehicle alternator and electrical solutions for customers that come mainly from the West Atlanta and Riverside communities.

Modern brakes are designed to stop your vehicle in all kinds of weather and road conditions – when they’re performing as intended. But, the complexity of today’s brake systems increases the number potential brake issues that can put your safety, even your survival, at risk. It’s easy to forget you’re driving a potentially lethal weapon while cruising down the freeway at 60 miles per hour. At a speed of 60 mph, you need the distance of one football field – 100 yards – to bring your vehicle to a complete stop – when your brakes are performing as intended.

Here are five sure warning signs you need to get your brakes checked: unusual sounds, spongy pedal, worn brake pads, vibrations, and pulling. Don’t wait for your brakes to screech and squeal, grab and grind, or for your warning lights to flash before getting your brakes inspected. You need to get your brakes checked at least once a year or every 15,000 miles.

What we do:

• Inspection: Our TIPS brake inspection service includes:
  • Road test
  • Measure front and rear brake pad wear
  • Measure rotor wear
  • Measure drum wear
  • Check hydraulic system/brake fluid leaks
  • ABS System
• Remedy: Depending on what’s discovered from our brake inspection, we may recommend more servicing, including:
  • New brake pads or shoes
  • Brake rotors or drums servicing
  • Brake fluid change
  • Brake bleeding
  • Brake line, hose and other brake component replacements

TIPS offers complete vehicle air conditioning solutions for customers that come mainly from the West Atlanta and Riverside communities.

Your vehicle’s transmission is a mechanical marvel. It governs the transfer of power from the engine to the driveshaft, which makes your vehicle move. Because of the constant heat and friction from the interaction of many moving parts, the transmission endures more wear and tear over time than most other parts of your vehicle. When you maintain your transmission poorly or fail to address signs of problems at once when they develop, major transmission issues are inevitable.

To avoid major stress and inconvenience, it’s prudent to stay attuned to any transmission-related peculiarities simply because transmission repairs or replacements can be budget-busters.

Stick with the manufacturer’s recommended schedule and maintenance procedures for your vehicle to prevent unnecessary problems. Your transmission will give you better performance, need fewer repairs and last longer.

Spare yourself a lot of grief by knowing signs of transmission malfunction and get to TIPS before minor issues become major issues. Here is a list of markers that signal you have transmission issues:

• Check engine light
• Burning smell
• Can’t shift into gear
• Noisy transmission while in neutral
• Gears slip
• Failure to respond, vehicle hesitates before going into gear
• Unusual sounds, clunking, humming, whining
• Leaking/low transmission fluid
• Clutch drags (manual transmissions)

Having TIPS conduct preventive maintenance will mitigate many common transmission problems. But, when you experience any signs of transmission trouble, bring your vehicle to TIPS as soon as you can.

TIPS most common drivetrain services include:

• Clutch repair
• Changing transmission/differential fluids
• Driveshaft replacement
• CV (constant velocity) axle/CV joint replacement

TIPS offers complete vehicle drivetrain solutions for customers that come mainly from the West Atlanta and Riverside communities.

The dirty little secret is there’s no such thing as an “engine tuneup.” Back in the day, you needed an engine tuneup to replace parts for the ignition and fuel systems to work at peak performance efficiency. Today’s vehicles and parts are built to last longer. Just follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual and tuneups become so yesterday, unless you have excess money to blow.

But, the major service comes closest to what old school tuneups used to be. It’s generally required every two years or 30,000 miles and should not be ignored.

When your vehicle needs engine service or you’re not sure what your vehicle needs, bring it to TIPS and let’s talk about it. We’ll do an engine inspection, evaluate vehicle performance, and make adjustments as needed.

So you’re not in the dark when we’re under the hood of your vehicle, the TIPS standard engine service audit includes:

1. A visual inspection of the engine’s fuel-system components. We focus on assuring the fuel filter is not clogged and free of debris. If the filter is clogged, we’ll replace it and make sure it didn’t cause damage to the fuel pump.
2. We check the engine’s fuel injectors for debris and deposit build up. We want to make sure the injectors are not restricting the flow of fuel to the engine, or affecting how the spark plugs fire.
3. A visual inspection of the spark plugs for age and wear to determine the internal health of your engine. Then, we make sure the spark plugs are igniting the fuel properly and replace worn out spark plugs as needed. Then, we check the spark plug wires to make sure they are not defective.
4. We check to see if any engine, electrical, or vehicle computer performance issues exist.
5. We check and adjust the ignition timing and idle. If you have an older vehicle with a non-computerized ignition system, we’ll replace the points and condenser as needed.
6. We check the sensors and brake system to see if a reset or adjustment is needed.
7. We check the engine’s PCV valve – positive crankcase ventilation valve – to make sure the PCV system is not gunked up, which can produce problems in the engine crankcase.
8. We check the vehicle’s engine air filter AND the cabin air filter and do replacements as needed.
9. Finally, we check oil and coolant levels.

Car notes are a major hassle. Why continue paying car notes when you can do other stuff with your money to enrich the quality of your life? Extend the life of the vehicle you have. Simply keep it operating at peak efficiency by having TIPS regularly service your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

TIPS offers complete vehicle tune up solutions for customers that come mainly from the West Atlanta and Riverside communities.

Your vehicle has its ways of talking to you when things go bad. That dreaded check engine light can flash; the vehicle can sputter or even stall. The problem can run the gamut from a simple loose connection to complex internal engine issues.

Regardless of what the situation might be, TIPS has solutions. We start with a computer diagnostic assessment of your engine and its components. We want to find out what and where the problem is and determine the best repairs to get you rolling again.

The TIPS Engine Diagnostic Service includes:

• A road test to confirm your vehicle issues (if vehicle is operative).
• A visual check of the engine for unmistakable electrical or engine-related issues.
• A scan of your vehicle’s on-board computer using the latest computer diagnostic tools.
• An electrical system analysis.
• Fuel pressure, spark, compression tests as needed.
• Download and documentation of manufacturer’s diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and code descriptions.
• An online search for technical bulletins from the manufacturer that may pertain to the DTCs.
• A solution to your vehicle’s problems.
• A no-surprises estimate for the cost of repair.

TIPS offers complete vehicle diagnostic services for customers that come mainly from the West Atlanta and Riverside communities.

Excessive tailpipe smoke and oil consumption low oil pressure, weird engine sounds, water mixing in oil, and oil leaking into the air cleaner or radiator are sure signs your vehicle has major engine repair issues.

The first response for many people is to get another vehicle when their engine is on its deathbed. But, a bad engine does not mean your vehicle is likewise on its deathbed. After going through the obligatory grieving when your engine dies, review all your options. If your vehicle’s overall condition is in good shape, except for the engine, you may get superior economic benefits with a rebuilt engine instead of saddling yourself with the hidden costs in a new or used vehicle. A re-manufactured engine costs a fraction of the cost of a new vehicle.

Bring your vehicle to TIPS for a complete engine diagnosis as the first step in your decision process. Not all engine issues call for engine replacement. Many problems are not serious; they may only require minor engine repair or maintenance. We’ll give you practical advice on the cost/benefits of repair vs. replace. A $900 repair job on an engine that’s beyond repair may only prolong the inevitable.

But, if you choose to re-power your vehicle with a rebuilt engine, you’re in good hands at TIPS.

We believe in keeping it simple to spare everybody grief. That’s why we install factory rebuilt engines only. This ensures you get the best quality and workmanship at the most economical cost, and years of dependable service from the engine.

TIPS offers complete rebuilt engine replacement services for customers that come mainly from the West Atlanta and Riverside communities.

Changing your oil and filter according to the manufacturer’s recommendations is the most important maintenance task you can perform to keep your engine working properly. It’s also the best way to avoid expensive repairs over the life of your vehicle. Routine oil and filter changes will keep your engine running newer, stronger and longer.

Stick with the manufacturer’s recommendations for your vehicle and get your oil and filter changed at TIPS.

Here’s what we do:

• TIPS Conventional oil change service, including filter change, gives your engine protection against wear, deposit build up and viscosity breakdown. A conventional oil change may work for your purposes, depending on your driving habits. Ask a TIPS technician if a conventional oil change is right for your vehicle.
• TIPS High Mileage oil change service, including filter change, is for vehicles with more than 75,000 miles. High mileage motor oil contains anti-wear and friction-reducing additives that help extend your engine’s life. Other additives condition your seals to prevent leaks, which are common in older vehicles.
• TIPS Synthetic oil change service including filter change, is for newer vehicles that require synthetic oil and for vehicles that operate under less than ideal driving conditions. Synthetic oil may also be right for your vehicle if you constantly drive in stop and go traffic, take frequent short trips or in extreme hot or cold temperatures. Synthetic oil is thinner, so it flows easier in colder weather. It’s highly resistant to breaking down at high temperatures. And, it lasts up to three times longer than conventional oil so you don’t have to get your oil changed as often. Check your owner’s manual to see if synthetic oil is required for your vehicle.

TIPS offers oil change services for customers that come mainly from the West Atlanta and Riverside communities.