| For all of our Subaru-driving friends.... Answers to your most frequently asked questions » Why come to the Subie Guys rather than my regular mechanic or another import specialist? We know your Subaru, inside and out. You will not pay us to learn how to fix your car which we already know. After years of servicing only Subarus, we have seen most every problem regarding your Subaru. We can diagnose it quicker and fix it quicker than the other guys. What that means to you is less expensive repairs and money saved by you. More knowledge, service, and quality parts means quicker turn-around time and better repairs for you. You wouldn't go to a dentist for a heart problem, then why would you go to a non-Subaru repair shop to fix your Subaru? » What services do you perform? We do all of your scheduled maintenance and factory-recommended services that keep your car at its peak performance. We can fix your check engine light with factory equipment; we can make your brakes stop squeaking, etc. The list goes on and on…. you name it we can do it, even body work. » How do I make an appointment? You can make an appointment by phone Mon-Fri, 8:30-5:00. Feel free to leave a message by phone after hours or on a Saturday or Sunday and we will call you back as soon as possible. » How should I plan the day of my appointment? You may drop your car off 2 ways: 1) Night drop: outside the door is a metal box with envelopes and pens; please fill out the envelope in full including all phone numbers that we can reach you at and any special instructions for reaching you. Also explain what the problem is or what service we are doing, then put your keys in and drop the envelope in the ‘key drop’ slot. If you have keyless entry, we need the remote fob. 2) You may come into the office as early as 8:30 and leave your car with us. We will look at your vehicle as soon as possible and diagnose the problem. If there is a problem, you will be called so that we can discuss the options. We will call you to let you know when your vehicle is finished. » Do you have Loaner cars? We do not provide free loaner cars. We may be able to give you a ride back to work or home if your vehicle will be with us for more than a couple of hours. » My check engine light is on, should I worry? In most cases the check engine light is not going to be an emergency situation. If the light comes on, pay attention to see if your vehicle is running any differently or ‘rougher’. If the vehicle is still running well and the light is on constantly we suggest getting it in at your earliest convenience but in most cases it won’t cause any major issues or reliability problems. If the light is flashing on and off it could signify a major problem and the car should be shut off and towed in for repair. Also if the light comes on and the car runs significantly worse at the time we advise towing the vehicle in also. Neglecting to do this could cause engine or exhaust damage. » My parking lights are stuck on even with my key off, what do I do? This is a common question that is easily solved. On the top of the steering column there is a small switch with a "P" on it. This is often bumped when getting in or out or cleaning the vehicle. Simply switching it off should solve your problem » Is it true that I may need 4 new tires if only one goes bad? Yes, this is true if you have an All Wheel Drive Subaru. There are a few reasons for this. As a tire wears, its’ outside circumference becomes smaller. If a new tire is placed on a car with 3 used tires it will usually have a bigger circumference and therefore roll at a slightly different speed when driving. This speed difference can be enough over time to cause damage to the AWD portion of the transmission. If you have an older Front Wheel Drive Subaru than you can replace your tires in pairs with the new pair going on the front and the 2 best used tires going to the back. » I’ve just replaced my battery now my parking lights are flashing. What do I do? With many Subarus that have factory installed alarm systems this may be a normal response. When the vehicle has the battery disconnected it resets the alarm control unit to prompt you to reprogram it. Consult your owner’s manual on your particular system to reset the system. (or call us!) »I just had my oil changed and I think it’s low, What should I do? Sometimes it may be as simple as misreading the dipstick. Keep in mind that when checking your oil a few things can affect the readings. First, the vehicle must be on level ground. Second, the engine must be shut off for a few minutes for the oil to drain back to the pan. (on the horizontally opposed engines it just takes longer. First thing in the morning before starting the car is the most accurate way to measure. The oil level should read between the two holes in the dipstick but below the notch in the edge of the dipstick. If the oil falls below the lowest hole then add 1 quart of oil and recheck it. |