Repair Services

  • Is Your Vehicle Not Steering Right?

    Person driving with hands on the steering wheel

    Good steering is an underrated, and often neglected aspect of driving. At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we believe in making sure you have the best vehicle possible, whether you’re driving across town or traveling long distance.

  • It's More Than Just Looks - Maintaining Your Vehicle's Exterior

    someone waxing their vehicle

    While keeping your car, truck, or SUV looking nice is important, there are other reasons to keep the exterior of your vehicle in good shape. From Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, here are some tips for keeping your car looking good, and how that keeps it reliably on the road.

  • Low Tires Are Real Trouble For Your Vehicle

    tire flat on a vehicle

    It is often the last thing you check and statistically, most people ignore their tires, yet tires are undoubtedly a critical safety component on a vehicle. Here at Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we know where the rubber meets the road affects traction, handling, steering, stability, and braking. Because of this, sudden tire failure can have serious consequences, especially if it occurs when operating at high speeds. We thought it important to share the real facts about tires for our area drivers.

  • Myths of Motor Oil

    engine oil

    Everyone from mechanics, to your uncle that works on cars, has at some point given you advice concerning engine oil. The fact of the matter is that while we are familiar with words like “synthetic” and “oil weight,” many people don’t know exactly what the terminology means, or why common knowledge about oil exists in the form that it does. At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we keep things clear and simple. The more you know about your vehicle, the better equipped you are to keep it maintained, and we know a thing or two about vehicles. We have compiled a short list of common myths for you, most of which you’ve heard, but maybe never second guessed.

  • Need Of New Brake Pads?

    man driving

    Do you need new brake pads? Most of the time, if you think you do, the answer is yes. While a lot of auto parts stores sell brake pads with lifetime warranties, don’t be misled...brake pads will still wear down.

  • Pumping Brakes No Longer Necessary

    wheel

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we see our fair share of warning lights and dashboard notifications. If your ABS light is illuminated, here’s what you need to know.  First, it should be noted that the ABS light is supposed to illuminate for a few seconds after you turn the key, as part of a system test. If the light stays illuminated or comes on again randomly, there’s an issue somewhere that must be addressed.

  • Ready For A Road Trip - Here Is Our Checklist!

    roadtrip

    Road trips are a lot of fun, and often unpredictable. For all the miles you will be driving we always recommend preparing for any situation. With this checklist from Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way.

  • Routine Battery Check-Ups

    battery light on the dash image

    As cars become more technologically advanced, the importance of your vehicle’s battery becomes 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. Modern 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 Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, our mechanics are familiar with modern vehicles and the problems that accompany them.

  • The New Trend, Self Driving Cars

    self-driving car

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, cars are our passion, so naturally, we like to keep up with new technology on the market. At the moment, surprisingly the current trend is moving towards a goal you may not expect; self-driving vehicles. You’ve probably heard about self-driving cars a little bit here and there on the news, but it likely still seems somewhere in the realm of science fiction to you. However, the reality is that self-driving cars are on the way and maybe here sooner than you think. Already, almost all major automobile manufacturers are dumping billions of dollars into research and development for self-driving cars, and even companies like Uber are jumping on board. 

  • Tips for Improving the Longevity of Your Clutch

    Car clutch

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we’ve witnessed our fair share of burnt out and broken clutches. While clutch failure is an inevitability, there are a variety of ways to make sure yours lasts as long as possible.

  • Top Questions to Ask About Routine Service

    Vehicle Rack in a shop

    Fluid levels, tire condition, dashboard lights, and a variety of other items typically are briefly explored whenever you bring your vehicle in for maintenance here at Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, where we are good at noticing things that need repair, but the fact of the matter is that only you know your car. You know when your car feels off when it's been serviced last (or that it hasn't been serviced at all,) and have at least some vague idea of what’s going on with your vehicle day to day. Here are some questions you can ask us next time you come by the shop;

  • Understanding Your Vehicles Thermostat

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, we’re not only here to fix your car when something goes wrong...we’re here to help you understand your car, truck, or SUV a little better, too. Here are some tips concerning your thermostat - how it works, what to watch out for, and what to do about it when one fails.

  • What Can Causes Transmission Failure?

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, our priority is keeping your transmission shifting smooth and running strong for years to come. While proper maintenance, driving habits, and a myriad of other conditions affect the life and reliability of a transmission, there are also ways to increase the overall efficiency of your unit, even above stock performance.

  • What Causes Transmission Failure?

    broken down on the side of the road image

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, our priority is keeping your transmission shifting smooth and running strong for years to come. While proper maintenance, driving habits, and a myriad of other conditions affect the life and reliability of a transmission, there are also ways to increase the overall efficiency of your unit, even above stock performance.

  • What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Oil?

    sludge in the engine image

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we recommend always making it a priority to change your oil on time. Here’s a look into why it’s so important, and what happens if you don’t keep up with oil changes.

    Sludge - If oil stays in an engine too long, sludge begins to build up anywhere oil can go. The oil absorbs tiny debris and contaminants, kind of like a liquid sponge - once it’s at capacity, that oil begins to stick, clog, and build up throughout the engine. Small veins that carry oil to components like actuators, turbos, and bearings will become blocked, starving critical components of oil and causing component or engine failure.

  • What Is Your Mechanic Looking for In a Used Car Inspection?

    mechanic doing an inspection

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we know buying a used car, truck, or SUV can be a gamble. While there are no guarantees, there are key points of inspection that tell us a lot about the condition of a vehicle and how it has been maintained. There are some important points of the inspection we verify when checking out a used vehicle.

  • What should you do if you blow a tire?

    guy carrying a tire to fix it on side of the road

    The best way to deal with a blown tire is to prevent it from happening in the first place. However, eventually, a flat tire is going to occur, and it’ll most likely be when you least need it. From Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, here’s what you need to do.

  • What to Do About a Faulty Fuel Gauge

    Fuel gauge on empty

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we know how annoying a faulty fuel gauge can be. Never knowing how much gas you have in your car, truck, or SUV, and constantly running the risk of stranding yourself on the road somewhere, takes its toll after a while. Luckily, we can fix that.

  • What to Do About a Faulty Fuel Gauge

    view of your guages in the vehicle

    At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL, we know how annoying a faulty fuel gauge can be. Never knowing how much gas you have in your car, truck, or SUV, and constantly running the risk of stranding yourself on the road somewhere, takes its toll after a while. Luckily, we can fix that.

  • Why do vehicles burn oil?

    oil leak

    When your car, truck, or SUV is burning oil, it can be frustrating and costly. There are numerous reasons an engine will burn oil - these range from an altogether worn out engine to a simple part replacement. At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL we want to keep you informed, here's what you need to know about why your engine might be burning oil.

  • Jasper
  • 24-Hour Dropoff
  • Acdelco
  • ASE
  • BF Goodrich
  • BG Products
  • Bridgestone Firestone
  • Be Car Care Aware
  • Castrol
  • cbCharge Fleet Financing
  • Cooper Tires
  • Customer Savings
  • Dunlop Tires
  • Fleet Services
  • Flo Pro Performance Exhaust
  • Flowmaster
  • Goodyear
  • Handicap Accessible
  • Hankook Tires
  • iATN
  • Kelly Tires
  • Kendall Oil
  • Magnaflow
  • Michelin
  • MACS
  • Mastercraft
  • Mobil Oil
  • Motorcraft Parts
  • Pet Friendly
  • RV Repair
  • Sumitomo Tires
  • Synchrony
  • Tech-net
  • Tires
  • Toyo
  • Uniroyal
  • 24 Month Warranty
  • 12 Month Warranty
  • Wifi Available

Dirk's Auto Clinic

6617 W Gulf to Lake Hwy
Crystal River, FL 34429
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location small (352) 795-3681
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SHOP HOURS

Weekdays: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekends: CLOSED

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