towing a boat image

Unless you use your vehicle to tow every day for work, odds are you haven’t paid much attention to your truck, SUV, or crossover’s towing capacity. Maybe you’re looking to buy a boat for some summer fun or just need to rent a trailer to get your belongings from one dwelling to the next. Whatever the reason for pulling something behind your vehicle, it’s important to get a firm grasp on what exactly your towing capacity means. Understanding how each of the components in your vehicle contributes to your overall tow rating can keep you from putting undue stress on your rig and keep you and your family safe.

transmission gears

You know how often to change your engine oil; but what about the gear oil in your standard shift transmission? Here’s a short guide, from Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River.

mechanic holding a transmission

While your transmission can certainly fail silently, there are certain sounds which indicate you have an issue. The sooner you catch a transmission problem the better, so Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL wants you to know what to listen for.

mechanic

At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, routine maintenance and repair isn’t the only thing we do. For custom parts installation, you can also count on us. Common modification enthusiasts do is swapping to a short-throw shifter; but what actually is a short-throw shifter, and what does it do?

vehicle on the road

Judging by the number of near-rear-endings we witness on our morning commutes, the typical attitude toward brake maintenance appears to be, “Brakes: Don’t let them stop you!” This puzzles us because monitoring your braking system’s health is one of the most straightforward aspects of car ownership. You do have to know what to look for, though, or rather, what to listen and feel for. So let us, uh, break it down for you. Here are the top three signs that your brakes need fixing.

tow truck and guy calling on the phone by side of the road

Something will go wrong with your car, truck, or SUV eventually. The important thing is knowing what to do, and how to deal with it. Just knowing what to do in a situation often means the difference between a quick repair and thousands of dollars worth of work. If you see steam coming from under the hood, it’s important to deal with it appropriately and quickly. Here’s what’s going on, and what to do, from Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL.

If you’re reading this, you probably not excited to be here; the time has come for a new transmission. Fortunately, we at Dirk’s Auto Clinic are here to offer you solutions, and let you know that it’s not all bad. Replacing a tired and worn transmission will truly bring your car back to life, and you’ll probably be glad you did it.

deployed airbag in car

Did you know that airbags weren't mandatory safety equipment in passenger vehicles until 1997? Now, you'll find them in well over 100 million cars and trucks on the road. Since their invention, airbags, along with the seat belt, have played a major role in reducing the number of injuries and deaths in traffic collisions.

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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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