Automotive News & Information - Dirk's Auto Clinic

At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, we like to provide customers with sound advice, to help them diagnose and understand issues they might experience with their car, truck, or SUV. Often, a small problem can cause a lot of headaches and frustration but knowing what you’re dealing with goes a long way towards getting an issue taken care of.

The time to know if your brakes are going bad is NOT when you go to stop at that red light or on the parkway when someone suddenly swerves in front of you. It's not always "just" brake pads either, your brake master cylinder could be an issue. How do you recognize the signs that you have a real problem with your brake master cylinder and just what is it? Here atDirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL we not only have the answers, but we also put together a service schedule for you and keep an eye on issues based on your driving habits, vehicle type and your description of issues you are having. We treat your car, truck or SUV as if it were ours keeping you informed of issues we find so you can get them fixed "before" there are larger repair bills so you can keep your vehicle Newer - Longer! Below is everything you need to look for and tips on your brake master cylinder.

If you drive a luxury or performance vehicle, you’re an owner of a reliable machine. Still, occasionally problems do arise. On vehicles like these, with so many electronics, a dead battery is a common issue. At Dirk’s Auto Clinic we want to keep our customers informed, here’s how to jump-start your vehicle safely.

Part of maintaining your vehicle is keeping its safety devices in good working order, especially when there are kids in the vehicle. Seat belts, window locks, and airbag sensors work together to keep children safe in an automobile. Though safety components are generally very reliable, they do occasionally fail. Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, FL is here when they do; here are some things to watch out for.

At Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River, we understand the importance of keeping up with and understanding the latest in automotive technology. Gone are the days when fluids and vacuum lines were all that controlled the function of your engine and transmission, and we’ve moved into an era where computer control reigns supreme.

Unless you are confident in your abilities as an automotive mechanic, there is really only one rule when purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle: don’t do it. Unfortunately, sometimes sellers aren’t particularly straight-forward with their used cars. Many will try to hide the fact that it’s been damaged by floodwaters at all or try to convince potential buyers that the car is in fact fine. “It has gone months with no issues” or “technically it is flood-damaged but” are two red flags, and while it isn’t impossible for a flood car to be fine, it’s altogether a good idea to stay away.

In today's economic climate, people are working hard to make their dollars go further. Not only are drivers holding onto their vehicles longer, but they're also looking to improve fuel efficiency to get the most gas mileage out of every gallon of gas. You can do both by following a few simple tips from our team here at Dirk’s Auto Clinic!

The term u-joints are commonly thrown around when discussing a vehicle that exhibits vibration or driving issues. What exactly is a u-joint, and how do you know if one is bad? Dirk’s Auto Clinic in Crystal River has the answers.