Automotive Repair

Fleet cars, vans, and trucks see a lot of wear and tear. If your engine has already called it a day, then it’s obviously case closed - you need a new engine or a new vehicle. However, there are many times when an engine is about to go down, and you can get it taken care of before it kicks the bucket for good - saving you time and towing in the process.

Obviously, your brakes are pretty important. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we are here to make sure your car, truck, or SUV stops like it should.

Your brake system is made of many components that all have to work correctly for your brakes to operate seamlessly. If one thing needs to be repaired, the whole system is compromised. Brake pads, rotors, hoses, calipers, and metal lines all play a part in stopping your car. Our team is equipped to make sure all of those parts are in working order, so you can be safe on the road ahead. 

Have you ever noticed your dashboard ABS icon lit up? If you have it means there is an issue that needs to be diagnosed, ABS issues don’t need to be ignored long. The anti-lock braking system, or ABS, is an important feature on every modern car, truck, or SUV. It has been legally mandated since 2013 in the US but was standard on almost every vehicle even prior to that. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your ABS system doesn’t fail, from Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL.

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, we know the key to making your vehicle last; good maintenance. An overwhelming percentage of the problems we see, especially the really catastrophic ones, are a result of poor maintenance. While properly maintaining a vehicle can seem a like a bit of a hassle, it is absolutely worth the payoff. Good maintenance is the only difference between a car that lasts 80,000 miles and a car that lasts 400,000 miles. Preventative maintenance and repair when a problem occurs are are your two concerns, and both will keep your car on the road far longer, if observed properly.

Now that you know why your turbo is necessary, you’ll want to know what the turbocharger is made of. Turbos are intricate and precise components, but not actually all that complicated or difficult to understand. Here’s a rundown on the parts of a turbocharger, from Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL.

Automatic transmissions aren’t easily understood outside of specialists like those at Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL. While it would be impossible to teach you enough to make you a transmission expert in a series of articles, what we can do is give you the fundamental knowledge you need to have a good idea of what your transmission is doing, and how it works.

There are multiple types of tires on the market for almost every car, truck, or SUV. Once you decide it's time to replace your tires, the choice can be overwhelming. The type of tire you want depends on a variety of factors, from climate to how you drive. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, our technicians have been trained to help you make that choice. Here’s a short rundown of common street tires that will suit your needs.

There are multiple types of tires on the market for almost every car, truck, or SUV. The type of tire you want depends on a variety of factors, from climate to how you drive. Here’s a short rundown of common street tires that’ll suit your needs.

Whether you drive a Chevy, Dodge, or Ford diesel truck, there are a variety of options out there for a replacement engine. Depending on your truck's worth, it may depend on the type of engine and the amount of money you want to put into it. You can purchase a used, rebuilt, remanufactured, or even new diesel engine to replace your old. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we’re here to help you choose the right one. 

Your gas mileage mostly depends on what kind of car you drive; engine displacement and vehicle weight are the largest determining factors on gas mileage, and there’s not much you can do to change either of those. That doesn’t mean attempting to improve your fuel economy is a completely hopeless endeavor, however. With these tips from Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, you might be surprised how much your fuel mileage can be improved.

Nobody wants to put an engine or transmission in their car. However, when that time comes, it’s important to make an informed decision - here are some things to consider when installing a used engine or transmission, from Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL.

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, we know you’re busy. We also know that while there are certain issues with your car, truck, or SUV you can ignore for a while, some of them shouldn’t wait. While serious issues are often obvious, sometimes they aren’t - ball joints are one such case.

On modern vehicles, the PCV system (Positive Crankcase Ventilation System) is essential to ensuring your car or truck is ready to go when you are and remains a long-lasting, reliable vehicle. It’s much more than just emissions control - your PCV system serves multiple purposes and is quite interesting! How does it work, and what are those purposes?  Here at Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we have those answers for you!

Whether you drive a Chevrolet, Dodge, or Ford diesel pickup, maintenance and repair performed the correct way is a huge part of keeping you on the road. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we use ASE certified technicians to make sure you get the best service in the industry.

Hydraulic power has a lot to do with how your transmission operates. There are some basic hydraulic components that keep your transmission running smoothly.

Whether you drive a Duramax, Cummins, or Powerstroke diesel pickup, you have an exhaust system that is prone to failure. When you have a leak that needs attention, Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL can help.

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, we change many tires that should’ve been replaced long ago. Your tires can go for miles and miles, but there always comes a time to replace them. So how can you tell when the right time is?

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we do our best to keep you on the road. A huge part of being able to do that is proper vehicle maintenance; when was the last time you changed your oil?

If you drive a lightweight car, truck, or SUV, the torque converter you have installed is probably just fine. For those of you with more heavy-duty applications, like high horsepower setups or towing rigs, the stock converter may not be enough. At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we can help with that.

At Andrew's Diesel, Heavy Equipment, Auto & Tire in Spanish Fort, AL, we’ve got every answer to your transmission questions and needs, and answers to a lot of things that fall outside of that realm as well. Today, we’re talking about the ABS light - an issue that plagues many modern drivers at some point or another.