Car Care Tips

  • If you see steam, pull over!

    Woman checking out under the hood where steam is coming from

    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 T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, FL.

  • Is It Time For New Wiper Blades?

    Windshield wipers are one of those things you never think about until you need them, and by then it’s too late. There’s a good chance you haven’t changed windshield wipers in a long time, so it might be a good idea to inspect them before rainy weather catches you off guard. T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, FL has compiled a few windshield wiper tips here for you.

  • Is It Time To Replace Your Weather-Stripping?

    open door

    At T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, we know that a huge part of the ride quality of your car, truck, or SUV is how well it keeps road and engine noises out of the passenger compartment. Few things are more annoying on a long commute or road trip than the drone of tires on pavement, the constant sound of your car battling the air outside, loud semi-trucks, and so on.

  • Is It Wear and Tear or a Serious Problem?

    mechanic checking under hood of car

    It’s not always easy to recognize when your vehicle is suffering from a simple problem that requires a little maintenance and TLC or there is real engine damage as symptoms can be overlooked and seen as “normal.” While not all sounds and smells may threaten the life of your vehicle or truck engine, there are some obvious warning signs that require a vehicle inspection here at the shop right away.

  • Keeping Your Climate Control Cleaner, Quieter, and Lasting Longer

    cabin filter

    If your car has climate control, then it also has a cabin filter. Cabin filters are simply air filters for the interior of your car, truck, or SUV. All air entering circulation through the climate control system first passes through this filter, to prevent your AC or heat systems from accumulating debris or blowing them out of your vents. The result is cleaner, quieter, and longer-lasting climate control systems, which keep the inside of your car as comfortable as possible. 

  • Keeping Your Kids Safe

    man and his kid working on their car

    Part of maintaining your vehicle is keeping its safety devices in good working order, especially when there are kids in the car. 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. T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa is here when they do; here are some things to watch out for.

  • Keeping Your Kids Safe in the Vehicle

    childs hand holding an adult hand

    Part of maintaining your vehicle is keeping its safety devices in good working order, especially when there are kids in the car. 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. T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa is here when they do; here are some things to watch out for.

  • Looks Like A Problem? YES!

    mechanic working on a vehicle

    Sometimes it is EASY to see if your car or truck needs to come into our shop for professional repairs! 
    1.  You see steam rising from the engine!
    2.  The Check Engine Light is on!
    3.  The engine starts, but there is an odor that is not right.
    4.  You hear grinding or thumping noises.

  • Maintaining Your Vehicle's Exterior

    CAR BEING WASHED

    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 T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, FL, here are some tips for keeping your car looking good, and how that keeps it reliably on the road.

  • Make Your Fleet Go The Extra Mile

    fleet of vehicles outside of a business

    At T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, FL we know that your commercial vehicles are a vital part of your business. These vehicles are often more susceptible to damage as well. In order to preserve the life of these vehicles, it's important to get your fleet or commercial vehicles properly maintained.

  • Myths of Motor Oil

    Oil being poured into a vehicle

    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 T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, 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.

  • Noticing an Emergency on your Dashboard

    At T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, FL, we have seen our fair share of preventable engine failures. Frequently, engine disaster could have been avoided if the driver had known beforehand what the warning lights or gauges on the dashboard indicated. While some dash lights are fairly benign, others indicate imminent trouble. This guide from T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, FL will prepare you for the next time your vehicle shows you a warning you shouldn’t ignore.

  • Protecting Your Vehicle's Interior

    Cleaning the dashboard of a vehicle

    The interior of your car can be difficult to maintain; between you, your kids, and anyone else who gets a ride from you, wear and tear on the interior of your vehicle is constant. Drinks get spilled, burn holes appear, rips and tears happen. Unlike the rest of your car, the interior isn’t made of metal, so it requires special treatment to keep it in good condition.

  • Rainproof Your Windshield

    rain on the windshield

    At T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, we understand that safety and driving comfort are largely dependent on truck maintenance. Driving in the rain can be a hassle, especially if your vehicle isn’t prepared. 

    Essentially, there are a few things you can do to ease the burden of driving in the rain. Keep good quality windshield wipers installed, maintain a clean windshield, and regularly coat your windshield with Rain-X or comparable water-resistant chemicals. If applied properly, water-resistant coatings will dramatically increase visibility on rainy days. Quality windshield wipers, in good condition, are equally effective.

    If your wipers don’t completely wipe away water with each pass, get them replaced. Driving in the rain is hard enough; inadequate equipment to deal with the situation only makes it that much more difficult. A clean windshield also goes a long way...rain won’t wash off the dirt that has had adequate time to adhere to your glass.

    If you need new wipers, bring your truck to T&A Truck Specialist, Inc and let one of our experienced technicians get you fixed up. No matter your repair or maintenance needs, our team has you covered.

  • Safety First - Have you checked your lights & wipers?

    Cars driving on road with wipers and headlights on

    True safety starts with being able to see where you are driving. Your lights and wipers play a major role in safe driving and the chance of an accident increases if you can't see or be seen. No matter what time of year, it's important to make sure your vehicle's lights and wipers are working properly so your visibility is not compromised and you can be seen by others. From the driver's seat, you may not notice a light that isn't working, but when a big rain comes it becomes easier to see what you are missing! When wet weather hits your roads is not the time for you to discover limited visibility problems. Here at T&A Truck Specialist, Inc we take our Tampa drivers' safety seriously and inspect their vehicles when they come in for service.

  • Safety Tips for Truck Drivers

    semi driving on road

    At T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, we understand how important safety is in the world of truck driving. The stakes are higher in a big truck; potential for damage is obviously far greater, to you, your cargo, and other people on the road. Here are some easy tips that go a long way.

  • Sounds That Could Mean Trouble for Your Vehicle

    Person driving with hands on the steering wheel

    We’ve all been here: You start up your vehicle in the morning and begin to back out of the driveway. Before your hand reaches the volume dial on the stereo to crank up your favorite morning radio duo, you hear a noise coming from your car. A vehicle shouldn’t make that noise, yet yours is. And it sounds bad. But is it?

  • The Electrical Side of Your Vehicle

    battery charging on car

    Charging and electrical systems, particularly on luxury and performance cars, are the most intricate and complex systems on your vehicle. It takes highly trained technicians armed with the right equipment to properly diagnose and repair electrical issues on high-end vehicles such as Porsche, Audi, BMW, MINI, VW, and Subaru. At T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa we have the technicians and the tools you need to get the job done right.

  • The weight of a key ring, and how it affects you

    driving the car

    You’ve known someone at some point that has a seemingly impossible amount of keys, keychains, and other accessories hanging from their key ring. You might even be guilty of that yourself. At [BUSINESS_ NAME] in Tampa, FL, we’ve seen our fair share of these loaded down car keys, and also the damage it can cause. Here’s what you need to know.

  • Tips for New Drivers!

    For all the new drivers on the road, young and old, T&A Truck Specialist, Inc in Tampa, FL would like to welcome you to the automotive community. Here are a few wise words to live by, to make your entrance into the driving world go as smoothly as possible.

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