Scottsbluff Auto Repair

One might say the most challenging part of being an automotive service technician at Twin City Auto is diagnosing a problem before it can be fixed.Cars are made up of a bunch of complex systems. There usually could be a number of reasons for any given symptom. So, it's challenging to track down the actual cause of the problem. And it can be frustrating for the vehicle owner because it can take time and money to get to the bottom of a problem. If it's not something obvious, it's easy for the customer to focus on the fixing and not the diagnosing.Let us at Twin City Auto introduce you to something we'll call 'Customer Detective Work' –  helping your technician find clues to what's wrong.We start with the detective basics: What, Where and When. Play along with me; You come in to Twin City Auto and your car is making a funny sound... Q: Where's the sound? A: Around the right front wheel. Q: What kind of sound? A: Kind of a clunk, clunk sound. Q: When do you ... read more

A big part of the service we provide at Twin City Auto for our Scottsbluff customers is education. We want you to feel confident with your service decisions. And we're always open to questions from our valued Scottsbluff area customers. Even though we try to be proactive in our Twin City Auto automotive education, we sometimes get busy fixing vehicles and need a reminder. Please, just ask. We've found our Scottsbluff customers like the service reminders. They've grown to trust that our recommendations are based on the vehicle manufactures’ published maintenance schedules and that Twin City Auto is not just pulling them out of the air. We know that people in Scottsbluff live a busy life with a lot more to think about than wondering if it's time to replace the PCV valve on their vehicle. Part of our Twin City Auto service process is checking the vehicle manufacture's schedule to make sure we don't overlook service. We hope NE drivers appreciate ... read more

When you drop your vehicle off at Twin City Auto in Scottsbluff, they don't just poke around under your hood looking for stuff to do. Twin City Auto professionals have lists and procedures they follow for different types of service. First of all, your Scottsbluff service center will note the mileage on your vehicle. They'll then check to see what inspections and services the vehicle manufacturer recommends for a vehicle of your make, model and mileage. If you are a regular customer, they will also check your vehicle's history.If the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations go beyond the services you've ordered, they'll let you know. They'll also indicate whether those services are urgent or if you can wait a while to take care of them. The Twin City Auto pros won't do work that you don't agree to.They will, however, perform inspections while they're servicing your vehicle. They'll check belts, filters and fluids. They'll check your windshield wipers for wear. They'l ... read more

Scottsbluff drivers may feel intimidated when they take their vehicles to a service center. They have questions but aren't sure how to ask. They don't want to feel embarrassed about their lack of knowledge. They don't want to make the service technician feel that they don't trust him.If your service advisor at Twin City Auto uses a term you don't understand, just ask him to explain. Remember, they are the auto service experts. If they came to your place of work, they probably wouldn't understand the jargon, either. When you take your vehicle in to be serviced, make sure you understand the financial issues up front. Ask about payment policies, warranties and, of course, the cost of the work being done.It helps to understand basic services your vehicle needs. Know the difference between a quick check-up and a thorough inspection, which you are getting and which you are asking for. Understand that diagnosing a problem takes time, and time isn't free. If you have concerns about cost ... read more

Some Scottsbluff vehicle owners wonder why Twin City Auto and other Scottsbluff auto repair shops charge a fee for vehicle diagnostics. Receiving a diagnostic charge at Twin City Auto for a tricky automotive problem shouldn't be a surprise. In the Scottsbluff area, automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range. If you hear a noise in your vehicle brakes when you slow down in rush-hour traffic on a busy NE road, you pull off at the next off-ramp and take a quick visual check. That is usually enough to know what needs to be done. If you're having an intermittent problem with your vehicle engine, however, a Twin City Auto diagnosis may be much more involved.Much of the Scottsbluff driver's confusion comes when the problem involves the Check Engine light. The Check Engine light comes on when the engine management computer has sensed a problem. There's a common misconception among NE drivers that the trouble code tells the Twin City Auto technician exactly what's wrong. They wonder w ... read more

  There are some things drivers should know about Scottsbluff car service and repair. First and foremost, Twin City Auto cares about you and your family's safety. And we really appreciate your business. Twin City Auto in Scottsbluff wants to build a trusting relationship that becomes the foundation for a mutually beneficial experience for years to come.

Building on that foundation, there are some things that would help you understand the auto service and repair business better. First, it can be really hard to fix vehicles. The days of shade tree mechanics are long gone. The majority of automotive systems are computerized. It takes a lot of training and very expensive equipment to diagnose and repair modern vehicles. The pros who work for Twin City Auto need extensive computer training – not just how to run the diagnostic systems, but also searching for the right parts, networking with other technicians to help them with a difficult prob

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About 80% of the vehicles on Scottsbluff roads today are behind on their preventive maintenance schedules. That translates to about 160 million vehicles in the United States that aren't performing as well as they could be - thousands right here in NE. Some of the maintenance issues are minor. Others represent serious safety concerns. There are many reasons Scottsbluff drivers neglect their routine car care. Some of the more common ones are complacency, lack of confidence, lack of trust and budget issues. Modern vehicles are amazingly reliable compared to their older counterparts. They can run for years without any repairs, and we sometimes translate that to mean they don't need any maintenance. The trouble is that without maintenance, parts in the vehicle are gradually wearing out, fluids are getting dirty, oil is developing sludge — a lot of stuff is happening that we can't see, and it is destroying the vehicle. The first time we learn there is ... read more

We've all seen drivers do crazy things while driving to or from Scottsbluff. A guy shaving in the rear-view mirror, a woman applying makeup, people talking on their phones, texting or drinking from an enormous coffee mug. It's a wonder we even dare drive on NE roads.The truth is that all of us are distracted when we drive. Unfortunately, traffic, road construction and other external factors are beyond our control. The distractions inside our car, however, are things we can often control.Here's some things that'll give you more control in your car, and help keep your attention on the roads around Scottsbluff. Scottsbluff drivers who are 16 to 20 years old tend to be more distracted by the radio, CD or MP3 player. Scottsbluff drivers who are 20 to 29 are more distracted by passengers in the car, including small children. Those over age 65 tend to be more distracted by objects or events that are outside of the vehicle. Other factors like fatigue, stress and lack of sleep make it harder ... read more

Today we're going to talk about on-board diagnostics and the questions we hear from folks around Scottsbluff, NE, who need answers about diagnostic services. They want to know what diagnostics are, what's involved and what the benefits are. They really want to understand the value of diagnostic scans by a trained technician in Scottsbluff.These are valid concerns. If you don't understand something it's really hard to know its value. Let's start with some history.Since 1996, all cars and light trucks in Scottsbluff, NE, have been required to use a standardized diagnostic system to help repair technicians determine what's wrong with your vehicle. The diagnostic system works with the vehicle's Engine Control Module – the computer that controls many engine functions.The computer monitors dozens of components and processes. Depending on what the sensors read, the computer will make adjustments to compensate for conditions and minor problems. When there is a condition that it can't adj ... read more

We're going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair. It seems like news outlets really like hit-and-run reporting; they hit everyone from groceries stores to retail to physicians. And the Scottsbluff automotive service and repair industry hasn't been given a pass either.Unfortunately, every profession in Scottsbluff has some bad actors that hurt the reputation of everyone else. On the automotive side, industry associations and professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards.Yet some people remain uncomfortable with Scottsbluff automotive service and repair. It may start with the fact that our vehicles are a big investment and we rely on them for so much in our lives. That alone guarantees our attention. And how well we understand the recommendations really impacts our comfort level.If we understand what's recommended and the benefits of taking care of the work – and the pitfalls of putting it ... read more