West Seattle Auto Repair

Rats! Or mice...or maybe a squirrel. It's the time of year that rodents are looking for a nice, warm, safe space and your vehicle just might be it! There's just so much to like under your hood - insulation, hoses and plastic for a nest - and it is a dry, safe spot that they can call home. If you drive your vehicle daily, it likely will not be an issue. If, like many people over the last 18 months, you don't drive that often, then the opportunity is there for the little critters to move on in and make themselves comfy! The damage that can happen ranges from annoying smells and pesky "Check Engine" lights to poor running, not starting or even a bio-hazard. The photo is from a vehicle we had in this week. You can see 3 of the 6 spark plug wires are chewed completely through and it had to be towed in. This is after the owner said it sat for a week while he was on vacation. We recently had an Audi in that needed extensive repairs that included a wiring harness and p ... read more

These are the times that try men’s souls. This is the beginning of a famous piece of writing by Thomas Paine in 1776 and while he was he was referring to the “summer soldier and sunshine patriot” that would shrink from the service of their country in crisis – and the bitter winter that it was written during – those who remained steadfast deserved the love and thanks of a fledging nation. We are indeed in a crisis right now. While not fighting for independence from a monarchy, we are all fighting for our country’s future. We are fighting a battle with a virus for the health of ourselves, our families, friends, neighbors and people you will never meet.  We are also fighting for the financial health of countless thousands of small businesses and their employees.  The government’s stimulus will be expensive and we will only know with hindsight how effective it was, but with the majority of Americans now staying home unless absolutely n ... read more

     Your Volvo, Saab, Subaru and Mini Specialists are now your go to for ALL European Vehicles and Subaru too! Swedish Automotive has been a thriving auto repair business in the West Seattle community since 1983 and what started as a Volvo and Saab repair shop only in 1983, grew to include Subaru in 2005 and Mini Cooper in 2010.  With Saab ceasing production and the immense growth of West Seattle and the surrounding areas it was a great opportunity to expand to all European vehicles in 2018.  Much as West Seattle has grown and changed over the years, we have too! We are fortunate to have a spacious repair facility that has allowed us to grow our vehicle line up to include most BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche ... read more

BMW and Mini Cooper (along with other vehicles) with GDI engines are both cars that can experience carbon build up over time causing drivability issues.    Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) is a method that automakers have used to inject gasoline at a high pressure directly into an engine’s combustion chamber rather than into the intake tract or cylinder port.  Fuel is better measured than older fuel injection or carbureted systems - making the vehicle more fuel efficient.  The problem that can result is that the fuel’s detergents can no longer keep the intake’s clean so carbon and dirt can start caking and building up on the walls.  As the buildup thickens, the vehicle’s performance can suffer.  The check engine light may come on and the car can hesitate or stall.   If carbon has built up to a point where the vehicle’s performance has been affected, we have had success with a service called a wal ... read more

If you have a newer car you may be surprised to hear that oil consumption in these cars is a known concern. Cars sometimes come in to us for service with symptoms such as a burning oil smell, white smoke coming from the tailpipe, or a knock sound from the engine. These cars sometimes have oil levels so low, the oil does not even register on the dipstick. In fact, two of the makes of cars we work on - Subaru (2011-2015) and Mini Cooper (2007-2013) have known oil consumption issues. Cars will usually let you know if there is a problem with your oil level or oil pressure before the afore-mentioned symptoms happen by displaying a w ... read more

When a customer calls us and says: "I would like to schedule an inspection on a vehicle I have already bought," we are always happy to do so.  However, we would rather take the call that asks: "Can I schedule an inspection on a vehicle I am considering purchasing? Buying a vehicle, whether new or used, is a considerable financial commitment and if you go the used car route, there are two invaluable tools available you should take advantage of before purchasing a vehicle: A CARFAX Vehicle History Report  is usually offered to you when looking at cars at used car dealerships or you can purchase one online using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or license plate for vehicles 1981 or newer. This report is great in that it tells you the service history of the vehicle, number of owners, accidents or air ... read more

Fogged headlight lenses are not only unattractive and make your car look older, they also restrict the amount of light that illuminates the road ahead of you which can make for dangerous driving conditions.  As we move into fall and winter, it is important to have the best possible visibility.  Headlight restoration can be a great option for combating reduced visibility. BEFORE - Foggy or cloudy headlight lenses are dim and look old The plastic headlight lenses used with halogen-style bulbs will tend to “cloud” after many years and miles on the road. This haze greatly diminishes the light output, and also makes the vehicle appear to be older than it really is. Headlight Restoration There is a solution to foggy headlight lenses! We are able to clean and polish the headlight lenses and restore them to new condition! Schedule ... read more

Vintage Subaru Ad “I didn’t know you guys worked on Subaru’s! Can you fix/diagnose/repair/change/replace……on my car?” Yes we can! While our Swedish name gives you no indication that we are Subaru specialists (unless you are the proud owner of a Saabaru), we have been maintaining and repairing Subaru vehicles, old and new, for over 10 years and our technicians can expertly diagnose and fix your Subaru with the same state of the art tools the dealer has. Here is just a sample of what services we provide for your car: Oil changes, 30K, 60K, and 90K manufacturer’s recommended services Timing belts Brake maintenance and repair Transmission maintenance, repair, and replacement 2017 Impreza at the New York Auto Show Air-conditioning/heating ... read more

MINI COOPER JUST ANNOUNCED RECALL FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE.  DETAILS: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/28/mini-recalls-86000-cars-to-fix-power-steering-problems.html This recall affects certain Mini Cooper vehicles. Feel free to give us a call and we can help: 206 938 8685 or email us: [email protected]

photo courtesy of fotothing.com It’s winter and the the conditions are ideal for a day of skiing. Fresh powder, sunny skies, and 20 degree weather. You pack up your Saab 9-5, make the drive to the mountains and park for the day. Or, you drive to the grocery store on a freezing morning, park your car in the lot and spend about 30 minutes shopping for the week ahead. In both of these examples the parking brake is set while the car is parked. Either of these scenarios will most likely have the same outcome if you are a Saab 9-5 owner. You start your car to warm it up, release the emergency brake, put it in drive, hit the gas and……nothing. Your wheels are spinning, you are skidding as if you left your emergency brake engaged. What is going on? Your e-brake is frozen. If you are in freezing temperatures, it is not advisable to set the emergency brake on your Saab 9-5 when you park. The brake cables have a tendency to freeze and t ... read more