Muffler & Go Auto and Transmission
AUTO REPAIR & MAINTENANCE BLOG
Maintaining your vehicle at home is a satisfying way to keep your motoring costs down. With the right knowledge and products even someone who isn't very mechanically inclined can take care of many of the smaller issues in everyday driving. Sometimes, however, car issues can be too specialized or complex for the average motorist to take care of by themselves and it becomes time to take your car to the pros. Below you'll find three major warning signs that you need to get to a mechanic ASAP, as well as some of the potential causes behind them.
Engine and Drivetrain Problems
Let's start at the beginning. If your car won't even turn over and start up, then the rest of the problems on this list won't come into play. The simplest cause of this issue is a dead battery, which you can remedy with jumper cables, and the instructions that come printed on their packaging. If jumping the car doesn't work, you may have a larger problem with your ignition system. It's advisable to take your car into the shop at this point because finding the root of the problem will likely involve removing a few parts from your engine. Whether it's dead spark plugs or electrical problems, it's better to have it dealt with by a professional. Likewise, engine surging where the revs rise and fall can mean a problem with your fuel injectors, which are fairly deep within your motor. It's unwise to drive around with a surging engine, as this burns more gas and can cause unintended acceleration. Drivetrain issues are another major issue requiring professional attention. Everybody fears the dreaded transmission repairs, so if certain gears won't engage or they shift at the wrong times you should definitely take your car to the qualified mechanics here at Muffler and Go Full Auto & Transmission.Vibration While Driving
This issue can be caused by damaged drivetrain components, but can also stem from misaligned wheels or unbalanced or flat tires. If you feel any vibration or shuddering as you drive along, you should get to a mechanic as soon as you can. At its worst, this issue can lessen your control over the car, potentially causing accidents. This will also wear out your tires more quickly than if everything was straight and true. Unwanted vibrations put stress on important (and costly) components like suspension and brakes while decreasing gas mileage, so it's smart to take your car in as soon as these issues develop.Poor Braking Performance
Your brakes are vital to keeping you safe on the road and should definitely be cared for by a professional, unless you're absolutely sure you know what you're doing. Common signs of issues with your car's braking system include squeaking or squealing when the brakes are applied, or the brakes feeling spongy and failing to slow your vehicle properly. Squealing brakes are caused by the brake pads wearing through the pad surface to the metal underneath. At this point the metal behind your brake pad is coming into contact with the brake rotor. This can be disastrous and produce unwanted heat, reduced stopping power, and cause you to have to buy new rotors as well as the relatively cheap pads. Spongey and weak brakes can mean there's a problem with your master cylinder, which converts the mechanical pressure of you pressing the pedal into hydraulic pressure to apply the brakes. In either case, it's best to have your brakes seen to by the professional mechanics here at Muffler and Go Full Auto & Transmission.There are instances where car maintenance is simple and easy, but if you notice any of these issues developing, it's best to take your car in for a qualified mechanic's checkup so the problems can be remedied before they turn into much more serious issues. Muffler and Go Full Auto & Transmission has the tools and expertise to have you safely back on the road in no time at all.
OUR REVIEWS
Armando Diccion, 08/26/2025This review covers work performed by Muffler & Go (M&G) over the summer of 2025 on 3 different vehicles our household owns. The first car was my son's 1969 Plymouth Barracuda, which he purchased with a relatively new exhaust system already installed. The exhaust components themselves were great but the installation was awful. We brought the car to M&G to have the dual exhaust removed, pieces modified (cutting, bending, welding) and reinstalled by Kevin (their top custom exhaust specialist). The result was truly a work of art. The exhaust was routed through some tight areas in a way where nothing rubbed, rattled or was in the way as it had before. Because of the work done on my son's car, I decided to bring in my newly restored (after sitting 37 years) 1968 Chrysler New Yorker to have its dual exhaust system completely replaced. Again Kevin was given the job, this time to create a complete custom stainless steel exhaust system. Somehow Kevin was able to route the pipes to fit through some tight areas and tuck the pipes and mufflers very close to the bottom of the car in a way that honestly looks better than what the factory had done. I later found a slight rattling that only occurred under certain conditions and the owner, Chris Burke, told me to bring it in and he'd have it taken care of while I waited, which they did. Within two weeks of the installation, I then realized the mufflers that were chosen were just a bit too loud for me. Since I originally agreed with M&G to install these particular mufflers, I thought I was going to have to pay to exchange them for quieter ones. However Chris offered to exchange them for a quieter pair free of charge (for both the mufflers and the labor to exchange them). You just can't ask for better customer satisfaction efforts than this! I am now super happy with the sound and the quality of the installation. The third car we brought in was my son's daily driver, a 2014 Chevy Equinox with the Ecotec 2.4 inline 4 cylinder. Because we brought it in to M&G with a potentially damaging loose timing chain (a VERY common problem on this engine), Chris said it was an urgent issue and arranged to get in right away. Eventually the timing chain and associated components were replaced along with a new engine valve cover with integrated PCV, oil & filter and spark plugs. Got my son's car back on the road within two days and averted potential disaster from a broken timing chain. Later, we took the Equinox in again for a cooling system flush, brake system flush, two wheel alignment, replace all brake rotors & pads and replace parking brake shoe & lining w/ parking brake kit before my son drove back to college 500 miles away. We've decided to switch all of our car service needs over to Muffler & Go after seeing the quality of work that they do and Chris taking considerable time to show me around the shop, explain the way they find parts as inexpensively as possible and introduce me to their service specialists. The front desk and waiting area is immaculate and reflects Chris's need for neatness and order. The shop area is well organized and you can tell everything is well maintained. They also have the latest in diagnostic testing equipment so they're able to perform service on many things other shops may not be able to do. In terms of pricing (as the owner will also tell you) they aren't the cheapest or the most expensive. Based on what I have experienced over the years at this and other shops, I'd say their pricing is in line with what you'd expect from a shop that uses the right parts and does an exceptional job of installation & servicing. There's a great deal of automotive expertise in their employees and Chris himself told me he works hard to treat them well in order to keep them. I've long known Muffler & Go has a great reputation and I now know why. Their business name is Muffler & Go but it is obvious that they do much more than exhaust systems. I'm one of their newest customers and I can say I'm 5 star satisfied so far.
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