Brandon Auto Repair

In today's day and age, we hear a lot of our customers complaining about gas prices and their vehicle's fuel efficiency. While you may not drive a Prius, there are still things you can incorporate into your driving practice that can enhance your car's fuel efficiency and make that dollar go a bit farther. Here at Clarke Automotive, your local Brandon FL mechanic, we've got a few more tips for you on things you can do to increase your fuel efficiency. 1. Remove your roof rack. If you're not using it, there's no reason to drive around with it. It's great if you're going biking or skiing, but if you're commuting to work you're just throwing money out the window by making your car less aerodynamic. 2. Change your air filter. While it may be out of sight, out of mind, you still need to change your air filter on a regular basis because it is what protects your engine from ingesting dirt and dust from the air and roads. If it's doing its job, yo ... read more

Have you heard the old saying, "There are only two things you can count on in life: Death and Taxes"? Well, that saying is no longer true; there are three things now: Death, Taxes, and the cost of fuel forever spiraling upwards. Here at Clarke Automotive, your local Brandon FL mechanic, with over 30 years in the automotive industry we've heard our fair share of complains about the increasing fuel prices. Even if you don't have the newest, most fuel efficient vehicle, there are still things you can put into practice to make your dollar go farther. 1. Be mindful of your right foot. If you're speeding away from red lights and stop signs, you're wasting fuel. If you're racing cars down the interstate at 80 mph, you're wasting fuel. Here's a rule of thumb: your gas mileage can drop off up to 15% when driving at or below 65mph and driving above 65mph. 2. You can change your octane! A lot of people drive around with medium or premium gas in the ... read more

With over 30 years of experience serving the community of Brandon FL and surrounding areas, Clarke Automotive is proud to be the Brandon FL mechanic that you trust. We love providing an affordable means for our customers to service and repair their import and domestic vehicles. We also love providing education and advice on issues that we commonly see come through our doors. Today we're specifically talking about the issue of your car smelling like gas. It's important to know that you should never have a fuel smell in your car as it can be very dangerous. Trust us, we've seen a lot of fuel leaks in our career. The most common causes: Fuel injector leak Fuel tank leak Fuel line leak Faulty canister Missing gas cap It's important to know that at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter what is causing the fuel smell in your car. you just need to bring your car in to Clarke Auto ... read more

With our car repair team’s extensive knowledge and training in repairing and maintaining domestic and imported vehicles, our shop guarantees all customers the best service they deserve. As your local Brandon FL mechanic, we're here to help you no matter how big or small your automotive issue is. A common question we get from our customers is, "Why does my car shake when I am apply my brakes?" We've got some insight for you today. If you've check the front brake pads and they seem fine - or if you've had us check them - then it sounds like you may have a classic case of warped rotors. As you brake in your car over time, materials is removed not just from the pads but also from the discs. As your rotors get thinner, they're more susceptible to warping because of the heat and friction generated from braking itself. Although you may not be able to see any irregularity by simply looking at your rotors yourself, it's very likely that warped rotors are ca ... read more

Having your car overheat can be a major inconvenience as well as an expensive engine killer than can leave your car on the side of the road. Here at Clarke Automotive, your local Brandon FL mechanic, we want to make sure that your car is as reliable as our service is. When your car is running hot, it can be a stressful time and trust us, we know the feeling. Today we have some tips on what could be causing your car to overheat. However, it's important that you bring your car into Clarke Automotive as quickly as you can if it's overheating. The most common cause for your car overheating is that its low on coolant. Your engine relies on coolant to circulate throughout the system and remove heat from the engine. Another common cause of overheating is that your car is experiencing an electric cooling fan failure. If you have an electric cooling fan that isn't turning on, it may be causing your engine to overheat. Another cause of ov ... read more

Here at Clarke Automotive, we've been proudly servicing the Brandon FL area's automotive repair and service needs for over 30 years. If you're looking for a Brandon FL mechanic, don't waste your time on the other guys when you could be coming to Clarke Automotive. We have a lot of customers come in who have been driving around with their check engine light on. While a check engine light could simply mean that your computer needs to be reset, it could mean a few things that are much more complicated. 1. Your oxygen sensor may need to be replaced. Your O2 sensor measures the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust system of your vehicle. If you don't replace your oxygen filter, your engine will burn more fuel than you need it to resulting in loss of fuel economy. 2. Your gas cap may be loose, damaged, or even missing. Remember, your gas cap seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within your fuel tank. Plus, it prevents gas fumes ... read more

For those who have been driving for many years, it doesn’t come to a surprise that you have been set in your ways when it comes to servicing your car. You know the drill: every three months or 3,000 miles you get your car’s oil changed, lights checks and fluids topped off; one thing we must not forget about are the brakes. Brakes on your car are important. If all else fails, your brakes will be there to save the day, right? If you don’t get your brakes checked on a yearly basis, how do you know that they will work efficiently enough to keep you safe and stop in time when someone slams on their brakes in front of you? In Brandon, Florida we don’t have too terrible of weather. There is an element that we should keep an eye out for though, sand. Sand can get into brakes and cause them to erode quicker than in other parts of the country where sand isn’t a problem. Sand is normal in Florida, and the mechanics at Clarke Automotive System ... read more

Are you ready to hit the road on a once in a lifetime road trip with your closest girlfriends? If so, have you prepared the most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to hitting the road? If you are confused on what this piece is, it is your car! If your car isn’t in the best of shape, then you shouldn’t be hitting the road, expecting to come back again. Our guess is that your will break down while out on the road, or you won’t make it as far as backing out of your driveway! If this blog has started to get your wheels turning, and you are starting to realize that you car isn’t well equipped to provide you with the safest journey across the country to Disney World, or wherever you plan to venture to, make sure you make an appointment at Clarke Automotive Systems. The mechanics at Clarke Automotive Systems in Brandon, FL know cars, trucks and many other automobiles like the back of their hands. When you put your trust in us to ... read more

If you are in need of a great and reliable mechanic for your car, look no further. Take your car to us at Clarke Automotive Systems located in Brandon, Florida 33510. All of our mechanics and technicians are up to date on all the current makes and models of cars so you get the best service possible. All of our repairs are AAA approved repairs and we have ASE Certified Technicians available! We also are certified in BOSCH services and Hybrid repairs. When you come to our shop to get your car serviced or repaired, your service or repair will come with a great warranty! We are very confident in our mechanics and technicians, that we made our warranty 2 years or 24,000. We have 8 different levels of certified ASE technicians. These general automotive areas include engine repair, automatic trans/trans axle, manual drive train and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical/electrical systems, heating and air conditioning, and engine p ... read more

Stop by at Clark Automotive Systems in Brandon, FL 33510 to get your car fixed. We only have the best and most reliable mechanics at our shop. You can rely on our mechanics and technicians. All of our employees who repair and service cars are certified. Being certified with the ASE ( Automotive Service Excellence), allows you to sit back and relax knowing that your car is in good hands. Be aware that we have different levels of ASE Certifications. We have 8 general automotive areas that our mechanics are certified in. They include engine repair, automatic transmission and trans axle, manual drive train and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical and electrical systems, heating and air conditioning, and engine performance. After your car is repaired or serviced, you will receive a 24,000 mile/2 year parts and labor warranty. If you have any questions about any services or repairs we can make to your car, please contact us or go ... read more