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Brakes undergo enormous strain and pressure during even an ordinary day of driving. No matter how durable and well-designed your brakes are, they will occasionally run into trouble and need parts replacing. But if you pay careful attention and nip problems in the bud early on, you'll never face major brake-related issues. Any of the following seven problems should prompt you to visit your Mazda dealer right away for brake repair. more Your Brake Fluid's Leaking This is perhaps the most dangerous of brake issues, as leaking brake fluid can swiftly lead to total brake failure. With fluid leaking, the hose connecting your brake pedal to the calipers no longer has hydraulic pressure. As such, your foot can no longer properly stop your car. Brake fluid is yellow in color when fresh, becoming a dirtier brown when old. If you ever notice a liquid like this pooling under your vehicle, don't start your car. You'll need to be towed to your nearest repair shop. Your Brake Fluid's Too Old Like any fluid in your car, brake fluid gradually loses its function with age. Generally speaking, you should have your brake fluid flushed and renewed every two years or so. This should be more frequent if you use your brakes more often than usual, or if you carry heavy loads. Have a Mazda Dealer Change Your Fluid You can change your own brake fluid, but it's a pretty messy, time-consuming affair. You'll also need specialist tools. For this reason, it's better to have your fluid changed at your local dealership. You Hear Clicking Sounds If bits of a caliper come loose, such as a bolt, screw, or clip, then you'll usually hear it clicking or clattering whenever you brake. Any loose parts can cause larger problems so have them refastened as soon as you can. You Hear Squealing Sounds Brake pads wear down at a steady pace. When a brake pad reaches a certain thinness, it starts to emit a high-pitched squealing noise. This noise means it's time for a new one. You Hear Grinding Sounds If for some reason a brake pad wears all the way down to almost nothing, you'll start hearing the harsh sound of metal grinding on metal. This means your rotor is being scored so it's wise to replace the faulty brake pad with all haste. You Feel Odd Vibrations When a rotor disc overheats, it can become warped or damaged. This leads to odd vibrations when you brake, which you'll feel through the brake pedal or steering wheel. You'll need to have the damaged rotor resurfaced or replaced. Your Brakes Are Sluggish Sluggish or spongy brakes are the scariest of warning signs. You should never drive with sluggish, unresponsive brakes. There could be a number of underlying issues. You'll need a technician to figure it out. Have highly qualified professionals inspect and repair your brakes today at Champion Mazda Owensboro. We're a well-established local dealership committed to treating every single person who steps through our doors to consistently superb customer service.

When that first hot Kentucky summer day arrives, your automatic reaction is to switch on the AC. If you turn the dial and discover you have a car AC not working, don't despair. Your friendly Mazda dealer in Owensboro, KY, can fix your problem. These are a few signs that your AC needs some help. more Nasty Smell From the AC A damp, earthy smell from the AC vent indicates that your AC has mold or bacteria. These organisms enter the AC system through the air vent. During the winter months, when your AC isn't used, the lack of air movement allows these organisms to grow. An AC system is dark and has small traces of water which provide the perfect environment for bacteria or mold to develop. Our technicians can easily fix this problem for you. We pump an anti-mold and anti-bacterial solution into the AC and then switch it on. This solution is blown through the system and rapidly clears the infestation away. We'll also replace the air filter in case any traces of mold are left behind. Your AC will be back to normal in no time. No Cold Air If your AC is producing cool, but not cold air, you could have a lack of refrigerant. Refrigerant is the gas that chills the air in your AC, and without it, your AC can't produce cold air. This gas isn't consumed by the AC, which means a low level of refrigerant can only be due to a leak somewhere in the system. We can check this for you and repair any leak in the system. A lack of cold air could also be due to a failed compressor clutch. The compressor is the part of your AC that converts refrigerant gas into a liquid, and it also controls your AC system. The clutch will switch the compressor on and off during the cooling cycle. The clutch can fail and this prevents the compressor from engaging. Our technicians will examine the clutch and replace it if it's broken. Refrigerant Leaks As we saw above, refrigerant is essential for your AC system. This gas changes between gas and liquid states several times during the cooling process. Metal fatigue and wear can open a leak in the closed AC system. If this happens, you'll lose refrigerant, and the AC won't work correctly. Our technicians use UV dye to trace the path of the refrigerant through your system. A special UV monitor allows them to identify the source of the leak. Once we've found the leak, we'll repair it and refill the refrigerant. If your AC is failing, call us today at Champion Mazda Owensboro, KY. Our experts will have your AC working again in no time.

Knowing when your vehicle needs a Mazda wheel alignment can save drivers a lot of trouble down the road. Not only can misaligned wheels cost you a fortune on tire replacements, but they can eventually lead to even more expensive repairs if left unattended. To stay ahead of these issues, here are three warning signs that may indicate it’s time for a wheel alignment. more Off-Center Steering Wheel Your vehicle’s steering wheel was meticulously designed to be perfectly centered while your wheels are forward facing. If you find that your steering wheel is off-center while you are driving straight, that could be a sign that the wheels on your front axle are misaligned. An off-center steering wheel may not bother drivers that much, but it could be an omen of costly future repairs. Pulling to the Side More seriously, if you find that your vehicle is pulling either left or right while driving straight it’s likely time for a realignment. Be sure to check all four tires if you find yourself in this situation, as this could also be caused by low tire pressure. If you find that all four tires are healthy and pressurized, then the culprit is most likely the alignment. Uneven Tire Wear The road will eventually take its toll on your vehicle’s tires, but this usually occurs in a somewhat uniform fashion. If you find that one or two of your vehicle’s tires are wearing down a lot faster than the others, that could be a sign the wheels have fallen out of alignment. Has your vehicle been exhibiting any of these symptoms? Schedule Mazda service online today to get your vehicle’s alignment back on track. One trip could be all it takes, so don’t wait to schedule until it’s too late!

Your vehicle's air filters do a lot for the cabin's interior climate. They may not be in control of your temperature, but they do help prevent the intake of any particles or dust from the road. Your vehicle's air filters also play a role in fuel efficiency, so let's take a look at some ways they can impact fuel consumption. more What Do Air Filters Do? When you engage your vehicle's HVAC system, your vehicle draws air from outside of the cabin. This outside air can be filled with pollen, dust, dirt, and small particles that can accumulate inside your closed cabin if not filtered out properly. Over time the filters can become overwhelmed with these outdoor particulates, which can begin to cause a number of issues for your vehicle. Can Air Filters Affect Efficiency? When your vehicle's air filters become clogged, your HVAC system must work harder to provide you with the same level of temperature control. You will find yourself turning up the fan and adjusting the temperature more severely due to the fact that your AC can't perform at its optimal level. This causes your vehicle to use more energy, and more fuel. It’s especially detrimental in hybrid models and electric vehicles, as electric powertrains propel your vehicle and provide climate control through the same power source. How Often Should Filters Be Changed? To prevent your vehicle from overworking itself, it is recommended that your vehicle's air filters be replaced around once a year. In miles, this comes out to roughly every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, depending on how much you drive. Are your vehicle's air filters in need of a replacement? Schedule your visit to the Champion Mazda service center online today. Let's get your vehicle's fuel consumption back on track with a simple part replacement.

Have you performed an online search for an “ oil change near me”? Do you recognize the signs that your car may be low on oil? Oil changes are best left to a Mazda-certified technician. more Here are the signs that the oil in your car is due for a replacement. Oil Discoloration Pull out the oil dipstick when the engine is cold. Examine the oil on the tip of the stick. Healthy oil should be brownish yet clear. If the oil appears almost completely black and gunk-like, then it may be time for a replacement. Car Vibrations Shaking and vibrations can be caused by a number of issues. Vibrations when the car is idling may be a sign the oil has thickened and is not lubricating the metal engine parts properly. This leads to destructive metal-on-metal friction, causing the vehicle to vibrate. Ticking Sound During Startup The oil runs through the engine the minute you turn the ignition. If the oil has thickened, it takes longer to move. This may manifest in the form of an audible ticking sound as the engine is warming up. The ticking comes from the valve that’s working extra hard to shuttle the thickened oil. Oil Change Light Perhaps the most clear-cut indicator of your car needing fresh oil is the oil change dashboard light coming on. In most models, this icon is in the form of an oil canister with a drop of oil coming out. This is your car telling you directly to check the oil. Don’t ignore it. Have you noticed any of the above signs lately? Make an appointment at Champion Mazda to schedule an oil change. We perform an oil change and flush on all Mazda models, from the Mazda3 to the Mazda CX-9.

Car troubles may arise occasionally. This is only natural given that the average automobile contains over 30,000 parts. Of course, some issues are more common than others. Here is a list of the five most common Mazda car repairs we perform at our dealership’s service department in Owensboro, KY. more 1. Battery Inspection Car batteries are typically replaced and not repaired. However, it tops this list because the average car battery lasts four to five years. This means car owners will end up replacing the battery two to three times over the life of their vehicle. 2. Tire Alignment Driving through potholes or dips can cause the tires to fall out of alignment over time. This may result in the car gradually drifting in one direction even when you don’t move the steering wheel. A tire alignment is recommended every 10,000 miles. 3. Headlight and Taillight Replacement The car lights will eventually burn out just like the light bulbs in your home. If the lights begin to dim, it’s either a sign of the bulbs giving out or the battery slowly dying. If the former, then you’ll need to replace the lights. Not doing so can hamper nighttime visibility (and your safety) on the road. 4. Air Filter Replacement Air filters should be replaced or cleaned every year, or approximately every 30,000 miles. You may need a replacement sooner if you drive under harsh road conditions. The air filter is critical for keeping dust and other contaminants out of the engine. 5. Spark Plug Replacement Spark plugs produce the spark needed to ignite the gasoline and power the engine. This component will begin to show signs of wear every 10,000 miles. This part is relatively inexpensive and quick to replace at the dealership. Visit Champion Mazda to schedule a maintenance appointment. We perform service on all Mazda models, from the Mazda3 to the Mazda CX-5.

The Mazda3 is a formidable sedan long known and beloved for its reliability and nimble handling. However, even this model can’t perform to expectations without regular care. Mazda3 maintenance in Owensboro, KY is essential if you hope to reap exceptional performance out of this model. How often, though, should you schedule servicing? more MAZDA3 Oil Change Maintenance The recommended oil change interval for the Mazda3 is every 10,000 miles. However, this doesn’t mean you should wait until you commuted 10,000 miles before scheduling service. The 10,000-mile recommendation applies to normal driving conditions. If you commute under daily stop-and-go driving or for short distances, then you may need an oil change as often as every 5,000 miles. Have the technician inspect the oil at every scheduled maintenance. MAZDA3 Tire Changes Mazda3 tires should be replaced every 60,000 miles, or every five years, whichever comes first. However, treadwear may occur at an accelerated pace depending on your driving conditions. Factors like driving over potholes or worn shock absorbers may cause the treads to erode prematurely, in which tire replacement may be required sooner. In addition, your tires also need to be rotated, which should be done every 5,00 to 7,000 miles, or sooner if the tires show signs of uneven tread wear. MAZDA3 Battery Service A battery for the Mazda3 usually lasts four to five years. Have the technician examine the battery condition at every tune-up. This is especially important if the maintenance session occurs around fall or early winter, where the cold weather can adversely affect the battery’s ability to supply power to the engine. Always refer to the vehicle’s user manual, which outlines all the information you need regarding maintenance intervals. If your Mazda3 is due for a checkup, make an appointment at Champion Mazda.