Main Street Mobile

Story

-------------Mass Vehicle Inspection----------------------------------
Every car and truck licensed in Massachusetts must be inspected annually. Main Street Mobile is among the highest volume vehicle inspectors in the Commonwealth, performing hundreds of inspections every month.

We have friendly staff on hand to inspect your car with very little waiting. MainStreetMobile, located on Route 20 a half mile west of Watertown Square, provides convenient service to the Towns of Watertown, Belmont, and the Cities of Waltham and Newton.

The State mandated fee is presently $29.00. You can see frequently asked Massachusetts Vehicle Inspection questions on the State Department of Transportation web site here.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) zip codes of 02472, 02458, 02459, 02460, 02462, 02464, 02465, 02451, 02452, 02453, 02478 are near Main Street Mobile.

If the Commonwealth's computerized analysis of your car, or our inspection of your car, result in a Rejection Sticker (image below), you have 30 days to repair the defect and have the vehicle re-inspected at no additional cost.


-----------------Automotive Air Conditioning----------------------------
MAC automotive air conditioning machineMain Street Mobile provides system charging, compressor replacement, troubleshooting - come in before the weather turns hot so you can be sure your car will be COLD when the weather is HOT!

At Main Street Mobile we pride ourselves on diagnosing and repairing all makes and models of domestic and foreign air conditioning systems. If your AC system has any problems, please bring your vehicle in so we can trouble shoot it and present a repair proposal.

-------------------- Brakes--------------------------------------------
Brakes wear out.

Disc brakes have a little metal tab which begins to scrape and screech on the metal disc when the disc brake pad is about 75% worn.

Drum band brakes don't have any wear noise-generating "tell tale" - the brake drum usually needs to be taken off the axel in order to check the condition of the drum brake bands.

In the image below you can see a new drum brake band (left hand) and an old brake band with all its brake lining gone (right hand) from a Dodge Stratus rear axel.

If a car continues to operate with brake bands with no lining, it will be unsafe and the brake drum will be scored and ruined - leading to a more expensive repair.

So have us check your brakes to find out if they need maintenance!


------------------------Oil Changes----------------------------------------
We will drain your engine oil, replace the oil with conventional or synthetic, install a new oil filter, check your oil level, and get your car back on the road in tip top shape.


---------------------------Coolant & Radiator----------------------------------
Proper engine cooling (and heating) is critical to engine life and efficient gas mileage. For example, in the winter, when the engine is cold, the thermostatic valve between the engine and the radiator should be closed until the engine reaches operating temperature – about 180 degrees Fahrenheit. If the thermostat is stuck open, one sign is that you will not get much heat inside your car. Main Street Mobile can check the engine thermostat, top up radiator coolant, or replace your leaking radiator.


----------------------Tire Pressure-------------------------------------------
Tire pressure gauge: Using a tire pressure gauge will help maximize your vehicle's efficiency

Every tire has a design air pressure for optimal operation. Tires which are underinflated (too soft) don’t roll as they are designed to do and consequently wear faster and waste fuel. When was the last time the pressure of the tires on your vehicle was checked with a gauge? Checking your tire pressure is a task every driver can do - it is safe and easy. Every tire has the maximum design pressure embossed on the sidewall of the tire. Check your tires every month. And don’t forget to check the spare!


----------------------------Car Care----------------------------------
Main Street Mobile has a feminine touch too...we can detail your vehicle so it will clean and shiney...

--------------------Drive Shafts and Wheel Bearings-----------------
Whether your vehicle is front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, or all wheel drive, the power from the engine reaches the wheels through rotating shafting supported in a series of bearings. Although bearings do not fail often, there are instances where bearings run dry of lubricating grease and begin to make noise. Noisy bearings need to be changed as soon as possible - before they fail completely and ruin an axle, drive shaft, or other power transmission component.

If you hear a new noise - one where the frequency increases with the speed of the vehicle - your vehicle may have a worn bearing.

In the image above, a Jeep is put on the lift with the engine running and power is transmitted to the front wheels - with the brakes and brake discs removed - to isolate bearing noise from brake noise.

Using a large screwdriver against the wheel bearing housing, Main Street Mobile's mechanics can clearly "hear" the wheel bearings.

---------------------Electrical and Computer systems-------------------------
Main Street Mobile has the latest software and diagnostic programs to troubleshoot and repair your vehicle's electrical or computer system. Even though the computer dash board message may be "Greek" to you, please keep in mind - we speak Greek! and computereze.

The 6 cylinder Mazda in the image above had a failed altenator. To change the altenator required removing the right hand tire, brake disc, suspension, and front wheel right hand drive shaft. For many vehicles replacing an altenator is a two or three bolt job. Mazda's engineers didn't make this job easy, but that's because Mazda's engineers didn't consult Main Street Mobile!

Main Street Mobile knows British vehicles like Land Rover and Jaguar and has a keen appetite for this type of spaghetti. Jobs like this demand patience, which Main Street Mobile's mechanics have.

------------------------------Exhaust----------------------------------------------
Exhaust systems don't last forever. A tight and quiet exhaust system is required on every vehicle in Massachusetts in order to pass the annual vehicle inspection. Main Street Mobile has the equipment and expertise to maintain or replace exhaust systems including catalytic converters. We will be happy to quote a new exhaust system for any make and model of car.

--------------------------Mechanical Repairs-------------------------------------
Just because your vehicle is running smoothly doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't need service. Main Street Mobile's mechanics have seen it all - and know which makes and models of cars need what type of PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.

The double over head cam engine in the 2002 Hyundai Sonata in the image above has a timing belt which connects the two valve timing gears at the center of the image. As the belt ages it wears and becomes more apt to fail. The timing belt needs to be visually inspected every 30,000 miles and replaced if it becomes brittle, worn, or ragged. If the belt is never replaced, it will eventually break without warning, very likely leading to the valve rods being bent - basically destroying the engine.

------------------------State Emissions Repair Specialist-------------------------
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts annual vehicle inspection requires your vehicle to pass an exhaust emissions test every year. If your vehicle’s check engine light is on, this may indicate that there is a problem with the vehicle’s emissions.