Setting teens up for success by teaching them some common car repairs and safety precautions will help ensure young and inexperienced drivers stay safe on the roadways.   Parenting teenagers comes with its own unique set of challenges as young adults struggle to establish their identity and gain some independence. Teens are doing their best to manage expectations during the pandemic. They are coping with remote school, isolation and canceled sporting events. Despite this unique year, one of the biggest milestones for any teen is still getting their driver’s license.   The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hosted National Teen Driver Safety Week the week of October 18 this year. Parents can be the biggest influencers on teens’ choices behind the wheel, NHTSA reports. As a result, th ... read more

What People Should Know About Brake Systems   Brakes are the unsung hero of the car. Stepping on the accelerator and moving down the road is the fun part and gets all the glory, but even more important is the ability to stop or slow down. Effective braking is something we take for granted—until it’s too late. Thankfully, brakes are good about giving warning signs when they are wearing, indicating that it’s time for a refresh. Understanding how different types of braking systems work is a good foundation for knowing when it’s time. Each braking system comprises different parts that work together to brake safely.   How Do Braking Systems Work? When you press the brake pedal, you activate a cylinder, which sends brake fluid to your brake calipers, to engage your brake pads. The brake pads apply pressure to your rotors. The resulting friction is what slows ... read more

The Importance of Changing Transmission Fluid The transmission is one of the key components of a car’s engine. Whether automatic or manual, the transmission’s important duty is for shifting gears, giving the engine power and the appropriate level to drive at a given speed. An automatic transmission shifts automatically for you as you accelerate or de-accelerate, while a manual transmission relies on the driver to shift. Because of its integral role in the operation of your vehicle, replacing or repairing a transmission is an expensive proposition. To avoid finding yourself on the bad end of a big bill, changing the transmission at appropriate intervals is essential.   What is Transmission Fluid? Transmission fluid is, in part, a lubricant that makes the parts inside your transmission move smoothly. If you have an au ... read more

Summer of Gridlock: More Driving Around Town Means More Wear and Tear Many aspects of American society are re-opening. Droves of workers are returning from working remotely to working in offices or at job sites. People are taking vacations and visiting family and friends. But many of those people who are out and about again to commute to work are avoiding mass transportation, and the impact of that is substantial in many ways. Traffic expert and former New York City Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz—who coined the term “gridlock”—predicts an unprecedented level of traffic. Significant numbers of commuters in metro areas will choose to drive instead of take buses and trains where they could be too close for comfort with other passengers. Gas prices are low right now, adding addi ... read more

Preparing Cars for a Summer Road Trip Now that summer is here, many people are finalizing their plans for a vacation.  Whether it be a trip to a beach, mountains, campsite or visiting family, people are planning a getaway from the cabin fever that has gripped the country. Even as much of America has “re-opened,” travelers are wise to exercise a high level of care and safety. You may be wary of air travel and opt instead to drive to your destination. Even absent a pandemic, being in the confined space of an airplane with many people emitting many different germs and viruses is an easy way to catch something unpleasant at best and dangerous at worst. It Just Makes Sense If you are opting to drive, you’re not alone. A recent survey by the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), r ... read more

Learning How to Run a Successful Business from From Father to Son This Father’s Day presents a great opportunity to showcase two of the most successful franchise owners in the Mr. Transmission system and tell the story of how wisdom and understanding is passed down from father to son. Scott Hester has owned the Mr. Transmission store in Decatur, Georgia since 2006.  His father, Lowell, is the franchise owner of the same brand in nearby Sandy Springs. The business connections between the two were formed through caring communication, patient lessons and sage advice. Like his father, Scott selected by his peers as the Mr. Transmission Franchisee of the Year in 2019; Lowell won the same honor twice before. But Lowell didn’t just give his son a franchise. Scott bought one on his own—after absorbing h ... read more

What Happens If I Don’t Drive My Car? If you haven’t been driving your car as much recently, you’re not alone. A large majority of Americans have been under “stay at home” restrictions for several weeks, and a majority support the orders continuing for the near future to fight the spread of COVID-19. While people are staying at home, the “need” to drive a vehicle has evaporated for more people who aren’t employees of an essential business. However, just because you’re supposed to stay home, doesn’t mean that your vehicle should be left in your garage or driveway for days, if not weeks, without moving. Driving your car for several miles is a great way to keep it healthy and running well. A short drive will wake up all aspects of your vehicle, including the engine, brakes ... read more

Don’t Put Off Regular Maintenance Most of us have been guilty of at least one of the following while driving a vehicle: Driving past your recommended allotted mileage between tire rotations or oil changes. Having an indicator light illuminate your dashboard, hoping that it just goes away. Maybe there are unfamiliar sounds coming from your car or it doesn’t just feel right.  You feel you can hold off on any repairs when you get back out on the road more often or some of the current stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.  We get it. You will eventually get around to it because, relatively speaking, it doesn’t seem as important right now. While fewer people are on the roads these days, that may feel like another excuse to put off routine maintenance to your vehicle. You shouldn’t be waiting until “things get back to normal” in order to service your vehicle. By putting those things off, you a ... read more

Helping Our Customers Through COVID-19 Like the rest of the world, Moran Family of Brands is currently dealing with an unprecedented time, due to the global pandemic associated with COVID-19.  Being in the auto repair industry, our Mr. Transmission and Milex Complete Auto Care stores have been designated as essential businesses and are currently open and serving our customers. In these uncertain times, Moran Family of Brands is committed to continuing to provide customers with the outstanding service that they have come to expect at our stores. Here are some ways that we’re ensuring that our customers have a safe and complete auto service during their visits. Keeping Customers Aware Stores across the country are altering their hours and policies in order to adapt to the fluidity of customer demand and government recommendations for social d ... read more

Performing an Essential Service In today’s society, there is a lot of discussion as to what constitutes an “essential” vs. “non-essential” business. Barber shops, gyms, and retail stores make up a portion of the latest closures around the country, while grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations remain open. As more and more businesses around the country are temporarily shuttered due to COVID-19 concerns, all Mr. Transmission and Milex Complete Auto Care stores remain open for business to serve our customers in need. On March 19, The Department of Homeland Security issued a memorandum to state and local governments to include the vehicle service and repair industry in the definition of essential services for the purposes of emergency ... read more