We all have bad habits, and some of them are worse than others. And sometimes our bad habits can really hurt us, literally and financially. We see that sometimes at Milex Complete Auto Care. That’s why we thought we’d spotlight some bad car habits that a lot of people do – that can sometimes cause you to bring their car in to be looked at, far more than they had planned. What sort of bad habits are we talking about? Well, see if you ever do any of these. You ignore a potentially troubling sound coming from your car. Maybe it’s the brakes. A screeching sound. Perhaps it’s a banging sound. None of those sounds are good, but maybe you downplay their significance if your car is still running without a problem. If you’re hearing screeching when you’re braking, you probably need brake pads, and if you’re not careful, and the screeching continues, you may need to replace the brak ... read more

August is Brake Safety Awareness Month, which is a great time to make sure your car’s brakes are in proper working order.  Although the issue of if your brakes are functioning correctly sounds like an easy question, there are several things to monitor when looking and listening for signs that perhaps you need new brakes. Are you seeing or hearing the following? Thin brake pads. You can actually tell by looking at your brakes if you likely are going to have problems. All you need is a ruler. If your brake pads are less than a quarter of an inch thick, you should replace them. Low brake fluids. If the brake fluid level in the master cylinder is low, you may have a problem. Another red flag that you probably need new breaks is if there’s a copper content of 2000 ppm or greater in your brake fluid. Scraping or grinding noises when you press down on the brakes. If you hear this, it’s time to get brake pads as soon as possible. If you don’t, you could do enou ... read more

If you’ve thought many times about starting a business but quickly dismissed the idea, there are probably some logical reasons holding you back.  Fear of failure, having the proper guidance and being able to market and sell your product or service could all be reasons why you hesitate in starting your own business. One possible solution to overcoming many of these fears is by looking into franchising. That is, running a business that is part of a regional or nationwide company. As you presumably know, McDonald’s is a franchise. So is Subway, Ace Hardware and Circle K. In fact, there are over 3,000 types of franchise brands in a wide range of industries. When you own a franchise, you’re the business owner – but it’s a little similar to being a condominium owner. In that situation, you own the property and have a lot of leewa ... read more

Owning a business isn’t for everyone, but for some, it’s a calling. You know who you are. But if you haven’t started a company but have thought about being a business owner for years, it’s probably because you’ve been thinking, what do I sell? How do I get started? What if I build a business and nobody comes? Those are all good, smart questions. We’ve all read the statistics about how numerous businesses fail. Which is one reason a lot of business owners think about franchising. Of course, franchises can flop, too, for a variety of reasons (Blockbuster never saw Netflix coming…), but generally, if you buy into a good one, you at least have a strong brand name going for you and a business model ... read more

So you’ve just paid off your car. It only took a million years, but finally, you can relax and not worry about monthly payments. For at least a week. Because you’re already thinking that you may need to buy a new car. After all, while it didn’t really take a million years to pay it off, it did take awhile, and your odometer shows that you’ve been driving it for well over 100,000 miles now. Isn’t it time to get a new car? Not necessarily -- and especially not if you’d like to hang onto your car for as long as possible. It’s also financially smart to try and keep your car running for as long as you (safely) can. According to Consumer Reports, motorists who have a car that hits 200,000 miles – which generally takes 15 years -- end up saving $30,000 or mo ... read more

Driving in the fog is a unique experience and it’s far more dangerous to drive in the thick, soupy stuff than you likely realize. According to the Federal Highway Administration’s latest numbers, over 38,700 vehicle crashes occur annually as a result of the fog. Over 600 people killed every year because of it, and 16,300 people are injured. So the next time a fog settles over your community, and you have to go driving out in it, please think about these driving tips. Turn on your low beams. You would think since you can’t see, like, anything, that you’d want to turn on your headlights to the brightest setting possible. But fog is made up of little drops of water, and when you turn on your lights to the brightest setting, the light is reflected on the water. In other words, the light is diffused in a way that can make it harder for other drivers – an ... read more

How long have you owned a Mr. Transmission franchise? I have owned the Mr. Transmission franchise in Decatur, Georgia for 16 years. What did you do before opening a Mr. Transmission store? Prior to joining Mr. Transmission, I owned an automotive dealership in Decatur.  Before that, I worked with a company that rehabbed apartment complexes.  I received my EPA certification and then opened a turnkey service that handled a wide variety of apartment restoration projects such as painting, HVAC repair and carpet, upholstery and tile and grout cleaning.  I also owned several barbershops and hair salons in the Decatur area.   How has that experience helped you now that you own a Mr. Transmission store? Although I always loved cars and doing some projects on them growing up, my time with the auto dealership gave me a better ... read more

Catching a problem early is the best way to help prevent long-term damage. This is true of many things. For example, if you roll your ankle, you should ice it, elevate it and take some time to rest as soon as possible. Failure to do so could lead to a more serious, long-lasting injury.  When it comes to your car, the same holds true. By addressing problems early, you’ll likely increase the life of your car and save yourself some money in the process.  You just need to keep an eye out for warning signs that your car may not be running properly.   Battery Trouble One of the most common car problems is an aging or defective battery. Typically, a car battery should be replaced every three years or so. After four or five years, the majority of car batteries will become unreliable. If you find your car will crank, but not start, that’s a good indi ... read more

As frigid temperatures around most of the country whisked out last year and welcomed in 2018, we are reminded of the importance of taking care of our cars in these freezing conditions.  Just as you might have made the resolution to lead a healthier lifestyle, pledge your loyalty to your vehicle this new year with routine maintenance and these need-to-know winter car care tips from Milex Complete Auto Care. Coolant Coolant, which is a mixture of antifreeze and water, is extremely important as it keeps your vehicle's engine from freezing in cold temperatures and reduces corrosion. It is recommended that coolant be flushed and refilled every two years, but this may vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Be sure to check coolant levels and examine your engine for potential leaks early in t ... read more

With the new year, many business owners begin comparing year-to-year sales figures, and some independent auto repair shops don’t necessarily like what they’re seeing. Are your sales stagnant? Or worse yet, did your sales drop? Maybe you’re having trouble keeping reliable help. If you already own an auto shop and performance hasn’t been meeting your expectations, we urge you to consider the Moran Family of Brands. The Moran Family of Brands is more than just an auto repair franchise; it’s a one-stop shop that can provide you with opportunities to expand and grow your business while offering trusted “one-stop” service for your community’s car care needs. In fact, we are one of the leading franchisors in the automotive aftermarket industry. So, if sales have been stagnant or if you’re looking for a way to expand your business, cons ... read more