FALCONER AUTO REPAIR

The Adventure Continues in 2023 – A New Year! Most new businesses don’t make it to Year 5, and we‘re still here 18 years later. Wahoo!! While this was not our first business, the others were operated from our home. Purchase of an old yellow Dodge service truck started our repair service in March of 2005. Desiring brick and mortar for the first time, we purchased an old building that was in disrepair, but the location near I-86 and reduced price lured us to Falconer. Renovations began June 2005, and we opened for business under construction destruction. The old flat roof leaked horribly so we draped plastic over the office ceiling to channel rainwater into buckets. My husband Nate and our nephew Justin Benjamin did all the roof demo themselves using a front loader and a rented saw during that blazing hot Summer! At one point we had customer vehicles in the repair bays and there was no roof! Fall 2005 masonry work was completed, huge roof trusses were l ... read more

Yes, I am an owner of a car repair shop. But even after 15 years I’m still learning about technology in today’s vehicles as it’s changing all the time!  This week my  journey takes us into the Battery Management System on my own 2016 Ford Escape.     Being observant about changes in your vehicle is as important as noticing changes in your own health. And just as important is not ignoring those signs. A few days ago my car started shutting down the radio and dash almost immediately after turning off the vehicle. In the past it would stay on for a very long time so I could continue to listen to the radio or finish up a phone call unless I opened my car door. And then I noticed a message on my Ford Escape SYNC screen, “System Off to Save Battery… turn ignition off or start engine”.  Thoughts flooded my mind – Does this mean my battery is failing? Is my battery charging properly? Does it just need serviced? I’m ... read more

New York State vehicle inspections which have lapsed since March  have again been extended and will be valid through November 3. What does that mean for you? Availability - Will you be able to quickly get an inspection when the extension suddenly expires?  Inspection Stations are expecting an onslaught of drivers needing their vehicles inspected. The DMV is urging drivers to get their vehicles inspected even while the extension remains in place. We will do our best to work State Inspections into our daily schedule, but we recommend making an appointment as soon as possible. An unexpected number of inspections in a short period of time could also lead to inspection sticker shortages across all Inspection Stations, with shipments from the State often taking 7-14 days under normal circumstances. We have made sure our supply is adequate thru year-end! Your Safety - This time has affected use and condition of vehicles. Those not driven can have ... read more

We are busy coming up with new solutions on how we can effectively communicate to our customers. One great way is by video! Check out our newest video for I-86 Truck Repair and Auto Service.  Let us know what you think, we'd love to hear from you! 

4 Tips To Help Your Car Survive Winter Winter is here! The flakes are falling and it’s time to start your winter car care! After you check off the items on our list you will be able to drive safely without worry!   Snow Tires Snow Tires are a must for winter, especially if it is very snowy, icy, and slushy in your area. All-season tires just won’t cut it as they’re not made for our snowy roads. Winter tires give you better grip so you don’t have to worry about sliding all over the road while traveling to your destination. Check out more about our tire services here!   Tire Pressure If you read our  ... read more

Top 3 Fall Car Care Items: Why you need them on your To-Do List. Fall car care might not be a top priority on your to-do list but it should be. We’ve compiled our top three recommendations for your list!  Tires With this change in season comes a change in your tire needs. With huge temperature swings,  you may see your TPMS dash light come on.  Some TPMS monitoring systems are more sensitive than others, but don’t ignore that warning light as it will affect tire wear, performance and fuel economy! Have your tire pressures checked and adjusted accordingly.  The recommended pressure is typically between 30 to 35 pounds but make sure you are using the proper inflation for your tires and vehicle. If your TPMS light remains on, there’s still an issue that should be corrected. New York + Chautauqua County + November = rain and snow. The tread on your tires isn’t something you should overlook! It is imp ... read more

Murphy’s Law applies to auto maintenance and car repairs too! Heading to the repair shop isn’t always convenient timing for your budget. That’s why at I-86 Auto Repair we provide a simple financing option that is “same as cash” for 6 months through a trusted partner vendor.  The process is so quick and easy that customers love it!  Just completes a short application APPLY HERE or over the phone with the assistance of an I-86 Service Advisor.  No need to worry – all your information is kept confidential and entered into a secure online portal. In just a few minutes you know if you are approved and what your line of credit is. Voila!  You can use the financing immediately – no need to wait for the card in the mail.  There’s also an online account you can set up to manage your credit card if you wish.  Each time ... read more

If your car has ever started skidding on a wet or icy road, you know how frightening it is to lose control of both steering and braking. Now, picture that same scenario while trying to land a plane on a short, narrow landing strip. Anti-lock braking systems first appeared in aircraft and then motorcycles before the technology became available in production autos. Since it has been a standard safety feature for decades, many of today's drivers have never driven an automobile without ABS. The anti-lock brake system was devised to prevent wheel lock-up during a skid. It does this by applying and releasing the brakes up to fifteen times per second, depending on the optimal rate for maintaining or regaining control. In the days before ABS, new drivers were taught to pump the brakes in an emergency traction-loss situation. With ABS, you are su ... read more

At I-86 Truck & Auto Repair, we hate to see people get scammed when buying used vehicles. Protect yourself by watching out for these signs of a bad deal. 1. Seller Refuses Mechanic's Inspection If the seller doesn't allow you to take the automobile to I-86 Truck & Auto Repair for a pre-purchase used car examination, they are probably hiding something. 2. Dealer Complaints Online customer reviews are a great tool when researching any business, but they are especially critical for a big-ticket purchase. 3. Odd Transaction Terms Escrow accounts, bank wire transfers, upfront deposits, overseas delivery, no face-to-face contact, the seller was unexpectedly called up for military deployment, claim of PayPal or eBay guarantee, etc. Buying locally is safest. 4. Excessive Rust Rust compromises the structural int ... read more

It goes by many names: parking brake, emergency brake, handbrake, E brake. When used properly it can be one of the most important safety features on your vehicle. This secondary breaking system was created to be used in the case of brake system failure. These days most of the safety benefit comes from using it when you park your car. There are four forms of parking brakes: 1. Center lever, placed between the two front seats of the auto 2. Pedal, on the far left of all the floor pedals 3. Stick lever, located under the instrument panel (less typical on newer autos) 4. Electric or push button, found on the console controls in late-model cars Many car owners only decide to use the parking brake when they park on steep hills. This is a serious mistake, especially if you are driving a manual transmission vehicle. Get into the ha ... read more