• New Customers
• Loaner Cars
• In Warranty Maintenance
• Inspections
• Diagnosis
• Technical
• General
• Hybrids

Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Acura, Lexus, Nissan, Infiniti and Mazda

From oil changes, batteries and tires to timing belts, engine rebuilds and transmissions, we like to say we will do anything to a car except paint it. Our emphasis is preventive maintenance because we love to do the things that will keep a car running for many years. We constantly say, “The cheapest car to drive is the one you own now!”

For your first visit with us, we suggest you make an appointment at a time when you can be without your car for the whole day. We will then use the morning hours to perform our inspections on your car and build your inspection report. Please bring in any records that you may have. We enter your vehicle’s pertinent record information into our database, which allows us to track its history and ensure that items are not missed or over- maintained. After the inspection report is completed, we will email or fax you the information and follow up with a phone call so that we may answer any questions you may have. From there, it is up to you. In most cases, if items need attention, we are able to begin repairs immediately. Depending on the scope of the repair, we often can return the vehicle to you the same day. We also are glad to help strategize with you given your budget and your expectations for the car. (i.e. “I want to make it to 200,000 miles.” Or “I just need to make it to the end of the year.”)

• How do I make an appointment?
• What do you look for when you inspect a car?
• What is a "guided tour" of my vehicle?

No. For this reason, it is imperative that you are available or check in throughout the day so that we can expedite any needed repairs and return your vehicle to you promptly. Having said that, for some of our customers who have established a repair relationship with us, we will at times add low-priced items that we know they always purchase.

Yes. Our schedule is, on average, full 2 or 3 days in advance. Early spring tends to be our least busy time, and early summer our busiest. However, if your car has an emergent problem, then bring it in. We will try to work you into our schedule and get you back on the road as soon as possible.

The best way is to call us at 206-789-7521 or you may email your appointment request.

Our minimum warranty for general repair is the industry standard of 15 months or 15,000 miles but we use the “reasonableness test” on each individual case have been known to warranty repairs as long as 3 years. Our rebuilt engines and transmissions have a warranty of 3 years or 75,000 miles.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Debit, Check, and Cash.

Yes, and they are usually available. However, we have a small number of loaner cars and they are a bit like library books. As long as we have one available you are welcome to check one out but it can be very difficult to predict days in advance whether or not one will be “on the shelf.” We ask that you request a loaner car when you make your appointment. Then, the evening before your appointment (between 4:30pm-5:30pm) or in the morning of your appointment, please give us a quick call to confirm availability. At the time of your appointment, you must have proof of current comprehensive automobile insurance and a current Washington state driver’s license. We generally do not charge fees for loaner cars. However, to maintain this service, we do rely on our customer community to return the loaner cars to us the way they received them. So, borrowers are responsible for replenishing fuel, clean-up, damages, fines and other expenses. We charge a $15 per day fee for loan cars kept past the job completion date.

In case of a mechanical breakdown, call us and we will arrange an appropriate solution. In case of an accident, call 911 first, then call your insurance company, then call us. You are responsible for the car while it is in your possession, which includes fuel, damage, liability and such. Please read and sign the Loan Car Agreement at the time you come to pick up the car.

Absolutely! All of the procedures, parts and fluids that we use meet or exceed the manufacturer’s specifications and will satisfy the warranty maintenance requirements. The Magnussen Moss Act (link) states that a manufacturer may not penalize its customer for maintaining a vehicle at the repair facility of the customer’s choice. All the customer is required to do is show proof that the maintenance was performed. We recommend that you come to High Road, especially while your car is under the manufacturer’s warranty. The value of our role during this period is that we act as your objective third party. We are able to provide warranty inspections without the conflict of interest that you might find at a dealership. We will inspect your vehicle regularly and perform the routine maintenance work. At the same time, we keep you up to date with even the beginnings of a possible warranty issue so that you can immediately pursue warranty consideration.

Understanding the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

No, the manufacturers will only allow their dealer technicians to do warranty repairs. However, we do recommend that you have us perform our inspections shortly before the factory warranty expires to check for problems that may not have fully surfaced yet.

We look at almost everything that can wear or break. Our inspection process is very thorough. We are not able to see very far into engines or transmissions. In larger components such as these we look for telltale external signs of internal problems such as oil “blow-by” or white smoke from the tailpipe, which would indicate engine wear.

For many of us, it’s easier to comprehend things we’ve actually seen, as opposed to something we’ve merely heard about. That’s why we would be happy to schedule an appointment for a “guided tour” of your vehicle with a technician. It’s a great way to take a more active role in your vehicle’s upkeep.

Diagnosis is a process of testing to determine why something is not working or of finding the source of a symptom. Our most experienced techs diagnose most problems and mentor others in these skills. At times, diagnosis is a group effort and tough problems are solved at informal sessions affectionately called “round table discussions” (an allusion to our round lunch table). Our technicians are trained to use a variety of the latest diagnostic tools and techniques. Here is a partial list of the tools and resources that could be used to diagnose problems with your vehicle: scan tool, oscilloscope, gas analyzer, informational automotive database, technician hotline and national technician forums.

• Providing a clear, objective report of the symptom
  Many times, you as the customer are our best resource because you drive the vehicle every day. You have the ability to help us pinpoint the exact problem quickly or throw us completely off the scent so that we waste our time and your money. For this reason, it is paramount that you report like a detective.
• Keeping realistic and flexible expectations for time and money
  Solving problems and running tests takes time, intelligence, experience, tools and training; all of those things cost money. Many times, the vehicle needs to be at a specific temperature or under particular conditions before the symptoms can be tested, and this can dictate that the vehicle rest between testing sequences. Due to these realities, diagnosis requires patience, realistic expectations and communication. As a result, the exact cost or time that it will take to find and repair a problem cannot always be predicted. However, utilizing our experience, we do our best to give you an idea of what the testing sequence for a given problem might cost and how long it has been known to take.
• Being available to authorize work or further testing
  So much of our ability to keep this process moving depends on us being able to contact you throughout the day so that you can be informed of the situations as they arrive and can authorize work or further testing. If we cannot get in touch with you, we ask that you make efforts to check in with us throughout the day. Then we can serve you efficiently and quickly.

• Engine oil
  Over time and with increasing mileage engine oil collects dirt particles from the combustion process and breaks down. An engine oil change is required every 4,000 miles or 4 months for almost everyone because the kind of driving that most people do falls into the category of “Severe Conditions” in their owner’s manual. Only those who drive long trips for most of their driving can use the 7500 mile oil change interval.
• What if my car has an oil monitor?
  The oil monitors in newer cars are programmed to use all of the information that the main engine computer gathers (i.e. duration of trip, acceleration, load, engine temperature, etc…) to calculate when the engine oil should be changed. However, for the monitors to provide correct data, the correct oil must be put into the vehicle. Otherwise the oil monitor will be calculating under wrong parameters. That being said, if used appropriately, the oil monitors seem to be an excellent way to indicate the proper oil change interval for each individual engine. 12 months is the maximum time allowable between oil changes for vehicles with oil monitors.
• Engine Coolant
  Engine coolant is a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. Its purpose is to carry heat away from the engine, keep the internal area of the cooling system from corroding, and lubricate the water pump seal. We check the engine coolant’s freeze point every time we change the oil. We also look for deposits, the byproducts of corrosion. Large amounts of deposits usually require a flush with cleaners. That process involves installing the cleaner and then letting it clean the system for 3 hours. Then the system is flushed and new coolant installed. We use only the highest quality cleaners and coolants, such as Baldwin CSC cleaner and Zerex Long Life antifreeze.
• Brake Fluid
  Brake fluid must be changed every 2 years because it absorbs water from the air and then breaks down and begins to attack the metal parts of the brake system. We use Castrol LMA dot 4 fluid, since it has superior water handling ability.
• Transmission Fluid
  Transmission fluid changes are just like oil changes except the fluid is not exposed to the combustion process. The change interval is generally 30,000 miles or 3 years. We use synthetic fluids in most cases since they handle the stress of stop-and-go driving better than regular lubricants. These higher quality fluids also have the advantage of longer change intervals.
• What if a fluid is low but I can't find the brand of fluid you use?
  Some of the fluid brands we use are not available in retail stores so buy the highest quality you can get and fill the system. Keeping the fluids full is more important than the concern of mixing brands. Here are some suggestions for over-the-counter fluids:
  • Engine oil: Castrol GTX or Kendal GT-1
    Consult the owner’s manual for your vehicle as to the weight of oil to use.
  • Automatic Transmission fluid: Valvoline MaxLife
    Dexron III may be used under emergency circumstances according to the manufacturers of most of the cars that we service. However, they report that this fluid may cause performance issues and that it should be replaced with the proper fluid as soon as possible.
    • Power Steering fluid:
      
      • Genuine Honda power steering fluid
        Required for all Honda and Acura vehicles
      • Dexron III automatic transmission fluid
        Utilized in Toyota, Subaru and Lexus
    • Antifreeze: Zerex Longlife coolant

Following our maintenance and repair recommendations will reduce your chances of meeting the tow truck driver.

• Engine overheats
• Oil light comes on
• Loud noises
• “Check Engine” light is flashing
• Charging light (battery light) comes on
• Loss of steering control
• Loss of braking
• Anything that makes you feel like your car is unsafe

Our technicians have more than 70 years combined experience working on Honda and Toyota vehicles. Several are ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified master technicians and state certified for emissions repairs. We also have a mechanical engineer on staff. See Staff (link) for more information.

We do regular market research to ensure that our prices remain competitive. However, we also balance economics with quality, knowing that you always get what you pay for. In our research, we have found that we consistently provide more thorough repairs than the dealer and for the same price or less. We also use higher quality parts and have technicians with greater training and experience than the chain stores.

AAA inspects and certifies our facility and people, monitors customer satisfaction, and helps with customer problems.

We have been in business since 1984. For more information, see our History page.

Yes, but we suggest that you read the following information if you own a hybrid or especially if you are considering purchasing one.

Many people plan to buy a hybrid as soon as they can because of high fuel prices and the desire for more environmentally sustainable transportation. Though we wholeheartedly agree with these ideals, we think there are a few things to be considered before buying a hybrid.

• Hybrids are not an economy car. They are actually more similar to a luxury car. They have more complex and expensive parts to maintain and repair than a standard car.
• Fuel economy suffers on long trips. Non-hybrid vehicles are known to get better fuel economy on the highway than in the city. Because hybrids are designed with regenerative braking as one of their main battery recharging components, and because hybrids are heavier than a non-hybrid of equal size, they actually perform better around town and are proportionately less efficient during highway driving.
• The money spent on maintenance and repair outweighs the money saved on fuel. For many ordinarily simple tasks, like flushing the cooling system of your vehicle, hybrid vehicles require a computer interface to electronically open and close valves or to enable and disable systems. So, maintaining your hybrid takes more time, knowledge, and money than a non-hybrid vehicle.
• Hybrids should be understood and respected before they are operated. Many people who buy hybrids do not read their owner’s manual to find out how different this piece of technology is from their old car. Because they are driving a computer-controlled-mobile-electric-generating-plant, the vehicle can be quite dangerous in certain situations and needs to be treated with respect. For instance, simply pushing your hybrid to the side of the road generates unmanaged electricity which could discharge on a person and cause great harm or death. Also, manufacturers recommend that all technicians working on hybrids wear 1,000 volt gloves in case of such a discharge. Since the engine turns itself on as charging is needed, the key must at all times be at a safe distance from the vehicle, and only one tech may work on the vehicle at a time. Most hybrid owners are not aware of important facts like these. If you are going to buy a hybrid, we strongly recommend that you educate yourself about the technology that you are buying. The salesperson is not motivated to make you aware of such potentials.
• Many shops either cannot or should not attempt to repair hybrids. An immense amount of continual training is required to keep up with the ever changing technology of today’s vehicles—and even more so with hybrids. It is imperative that you find and build a relationship with a shop that can work on your hybrid before you buy one. Also, be aware that if your hybrid breaks down on a road trip, you may need to tow it a greater distance in order to find a competent repair facility.