<p>Thought it would be a good time to start this thread, as many kids will be bringing their cars to campus in the fall.</p>
<p>We like to keep up the maintenance on our cars, ie, oil change, and of course, there are always those little nagging things like Check Engine lights and the like.</p>
<p>Is there a place nearby campus that our kids can bring their car to for general maintenance that is open on the weekend, where they can make an appointment and wait while the work is done?</p>
<p>I’ve done this with a local Firestone or Goodyear, and wondered if there was one near campus, in a relatively safe area, that can be a good go to place for our kids.</p>
<p>I usually just go to the Sears auto center at University Mall. It’s near to campus, usually doesn’t take too long, and you can walk around the mall while you wait. They are open on the weekends, at decent hours. I believe there is a Firestone further down MacFarland though.</p>
<p>Montequt- You and I seem to be on the same page with so many things. I was just thinking about this the other day as my son will be bringing a car to school this fall. What timely info.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, Mesquite. I forgot about Sears. Son and his friend do go to the Target behing the Mall, so he’s familiar with that area. I’ll look up their hours as well. I found the Firestone on line, but didn’t know if it was still around since the tornado. Need to find a place open on Sunday, since son will be working all day Saturdays.</p>
<p>I believe the Sears is open from 10 to 5 on Sundays. I know I’ve gone there for an oil change before on Sunday.</p>
<p>We’ve used Firestone on McFarland on weekends, including Sundays. </p>
<p>where will your son be working? If it’s close to one of these places, he could drop his car off in the AM and pick it up at the end of his workday.</p>
<p>Just to follow up, Sears is open noon to 5 on Sunday.</p>
<p>Firestone is open 8 to 5 on Sunday.</p>
<p>Firestone might be a good option, as he could take a cab to Holy Spirit for Mass, shouldn’t be too bad of a ride.</p>
<p>Is there a public bus that runs along McFarland on the weekend, where he could perhaps take the bus to Mass and back to wait for his car to be done?</p>
<p>Worse comes to worse, he could go to 9AM Mass, then go to Sears and hang out at the Mall while the work is being done. Just hoping it’s nothing major.</p>
<p>does he not have any friends that can give him a ride now and then? my daughter HAS a car there and she has no problem finding people to give her a ride or pick her up from the airport just so she doesn’t have to leave her car there. surely, he can find a ride to drop off a car to be fixed. </p>
<p>if he can’t, let me know and my daughter will give him a ride.</p>
<p>^^^Mike, you’re sweet. If he could only get over asking a pretty girl for a ride:)</p>
<p>if he needs a ride, let me know. i will have my daughter call him. she used to be on the very quiet side, but she has come out of her shell quite a bit.</p>
<p>To get to St. Francis for Mass after dropping his car off at Firestone, does he know anyone who attends the same Mass? If so, the person could pick him up at Firestone, they could go to Mass, and then later go get his car when done. </p>
<p>How often would he need to take his car in anyway? If you time things right, he could get oil changed and routine maintenance done when he’s home for Fall/Spring and Christmas breaks and during the summer. That way, he’d only need to go to a Ttown place for non-routine care.</p>
<p>BTW…Firestone is closer to Holy Spirit Church…he probably could walk there for Mass.</p>
<p>yeah - i was thinking that too. we take care of all car maintenance when the car is home on breaks.</p>
<p>Definitely will do regular maintenance at home. Just noticing the Check Engine light showing up, even though we got the car completely checked out, and if that happens while he’s up at school, will want to get it checked out ASAP.</p>
<p>Some cars seem to have faulty “check engine light” warnings. One of my good friend’s car’s “check engine light” seems to come on about every 3 months…it always turns out to be nothing but a wasted trip to the shop.</p>
<p>^^^ Very often it is caused by a loose gas cap or a gas cap that needs replacing. Once the gas cap is re-tightened, the light will often go out after a couple of start cycles.</p>
<p>Most Autozones will run a diagnostic check for free. Sometimes their systems are not as good as ones you’d find at a dealer but often times you can find out what the issue is and buy the part right there. There is an Autozone in Tuscaloosa but not sure where.</p>
<p>While not open on weekends, Warren Tire & Auto on Univ Blvd across from the rec fields is as reputable as they come. It would be easy for a student to make an appointment and drop their car off in the morning or afternoon and either walk or catch the Crimson Ride back to whatever building they had class and then pick it up later that day. They handle all types of needs from routine maintenance to major repairs. </p>
<p>[Auto</a> Repair, Auto Service, Tires in Tuscaloosa, AL Warren Tire Tuscaloosa, AL (205) 758-2739](<a href=“Warren Tire Pros | Auto Repair & Tire Shop in Tuscaloosa, AL”>Warren Tire Pros | Auto Repair & Tire Shop in Tuscaloosa, AL)</p>
<p>There are lots of Advanced Auto Parts in the area. One on McFarland, where we got the Scotch Guard for the backpack. Also, I’ve gotten shop towels, those heavy duty blue towels, to use for cleaning the dorm for move in/move out. Work great!</p>
<p>Now, I wonder if I could get a replacement gas tank cap at an Advanced Auto Parts?</p>
<p>Thanks, casino, for the Warren Tire rec. That’s a good option for the school year as well.</p>
<p>ditto on warren auto repair.</p>