Graham and Yelm Auto Repair

In January we celebrated Amber's birthday at Graham Auto Repair! We first met Amber in November 2021, shortly after we met her husband Bart. Bart is our Production Manager at our Yelm location. Amber and her husband have gone above and beyond to show our team that they care! We were very excited when Amber accepted an offer to join our Hiring Team in May 2022. As a military spouse Amber has had the opportunity to work in many different industries. After 15 years of working in human resources, she has enjoyed recruiting the most. She is always excited to help people find the perfect position that will help them meet their career goals. It's an added bonus that she gets to do that while working alongside her husband; supporting him as he grows in his own career! We are blessed to have both of them serving on our team. From the beginning Amber has always been willing to do whatever it takes to help out around the shop. Whether that means helping clean up or bringing in trea ... read more

Graham Auto Repair is hosting a Mobile Blood Drive on February 18, 2023. We would love to have you come donate blood with us at Graham Auto Repair! Sign up using our link and we will see you there! Make sure that you eat a good meal, drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids, and bring your picture ID. If you are under the age of 18, you must have a signed, "Parental Permission to Donate" Form. You can find that form on Cascade Regional Blood Services' website, or by clicking the link here. If this date won't work for you check out our 2023 calendar below. We have partnered with the Gra ... read more

This month we are celebrating a Team Promotion! Watch a video from our celebration:  We opened our shop in Yelm WA in June 2022. It has been a lot of fun getting to know the Yelm community over the past eight months. We are grateful for the dedication of our entire team to continuously improve, and to embrace all of the challenges that we've taken on. Allen has been working with our team since August 2022. He joined us with over 26 years of experience in the automotive industry, including management. He immediately began training for our Store Manager position at our location in Yelm, WA. He began learning our systems & processes and getting to know our team. Allen and our Production Manager Bart have done a phenomenal job of bringing our team together in Yelm!  Allen has been working on cars ever since he was old enough to hold a wrench. He loves racing cars and modifying them. When he's not spending time with cars, you may find him camping, fishing, or hunting ... read more

We had so many Birthdays to Celebrate in December! Watch a video from our celebrations!   ​ Shannan has been working with our Team since 2009! Shannan serves as our Finance Manager for both of our locations. Shannan is a huge Team player, dedicated to taking care of all of us in any way that she can. She has a very artistic eye and enjoys helping out with creative projects as well. Shannan has known Troy and Kori Vaninetti since the 1990s. When she had the opportunity to work with their family, she was excited to support them in their family business. Shannan and her husband Danny have two daughters, one of which works with us at Graham Auto Repair. Shannan's eldest daughter Lacie is our Marketing and Hiring Manager. Shannan and Danny have 3 granddaughters, and multiple bonus grandchildren as well. When she's not working with our team, you will likely find Shannan traveling with her family! Bryce started working with our Team in May 2022. He serves as the ... read more

Winter is here! Many of us are getting ready to travel for the holidays. You may be asking, "How do I prepare my car for winter driving? It can seem like a daunting task. But we're here to help you! With these 4 maintenance services, you will be better prepared on the road this winter. We also have 1 more bonus tip for you at the end! 1. Tire Rotation One of the most important services to prepare your car for winter is a tire rotation. When you don't rotate your tires, they wear down unevenly. This can lead to dangerous conditions while driving in the snow. It's super important to have good tire grip when driving on ice and in the snow! By rotating your tires every few months, you'll help them to wear evenly. This will prolong the life of your tires as well.   2. Change Your Air Filter & Cabin Air Filter Did you know that most vehicles have more than one air filter? There is the engine air filter and the cabin air filt ... read more

5 Tips For Safe Driving In Winter Weather We already have our first round of snow this season! So we want to share a few tips to improve your safety out on the road. We have included a vehicle safety checklist and a list of items to keep in your vehicle. The best thing for winter driving is to be prepared and stay calm. And if possible, stay home and enjoy the beautiful snow! 1. Check the weather conditions in advance Just looking outside may not be enough! Check winter weather advisory reports for snow, sleet or ice. This will help you plan ahead. You may need to leave early, or plan ahead for your drive back home. Dress appropriately with layers, hats, gloves, and sturdy shoes. Plan your drive based on roads that may have the safest conditions! 2. Safety checklist before you hit the road When you are driving in winter weather, it's important to check your vehicle for increased safety. Here's a quick checklist of things you ... read more

It's time to celebrate another birthday with our Team! Watch a video of our celebration! Shane started working with our team shortly after we opened our second location in June 2022. We are extremely thankful for the smile and laughter that Shane brings to our team! Keeping things fun is one of our Team Essentials. Shane knows how to keep up our team's light-hearted energy in an industry that's tough! Shane is always willing to go the extra mile for our team and for our customers. Already he has demonstrated a strong passion for our mission through his dedication and hard work. Shane grew-up on a ranch where he found his love for fixing things. This drove him to his passion for the challenge of repairing cars. He is thankful for the opportunity to support his family by doing something he loves, while getting to serve our customers. Shane and his wife Margo have three children: Nick, Gabe, and Nikol. They also have two dogs named Lady and Buck. When Shane isn ... read more

How do you know when to change brake pads? Knowing when to change your brake pads is important! Not only for your safety, but for the longevity of your vehicle. Brake pads are located between the caliper and the rotor. Their purpose is to create friction to help slow down or stop your car. Over time they will wear out, which will impact their performance and your safety. There are a few signs that indicate its time for a change! When Braking it Feels Spongy Pay attention to how the brakes feel when you use them. Does it feel spongy when you press down on the brakes? Spongy may feel like you're pushing against a spring. This may indicate there is air in your brake system or that you have contaminated brake fluid. You may also have a bulging brake hose or a sticking caliper. In some instances it can also mean that the brake pads have worn down and need to be replaced ... read more

We are hosting another Mobile Blood Drive at Graham Auto Repair on October 15, 2022. This Blood Drive will be in partnership with Cascade Regional Blood Services, at our location in Graham, WA. Please click the link below to sign up in advance. Click This Link to Sign Up Or copy/paste this URL into your browser: https://donor.crbs.net/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/33791 Would you like to know what it's like to donate blood at a Mobile Blood Drive? Watch our video below for a short walk through. If you cannot donate with us on October 15th, there are other blood drives available with CRBS. Scroll down to see a picture of our 2022 schedule for Graham, WA below. Or click on this link and search for Blood Drives in your area. Thank you so much for supporting our community! By donating blood you are saving lives ... read more

2022 will be our third year participating in the Brakes for Breasts Fundraiser. In 2020 we donated $824.75 and in 2021 we donated $1,345.90. We are looking forward to seeing how much money this year’s fundraiser will bring to fight breast cancer!! Call us to schedule an appointment today. If you'd like to learn more about Brakes for Breasts, read some quick FAQs in our blog below. You can also learn more on their website: www.BrakesforBreasts.com Want to know how to get Free Brake Pads at Graham Auto Repair? During the month of October, we are offering free brake pads to our customers with cars and light trucks. As our customer you will only pay for the labor costs and any other parts necessary to complete the brake service. HUGE thank you to Napa Auto Parts fo ... read more