Preventative health care is important for peak performance and longevity. Preventative maintenance
for today’s hi-tech cars helps keep small problems from becoming large
expensive ones. Most new car warranties are affected by scheduled preventative
maintenance, meaning that maintenance must be done in order to keep the
factory warranties in affect. New car dealers would like you to believe
that they are they only facilities that can perform these services. This
is not true. Anyone can perform the required services, as long as the
parts used are Original Equipment quality and all maintenance is
performed on time per the manufacturers recommended schedule.

Summer outings should be enjoyable and not spent in a roadside repair shop with
someone named Gomer under the hood. Have your car serviced and fluid levels checked
before any long road trip and don’t forget the windshield washers and wipers.
Radiator hoses and fan belts are one of the main causes for breakdowns.
Hoses deteriorate from the inside out so looks can be deceiving. Wheel
bearings should  be packed and correct tire pressures will give a smoother
ride and better fuel economy. A little preventative maintenance can help
insure you won’t get to know Gomer.

The average driver uses their brakes 75,000 times per year and takes for granted
that they’ll work every time. Today’s brake systems are hydraulic and use brake fluid which
is hydrophilic, meaning it can absorb moisture from the air. Once the
hydraulic system has moisture in it, corrosion takes place and brake
components fail. Brake fluid should be flushed periodically to keep
corrosion under control. This procedure is not expensive and is included in many
preventative maintenance schedules. Brake fluid should be handled with
care. It will melt plastics and remove paint.

Today’s cars are equipped with front wheel disc brakes; some models even have 4 wheel
disc brake systems. Disc brakes work much like a modern bicycle’s brakes. Brake
squealing and noises are common with various causes. Most often it is
caused by dust and high frequency vibrations of the brake pads, much like
the way a cricket makes noises by rubbing its legs together. Worn brake linings
also tend to be noisy. Brake systems should be checked regularly and worn
parts replaced before ruining expensive calipers and rotors.

The most common reason is the brake rotors have become warped
due to excessive heat, or they have become too thin to dissipate heat.

Antifreeze should be replaced every two years due to oxidation and deterioration
of important additives. These additives lubricate the water pump and protect metal
parts from rust and oxidation. They also help keep coolant hoses soft and
flexible. Today we can recycle and clean old antifreeze, replacing the
additives. Antifreeze is very toxic and not environmentally friendly so
recycling makes good sense. The engine’s thermostat should also be
replaced every 2 years to keep the engine operating temperatures in the
proper range.

Your car’s engine makes enough heat to destroy itself so a cooling system is
needed. Antifreeze mixed with water at a 50/50 ratio provides freeze and boiling
protection. Too much antifreeze can cause heat transfer problems which can result
in overheating. If you experience overheating, turn the a/c off and the heater
on to help remove heat from the coolant. If the engine temperature light comes
on or the gauge goes into the red zone, the engine should be turned off
quickly and allowed to cool down to avoid costly engine damage. Plain
water will start a rust process that is almost impossible to stop. Rust
particles deteriorate the entire cooling system, water pump, radiator,
hoses, thermostat etc.

It’s possible, but cooling systems on cars today support electric fans,
thermo switches, computers and more, so there are a number of things that could
cause overheating. This is why you should always have a qualified technician
check the problem before replacing unnecessary parts.

In today’s vehicles, sometimes just having your vehicle “tuned up” will
not cure a rough running engine or a drivability concern. The vast array of electronic
components that control your engine today, when failed, or even starting to fail,
can give you the same feeling of just needing a tune up.

The “Service Engine Soon” light is to let you know that the computer
has detected a problem in the system. If the car seems to run fine then just
have a qualified technician check the system to find the problem.  If the
light is flashing or if the vehicle is running poor, have the vehicle checked
immediately.

A large portion of the “brown cloud” over our cities is caused by vehicle
pollutants (unburned hydrocarbons from fossil fuels). Two decades ago the PCV
valve was one of the first emission devices and was easy to check and replace.
Today’s computerized engine controls demand high tech equipment and testing
procedures. The various computers and controls improve engine efficiency and
performance, but need periodic checking, adjustments and maintenance. When
malfunctioning, these systems can cause hard starts, hesitations, poor
performance and add deadly  chemicals to our environment.

Most of today’s engines use timing belts, and are an important preventative
maintenance item. In yesteryears, they were made of metal and called timing chains.
As engines became smaller and lighter, rubber belts replaced the heavier chains
that had to be lubricated. The belt deteriorates with heat and age and lasts
about 60,000 miles or 5 years although some makes have increased the life
expectancy. The timing belt’s job is to keep moving parts, primarily
valves and pistons, in time with one another. If the timing belt is not
replaced, it will eventually break, leaving you stranded, and on some
models causing further engine damage which can be extremely expensive to
repair.

Front wheel drive cars and 4 wheel drives use flexible axle shafts with Constant
Velocity joints or CV’s for short. The CV joints allow the axle shafts
to spin the front wheels while moving up or down over bumps or turning corners.
The CV joint has a protective rubber boot that keeps grease for lubrication in,
and dirt and water out. When the rubber boot breaks the CV joint loses grease
and starts to “click,” especially during cornering. The broken boot
should be replaced as soon as it is noticed to help avoid costly repairs.

Yes if you have a major system failure. Freon makes your car’s air conditioning
system work–it’s nasty stuff as far as the ozone layer is concerned. Production
of Freon has been ceased in the US. There are substitutes that require conversions
and are rather costly. If your a/c system is going to require an overhaul, you
may be asked to consider changing to a new substance. The question is, “convert
or not convert”? The general industry consensus is to convert, for
several reasons. Environmental and cost are the 2 main reasons. The old
R12 Freon is still available and can be used until the supply is gone
which could be several more years but it is getting expensive. The newer
refrigerant is called R134a and will not be quite as efficient as the old
stuff but will work very well even in our desert environment.

Windshield washer solvent has a toxic alcohol base to keep it from freezing.
The solvent should never be used in concentrated form because it can harm the
car’s painted and waxed surfaces. Mix the solvent to the manufacturer’s
recommendations for the freeze point you feel is safe for your area. Some brands,
usually sold in gallon containers, come diluted but may not protect to a low
enough freeze point, which is important, due to the cost of the windshield washer
reservoir and other components.

Our work is sold by the job. We have found that this is the fairest way to charge
for automotive repairs. We will quote a price for a particular repair and that
is the price that you will be charged. If we charged by the hour one customer
may have to pay a higher price than another as no two technicians work at the
same speed. We do use an industry guide to help us calculate the cost of a
repair.

AUTO REPAIR SERVICES

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Auto Repairs We Perform Include:

Check Engine Light

Check Engine

Electrical Issues

Electrical Issues

Oil Changes

Oil Change

Overheating

Over Heating Issues

Transmissions

Transmission Repair
Digital vehicle inspection

We Are a Digital Shop

Our technicians use the latest technology to not only tell you if there are any problems with your vehicle, but show you. If we uncover an issue, we'll email a photo of it to you for your review. At the end of every visit you'll receive a detailed report regarding the general health of your vehicle. Our #1 goal is to keep you safe on the road.

AUTO REPAIR SERVICES
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