| Maintenance |
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Why is preventive maintenance important?
Your
vehicle has a lot of responsibilities. It takes you to work. And the
kids to school. Most importantly, it has to do these things, and many
more, while keeping you and your family safe.
Your
vehicle has hundreds of moving parts all working together. Through
normal driving over time, some of these parts simply wear out or no
longer perform the way they should. To make sure that your vehicle is
running at its best, your vehicle manufacturer recommends that certain
parts and systems are checked at certain intervals.
By
following thier recommendations, more costly repairs down the road may
be avoided. We follow your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. When
a maintenance service is suggested based on the mileage or age of your
vehicle, our advisor's will explain what each maintenance service
includes and why it is important for the health of your vehicle.
We are committed to maintaining the safety and reliability of your
vehicle. In fact, our mechanics are trained to perform factory
recommended maintenance for most makes and modles. Every engine has
different needs, depending on past use and driving conditions. That's
why we offer a range of engine services, from simple checks to more
involved repairs.
Oil Service :
Your
engine is the heart of your vehicle. And as your engine runs, hundreds
of moving parts are working together to make your vehicle move.
Changing
your oil according to your vehicle manufacturer's recommendation is
perhaps the single most important maintenance that you can perform to
keep your vehicle running.
As
the parts in your engine work together, they create tremendous heat
through friction. Without oil, the heat would actually melt these parts
together. By having oil in your vehicle, it keeps the moving parts of
your engine lubricated and reduces the heat.
Motor oil also contains special additives to help the engine work more efficiently and also helps to increase fuel millage.
Through
normal driving, the constant heat in the engine begins to break down
the oil. Over time, small bits of debris and dirt can get into the oil
making it less slippery so that it doesn't protect the engine as well.
To
make sure your engine is protected at all times, we start with an oil
service, being sure to use the factory-recommended viscosity grade and
filter.
Then we rotate
all four tires, lube your doors and chassis and perform a visual check
of your vehicle's major systems: engine, transmission, brakes,
steering, starting and charging, heating and cooling, and lighting.
When your vehicle rolls off our lift, you can be confident it will be safe, reliable and pleasant to drive.
Tune-up:
Over
time components can wear out, resulting in a loss of performance and
fuel economy. Here you will learn what a "tune-up" is, and tips to help
you know when it is time for a tune up.
Clean
gas and air needs to be driven to the vehicle's cylinders where
combustion initiated by a spark plug creates the power necessary to
move a heavy vehicle. Clogged fuel injectors, dirty air and fuel
filters, and corroded spark plugs can all decrease engine performance
and contribute to decreased gas mileage and performance. That is why we
examine your vehicle's air filter when you stop in, and why we
recommend that you follow manufacturer's recommendations for replacing
such key components as fuel filters, PCV (Positive Crankcase
Ventilation) valves, and spark plugs when they are no longer working at
maximum efficiency.
It may be time for a "tune-up" if you notice one or more of the conditions below when starting or driving your vehicle:
A standard tune-up done at the suggested maintenance interval will make an engine easier to start, improve fuel economy, lower emissions and restore lost power. Fuel injectors: Another (often overlooked) service designed to help your vehicle's engine running properly is the cleaning of fuel injectors and the fuel intake system. When dirt and deposits collect on fuel injectors, the amount of fuel delivered to the engine is restricted, leading to deterioration in performance and responsiveness. Brakes: Brake system flush. Involves the removal of air and moisture from brake lines and the replacement of brake fluid. Radiator: Cooling system failure is the number one cause of vehicle breakdowns. Because there are often no visible warning signs of deterioration, radiator and cooling system maintenance service is frequently overlooked by vehicle owners. Your engine is constantly burning fuel and therefore gets very hot. In fact, the temperatures inside the combustion chamber may reach 4,500 degrees. It is the job of the cooling system to carry this potentially harmful heat away from the engine to the outside air. To do this, a coolant mixture of water and antifreeze is circulated though the engine block. The coolant absorbs heat from the engine and is pumped by the water pump through hoses to the radiator. Once the radiator transfers the heat form the engine to the outside air, the coolant circulates back to the engine and the cycle begins again. To keep this important system working properly, vehicle manufacturers recommend that this system be serviced at specified time or millage intervals. Over time, the rust inhibiters and additives in the coolant may lose their anti-corrosive properties leaving particles and debris to build up within the system. These contaminants can block passages within the radiator and reduce its ability to keep the engine running at the optimal temperature. To remove this build-up, we perform a Radiator flush which removes virtually all of the old coolant and contaminants in your radiator and replaces it with new or recycled coolant. This will keep your cooling system working properly and will protect your vehicle for miles to come. Our Radiator service includes:
Transmission Service: Repairing or replacing your transmission can be one of the most expensive repairs you may have to make on your vehicle. Maintaining your transmission according to your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations, not only prolongs its life but it can prevent a costly repair or breakdown in the future. Of all the systems in your vehicle, the transmission is one of the most complicated. It uses a complex system of hydraulics and gears to transfer power from your engine to your wheels. As you can imagine, with all the work and shifting that happens when you drive, a lot of heat is created inside the transmission. To help maintain a safe and constant operating temperature, your vehicle uses transmission fluid to cool and lubricate the moving parts. The fluid reduces the amount of potentially damaging heat inside the transmission and helps increase the life of this important system. Because some of the ingredients in the transmission fluid break down over time due to this heat, many vehicle manufacturers recommend the fluid be replaced at specified maintenance intervals. Traditional transmission service only drains and replaces about 40% of the total fluid in the transmission. Partial fluid replacement may lead to increased heat build up and transmission failure in the future. We flush to remove all of the fluid. Then, we replace it with new, clean fluid. The result is a transmission that will be clean, cool and lubricated, providing reliable service for miles to come. Ask your adviser when your vehicle's manufacturer recommends this maintenance. A/C Service: The temperature inside of a vehicle sitting in the sun can easily reach 130 degrees or more. Keeping you and your passengers comfortable during the hottest weather is the job of your automobile's air conditioning system. The air conditioning system works by removing the heat from air inside your vehicle and transferring that heat ot the outside air. What is left when the heat and humidity have been removed is cooler, more comfortable air. To remove the heat, the system relies on several key components including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, pressurized refrigerant, valves and hoses--- all controled electronically. For this system to work correctly , it needs to be free from leaks so the the refrigerant stays in the system. Although A/C systems are resistant to leaks and contamination, they are not leak-proof. Over time, contamination or leaks can appear and affect the cooling performance of your A/C system. In fact, the most common cause of inadequate cooling is when the refrigerant leaks through worn seals and o-rings, loose fittings and connections.
Ask your service advisor for an A/C performance check. |
