SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: The most important service you can provide your engine is timely oil and filter changes at the correct intervals. Also, adjusting the valves, changing spark plugs and filters (air and fuel) keeps your vehicle in tip-top shape. Your vehicle should be serviced at the manufacturer’s suggested intervals. Acids,gases and particulate matter accumulate in all of your vehicle’s fluids, and these contaminants must be eliminated so you can keep your engine running smooth and keep it from wearing out too fast.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: Your automobile needs periodic visual inspection of fuel injectors and tanks, plus an examination of fuel lines for leaks. An important maintenance item is the fuel filter, which should be periodically inspected and typically changed at 30,000 miles, or at manufacture’s recommendation. Service to electrical connections and fuses.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: Oil, the “lifeblood of your car.” Some manufactures suggest changing oil every 3,000 miles, or at every three months, while others suggest a change at 7,500-mile intervals.  Variables include severe driving conditions, periods of long idling in stopped traffic, stop-and-go city driving,and many short trips. Normal driving can be described as driving 10 miles or more in rather clean atmosphere. Your technician can suggest the correct intervals that your oil and filter should be changed.

Today’s vehicle systems are computer controlled. Vehicle malfunctions can result from electronics (onboard computer, wiring and sensors) as well as mechanical failure. The computer’s software executes system tests while you’re driving your vehicle. If something is found out of acceptable parameters, a code is set indicating which vehicle subsystem is having issues, resulting in a warning light being turned on.

The most common is the check engine light, which indicates something is wrong with the engine or drive-train and is in need of immediate attention. (If the light is flashing STOP: do not drive the vehicle!)

There are so many reasons why a warning light can be turned on, some are basic as a loose gas cap. The technician then performs a set of tests to isolate the cause of the malfunction. An engine light ignored can result in additional problems with no warning to the driver.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: The most critical service to the cooling system is changing the coolant. Corosion, rust, and electrolysis are the main killers to componants in the cooling system. Make sure your coolant is changed regularly to keep problems to a minimum. You want the cooling system flushed and cleaned out. A visual inspection must be made to insure there are no leaks. The condition of the belt, fan, gaskets, seals and clamps must be checked.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: Most of the critical service involving the transmission is replacing the transmission fluid and filter. The transmission fluid takes a lot of abuse – it collects heat and particulate matter from the entire transmission system. Each vehicle is different, but all vehicles still need regular inspections for fluid leaks. Some vehicles have transmission adjustments that can be made by technicians.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: Periodically,a thorough inspection of the ignition, starting and charging systems of your vehicle is required to assure that everything continues to operate smoothly.The technician will check out the battery,the cables, the functions of the starting system, look for corrosion, inspect the charging system,and examine the parts to make sure they’re tight and mounted firmly. The technician will also check the fan belt that spins the alternator, making sure the condition of the belt is good. With respect to the ignition system, there are scheduled maintenance intervals for changing the plugs and wires, distributor cap and rotor (which wear out). Each manufacturer has its own scheduled guidelines.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: Two very important clutch services are the adjustment of the clutch pedal and a periodic change of fluid to get contaminants out of the system. If the clutch is hydraulic, the fluid needs to be changed just like brake fluid. If you have a cable-controlled clutch, the cable needs to be occasionally adjusted so the clutch operates efficiently.

HOW THE HEATER SYSTEM WORKS:  Your heater system works by taking the hot water that the engine has created and running it through a small radiator under the dashboard. Air is blown through that radiator, and hence, heat is directed into the passenger compartment.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: Technicians will perform periodic visual inspections for leaks in hoses and lines, and broken or damaged components such as the belt that keeps the engine’s cooling system from freezing.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE: Maintenance involves visually inspecting the suspension to make sure the bushings are intact, and not wearing, and checking for cracked or loose components. The suspension system deals with a lot of impact and vibration, so the technician must check the components carefully. The shocks and struts house a fluid or gas that dampens road vibrations, so during inspections, so the technician will check for fluid leaks. As with the steering system, a periodic alignment is a great idea, just to make sure everything is pointing in the right direction.

SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE:  With respect to the hydraulic power-assisted steering system,the fluid level should be checked and the fluid changed periodically. The drive belt that rotates the steering pump should be checked, and the entire system should be inspected for leaks. The steering components themselves need to be inspected for wear and tear. A quality alignment each year is also a good idea.