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MAINTENANCE

Routine maintenance and upkeep can greatly extend the life of your car, truck, or SUV. Still, many people wait until there are major issues before visiting a shop. Failing to properly service your vehicle can result in increased repair costs, as well as greatly reducing its value.

      TUNING & BRAKES

 

Tuning up and re-aligning your brakes is very important. This will reduce wear on your brake pads, reduce squealing, and make the lever easier to pull. There are two main steps, realigning the brake pads and adjusting the tension in the brake cable.

 

We know your brakes are key to ensuring the reliability and safety of your vehicle as well, so we developed diagnostic and inspection procedures, enabling our team to pinpoint the exact problem and make repairs quickly and correctly, keeping you, and your passengers, safe on the road.

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Brakes

Brake issues can start out small but worsen over time. Waiting to have them repaired can greatly increase the costs involved. Having your brakes inspected during a routine maintenance visit can help save you both time and money. During a brake inspection, all major components — discs, brake pads, shoes, and brake lines should be evaluated.

Discs or rotors are vital to slow down and stop your vehicle. Discs should be inspected for rough spots, warping, or damage. If they are shiny and show little signs of wear, maintenance is likely not needed. If they are damaged or warped, these parts should be resurfaced or replaced immediately.

Your vehicle has both rubber and metal brake lines. Both can crack and leak. A technician will first examine the rubber hoses to ensure they are soft and don’t have cracks. They’ll then check the hard metal brake lines for corrosion and leaking. If either is damaged, replacement is recommended.

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COMMON BRAKE WARNING SIGNS:

  • Squealing/grinding noise when applying brakes

  • Vibration when applying brakes

  • The brake pedal goes down too far

  • The brake pedal feels spongy or soft

  • The brake pedal is very hard

  • Dash brake light is 'on'

  • Brake fluid is low

      CAR SERVICING
 

Oil change

Easily topping the list of routine maintenance musts is an oil change. Scheduling this service every three months or 3K miles will not only help to ensure your vehicle remains running smoothly, but will also extend the life of your engine.

Maintaining fluid levels

Having your fluids topped off is important.  These include oil, radiator, transmission, power steering, windshield washer, and brake fluid. Additionally, they can be flushed/changed as needed. Allowing many of these fluids to become dangerously low, or old/corroded, can cause serious damage to your vehicle.

Filters

Your vehicle’s filters should be changed between 15K–30K miles. Most can be inspected/replaced during a routine oil change. These include the engine air filter, oil filter, fuel filter, and cabin air filter.

Spark plugs

Your spark plugs should be changed every 100K miles. A bit more complicated than a routine oil change, the time and cost will depend greatly on the year, make, and model of your vehicle.

Belts and hoses

Belts and hoses play an integral part in your vehicle’s performance. It is very important to ensure that both are maintained. As belts age, the rubber becomes brittle, causing it to crack. Once the belt begins to crack, it should be replaced as it can fail at any time. If the belt is showing signs of wearing on its outer edge, this is also a sign that it will need to be replaced.

Since coolant is very hot, about 200 degrees, the hoses that carry coolant are extremely important. A belt or hose failure can cause loss of power steering and the electrical charging system, as well as an overheated engine. If your engine overheats, this can cause the cylinder heads to warp. In other words, a very expensive repair.

Hoses are generally inspected for softness and swelling. They are then checked for hardening cracks, chafing, and heat damage. If any of these issues are detected, your hoses will need to be replaced.

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      WHEELS & SUSPENSION
 

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Suspension Service

Most drivers wonder about their vehicle’s suspension when the ride gets rough. But that bounce and squeak isn’t the only way a bad suspension can spoil your ride.

Does your car lean into turns a little too forcefully? Does the back of your vehicle drag when you accelerate? Does the front take a noticeable nosedive when you brake?

With a damaged suspension, it feels like you’ve lost a little bit of your control over your vehicle. Listen to that instinct – the lean, the drag, and the nosedive are warnings of heightened rollover risk and increased stop time.

 

How do you know if your suspension is damaged?

A bad suspension leaves visible signs if you know where to look, but the change in your vehicle’s handling will probably catch your attention first.

Signs of a damaged suspension that you can see and hear:

  • One corner of your vehicle sits lower than the others. Suspect a broken spring.

  • Your vehicle fails the “bounce test”: Lean your body weight on the front of your parked vehicle and then move away quickly. If the vehicle bounces more than twice, suspect a problem with your shocks and struts.

  • Your tire treads develop a specific, uneven wear pattern called “cupping.”

  • You see oil, grease, or obvious wear on your shocks or struts.

  • You hear squeaking, especially when turning or braking.

 

Here are several symptoms of a damaged suspension that you can feel as you drive:

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  • Your ride feels rougher than usual.

  • Your car leans forward, backward, or toward one side as you brake.

  • Your vehicle pulls or drifts, especially around turns. The prime suspect: bad shock absorbers.

  • Your vehicle pulls or drifts while driving straight. The cause could be your suspension – or your steering, your tires, or your brakes. Rule out uneven tire pressure, then see a mechanic.

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© 2022 Created by A.Y. Haynes for Hotness Int'l

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