That’s right. Three out of four vehicles on the road right now have some need for service. That car in front of you…bad brakes. In the right lane next to you…it pulls to the left. That SUV behind you has bad wipers that don’t clear the windshield. Good thing it’s not raining.

Whether it is a part beginning to fail, or a lack of maintenance, these cars are operating on the very edge. This means that in an emergency, YOUR car will make the difference between safe passage, or being in an accident not of your making.

Keep on top of maintenance, and have regular inspections done to get ahead of potential problems.

The weather is warming up. Days are getting longer, and thoughts of outdoor activities are in the air. Now is the time to take care of any deferred maintenance, or any vehicle service that you’ve been putting off. We can help with a thorough inspection that will identify any areas that need attention. Plus, with suppliers running specials during this month, you’ll save money and be ready for any family outings or car trips. Call us for an appointment today!

You jump in your car to do a quick errand, and you notice a steady vibration through the steering wheel. You’re sure you didn’t hit any potholes recently, and it sure wasn’t vibrating earlier today…

It could be a broken belt in your tire! Tires are made up of layers of material, many times made from different materials to give them particular characteristics. When a belt breaks, it changes the shape of the tire and weakens the area under the tread. In some cases, the tire might look completely normal!

So many different things can cause wheel vibration. At the first sign of a vibration in your vehicle, first STOP when it is safe and quickly inspect the tires, lug nuts, and tire pressures. If all looks fine, but the vibration persists, Bring it to us as soon as possible. Any cause of vibration can lead to a serious loss of control, and injury.

We value and appreciate taking care of your vehicle all year long, however the changes in seasons can create such a different driving environment that it becomes necessary to inspect and be certain your car is ready for whatever the weather throws at you! Here’s just a few items that are of concern whenever the weather changes…

1. Heating/AC/Climate Control: We all want to be comfortable when riding in our vehicle, so making sure this system has what it needs to keep you warm or cool is essential. First, we’ll do a physical inspection, looking for any sign of leaks or faulty connections. No matter what we find, we’ll make the necessary adjustments and repairs, if any, to keep your family cool as a cucumber, or warm as toast!


2. Braking System: Brakes will always work best when they, your tires, and the road surface are all warm and dry. Any time they are subjected to rain, ice, snow, or mud, they will not be able to give you the same braking power you would have if it was dry. Therefore, it’s important to know what condition your brakes are in at the start of each season.


3. Tires: There’s a “patch” of rubber on your tires that is the ONLY contact your vehicle has with the road surface. It’s relatively small (about eighteen square inches), so you want it to have as much grip as possible. We’ll check for proper pressure, and check your tread depth. We’ll also look for unusual wear, which can be an indicator of worn steering parts or bad alignment.


4. Engine Tune: You want your vehicle to start and run properly whenever you get in and hit the start button. Your battery, spark plugs, ignition system and Engine Control Module (ECM) undergo wear as time goes by. We’ll check it all out, including trouble codes and any other performance or fuel mileage issues we might find.


5. Fluid and Filters: Your fluids break down over time and use. Engine oil gets dirty; coolant loses its ability to fight corrosion, and even brake fluid can “wear out” once it gets exposed to water or leaks. Using your manufacturer’s maintenance schedule as a guide, we’ll change your fluid and replace any needed filters.

A regular maintenance schedule is the best way to keep your vehicle in top running condition. Come in and see us, or call us for an appointment and we’ll answer any questions you might have. We look forward to serving you soon!

Whether you have a heater only, heater and A/C, or a fully automatic climate control system in your vehicle, they need periodic maintenance to perform correctly. Heaters are completely dependent on the operating condition of your engine’s cooling system, as they use the hot coolant as a heat source for your passenger cabin. Air Conditioning systems use an engine-driven belt to turn a compressor, which circulates freon to take heat out of the passenger area. And both apply to climate control systems, with several sensors thrown into the mix to determine when and how to heat or cool your vehicle.

Now that the days might include both heating and cooling, come on in and let us check out these systems for proper operation. A problem with the engine cooling system can not only leave you stranded, but it will also leave you in the cold! Call us or come on by for an inspection and review of your climate control system today!

It’s a busy time of year. Kids are back in school; chores need to get done around the house before the holidays sneak up on us. And traffic always seems to get worse! Not to mention the road hazards of wind, falling leaves, early darkness, and new potholes.

Now is the time to make certain that your vehicle’s brakes are in perfect working order. A brake inspection can give you peace of mind in knowing that your brakes are in decent shape; it can also be the best way to find out that you might need new pads or rotors, or even a brake fluid purge and replacement. We can quickly assess the condition of your braking system and help your vehicle to be as safe as possible out on the road. Just STOP in or call us for an appointment.

Out of the blue, there’s suddenly green, red, or other color fluids under my car. WHAT’ S GOING ON!! No need to panic…yet.

Depending on the manufacturer, some coolants are red, some are green, and some are yellow. Never mix colors, and always use the color your vehicle already has in the radiator. Also, many transmission fluids are red. If any of these are under your car, you have a leak, and it needs to be addressed. If it’s monstrously large, don’t drive the car, have it towed to us to avoid more damage.

If you notice that your car, truck, or SUV is wandering, or pulling to one side of the road, that’s an indication of a safety issue with your steering. It may be caused by bad tires, a steering component failure, an alignment issue, or some other problem.

Once it starts, it’s likely to get worse, and could lead to a catastrophic failure and a collision. At the first sign of this, come in and we’ll do an inspection. We’ll find your steering goblins and get your vehicle back to handling like a dream!

The braking system on your vehicle is just as important as the drivetrain that moves it under power. While your engine and transmission provide the “GO”, it’s your brakes that slow you down when you’re ready to “WHOA”! On all vehicles, brakes take a beating every time they are applied. They take the rotational energy of the turning wheel, and by hydraulic pressure turn that energy into heat. This conversion of energy is what allows you to slow down a little, or a lot by pressing the brake pedal. While the pads and rotors suffer with most of the wear, there are other parts of your braking system that need inspection and preventive maintenance as well. The hydraulic fluid can get contaminated over time, making the pedal spongy. Seals can age and start to leak, which not only makes a toxic mess, but as leaks grow your brakes begin to fail. And there are rubber lines that can be damaged by road hazards, as well as brake booster systems that can wear out over time and accumulated miles.

Whenever your vehicle is on a lift, make sure the technician takes a few minutes to inspect the braking system. Without brakes, your vehicle is a speeding missile headed for destruction! Safety demands that your braking system operate at full efficiency at all times. If you find your brakes aren’t working properly, or if you get a BRAKE WARNING light on your dash, stop immediately and have your vehicle towed to us for a brake safety inspection.

Your vehicle’s battery has a lot to do! It provides electrical power to start the engine. It sends power to operate all of the cabin accessories, such as the stereo, lighting, and the blower motor for the A/C and defroster. It powers the instrument panel so we can see what our vehicle is doing. And as vehicles get more complex, even more systems are added, such as navigation, engine, and transmission management, Wi-Fi, lane departure, self-driving modes and much more.

Extremes in temperature are very hard on a battery, and will reduce its lifetime. Summer can be tough, as many accessories (like A/C) are typically running at all times. There was a time when a car battery might last as long as 5 years, but with today’s demands and constant charge-discharge cycles most batteries are tired and ready for replacement in 2 to 3 years. It’s wise to have your battery checked at each oil change, so you know if it is up to the job requirements. Our technician knows what to do, and what to look for.

You need to be able to turn that key and be able to count on your battery to be up to the task and deliver you where you need to go.