Tips for Common Questions

Table of Contents

Brakes

Tire Safety

Poor gas mileage

Manufacture and Extended Warranty Information for Vehicles

Day Time Running Lights?

Tip From The Wise

Six things to keep in your car for a break down emergency

The over looked part: The Battery

O2 Sensors / Oxygen Sensors

Common q/a about your a/c

Brakes

Brake noises are one of the most common complaints we have in the industry. Noise is one indication that your brakes might need servicing. However, many brake manufactures use semi - metallic pads which causes some brake squeal due to the metal to metal contact of the pads to the rotors or drums. This squeal is not unusual or indicates anything is wrong with your brake system. If you have other symptoms along with the squeal or if the squeal doesn't go away periodically then a brake inspection is the best way to know if a brake service or repair is needed. Some brake pads are equipped with wear indicators. These indicators create a squeal that doesn't go away or is unusually loud to signal that pads need replaced soon. If you are unsure if the noise is coming from the brakes, have your technician test drive with you in the car to make sure the noise you hear is the noise being diagnosed.

Tire Safety

As the only contact between you and the road, your tires play the leading role in your car's ability to start, maneuver, and stop. Their influence in a vehicle's safety/performance will be verified by anyone whose bald tires have caused, "hydroplaning" on a rainy surface. It's like a high speed encounter with a long stretch of sheet ice. When replacing tires, it's best to replace in pairs or sets of four for best handling. Invest in quality. Even if your driving usually is at moderate speeds and relatively light loads, an occasional high speed trip loaded with passengers and luggage will more than justify your having chosen the best you can afford. And, with proper care, the better tire will perform and wear better.

Tires are an integral part of the vehicle's "ride control" system, affected by steering and suspension parts, by wheel alignment (front and rear on many cars), by wheel/tire balance, and by inflation.

Poor gas mileage?

By keeping a regular check of gas mileage (miles driven divided by gallons used) you can tell if your engine is losing efficiency. Increased gas consumption may be caused by some of the following: under inflated tires, engine running too cold, transmission malfunction, dragging brakes, or misaligned wheels.

Manufacture and Extended Warranty Information for Vehicles

Consumers in the market for a new or used car should know the warranty coverage of the vehicle they are considering before buying it, according to AAA.

"The typical owner's warranty book sits in the glove box until there is a problem with the car," said Dave Van Sickle, director of AAA Automotive and Consumer Information. "By then it may be too late to avoid some of the common warranty pitfalls."

The most important things to understand in a warranty are what is covered, for how long and what the owner's responsibilities are, Van Sickle pointed out. For example, some warranties have separate mileage and time requirements for certain parts of the vehicle.

The vehicle may have a 'bumper to bumper' or full warranty for one time period, while the power train of the vehicle may be covered longer and the rust-through protection may extend even further.

It is important that scheduled maintenance, such as fluid and filter changes, is completed in a timely manner and that all records are kept. Failure to perform scheduled maintenance can void the warranty.

Source: AAA

Day Time Running Lights?

How to keep the automatic lights on your vehicle from coming on when I use the automatic starter?

Set the emergency brake before you turn your vehicle off.

Tip From The Wise:

It is a good idea to budget $100.00 a month for your automotive services. We recommend starting this budget when the warranty goes out of date or when the car is paid off. A car may not need a repair or service for six months but if the repair cost $500.00 then you may be able to handle the bill a bit easier. As a general rule the $100.00 a month budget will balance out in the end.

Six things to keep in your car for a break down emergency

Cell phone

Equipment to change a tire (jack, spare, wheel lock (if needed), and lug wrench).

Fire extinguisher

Triangles, Cones, or Flares

Blanket

Jumper cables and proper jumping knowledge

The battery simple but over looked: Getting down to battery basics

When choosing a new battery for your car, start with factory recommendations specified in your owner’s manual. Batteries are rated in terms of cold-cranking amps (CCA), and reserve capacity.

The cold-cranking amps ranking is what matters when your vehicle has sat overnight in freezing weather conditions.

Reserve capacity signifies how long an unassisted battery can power the ignition system, lights, and any accessories you might use while driving.

Battery life spans vary, but good batteries should last about five years under normal use. By paying attention to a few basic maintenance tips maximum battery life and trouble free starts can be ensured.

Battery acid can be harmful to you so always wear safety goggles, gloves, and protective clothing. Battery acid can also be harmful to your car’s finish so protect the finish by placing a fender cover on the car.

When removing battery cables for cleaning corrosion or installation of a new battery follow this sequence: always remove the negative cable first so the battery is disconnected from the electrical circuit. This prevents possible shocks or sparks. When reinstalling a battery, secure the positive cable first and then the negative cable.

Batteries emit hydrogen gas, do not smoke or have near an open flame. A battery should be as clean as possible. Excessive dirt and corrosion on a battery can cause a voltage drain. Wearing safety goggles and gloves, the battery, terminals, and battery cables can be cleaned with a solution of baking soda and water. Terminals can be cleaned with a wire brush or steel wool. There are specialty scraping tools that will clean the inside of battery terminals and exterior posts but do this carefully not to shrink the post too much or the terminal can not be tightened properly. The components should be rinsed with plain water and dried. Cable terminals should be handled carefully so the battery posts are not damaged. A battery cable puller can be used to help ensure removal.

Make sure you have proper connections. Bolt on terminals are preferred by technicians but crimp – on terminals work just as well. Inexpensive vinyl or plastic terminal covers help keep terminals clean and dry. There are commercial spray products available you can apply to the components to help prevent corrosion. Automotive batteries are one of the most uncomplicated components on a vehicle but they’re the kind of part most people take for granted.

Oxygen Sensors

Oxygen sensors are located in your car’s exhaust system. Some vehicles have one while others may have as many as four. The sensor is a wearable item – that means replacing it is part of your vehicles’ maintenance upkeep. Most manufactures have recommend mileage intervals when oxygen sensors should be replaced, usually ranging between 45,000 and 60,000 miles.

The oxygen sensor’s purpose is to measure the oxygen content that comes out of your car’s tailpipe. This information is then sent to the engine-control computer. This computer regulates the mixture of air and fuel that the engine burns based on what the oxygen sensor signals. Its function is to help the vehicle maintain optimal performance with economical fuel usage and clean emissions.

When the oxygen sensor mal-functions the “check engine light” or “service indicator light” may illuminate. These service lights are meant to notify the driver that the computer has detected a mal-function and service is needed. When oxygen sensors malfunction and not replaced performance problems may be experienced, lowered gas mileage, and pollutants escape into our environment.

One mistake many drivers do is ignore the check engine light. These lights represent several different components on your vehicle. If your vehicles’ check engine light is on and not serviced, another component may fail and go undetected. These systems may be unrelated to one another or one systems’ malfunction may cause another system to react differently sending several different readings to the computer. The computer will store each malfunction causing multiple data information when diagnosis is sought after. Further testing may be required to determine which system or systems are malfunctioning and what repairs are needed.

Air Conditioning

My a/c is not cooling like it used too?

There are many reasons air conditioner's may blow only cool or warm air. Possible reasons are: low on refrigerant; blockage in the orifice tube, failed pressure switch or cooling fan failure. A certified A/C technician will test and accurately diagnose the problem in the most cost effective manner.

What's the musky smell out my vents?

The first component to check is the drainage tube. If the tube is blocked it will trap the water and cause mildew to set it. Some vehicles have a foam type material that surrounds the evaporator. If this foam becomes wet from condensation or other means then it also has the tendency to cause the musky smell. There are procedures that can be done to eliminate the problem. There are also fresheners specifically made for ac vent odors.

"Is there a maintenance check up that I can do on my a/c for the summer?"

There are different types of checks that can be done on the ac. Most checks include the following. Visual inspection of the compressor and lines for signs of ac oil leakage, noise inspection, belt inspection, testing the low and high side pressures for the proper amount of refrigerant, ac output vent temperature test, inspecting and cleaning drain tube, inspection and confirmation of proper fan operation.