We will also review any Factory Schedule Recommendations and additional recommendations based from use and condition. Upgrades are available upon request or advised.
Some belts show cracks as sign of aging and with new materials you may never see a crack on a belt that is completely worn out. Be sure to check the depth of the grooves to be sure they are within specifications and not worn down to the fibers.
Hoses may look fine on the out side but can be getting old and soft on the inside. In time, the inside tubing can crack. Coolant then seeps through these cracks and travels along the length of the hose. When it finds a weak spot, the coolant burst through. Have them checked regularly.
Cooling system services promotes freeze point protection, rust deposits and PH levels from damaging coolant passages or flow. If cooling system maintenance is put off too long the coolant can actually turn acidic and start eating away at components inside your engine such as gaskets and other softer metal components. Diesel engine vehicles also need to consider recharging the cooling system with an additive that helps combat cavitation which is contradictory movements of the crankshaft causing significant vibration of your engine liners. When the liner vibrates, bubbles collapse under an enormous pressure and takes small chunks out of the liner. Scale is a major insulator, which cause detrimental effects to the hot spots of your engine (the liners and the cylinder heads). The consequences are worn piston rings, higher oil consumption and extensive engine damage. RV
Gear box services promotes dissolving and suspending gums, varnishes and oxidization from Valves, Lines and Clutches while installing new fluid with additives that help condition seals. Such as in the front and rear differentials, manual and automatic transmissions, transfer case and the most neglected being the power steering system. Normal wear subjects the fluids to high temperatures causing fluid breakdown and loss of lubricating ability. Maintaining these components helps extend their usefulness by keeping them clean, cool and lubricated.
services promote proper injector spray patterns with removal of wax and deposits within the intake, throttle body and fuel lines. With the consistent use of cheap gas and poor adherence to your auto maintenance schedule, as well as certain driving styles can significantly increase the accumulation of carbon deposits. Thus the possibility of poor fuel efficiency, decreased horsepower, and performance issues increases. All of which could be helped by injector and fuel system maintenance.
Brakes are a safety item and should be pretty self explanatory on how important they are. They are the difference of a good day with your family and friends, or not. Unfortunately they are the most price-shopped items on your vehicle. For best customer service talk with your service adviser on what their shop recommends and what has worked well for them. A brake inspection is also very important so they may best advise you of only items necessary to be replaced, either recommended by mileage or condition. It is always helpful to let them know of any noises or symptoms that are present because the cause may not be obvious to a basic inspection.
Monitoring the Charging System for output strength and signs of possible concerns will help you from getting caught off guard. Temperatures and system efficiency can directly impact the over all health of your battery, starter and alternator. The best way to ensure that your vehicle will start is to purchase quality batteries and have your system checked periodically.
A/C Systems function with a method of heat exchanging to the exterior of the vehicle with items identified as the following: Compressor, Evaporator, Expansion Valve/Orfice Tube, Condenser, Reciever/Dryer(Accumulator) and Refrigerant with lubrication. Some causes of failure can be Lack of Use, which can starve the compressor of lubrication when they are turned on contributing to excessive wear. Other possibilities are High/Low system pressures due to condenser fan concerns, blockage or improper refrigerant charge can contribute to an inefficient system also causing frequent compressor cycling and excessive heat severly affecting the longevity of the system components.
If your car pulls to one side, first check tire pressures to determine if they're uneven.Pulling may also be caused by incorrect tie rod length, or incorrect rack height in the steering linkage. Another possibility is incorrect camber, the inward or outward tilt of the wheels from top to bottom. Shimmy can be caused by unbalanced wheels or over worn tires. Or perhaps your tie rods have worn ends. Have your service technician check the mounting bolts in your steering gear, or for excessive wear on the idler arm.
Unfortunately, some of these simple handling problems don't lend themselves to simple solutions. Your service technician may want to investigate wear or check for proper wheel alignment, bearings, shocks, strut rods, springs and control arms. The important thing is to discover the source of the problem early enough to minimize the cost of necessary repairs.
The wheel alignment is intended to be perpendicular to the road. If it's tilted inward or outward, it's called camber and is measured in degrees. The purpose of this adjustment is to distribute the vehicle load nearer to the point of road contact. Another alignment problem is positive or negative caster. Think of this in terms of forks on a bike. A bike will steer itself with no hands because there is a positive caster. Because the top of the forks is tilted backward, the DSA(directional stability angle) keeps the steering in line. Negative aster occurs when the top of the forks is tilted forward. That's the reason a bike is hard to steering when the front wheel is turned around. Toe is an automotive term, but it's easy to understand. Just compare your car's wheels to your own feet. When your wheels toe in or toe out, they drag against the pavement and cause different patterns of tire wear.
A failed timing belt can cause major damage to your engine and your wallet. On many engines, failure of the timing belt can result in catastrophic damage-in other words-a completely fried engine. Don't risk it. Have your timing belt replaced on time and insist on a quality belt. Your car's manufacturer has determined the proper mileage interval for timing belt replacement-typically 60,000 miles. This recommendation should be taken seriously, as many smaller, high-performance engines operate with very tight tolerances, and failure of the belt can cause serious damage to the pistons, valve and other components. When you have your timing belt replaced, it's a good idea to have the tensioner and idlers replaced as well. A worn idler can seize and destroy a recently-replaced belt, resulting in similar damage to the engine.
An inspection an be the most valuable thing you do after you get done researching the vehicle you are interested in and how it is rated. Be sure to have a technician inspect the vehicle with a Pre-Purchase inspection to look for signs of neglect or abuse. Even though there are good intentioned people trying to sell a car be completely informed about your decision. They may not have your standards of service and you never know when was the last time they checked underneath.
