The 5 most overlooked preventative maintenance items
Monday, June 09, 2008
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Many people perform their own vehicle inspections
and minor repairs and rightly consider
themselves good stewards. But between soccer
matches, long hours at the offi ce, and the
occasional weekend in Vegas even the most
common checks can get overlooked. Its important
to seek professional automotive service to
help you ensure your vehicle is safe and reliable.
Along with other vehicle components, we will be
certain to inspect these fi ve things that often get
overlooked:
Keep time. The timing belt is probably the
single most overlooked maintenance item in
newer cars. There are no sure telltale signs that
the timing belt is worn until it breaks. If the timing
belt breaks pistons could collide with valves that
are still down (open), wreaking havoc on your
engine and perhaps ruining it completely. Timing
belts need to be replaced at intervals ranging
from 30,000 to 105,000 miles, depending on the
model. Not all cars have timing belts, and V-confi
guration and horizontally opposed engines have
multiple timing belts. Your owners manual should
give you specifi c information and of course, were
here to assist you as well.
Watch your temperature. Todays tightly
controlled, low-emissions engines are more
sensitive than ever to changes in operating
temperature. We will check your cars thermostat
and make sure that it still opens and closes at the
right temperature. Well replace it if necessary.
Keep it clean. The fuel fi lter does exactly what
its name says - it cleans out impurities from the
fuel before it gets into the fuel-injection system
and engine. Fuel-fi lter replacement is usually easy
and inexpensive, and a clogged, neglected fuel
fi lter can lead to expensive repairs such as premature
fuel-pump failure or clogged fuel injectors.
Give yourself a brake. Brake fluid can
become contaminated as slight levels of air and
water enter the system from the hoses and brake
hardware. As a result when the brake fl uid ages it
loses its original physical properties. Most importantly,
it doesnt disperse heat well, and in extreme
conditions might boil. We will help to ensure full
braking performance by replacing the brake fl uid
and bleed the lines at least once every two years.
Get geared up. Replacing your cars automatic
transmission fl uid is relatively inexpensive, and
can save costly transmission repairs in the long
run. As transmission fl uid is subjected to extreme
heat and stress, it loses some of its original qualities
and becomes contaminated with small metal
fragments as the gears wear. Although some
new transmissions are sealed for life, most
automatic transmissions should get fl uid changes
every 30,000 miles or so, or as recommended by
the manufacturer. Well be sure to take care of
this for you when youre in for service.
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