FAQ

Why should I choose your shop?
"First, I want to personally thank you for considering our company for auto service.  I realize you have many choices today, and I appreciate that you are considering us.

The biggest reason our customers cite their loyalty is because of how we care for them.  We genuinely care about you and your vehicles.  You will see this immediately when you call or come into our shop.  But, there's much more than that."

Why is it important to keep my exhaust system in good working condition?
The exhaust system of a car plays a vital role in carrying lethal carbon monoxide gas away from the passenger compartment. Without a properly functioning exhaust system, you’ll be endangering your life and life of your passengers by simply driving in your car.

How often should I have my car aligned?
Follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. But, generally, your vehicle’s alignment should be checked every 10,000 miles or once a year.

How important is a wheel alignment?
Very important. A car that is only slightly out of alignment will drag its tires sideways.

My Check Engine light is on. What should I do?
If your car is functioning normally, don’t worry too much. Check the other gauges and warning lights. If they are normal, you probably have a sensor or emission problem. Bring it to your repair shop when it’s convenient. If your car is sluggish and the Check Engine light is on and the rest of gauges look fine, bring your car to a repair shop ASAP. If your Check Engine light is on the other gauges are not normal, turn off your car immediately. Call a tow truck and have it bring you to a repair shop.

How do I keep my car from breaking down?
Proper maintenance is required. Change your oil every 3,000 miles, rotate your tires every second or third service. Every 15,000 miles change your air filter. Every 30,000 miles service the transmission and replace fuel filters. At 60,000 miles bring your car in for a full service.

How often should I rotate my tires?
Your tires should be rotated every other oil change, or every 6000 miles. Neglecting to rotate tires is a major cause of premature tire wear.

Is it really necessary to replace my timing belt at the recommended interval?
YES. The failure of a timing belt in many cars can result in major engine damage. The cost of repairing an engine with a broken timing belt is much greater than the cost of a timing belt replacement.

What should I do if my car starts to overheat?
This is a very serious problem – if your car overheats for too long, you can damage your engine. As soon as possible, find a safe place to pull off the road and shut the engine off! Do not attempt to check the fluid level in the radiator as it can burn you. The best thing to do is have your car towed to a repair shop.

What is a tune-up?
The term tune-up indicates the need for routine maintenance.

Prior to winter weather setting in, you should:

• Check your anti freeze level and condition.  Rust colored anti freeze means you may need to flush and refill the cooling system.
• Check the level of you motor oil.  If its been 3 months ot 3000 miles since you last oil change, it should be replaced.
• Check you battery.  Battery that are weak can fail on cold morning and your car won't start. 
• Change your wiper blades to winter wiper-blades. these prevent ice build-up that can obstruct your view during operation in snow and ice conditions.

Prior to going on a trip, you should:

• Check all lights. Check your headlights (high and low-beam), brakelights, turn signals, parking lamps and (if you have them) fog lights to make sure they are all operational. You should clean your headlights using glass cleaner to improve night visibility.
• Check wiper blades. Inspect them for cracks or tears, and make sure they're operational. If they're in good shape, it's still a good idea to clean the rubber blade with little glass cleaner.
• Check all hoses. Look for any cracks or holes in hoses, and replace any that are not in good shape.
• Check all belts. Inspect all belts to ensure that none are worn, loose or frayed.
• Inspect the battery. If there is corrosion on the terminals, you can clean it away with a toothbrush and a pasty solution of water and baking soda.
• Check all fluids. Check the reservoirs to ensure that your coolant and wiper fluids are at the proper levels. Check your oil using the dipstick. Check transmission fluid, power-steering fluid and brake fluid. Refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for advice on checking all the fluids.