Vehicle Maintenance Tips

From Motor Trend:

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Vehicle maintenance is one of the more bothersome aspects of automobile ownership. Taking your ride into the dealer is often like having a tooth pulled–painful, but necessary. Maintenance also can be confusing: Which service interval should you follow, the “normal-duty” or “severe-duty” schedule?

Severe-duty applies to vehicles that operate under a variety of conditions. Frequent starting and stopping, excessive idling, or trips of less than five miles can lead to carbon buildup. Driving in the desert or off-road can cause the engine to ingest more airborne contaminants. Other intense scenarios include towing, operating in cold climates, and sustained high speed.

Because of the stresses involved, severe-duty schedules recommend a larger number of maintenance operations at shorter intervals. Maintenance schedules vary between manufacturers, so it’s best to consult the owner’s manual. Some carmakers now employ the onboard computer to calculate the maintenance interval based on the specific driver’s modus operandi. Generally, the newer the vehicle, the simpler the service schedule. This is due to technological advances having reduced the number of mechanical parts that actually require maintenance.

If you own or lease a vehicle still covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, you must perform the minimum recommended maintenance listed in the owner’s manual or risk liability if a warrantable part fails. The manufacturer warrants the vehicle, or vehicle part, as long as it’s properly serviced. Neglect the service, and you’re responsible for any related failures. This can be a legal and legitimate reason for denying a warranty claim.

Review the recommended service intervals listed in the owner’s manual. While those schedules may appear complicated, you’ll likely see that just a few important services are repeated at various intervals.

In the future, we’ll discuss what happens when you pull into a dealership for service, and the dealer’s recommended maintenance is different from what’s listed in the owner’s manual. This is more common than you think–you could be overservicing or, more important, overpaying for maintenance.

Stay Cool All Summer Long

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Financing Available

Financing is available for auto repair and the application process is easy. Copy and paste the following URL into your browser:

https://loans.agfcredit.com/Retail/IAPS?newPage=y&Command=merentry&MerchantId=660691

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Free A/C Check

Aamco Transmissions located at 12036 N. Cave Creek Road in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona is offering a FREE air conditioning system check now through September, 2010. Keep Your Cool this summer!

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Cooling System Maintenance

Advice From The Pros

“Antifreeze/coolant, when used properly, serves to prevent freezing, boiling and corrosion in the cooling system. Your owner’s manual indicates the correct antifreeze/coolant for your specific vehicle.” 

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Regular Maintenance is Important

There are probably no two words in the English language that strike terror into the hearts of the uninitiated than “car repair.” The car repair industry has historically had its fair share of shysters and con men, this fear is understandable, even if unfounded most of the time (the marketplace and the car repair industry itself do a good job of policing itself and weeding out undesirables). Nonetheless, as is the case in most everything in life, this fear can be eliminated by empowering one’s self with knowledge.

The good news is that there is no shortage of information on car repair when you log on to the World Wide Web. These terms, when entered into most search engines, will return almost 5.8 million results. You don’t have to be a car expert to deal with car repair shops; just having some basic, fundamental knowledge on how automobiles operate will enable you to talk with your car repair serviceman (or woman) intelligently and him or her know that you understand exactly what is being discussed.

It is worth pointing out that most car repair can be avoided with regular maintenance; in fact, we have heard of well-maintained vehicles that run for 200,000 and even 300,000 miles without ever having to undergo any kind of major car repair. Most problems requiring car repair are actually related to cooling system failures. The cooling system is possibly the least expensive component of your engine to maintain properly, but can cause massive and expensive damage if allowed to deteriorate. A simple yearly flush and regular check-ups of coolant levels can avoid 90% of roadside breakdowns.

Regular oil changes are also important when it comes to avoiding costly car repair. Over time, the heat of the engine causes the crankcase oil to lose its lubricity. Sludge build-up is one result, forcing your engine to work harder. Crankcase oil should be changed at least every three months or 3000 miles.

Another common set of car repair problems are related to the fuel system. Today’s fuel injectors and sophisticated electronic fuel delivery systems can become clogged very easily. Changing your fuel filter on a regular basis can help prevent this from happening.

Finally, developing better driving habits is the best way to avoid the necessity of costly car repair bills. A car that is driven primarily on the open road is often in better condition at 100,000 miles than a car driven in stop-and-go city traffic for 20,000 miles.

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Follow Your Owner’s Manual

Many drivers are given recommendations from car dealerships and aftermarket repair facilities regarding car maintenance and service. However, many times these recommendations far exceed what is required to maintain your vehicle in sound condition.

A good rule of thumb is to follow your owner’s manual.

Your owner’s manual provides all of the necessary information required to maintain your vehicle for over 150,000 miles. You need only perform the maintenance per the schedule in your owner’s manual to give yourself the best chance of a long-lasting healthy vehicle.

If a recommendation from a repair facility exceeds the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual, there can be only one explanation: they are trying to make money.

If you do not have an owner’s manual, ask the repair facility to print you a maintenance schedule from a TRUSTED source, such as ALL DATA or MITCHELL On Demand.

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Saved a Sebring Owner Big Bucks

Had a 2002 Chrysler Sebring in today. The car was in failsafe mode (it was stuck in 2nd gear) and the check engine light was on. The code was a manufacturer’s code 36, indicating a problem in the torque converter clutch (TCC) circuit. The transmission fluid was in good condition. After using our nifty breakout box computer to rule out an electrical problem inside the transmission, we began investigating wiring connections outside the transmission. We found  a broken wire on the main harness connector to the transmission, barely visible because it was close to the connector. We repaired the harness connector, and voila, problem solved.

For under $200, the customer who thought she was facing a transmission overhaul got her car back in great shape.

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Troubling PT Cruiser

We have a 2003 PT Cruiser with a P0344 code, which relates to a Camshaft Position Sensor code…however, after verifying continuity in all wiring,  installing a new Camshaft Position Sensor, Cranskaft Position Sensor, and a Camshaft Position Sensor magnet, the code persists. The car runs great until the code sets, then it stumbles. Going to replace Camshaft Sensor tomorrow, and if that doesn’t do it, it has to be the computer.