FAQ’s
I hear an intermittent noise from the front of my car. Do I need to worry about it?
A. Every noise should be checked by a qualified technician. Use you best judgment, if it sounds bad, get it checked right away. Quick action on a problem can many times save big dollars.
I have a leak under my car. How can I tell what is leaking?
A. The coloring of the liquid identifies the type of liquid. Coolant Fluid is orange or green, Engine fluid is Brown or Black, Transmission Fluid is Red or Pink, Power Steering Fluid is Light Brown, Differential Fluid- Brown. depending on the leak it could mean trouble, don’t wait until it’s too late!
When should I rotate my tires?
A. Rotating your tires should be done every 6,000-9,000 miles. This will ensure proper wear and extend the life of your tires while keeping you safe.
My engine light comes on, what should I do?
A. When you first start your car, all the dashboard lights will come on as a safety test. These lights will go off when the test is complete. If the engine light comes on after a test or sometime later, you need to have your checked. The check engine light is a warning from the on-board computer system. It could be a simple problem to fix, left alone it may become major, don’t ignore this light!
What dashboard lights should I worry about and which are just precautions?
A. Every dashboard light is responsible for notifying the owner of issues that need to be addressed. If any of the following lights are lit you need to have your vehicle looked at: Engine light, Oil light, ABS light, Traction light, Tire Pressure light.
Car Care Tips
With gas prices still high, people are asking, “what can I do to get better gas mileage when I drive?”. These are some of the things you can do to ensure improved gas mileage for your car:
Driving Habits
- Consolidate your daily trips and errands. This will also save you the cost of restarting your engine, which uses a lot of gas.
- Avoid air conditioning when possible. However, when driving at higher speeds, having your windows open also creates drag.
- Don’t throttle the gas or brake! Sudden starts or stops use more gas than gradual changes of speed.
- Don’t idle for too long. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait.
- Limit car warm-ups in winter
- Clear out the trunk. More weight, more drag.
- Avoid high speeds. We know this is almost impossible to resist but you can improve your gas mileage about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.
- Use overdrive. If your car is equipped with overdrive gearing use it as soon as your speed is high enough.
- Use cruise control. Keeping a constant speed is ideal for improving your gas mileage.