What are Tune-ups and When are They Needed?

The tune-up has been a very important component of regular car maintenance for a good reason. This procedure is vital to making sure that you have sufficient power to your engine. During the winter, you should make sure that your car is in its best running condition to avoid being stranded in inclement weather. It can be done in conjunction with other services such as oil changes, tire rotation, tire pressure checks, and fluid checks. If you are unsure about the process, you should make sure that you gain some basic knowledge and have a discussion with your mechanic so that you can make the best choices when it comes to your car. 

What is a Tune-up?

Once used to describe the process of making adjustments to improve performance, the term “tune-up” has been coined to describe the process of changing the spark plugs, spark plug wires, and air filter. This process is usually included when performing winter safety inspections and in general maintenance. Technology has increased capacity and durability of spark plugs so that a tune-up may only be required every 100,000 miles or two years. It should be done regularly so that performance and fuel economy do not suffer. Your mechanic can give you a complete explanation of the procedure and can show you what each part looks like and what significance it has to the total performance of your car. 

Why Are They Needed?

You will know when you need a tune-up when you notice a decrease in performance from the engine. You will experience a loss in power, especially during acceleration. An engine needing a tune-up will use more gas because the engine is working harder to keep the sparks firing. As a result, your gas mileage will decrease. This extra work done by the engine will mean that the engine needs more gas to keep the car running. The engine will also run roughly and knock when accelerating. This knocking will continue even after the engine has been shut off. If the spark plugs are damaged or worn enough, they can cause your car to stall and shut off when you idle at a stop light or train crossing. This occurs because the engine is using more gas, but the spark plugs are not able to keep the firing process going in order to produce the tiny explosions that are needed to power the car.

When Are They Needed?

Before the extensive use of computers in cars, it was recommended that a tune-up should be performed regularly in specific time intervals. However, the computer system in newer cars monitors the condition of the spark plugs, filters, and sensors. If the computer detects a problem, the alert system will notify you. You can now go for a very long time between tune-ups due to the advanced spark plugs and computer systems. The length of time between tune-ups would also depend upon the make and model of the car, your driving habits, and weather conditions. Your ASE master technicians can check your spark plugs, wires, and filters during your winter safety inspection. This inspection can include general car maintenance tasks such as oil changes, brake inspections, and windshield wiper replacement; and it can include bumper-to-bumper inspections that will cover every system on your car for maximum security while driving during the winter months. 

Improving Fuel Efficiency from Your Car

If you live in a state that experience cold, snowy winters, you may have noticed that the gas
stations switch to a specially blended fuel mixture every winter for driving in the cold
weather. The sluggish economy has caused many people to reevaluate their driving patterns
and to search for ways to improve fuel efficiency. After you have slashed the excessive
usage of fuel in your home, you now turn to your car and wonder what you can do in the
winter that will help you save some money this season. If you alter your driving habits,
maintain your car, and make other minor changes to your routine, you will see instant
savings in your fuel costs.

Driving Habits Needs to Change

If you alter your driving habits, you may find that you use a lot less gas. Cut out all of the
extraneous trips to places that you can easily get to on foot. If you must drive your car
everywhere, drive at slower speeds. The snowy and icy road conditions will slow you down
automatically, but slower speeds on dry pavement will ensure that you use less gas. Use the
freeway as much as possible to boost your gas mileage. You will burn less gas because you
will not have to stop and start repeatedly. The freeway offers you passages to your
destinations that are free from stop signs, stoplights, and railroad crossings. Late model cars
are able to operate without warming up. You should make an effort to limit the amount of
time you spend idling.

General Car Maintenance Needs to Happen

You can save a lot of money on not only fuel costs but also car repair costs just by
maintaining your car. Make sure that you adhere to a regular general car maintenance
schedule that is recommended by the car manufacturer. Regular maintenance should include
a tire inspection, oil change, and fluid checks. A tire inspection will make sure that your
tires are inflated at the proper air pressure level. If you do not know what pressure you
should be using, you can find it on a sticker that is posted on the doorjam of the driver’s
side door or in the owner’s manual. When you perform your oil changes, you should make
sure that you are using the correct grade of engine oil. Your owner’s manual should list the
grade and weight of oil you should be using. Remember to change the oil and air filters
when you change your oil. Dirty filters will keep air from freely flowing through the engine
and cause you to burn more fuel. A tune-up will improve your car’s fuel economy and
should be regularly performed.

Other Things That Needs to Happen

Keep the cargo load as light as possible because a heavier car consumes more fuel. You
should keep items, especially bulkier items, off your roof rack if possible. The wind
resistance will cause you to use more fuel to propel the car forward through the air. If you
have more than one place to go, combine your trips and plan them so that you can complete
all of your stops in a complete circuit rather than crisscrossing the city several times.

Rotating Your Tires for Winter Safety

While many people ready their cars for winter, they may pay close attention to what is going
on under the hood, but may fail to address issues that can arise from underneath the car. The
tires of a car are the only points of contact your car has with the pavement. If they are not in
good condition, you may find yourself stranded on the side of the road waiting for AAA to
come to your rescue. If you want to avoid that scenario, you should make sure to maintain
your tires by having them rotated, balanced, and checked for correct tire pressure.

Why Should Tire Rotation Be Done?

The ultimate goal of tire rotation is to maintain balanced handling and traction by evening
out the wear on the tires. This can be done during oil changes even when you do not see any
noticeable tire wear. Most manufacturers recommend that you rotate your tires every 3,000
to 5,000 miles. Since each tire presents a different wear pattern depending on how the tire is
contacting and interacting with the driving surface, you should rotate all four tires at the
same time. Doing this will help you to have better control of your car and the tires will
respond quicker to your input. It will help with handling and traction.

How is it Done?

There are three types of tire rotation that can be done: rearward cross, forward cross, and the
X-pattern. The rearward cross method switches the rear tires to the front axles and the front
tires are crossed and then installed on the rear axles. In other words, the rear tires are
brought up to the front axles, the left front tire is installed on the right rear axle, and the
right front tire is installed on the left rear axle. The process is reversed for the forward cross
method, with the rear tires being crossed before being installed on the front axles. The X-
pattern crosses both the front tires and rear tires before being installed on their opposite
axles.

Tips for Buying Winter Tires

When replacing your tires, you should be sure to know the size that you need for your car.
You can locate this information by looking on the doorjamb of the driver side door. You may
find a manufacturer sticker that denotes the size and recommended inflation level of the
tires. You can also consult your driver’s manual or ask your mechanic to find the right size
for you. Winter tires will provide additional traction when driving over snow and ice. These
tires have a pronounced tread and are constructed from heavy-duty rubber. Although the
rubber is soft, it provides additional contact with the road, increasing traction. They perform
well on wet surfaces, but they will affect the performance of your car during the summer.
The soft rubber causes the car to feel like you are not connected with the pavement and will
affect your braking and handling during the warm months. Most people purchase winter
tires for installation for winter driving and then remove them after the winter season. If you
live in an area that does not experience much snow and ice, you can also use all-weather
tires. These tires offer the deep tread of the winter tire but the firmness of regular tires.

Basic Repair Items to Keep in Your Car

It can happen to anyone at any time.  You’re moving along just fine down the road, and suddenly you need to pull over because your car is giving you problems.  You know what’s wrong and you know how to fix it, but you didn’t put the required items in your car.

It’s important to always be prepared for the unexpected with your car.  By having just a few items that take up very little room in your trunk or a storage compartment, you can rest at ease knowing that you may have the ability to get back on the road in a timely manner.

Become a Handy Man with a Tool Box

You can go out to any big box retail store, home improvement or auto parts store and purchase a pre-assembled mechanic’s tool set that you can leave in your car.  These sets usually include one or two ratchets, sockets, Phillips and flathead screw drivers, wrenches, a ratchet extension and a spark plug socket.  Once you have your tool set purchased, you may want to consider getting some mechanic’s gloves to protect your hands if you ever do need to do a quick roadside repair.  You also want to include a wire brush, a rag and duct tape.  How you may use some of these items is to tighten a loose hose clamp with a screwdriver or you can use the duct tape to patch a hole in a hose as a temporary fix.  The wire brush would be used to clean off your battery terminals from corrosion that you found by using a ratchet and a socket from removing the wire from the terminal.

Get a Flashlight and a Knife

These two items can easily go into your glove compartment or center console.  Other than giving you the ability to see a potential problem easier, you can also use it to flag down or warn any other people on the road.  You can use the knife a few different ways to help you.  One way you can use the knife may be to cut a hose to length or remove a damaged end on a hose to make the necessary repair.  You can also use it to cut the duct tape or a rag to patch a hole.  The other way you can use a knife is to cut the seatbelt away from you.  Sometimes, if you were to get into a rollover accident, the seatbelt may not disengage when you press the release button.  By using the knife, you can free yourself and get to safety.  You can also purchase a flashlight-seatbelt cutter-window spike combo to cut down on compartment space.

Vehicle Pick Me Up’s

Some of the more crucial items you want to keep in your vehicle are jumper cables and spare fluids.  There may be a time when you need to jumpstart your car and a willing citizen can help you, but doesn’t have any jumper cables.  If you ever need to use jumper cables, but don’t know how, it’s an easy process.  Put the red clamp to the red terminal and the black clamp to the black terminal.  Just make sure to connect the clamps to the car that is providing the power boost first, then connect your battery.  The spare fluids you want to keep in your vehicle at all times is a quart or two of oil, antifreeze or engine coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering fluid.  You can also leave a gallon of windshield washer fluid, but isn’t necessary.  If you were to spring a leak somewhere, and you’re able to make the repair, you’ll be able to top off the said fluid and get on your way.

Visual Vehicle Checks

Nearly everyone depends on their vehicle on a daily basis. This is why it is important to perform a routine checkup between trips to your mechanic. By doing so you are able to identify and repair problems before they worsen, which will help your vehicle last longer and perform at its best.  Some of your vehicle’s issues can be seen visually, which is why you should take a glimpse around the interior and exterior of your vehicle and note anything that looks out of the ordinary. You should begin by looking at the windshield for any chips or cracks, as well as making sure your interior mirrors are positioned in a spot that you are able to see in front and rear of your vehicle properly. Be sure to check your tire tread for any bumps, holes, cracks or unevenness, which can lead to a flat tire. Your windshield wipers should similarly be checked for any wear and improper functioning. In addition, check to make sure your seatbelts are working and clicking into place properly. Visual inspections are simple, do not take too much time and are a great way to notice any of your vehicle’s glitches.

Brakes and Steering Checks

Another part of your safety inspection that you should have our technicians check are your brakes. If your brake pedal is pressed all the way to the floorboard to stop, this typically indicates that they might need replacing. Listen for any grinding or shaking when trying to stop. Likewise, this can also signify you might need a new set of brakes. Your steering wheel is important too. Make sure your steering wheel has a smooth turning motion.

Light Checks

While starting your vehicle look for any lights on the dashboard that may indicate things such as low fuel, coolant or oil. Most cars will have an indicator light telling you when something under the hood needs to be attended to and those signs should not go ignored. Take a look at your headlights low and high beams for any broken bulbs as well as your taillights and signals. Not having your vehicle’s lights working properly can cause other drivers to not see you, especially in hazardous weather conditions such as fog. By doing an inspection of your lights you are saving yourself and others from a probable accident factor. 

Under the Hood and Under the Vehicle Checks

By checking under the hood and under your vehicle, you are able to check for small problems that could lead to a great deal of damage for your vehicle. Have our technicians check your car engine’s lines and hoses for holes and cracks.  The under part of your vehicle can also be checked for any leaks. See if all belts and spark plugs are free of crakes and wear.  Make sure that all filters are in proper place. Most importantly, check all fluids to make sure they are at their proper levels. Being too low of fluids can cause serious problems for your vehicle like overheating. Have our technicians make sure the muffler is securely fit and check for holes in the exhaust pipe. By taking a few minutes checking your vehicle over, you ensure driving safety as well as keep your vehicle running safely. 

Winter and Your Suspension System

Suspension systems are important because they provide a comfortable ride and stability on the road by absorbing the vibrations from the imperfections in the pavement. In its most basic form, it is comprised of two systems: springs and shock absorbers. Springs can be coil springs, torsion bars, or leaf springs. Coil springs are the most common in American cars. Shock absorbers provide insulation from the vertical motion that occurs when driving on imperfect surfaces. Winter can be cruel to your car and the suspension system is not immune. Taking care of your car will prevent any major car repairs and let you enjoy a comfortable ride.

How Winter Affects Your Suspension

The winter weather can affect your suspension by affecting the road on which you drive. When the temperature drops to freezing and below, the ground begins to freeze. The freezing causes cracks in the surface. As the ground contracts from the cold and creates the holes, water freezes in those cracks. The thawing and freezing cycles make the cracks and potholes wider and more numerous. These imperfections create a rough surface over which to drive. If the potholes are very large, they can cause the shock absorber to bottom out prematurely. The steering and suspension are compromised and the wheel alignment will be affected. Winter can also cause damage to over- or underinflated tires. Incorrect tire pressure can lead to damaged rims and ruptured tires when driving over potholes. If the tire alignment is compromised, you will not be able to completely control the car. If you hit a pothole hard enough, you can even cause damage to the undercarriage of your car because the suspension will not be able to dampen such a large jolt and the bottom of the car will actually hit the ground. 

Preparing Your Car for the Winter

You should make sure that you have a thorough inspection of your car by qualified ASE master technicians. They can perform a bumper-to-bumper inspection and alert you to any possible problems. They can let you know if you need to have a tire alignment, perform fluid checks, and even windshield wiper replacements. They can give you recommendations on when to perform general car maintenance and explain when those tasks need to be done. For your suspension system, they will check tire alignment, tire pressure, and make sure that your steering and suspension is going to be able to handle winter driving conditions. They can check your brakes, brake pads, and replace any worn or damaged parts. 

Driving in Winter Weather

One of the most important things you can do for your car in the winter is to slow down. Snow and ice on the road creates a dangerous situation as they reduce traction between your tires and the road. If you drive fast over ice, your tires will lose contact with the ground and you will hydroplane. In other words, your car will be propelled down the road with the tires not touching the ground. Drive slowly and give the car in front of you plenty of space to give you enough time to stop. Careful driving and proper general car maintenance will make sure that your suspension system will keep you safe and comfortable on the road. 

Diagnosing the Causes of Overheating in the Winter

The winter can be a wonderland or a purgatory, depending on the condition of your car. It can be scary to drive along and suddenly see white smoke billowing from underneath your hood. You look at your temperature gauge and see that the needle is in the red zone. Your car is overheating and with the cold weather, it seems like an almost impossibility. However, overheating in the winter is just as real as overheating in the summer. You should know what causes overheating and how to prevent it. You could save the life of your car and the money in your wallet by proactively managing the care of your car. 

What Can Cause Overheating?

If you notice your car is overheating, the first thing you should inspect is your coolant level. If you have a low coolant level, top it off. If you find that you need to do this frequently, then you may have a leak in you radiator. Be sure to take your car to a mechanic so that the leak can be detected and repaired. If you do not find any leaks, the next thing you should check is the thermostat. If it is stuck in the closed position, which means that the coolants cannot circulate through the radiator. You should also check the radiator fan to make sure that it is still operating. If you do not hear the fan turning when you raise the car hood and start the car, then it is possible that the fan is not working. You should also check the radiator hose to make sure there are no holes and that the gasket is intact. 

How to Prevent Overheating

You can prevent overheating by making sure that you have enough antifreeze in your car. A general safety inspection will help you to monitor the condition of your radiator and its hoses, clamps, and gaskets. If any of those parts appear to be worn or damaged, they should be replaced immediately. Regular general car maintenance will keep you abreast of the condition of your car and let you be proactive in circumventing many potential problems. You should also make sure that there are no holes in the water pump. All of these things are easy to accomplish during your winter safety check. A very effective way to prevent overheating is to change your oil. Engine oil is not normally associated with keeping the engine cool, it provides protection by coating the moving parts inside the engine, reducing the friction and in effect, reducing the heat being created by the friction. 

The Effects of Overheating

If your car is overheating, the heat is causing extensive damage to the engine, especially if you keep driving it while it is hot. To prevent this, you should immediately stop the car and park it to allow the engine to cool. You should make sure that you follow the recommendations set forth by the car manufacturer. Take it to a mechanic and have them perform a safety check to diagnose any problems. If you need to make any repairs, be sure that they are done according to the recommendations. Any deviance from that could result in further car damage and more expensive car repairs, or cancellation of your warranty.