Archive for the ‘Routine Maintenance’ Category

The Big One: The 60K Check-Up

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Similar to turning “The Big 5-0,” your car reaches a major point in its life when it  reaches 60,000 miles.  Like it or not, this is one of the most essential times to take it to an authorized mechanic for regular preventative maintenance.  When a car  has only 30,000 miles on it, we tend to think of it as a “new” car, even though it’s not.  Frequently, people forget about (or purposefully dismiss) recommended 30,000 mile maintenance.  Because of this, however, minor problems left undiscovered can grow into major ones by the time your car reaches the 60,000 mile mark.  These problems often require major repair, and cost much more than the standard 60K maintenance–thousands more!  Even if you were good to your car, taking it in for proper maintenance at 30,000 miles, routine 60K car maintenance is still essential.  Why?  Many car batteries, by this time, have aged substantially and may require replacement.  But even more important is your car’s timing belt.  This is the belt that the internal parts of your engine (like valves and cams) require to operate.  If this belt should break because of age and wear, the damage done to your engine will be monumental.  Qualified mechanics providing routine 60K maintenance will replace all of your car’s old or worn-out components, including your battery and timing belt.  In addition, spark plugs, wipers, and anything else that is becoming old and unsafe will be replaced.  A qualified service center, like MOTEC Auto Care Clinics in San Diego, will also check all your car’s fluid levels (oil, power steering, transmission, coolant, etc.)  By taking care of regular 30K and 60K maintenance today, you could save yourself thousands in major repairs in the future.  And any tune-up at MOTEC comes with a lifetime parts guarantee. Treat your car like your body, checkups and all, and it will live a long, healthy life.

time belt in a car

A Timing Belt, Image from Wikipedia

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Is it Time to Change the Battery?

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

While it’s nice to believe your car’s battery will last for 100,000 miles, such “super batteries” are very rare!  In fact, almost all cars will require at least one battery change during their lifetimes, if not more.

How often have you turned or left your headlights on while your car was not running?  Have you kept your trunk or side door, each with an “automatic” light, open several minutes while unloading groceries?  Have you used a GPS, listened to the radio, or rolled down a window with the engine off?  If so, know that each of these actions drains a bit of your battery.  When your car is in motion, the alternator restores power to the battery while it turns, but if your car’s battery is used for a few hours without being recharged it begins to weaken.  A long drive, or a battery charge, can often bring a weak battery back to life, but sometimes a battery is just too weak to hold a charge.  You’ll usually become aware of this problem when you try to start your car.  You may hear a clicking sound, indicating the battery is not fully charged.  Often, you’ll need a jump to get started.  Sometimes, a bad alternator is the issue.  Other times, it’s the battery.  If you attempt to start your car and absolutely nothing happens, chances are it’s the battery.  (First, check to make sure you didn’t accidentally put your car in Neutral instead of Park!)

Harsh, cold conditions also impact batteries dramatically–not that most of us in SoCal have this problem!  If your car is going to be in a frigid environment for a while, you may need to invest in a new battery powerful enough to turn a frozen flywheel.  If you bought your car from a warm, sunny beach lot in San Diego, it’s possible your battery was not meant for the cold, and the energy required to start your car in the cold exceeds your current battery’s power.  If you frequently spend time in chilly mountain conditions, think about investing in a battery rated at least “600 cold cranking amps”.

And if your battery’s casing is ever damaged, usually in an accident, you should replace your battery ASAP.  Cracks in the body can leak dangerous chemicals, including sulfuric acid.

If you are experiencing battery trouble, a simple test can determine if your battery needs replacement.  Bring your car to MOTEC Auto Care Clinic in San Diego. There, the experienced technicians will test your battery to see whether or not it is still usable.  Almost every car will see at least one battery change during its lifetime, so don’t feel bad if your car is due.  Get the right kind of battery for the weather conditions your car will be in most of the time, and limit battery use to when you’re driving; you’ll help extend your new battery’s life.

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Check Your Headlights

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Checking your car’s headlights is something, like flossing, most people forget to do on a regular basis.  Unfortunately, not only can a burned out headlight land you with a ticket, but it’s also dangerous to drive at night or in adverse conditions with one out.  Try walking around with a hand over one eye and you’ll quickly “see” how important it is to not have compromised visibility!  Unless you own an older car, your vehicle will utilize a halogen headlight system.  Unlike messy oil changes, replacing a headlight does not require any tools.  Looking under the hood behind your headlight, you’ll notice wires going into the bulb holder.  You can remove this wiring harness and the attached bulb by easily unscrewing it about a half turn on most vehicles, pulling up and out if your vehicle has a metal clip, or pushing down on a plastic catch with your thumb while you pull.  (It’s usually easy to figure out which type of wiring harness you have by looking at it.  When in doubt, consult your owner’s manual or a professional like us!)  Once your wiring is out, you can remove the headlight bulb.  Notice the part number of the bulb you removed, and be sure to get the same replacement bulb.  Now, simply follow the steps in reverse to install your new headlight making sure your skin does not make contact with the bulb; the natural oils from your hands will make your halogen bulb burn out more quickly.  Sound easy?  It usually is; however, sometimes access to your car’s wiring harness is limited.  Your car’s battery, for example, might be located right before your headlight making it necessary to properly disconnect and remove it from the car before changing the headlight.  Other times your headlight bulb may be located behind a rubber seal that is difficult to remove without removing other components, too.  If you keep touching your new headlight bulb because of cramped space in the hood while installing it, chances are you’ll be paying for another bulb really soon, and bulb-changing blunders add up.  If your car’s design is making headlight replacement difficult, bring your car to MOTEC Auto Care Clinics in San Diego.  MOTEC even offers lifetime lights.  Now, that’s a pretty good alternative to struggling with cramped hood space!

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Meet Your Windshield Washer System

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

We recently discussed the importance of having functional, quality windshield wipers on your car.  Now, we’ll be focusing on the rest of your car’s windshield washer system.   Similar to your car’s other fluids that should be checked regularly,  it’s important to make sure your vehicle always has adequate windshield washer fluid.  Even if you’re not venturing to snowy areas where road sand and ice accumulate, areas naturally rich with sand (and nighttime highways filled with headlamp seeking bugs!) still require a healthy amount of windshield washer fluid.  If you do live in an area rich with flying insects, there are special windshield fluids available that are designed to assist cleaning off these splattered critters.

Your car’s windshield washer system consists of your washer fluid reservoir, its pump, and fluid lines and spray nozzles.  If you attempt to spray your windshield to no avail, it may be time to fill your washer fluid reservoir.  Most of today’s cars have easy-to-locate, well-labeled washer fluid reservoirs right under the hood.  (They’re hard to mistake for radiator reservoirs!)  When filling, use a funnel to help you prevent spillage.  While it’s possible to use distilled water if you’re desperate, you should never use regular tap water to fill your  washer fluid reservoir.  Tap water contains an abundance of minerals that will clog your wiper system’s lines and nozzles.   Also, water will freeze and expand in cold temperatures,  permanently damaging your car’s windshield washer system.  This is why the importance of using specially-designed windshield washer fluid with antifreeze cannot be overstressed.  Replacing your car’s windshield washer fluid is something that’s easily done on your own.

When it comes to other fluids, however, you may want to seek the expertise of professionals.  The good news is that quality service centers, like MOTEC Auto Care Clinics in San Diego, check all your fluid levels when you bring your car in for routine maintenance.  If you’ve filled your reservoir and are still not able to spray fluid on your windshield, the issue may be with the actual pump, hoses, or nozzles.  These are other components the we at MOTEC can examine and easily fix.  As stated in our previous tip, visibility is crucial when on the road.  Keeping your windshield washer system in top working order is necessary for safe driving!

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To Change, Or Not To Change Your Own Oil

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

In a former post, we talked about how your car’s engine is like its heart. We also discussed ways to keep that “heart” healthy, including regular oil changes. Almost all mechanical devices require oil to operate efficiently and safely. From you car, to your riding lawnmower, to that famous vacuum-powered home hair cutting device, all require oil. In fact, it is recommended you have your car’s oil changed a minimum of every three months. (That’s four times a year!) While it is certainly possible to change your oil yourself, taking your vehicle to a professional service center can save you a messy hassle. Should you attempt to change your car’s oil, you’ll need the following:

a combination wrench set, a 3/8 drive socket wrench, an oil filter wrench, a pan to catch the oil, milk gallon jugs (empty), a funnel, a sealable sandwich bag, a new oil filter, rags and newspapers, and new oil… (If you’re not a hobbyist, what you could spend to acquire these tools will equal a few professional oil changes!)

If your interest in changing your own oil is purely to save a few cents, however, here’s some additional info to consider. Many people believe the cost of changing your car’s oil at home is much less than taking your vehicle to a service center. In actuality, the savings is minimal and only applies if you already have the tools and oil at your disposal. What is more, if you’re not a trained mechanic or hobbyist, the mess (not to mention ruined clothes) that can result from a self-service change is not pretty. To top it off, the EPA has given fines greater than $100,000 to average folks who failed to dispose of their car’s oil properly after an oil change; it is illegal to simply bury old oil in your yard! Once you have collected your oil, you need to take it and your used filter to a garage or service center to have them disposed of properly. Some places accept used oil and oil filters freely, others charge a service fee, which can make the cost of your home oil change equal to that of a professional garage.

While changing oil is fun for some, you should do this only if it appeals to you for enjoyment. For the rest of us, affordable quality service centers, like MOTEC Auto Care Clinics, are at your service to quickly change your oil and dispose of your old oil properly. Changing your oil every three months can easily become a dreaded, messy chore at home that gets put off for too long. Bring your car to MOTEC today and cross off “oil change” from your to-do list! Your engine will thank you!

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I Can See Clearly Now, With Wipers “On”

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

Unlike your car’s other components, including its engine, transmission, tires, shocks, etc., most people don’t think about how important it is to also have quality windshield wipers. With the focus directed so much on what is under the hood, it’s often only in times of necessity when we realize our wipers are not doing their job. (Of course, this is usually when we need them to be working at their best!) Even the United States Postal Service has utilized a training video that clearly displays the compromising power bad wiper blades have on safety. When clear vision is required day or night in heavy storms, you owe this to yourself and your loved ones; a quality pair of wiper blades is essential when driving in any wet weather conditions.

When selecting proper windshield wipers, don’t mix and match blades to save a handful of change. Be sure the blades are each the same length, and are of a length similar to your car’s original wipers. (This ensures that even pressure is kept at all points between the wiper spring, arm, and the windshield.) Next, feel your wipers. Are they soft and flexible, or are they hard and rigid? Your wipers should be springy and stretchy! Sunlight, hot and cold temperatures, and various corrosives (including bird droppings!) are your wiper’s enemies. The more pliable a new blade feels, the better its anti-weathering properties tend to be, and the longer it will usually last.

Tips to make your wiper blades last longer:

If parking in a snowy elevation for a ski trip, raise the blades before you scrape off any ice affixed to the windshield. Do not push your ice scraper against the rubber of the blades, and do not turn the wipers on and have them attempt to scrape an ice-covered windshield! This can cause excess wear and tear that can be avoided if you first scraped the majority of ice off manually. Be patient, and allow the vehicle’s windshield to heat up after starting your car to help melt additional ice.

Occasionally check to make sure that the screws on your wiper arms are tight, and that the wiper arm’s joins are flexible. Lubricate, if necessary.

Be sure to remove your windshield wipers when you wash or paint your car. Both paint and detergent will accelerate the aging process of your rubber wipers!

Lastly, make sure the angle of your wiper arm guarantees all parts of the wiper are flush with the windshield. Raised “pockets” where the wiper is not touching the windshield are clues of misalignment and will cause uneven and quicker wear on your wipers, not to mention annoying streaks on your windshield during wet weather.

By using proper wiper blades, your visibility is maximized in a variety of adverse conditions, equaling a dramatic increase in safety. By following the simple tips above, you can also extend the life of your windshield wipers. If it’s time for wiper blade replacement, stop by MOTEC Auto Care Clinics in San Diego. With quick, professional service, our knowledgeable staff is ready to fit your vehicle with the best wiper blades for your needs. Remember: you’d never drive while wearing a blindfold. In certain conditions, driving with poor wipers is just as dangerous.

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