Open Discussion Blog

Make a Car Maintenance Resolution for 2010!

Most of us have done it dozens of times—if not more! We make a New Year’s resolution on January 1st to get healthy. We have the best of intentions and usually work really hard for the first few months. Unfortunately, by April we’re right back in the same bad habits.

What if this year was different? As important is it is to keep your body and mind healthy, it’s also critical that you keep your vehicle healthy as well. As the San Pedro car maintenance professionals, we want to help you keep your commitment to your vehicle’s health in 2010.

San Pedro Car Maintenance: The Checklist

Regular car maintenance is the easiest way to save money and time on your vehicle in the long-term. Our San Pedro car maintenance program prevents problems before they happen so you can prolong the life of your car. You spend less money on repairs and make less trips to the shop!

Our San Pedro car maintenance recommendations include the following twenty services and check-ups on a regularly scheduled basis:

Tire rotation Alignment analysis Battery service Air filter Cabin filter Fuel filter Drive belt(s) Radiator hoses Tune-up Oil change Engine cleaner and conditioner Transmission service Cooling system service Power steering service Brake fluid system service Fuel/air service Drive line service Wiper blade service Bi-annual brake system inspection Climate control service and inspection

These twenty critical maintenance services cover every major vehicle system. As your San Pedro car maintenance experts, we ensure that your vehicle is reliable, safe, and performing at its peak condition.

San Pedro Car Maintenance: The Free 40-Point Inspection

In addition to a regularly scheduled San Pedro car maintenance program, we also offer a free 40-point safety inspection of your vehicle’s systems. This proactive, comprehensive 40-point safety inspection prevents costly repairs down the road. You don’t have to do anything but trust your vehicle to the San Pedro car maintenance specialists!

Simply schedule an appointment for any service to receive the free 40-point safety inspection to evaluate your vehicle. During our inspection, we’ll also examine the twenty items on our San Pedro car maintenance checklist to determine the health of your vehicle.

Related Car Maintenance Articles

Great software for keeping up with your car maintenance

We live in a hectic world. Like most people today I am often challenged to find the time to keep up with my car maintenance responsibilities. Between taking care of the kids, working, home maintenance and a myriad of other duties we all face on an every day basis, its hard to remember to get the oil changed every three thousand miles or check the air filter in the family car. Its especially overwhelming if you have several vehicles like me to do the needed car care on a regular basis.

Recently I found a wonderful product named Automotive Wolf car maintenance software that makes it very easy. It will track all your maintenance, repairs and even send you email reminders when a service item is due. You can configure your car maintenance schedule requirements in seconds and then just let it do its thing. Every time you enter a maintenance or fuel record it will also calculate how many miles you are driving per year which lets it begin to predict very accurately when a maintenance item needs to be addressed even if you have not actually used the software in months. It also tracks operating costs and compiles a parts list for you as you add maintenance records. Another awesome feature is that it will let you connect to Infotraxx Automotive Data Services to check for recalls and technical service bulletins. Basically its a total car care package and it really works great!

I have been tracking three vehicles for four months now and the cost analysis shows you clearly which vehicle costs you the most to keep on the road. The reports it produces are also very useful when you want to sell the vehicle so you can present any prospective buyer with a detailed maintenance log which can ultimately increase your cars resale value. Overall its a great car care program that save you alot of money on repairs and I highly recommend it.

More Car Maintenance Articles

Saving Money On Your Car Maintenance

Maintaining your vehicle may be a challenge in these trying times.  Many people think that by letting go of regular car maintenance they are saving.  In truth, people who let their vehicles go may end up with a whole lot of car trouble.

You don’t have to spend big bucks on maintaining your car.  Here are few tips on saving money on your car maintenance.

Canvass

If you’re going to bring your car in to a dealership or to an independent auto mechanic, ask what they charge for routine maintenance.

You won’t lose your warranty if you go to an independent mechanic instead of a dealer.  An independent mechanic, especially one you know on a personal level, will charge you less than what a dealership would.

If the mechanic or dealership wants you to have extra work done, you don’t have to.  Maintenance measures that are not included in the owner’s manual are nice but not necessary.  Don’t feel pressured into having them.

Always get quotes from dealers and car mechanics in the area.  However, consider quality of service and after sales.  You may end up paying a bit more than the lowest quote you receive but get better service and after sales.  That should also be a factor in your decision making process.

Avoid Stress

While the advice may be good for you too, this is also true for your car.  Excessive stress can damage your car.  Stressing your car will lead to a breakdown and wear your vehicle out faster.  A broken down vehicle will require more maintenance and in a worst case scenario, a replacement.

Driving well will lead to longer car life and more value when you choose to upgrade to a better model.

Promos

There are innovative ways of cutting on costs.  Did you know that a free oil change is available in certain states for individuals who meet the requirements?  

You can also get free gas if you’re a frequent traveler.  If you drive at least a thousand miles every month, you can sign up and get free gas in return for acting as a mobile advertisement.  A magnetic sign will be placed on your car and the size of the sign will determine how much free gas you will get.

Inflate Tires

Keep your tires well inflated.  Too much or too little air can damage your tires and require you to have them replaced.  You should know how much air is best for your tires.  Keep the air at that level.

Fluid Checks and Oil Changes

Gas isn’t the only fluid your car needs to operate smoothly.  You should also check that oil, transmission fluid and engine coolant are at optimum levels.  If any of these are inadequate, an engine collapse may be in the offing.

As oil is of vital importance to your car, have it changed every three thousand miles.  Regular oil changes can increase your engine’s life and performance.  Thus, you get more value from your car in the long run.

Wash and Wax Regularly

Taking care of your car’s internal components is important.  However, do not ignore the exterior.  A clean, well polished car is a source of joy to any car owner.  Regular washing and waxing can also prevent corrosion problems.  Corrosion problems can lower your car’s value.

A car is a machine and machines need proper maintenance.  Having your car maintained at regular intervals can extend the car’s life and functionality.  Regular maintenance will save you from expensive repairs and the possibility of purchasing another vehicle.

But the ultimate car maintenance money saving tip is:  do it yourself.  If you can do it properly, do the servicing yourself.

Learn how to remove a car battery so it can be replaced with expert car tips in this free online automotive repair video clip. Expert: William Myers Contact: www.austinsubaru.com/en_US/ Bio: William Myers has been a Senior Master Technician for Subaru since 1998. He is an ASE Certified Master Technician and L1 Advanced Level Specialist. Filmmaker: EV studios

Top 5 Tips – DIY Car Maintenance

Good car maintenance is a prerequisite for a smooth running and a longer life of our prized possessions. While there indeed are automobile service stations to take care of them when they fall sick, you at your end can do a lot for your car’s upkeep and stitch it in time so as to save nine. This post offers 5 essential tips you can implement yourself, and which should pretty much ensure your car’s good health.

1. Check Engine Oil

Critical to an automobile’s lubrication system, the engine oil lubricates a car’s moving parts, cleans and inhibits corrosion, and also cools the engine by carrying heat away from the parts.

To check engine oil, Turn off the car’s ignition. Locate the dipstick, in case you don’t know where it is take the help of the owner’s manual and then remove the dipstick. Most dipstick carry the label “engine oil.”

Wipe off any excess oil and then check dip it another time to see if it reaches the “Full” mark or not. If not then you need to fill up to reach the “Full” mark.

Now, observe the color of the engine oil. A black an opaque appearance means time for a change. Dark brown but somewhat transparent means you’d need to change it after some time. A clear appearance means it’s OK, but be wary if it appears to be whitish, as that might indicate a need for a professional check up.

To replace engine oil, choose the product that’s already inside your car. Pour in slowly allowing it time to settle down. After you’re done, replace the dipstick properly.

2. Check Automatic Transmission Fluid

To run a check for automatic transmission fluid change the transmission lever’s position to Park of ‘P’ position. Locate the transmission dipstick, in case you don’t know where it is take the help of the owner’s manual and then remove the transmission dipstick. Wipe it and dip it again to check the levels.

Also look at the appearance of the fluid. A black fluid with a burnt smell is a sign that it needs a quick change. If its brown in color, then there’s still some life in it. In comparison a newly replaced fluid is red in color.

Aside from the appearance, refer to the owner’s manual as well. As some manufacturers specify the number of miles you can drive before a refill is needed.

3. Check Engine Coolant

This is a simple procedure. To perform the check simply locate the coolant overflow tank and note the levels.

Low coolant level will cause the engine to overheat, which may cause serious damage to the engine. If the levels are between “LOW” and “FULL” markings, then it’s OK. If it’s below the “LOW” marking, then naturally a replacement is needed.

4. Check CV Joint Boots

A majority of modern day automobiles are front wheel drive, wherein a CV joint’s job is to help in transmitting power to the wheels.

To check the CV joint for breakage or damage, you’d need to inspect the internal sides of the wheel. To make it easier for you, first turn the wheel to one side as much as it can turn. Now, look at the inside to inspect the front wheel arch. If your inspection reveals oil or greasing on the boot, it means that it’s broken. If it dry then there’s nothing to worry about. If it’s broken, then treat it as an emergency and arrange for a replacement.

5. Check Tire Pressure

Taking good care of wheels & tires is simple, very basic and very important. The point is to check air pressure without fail at least once a month. It might be a good idea if you purchased a tire pressure gauge, so that you can check the pressure any time by yourself. Another key consideration is to ensure the ideal tire pressure (as has been prescribed by the car manufacturer).

In addition to the basic checks outlined above, don’t postpone going to a professional mechanic if you sense trouble. Further, regular checkups too would ensure that an impending bigger trouble is forestalled before it blows out of proportion.

Check the car’s radiator coolant level to prevent it from dropping damaging levels; learn how from our expert mechanic in this free car-maintenance video. Expert: Jeff Wong Bio: Jeff Wong has a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has owned & operated an aftermarket automotive parts business for five years. He has been working on automobiles for 17 years. Filmmaker: Joshua Kidwell
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Be Environmentally Friendly – Money Saving Tips for Good Car Maintenance

Car fuel prices are fluctuating and escalating through the roof. Research shows the average age of vehicles to be 9 years. So is keeping your old car and stretching your work horse even further being environmentally friendly? How can we do that without having to spend more on maintenance?

It is a natural course with your car engine wear and tear affecting performance and car fuel consumption gets rises. Check out the following good practice car maintenance to enhance the longevity of your vehicle:

Cars are like humans, you need to keep them in tuned with the seasons. Remember to change to winter tires and add anti-freeze. Plug in your electric cord to warm up the engine half an hour before you start your journey.

And in summer, check your fluids too. The sun heats up and dries the fluids more quickly. Check your oil level, coolant fluids etc. Keep your car in a covered garage.

Sign Up For A Comprehensive Regular Tune-Up Package. The mechanics will do your oil change, change your air filters, check your spark plugs, radiator and fuel injector, test your brake pads, tire pressure, rotate your tires (if required) as well as tune your wheel alignment. Have the computerized system checked by your specialist mechanics. Life saving devices such as the air bags, antilock breaks etc must be checked for safety too.

Change Your Oil Every 3 Months Or 3,000 Miles. Here is a simple example to help you visualize. Imagine re-using the same pot of oil for deep-frying your French fries everyday for 3 weeks… the oil has become a thick crude of glob and your fries tastes weird doesn’t it? Same theory goes for your car. Revitalize your car engine with a fixed scheduled oil change routine.

Listen & Feel the Strange Warning Signs. Be conscious of squeaky noise, gasoline smell, and oil leaks on your garage floor. Check where the noise comes from. Early detection of car faults could save you a ton of money.

Befriend A Good Mechanic. Not only will you save money, you save yourself some anguish from unscrupulous mechanics some of whom change your good parts for bad or recommend unnecessary jobs. And now, get ready to enjoy the ride!

When cleaning a car battery, a simple mixture of baking soda and water can help to neutralize the acid buildup on the battery terminals. Find out how to clean a car battery with a toothbrush and a hose by following the instructions of car restoration specialists in this free video on car maintenance. Expert: Gary Malec & John Grassi Bio: Gary Malec and John Grassi rebuild cars and boats, do household handyman work, and build computers. Filmmaker: gary malec
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Find More Car Maintenance Articles

Car Maintenance: Will it Really Help Gas Mileage?

As gas prices continue to rise, the auto industry is out in full force touting the benefits of car maintenance. Many repair shops even have custom “fuel saver” services. While maintaining one’s car is indeed important, does it really save gas? Before we answer this, let’s step back and look at auto maintenance for today’s cars.

The first question we need to ask is – what does my car need (according to the manufacturer) for it to be considered “maintained.” Today’s cars no longer have distributor caps, rotors, points, and a variety of other ignition components – so these don’t need maintenance. Many vehicles now come with extended service parts such as 100,000-mile platinum spark plugs and life-time fuel filters. Oil change intervals have been extended to 5,000 miles or more. The 3,000-mile oil change is ancient history. Coolant flushes and transmission services aren’t needed until 100,000 miles if at all. Yet, even if we performed all the above services, will they increase fuel efficiency? Probably not. Unless your vehicle is misfiring (i.e., not running on all cylinders), you’re gas mileage is likely fine.

So what part of car maintenance adversely effects gas mileage for the average driver of a late model vehicle? Three things: tire pressure, air filters, and excess carbon.

Tire Pressure: Setting your tire pressure is free, and is the best maintenance service you can perform to maintain maximum fuel efficiency. It’s that simple.

Air Filters: Air filters can indeed get plugged after a considerable amount of driving and can then restrict air flow, which will not allow your fuel to burn efficiently. This can also cause excess carbon build-up, which can reduce miles per gallon. The good news: air filters are cheap ( to ), are easy to install, and usually only need replacement every 30,000 miles.

Excess Carbon: There is another auto maintenance service that “can” help gas mileage. It’s called a fuel system cleaning service. Some repair centers call it fuel injector auto maintenance, or a fuel injection service. Simply, chemicals are added to your fuel system through a variety of orifices to clean out excess carbon deposits on your valves, pistons and intake manifold. This naturally forming carbon (in excess) is not good for gas mileage. Excess carbon absorbs gasoline, which would otherwise be used to power your vehicle. However, before you run out and spend the 0 + to have this service performed, there is one important consideration – the service will only work for vehicles that need it. In other words, yes the stuff works, but you’re vehicle may not have any excess carbon build-up. You wouldn’t wash clean clothes – right?

When you see those “fuel saver” services for 0 to 0, they’ll likely include an air filter, tire pressure check, and a fuel system cleaning service. If you’re wondering whether or not your vehicle needs it, ask yourself the following:

Do I use quality gasoline consistently?

Have I replaced my air filter at least every 30,000 miles?

Have I checked my tire pressure recently?

If you can answer these questions affirmatively, you’re probably ok. Buying cheap, no-name gas once-in-awhile is ok. Replacing the air filter and setting your tire pressure is common sense. Also, if you drive like grandma, get out on the highway and press the vertical pedal at your right foot “all the way to the floor” until your vehicle accelerates to speeds at which you’re not all too entirely comfortable. Then repeat a few more times. This will help clean out excess carbon – FREE – less the cost of fuel. Be careful. Watch out for cops.

In summary, follow your manufacturer guidelines for your car’s maintenance – not ones designed by those who stand to benefit most. Use name-brand fuel, set your tire pressure now and again, pop in an air filter, according to your car’s recommended interval, and don’t be afraid to drop the hammer now and again.

Related Car Maintenance Articles

Simple Car Maintenance Tips

You drive your car everyday. Do you pay attention to it? Do you feel that slight shimmy in the front end? Is there a new knocking sound under the hood? Is there a rattle in the dashboard? No one knows your car better than you do. If you feel something different, or if it isn’t handling correctly take it to your mechanic. It could be something as simple as a tire out of alignment, or perhaps a loose belt. It’s always best to find any small problem before it becomes a large one.

Here are some simple maintenance tips that you can follow to help prolong the life of your car, and help save you money.

Notice where you park your car and get into the habit of looking to see if there are any leaks when you pull out. This can be very tricky in a public garage with lots of stains from leaks from other cars, but if your car is leaking any type of fluid, transmission, radiator or brake the leak will look “fresh”. If you see any fluid leaking have your car serviced as soon as possible.

Keep an eye on your tires. When you have your oil changed every 3,000 miles have your tires rotated. At this time the technician will inspect your tires for any wear. Keep your tires aligned. Check your tire pressure once every month. It’s easy enough to read tire gauges and they even have electronic ones. Keeping your tires properly inflated helps increase gas mileage too.

As mentioned above, change your oil at least every 3,000 miles. The oil is the life blood of your car and keeping fresh oil in your car can extends it’s life by many, many miles. At this time the technician will check your air filter, hoses and belts.

Keep your windshield washer reservoir full and carry an extra gallon with you. You don’t want to be caught without washer fluid, and you don’t realize how quickly you use it up, especially in the winter months when we get salt spray on the windshield. Replace your wiper blades once a year

Since man developed fondness for automobiles, the auto industry just grew bigger and more diversified. Almost every stage in the history of cars is marked by an invention, an introduction of a new design or car concept and a whole lot of new ideas aimed at improving car’s performance, style and safety features. Likewise, replacement auto parts market has thrived due to the growing demands of auto users. Hence, today, more choices of high quality auto parts and even accessories are available for your car repair, car maintenance and customization.

Question by hamsterlover: How do I figure out the car maintenance fee for my car monthly and yearly?
I have a 2009 Honda Accord. Its total price was 21,508 and how much would it cost for car maintenance a month/yearly? How would I figure this price out?

Best answer:

Answer by brad r
Mostly you’ll want to put away /month for pcm, however go ask the dealership you bought the car from, they can best answer that question.

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by Ken: What car Maintenance does my car really need at 35K miles?
I have a 2000 Hyundai Elantra that has about 35,000 miles on it. I’ve never really done any preventative maintenance on the car, mostly out of ignorance of what exactly I should have done.

I am starting to use the car more for commuting, and would like to invest some money into it to keep it running safely and smoothly for a few more years. What are some good services I can ask for when I go to the mechanic, and which services are generally bogus?

Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by zaroman
just the usual checks, brake pads and disks, oil and lubes and fluids, belts and chains, spark plugs, lights and fuses.. a general checkup these are the main things you should look at and change if needed, if any thing else if broken, it should be under warranty

Add your own answer in the comments!

The Ultimate Swimming Pool Maintenance Guide – Awesome Conversions!
The Swimming Pool Maintenance Guide Shares How To Maintain A Swimming Pool And All The Insider Tricks Of The Trade. Great Conversion Rates And Low Refunds! Great Product For A Swimming Pool Owner And An Extremely Deep Niche.
The Ultimate Swimming Pool Maintenance Guide – Awesome Conversions!