Performing Regular Maintenance

Don't forget the maintenance! C&R tire can perform any of your manufacturers recommended maintenance. Let us be your dealer alternative. It's the little things that count, and checking a few of these little things off your list will put you ahead of the game, and ease the pain in your wallet. Most maintenance checks only take a minute,  and most maintenance tasks can be tackled in an afternoon. Don't maintain your car and you'll pay the price down the road. Please feel free to call us with any of your questions or concerns. We would be happy to advise you when and what services are recommended for your vehicle and walk you through our free courtesy inspection where we check all fluids for condition, tires, belts and hoses and much much more. The schedule for performing these maintenance services varies from vehicle to vehicle. You will find the schedule for your vehicle in your owner's manual. We can also print out manufacturers recommended maintenance for you vehicle and discuss any questions you may have.Following this schedule is the best way to make sure your vehicle is performing as it should.

Alignment & Tires

So what causes shimmy and shakes in the front end? The biggest culprit is an out-of-balance or out-of-round tire. As the tread on the tire wears, it will need to be re-balanced to evenly distribute the weight of the tire and the wheel. To do this, small lead weight is attached to the outside of the wheel and a machine is used to spin the tire and wheel to check balance. Tires should be balanced and rotated every 12,000 miles (approximately every four oil changes) to ensure even tire wear and extend tread life. Out-of-round means the tire has worn unevenly and cannot be balanced. An out-of-round tire will have to be replaced. I have even seen new tires that were out-of-round due to a manufacturing defect. Hitting a curb or large pot hole can cause the wheel weights to come off, and sometimes the weights sling off the wheel at high speed if they were not installed properly. Out-of-round or out-of-balance will not cause a pull in the front end, but will definitely cause shakes and shimmies. If you can drive out of a shake or shimmy by varying the speed of the car, it is a good clue that you have an out-of-balance problem. A simple way to check tire balance: if the shimmy is present at one speed, but better or not present at a different speed, then a balance problem is likely. An out-of-round tire or a bent wheel will usually produce a wobble or shimmy at all speeds, and replacement of the tire or wheel is usually the cure.

Regular tire rotation is the best way to extend the life of a tire. Ask your mechanic which way to rotate the tires depending on how the tread is wearing. Crossing tires in an "X" pattern is usually the standard way to rotate most tires, but moving the front tires to the back in some cases is recommended to place the  best tires on the front. The majority of the stopping power of the vehicle comes from the front brakes, so the best tires should stay on the front for safety. Caution: Some tires are "directional" and must stay on one side of the vehicle, due to the fact that the tire was made for the tread to only travel in one direction.

A vibration or shaking that is felt in the steering wheel only when the brakes are applied is not a front end alignment problem, but a brake problem. Have the brakes inspected and make sure to tell your mechanic about the shaking that you feel in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes. This vibration may not be felt by the mechanic on a quick test drive around the block, so be specific. During this brake inspection, it would also be a great time to rotate the tires since you are already paying the labor to remove the wheels.

Car Safety Tips

Car safety is something we all can learn from. Many times injuries and accidents can be avoided by simply following a few simple rules.

Warning Lights

Always keep an eye on your gauges, identifying a problem early can mean the difference in a simple repair and a costly one. Check all brake lights, Day time running lights (DRL) and head lights regularly.

Vital Fluids

a. Oil - Always make sure your oil is changed regularly and is at the full mark. The oil pressure gauge needs to be in the normal range at all times or have it checked immediately.

b. Coolant Level - NEVER REMOVE THE RADIATOR CAP WHEN THE CAR IS HOT! Always check your radiator when the car is cold. The reservoir has a cold and hot mark for the coolant level there should be coolant in their at all times. Water temperature is very important. A leaking radiator hose can drain the radiator surprisingly fast. If you are driving your car without water in the radiator, your temperature gauge will show you how hot the water temperature is. Never operate your car if it is in the red area of the gauge. Most cars operating temperature is between 190-210 degrees Fahrenheit.

c. Automatic Transmission Fluid-When checking the transmission fluid the car needs to be running and in PARK.

d. Windshield Wiper Fluid -Refill only with windshield wiper fluid. The level is very easy to check

e. Brake Fluid-check by looking at the master cylinder and comparing the full line with the fluid level.

Please feel free to stop by C&R Tire & Auto Service at your earliest convenience for a free courtesy inspection of your fluids and tire pressure. We hope to see you soon!

 

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