inspections, car care & tune ups
Repair. Maintenance. Service. Since 2001
While your owner’s manual will have slightly different recommendations for how often to replace your fluids, filters, timing belts, and tires, the trained auto service mechanics at All Around Auto Repair have electronic diagnostic tools to tell whether parts have worn out before their time. Unchanged: While your owner’s manual will have slightly different recommendations for how often to replace your fluids, filters, timing belts, and tires, the trained auto service mechanics at All Around Auto Repair have electronic diagnostic tools to tell whether parts have worn out before their time.
Your owner’s manual will set the basic rules, however, and tell you whether you’re using the right gas in your vehicle when you fill up at the pump every week and whether a synthetic oil might be the best option for your vehicle. Unchanged: Your owner’s manual will set the basic rules, however, and tell you whether you’re using the right gas in your vehicle when you fill up at the pump every week and whether a synthetic oil might be the best option for your vehicle.
The danger in throwing caution to the wind or just doing whatever when it comes to maintaining your vehicle is that you could be using more expensive gasoline that you need or skip routine auto service that could have saved you thousands long term. Yikes! Unchanged: The danger in throwing caution to the wind or just doing whatever when it comes to maintaining your vehicle is that you could be using more expensive gasoline that you need or skip routine auto service that could have saved you thousands long term. Yikes!
Making Your Preliminary Inspections
Spending a little bit of money on preventative maintenance now will undoubtedly save you thousands of dollars down the road – pardon the pun – in terms of all the money that you’ll save from not having to replace your engine or (perish the thought) replacement vehicle. Spending a little bit of money on preventative maintenance now will undoubtedly save you thousands of dollars down the road – pardon the pun – in terms of all the money that you’ll save from not having to replace your engine or (perish the thought) replacement vehicle.
Basic Visual Inspection Unchanged: Basic Visual Inspection
Give your vehicle a quick visual inspection to ensure that all of your head lights, fog lights, tail lights, and brake lights are working, especially when you apply pressure to the brakes. Have someone stand behind the vehicle and confirm that your lights are working properly. Unchanged: Give your vehicle a quick visual inspection to ensure that all of your head lights, fog lights, tail lights, and brake lights are working, especially when you apply pressure to the brakes. Have someone stand behind the vehicle and confirm that your lights are working properly.
Next, check the tires. Look for any kind of tilt to your vehicle, which could indicate that one of your tires is under-inflated. Your tires have wear indicators that can clue you in to potential issues early, or you could rely on the penny test to get a rough estimate of your tires’ remaining tread. Unchanged: Next, check the tires. Look for any kind of tilt to your vehicle, which could indicate that one of your tires is under-inflated. Your tires have wear indicators that can clue you in to potential issues early, or you could rely on the penny test to get a rough estimate of your tires’ remaining tread.
Check Your Fluid Levels
Checking your antifreeze (a.k.a., coolant) and wiper fluid levels isn’t that difficult, and topping off those fluids is actually pretty easy. Many of your fluids will have gauges, dipsticks, and notches that indicate whether you’re running low. Unchanged: Checking your antifreeze (a.k.a., coolant) and wiper fluid levels isn’t that difficult, and topping off those fluids is actually pretty easy. Many of your fluids will have gauges, dipsticks, and notches that indicate whether you’re running low.
Checking your power steering fluid (small tank by firewall), transmission fluid (front of engine by transaxle), and engine oil can be more challenging, and if you’re not feeling adventurous you may simply want to take your vehicle in to All Around Auto Repair for inspection, routine maintenance, and auto service. Unchanged: Checking your power steering fluid (small tank by firewall), transmission fluid (front of engine by transaxle), and engine oil can be more challenging, and if you’re not feeling adventurous you may simply want to take your vehicle in to All Around Auto Repair for inspection, routine maintenance, and auto service.
Coolant
With your coolant, you’ll want to look near the overflow container by the radiator and make sure that the liquid level is above the minimum level. Coolant is the yellow or green fluid by the radiator and works to keep the radiator from overheating or freezing. With your coolant, you’ll want to look near the overflow container by the radiator and make sure that the liquid level is above the minimum level. Coolant is the yellow or green fluid by the radiator and works to keep the radiator from overheating or freezing.
If your coolant’s below what your vehicle needs, then all that you need to typically do is create a 50/50 mix with water/antifreeze and slowly fill the level to be above the line. Unchanged: If your coolant’s below what your vehicle needs, then all that you need to typically do is create a 50/50 mix with water/antifreeze and slowly fill the level to be above the line.
Engine Oil
Moving on to engine oil, that’s probably the most important of all but something that you might want to leave to the certified mechanics at All Around Auto Repair if you’re not completely confident. Unchanged: Moving on to engine oil, that’s probably the most important of all but something that you might want to leave to the certified mechanics at All Around Auto Repair if you’re not completely confident.
Engine oil, after all, is the lifeblood of your vehicle’s engine in that it prevents gunk buildup and overheating. Unchanged: Engine oil, after all, is the lifeblood of your vehicle’s engine in that it prevents gunk buildup and overheating.
Important note: Always follow your owner’s manual when it comes to the procedure to follow for checking your engine oil. Some vehicle’s owner’s manuals will tell you to check the oil while the engine is cold whereas others will say to check the oil when the vehicle has warmed up. Unchanged: Important note: Always follow your owner’s manual when it comes to the procedure to follow for checking your engine oil. Some vehicle’s owner’s manuals will tell you to check the oil while the engine is cold whereas others will say to check the oil when the vehicle has warmed up.
Some vehicles also have an electronic oil monitor whereas older vehicles will have a dipstick with a low/high or max/min icon that will indicate proper oil level. Unchanged: Some vehicles also have an electronic oil monitor whereas older vehicles will have a dipstick with a low/high or max/min icon that will indicate proper oil level.
While most vehicle owners might be able to change their coolant and windshield washer fluid themselves, changing the engine oil or power steering fluid can be much more complicated. When in doubt, rely on All Around Auto Repair. Schedule routine maintenance, oil changes, or auto service today.
Inspections, Car Care & Tune Ups at All Around Auto Repair
We have a lot to say about Inspections, Car Care & Tune Ups and the importance of regular maintenance for your vehicle. See our articles below to learn more about how to keep your vehicle in it’s best condition:
Brake Inspection with Tire Rotation and Periodically Change Parts
Getting a brake inspection about every six months is the recommendation you'll hear most often from mechanics and technicians. Normally, brake inspections are done with tire rotations during your regular scheduled maintenance - outlined by your manufacturer in your...
Why Steering, Cornering, and Stability Depend on Proper Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is one of those things that you're not sure that you need until you go without it for too long - kind of like a nice, warm bath! Because wheel alignment can go by many different names, like "tracking" and the more ambiguous term "braking," you might...
Reasons Your Logistics Needs Routine Fleet Vehicle Maintenance
Businesses are all about reducing their overhead costs and operating expenses wherever possible. Some costs are avoidable but, come to think of it, so are some disasters. Reduce the Chances of Seeing a Tow Truck There are proactive steps that you can take today to...
Your FAQ About Vehicle Tune Ups Answered
A vehicle tune up is a kind of preventive maintenance that ensures your vehicle will stay roaring down the highways for years to come. As such, vehicle maintenance involves checking and overhauling a number of your vehicle's systems. Are there short-term benefits? ...
Easy Fixes for Check Engine Light Problems at Experienced Repair Shop
Are you playing a shell game with the long-term health of your vehicle? If you're like one in three motorists, then instead of winning you might really lose out. The American Automobile Association (AAA) recently did a study and found that a third of drivers are...
Appreciating the Differences Between Automotive Technicians and Auto Mechanics
Ask five different auto mechanics to lay out the differences between an automotive technician and a mechanic and you're likely to get eleven different answers and a lecture with bullet points. What gives? Are they really that different? Yes and no. Auto Mechanics...
Car Maintenance: Make It 100,000 Miles…or More!
The average age of American cars galloping down the highways reached an all-time high of around 11 years old. What's more, about half of drivers when polled say that their primary vehicle has more than 100,000 miles on it, which would have been unheard of two decades...
How Comprehensive is a Brake Inspection at All Around Auto Repair?
The conventional wisdom among auto experts is that you should have your tires rotated every six months, and that's about how long you should go between having a brake inspection as well. It can even make sense to do both inspections together so that you can get an...
Car Leaking Oil? Take It to an Auto Center!
A small puddle of oil left on the pavement as you pull out of a parking space or blue oil coming out of the tailpipe might seem like no big deal. The fact is that oil puddles left behind can indicate a number of issues that need to be addressed at an auto center. Get...
It’s Electric! Take Vehicle Electrical Issues to All Around Auto Repair
When you stop to think about it, your vehicle is as much powered by electricity as an internal combustion engine. Your vehicle's electrical system consists mainly of your battery, the alternator, and the starter. When vehicle electrical issues arise due to these...
Automotive Services
All Around Auto Repair provides maintenance for cars of all makes and models. Our mechanics also service most types of recreational vehicles, boats, and motor homes. We use sophisticated diagnostic computers to find out why your check engine light went on and identify any other problems with your vehicle.
Oil Changes
A regular oil change lubricates your engine in the short term and provides long-term protection by actually cleaning your engine’s parts as it goes about its business of taking you from point A to point B.
Brake Repairs and Replacements
Too many people think that brake problems either mean you need new brake pads or all new brakes. A smart auto mechanic can find other solutions. We love solving problems and educating our customers.
Inspections, Car Care & Tune Ups
Slight vibrations in your steering wheel or brakes that grind and become less effective are surefire, though sometimes subtle, signs that you're overdue for a tune up. Don't wait for the check engine light.
Scheduled Maintenance (30k/60k/90k)
Getting your vehicle serviced is critical to keeping your vehicle running smoothly and on the road for longer. You're probably already pretty familiar with the importance of getting your oil changed, but did you know that this is only one kind of car service that you can get?
Engine Work and Overhauls
Whether you car needs some minor engine work, or a complete disassembly for an overhaul, All Around Auto Repair can help.
Diagnostic Tests
Without a doubt, diagnostics tools make life easier for all of us. Computers and sensors inside your car can alert you to trouble before something bad happens or significantly speed up the search for a solution.
Air Conditioning Service and Repair
Auto experts say that the benefits of maintaining a comfortable temperature far outweigh the marginal increase in fuel economy that you'll get from being sweaty and uncomfortable by going a few degrees warmer.
Transmission Service and Repair
Good transmission service and repair is essential for your vehicle because it will promote optimal performance and prevent the failure of the component.
Clutch Repair and Replacement
Though the quality and lifespan of the typical clutch has improved over the years, it will not last forever. If you have driven your vehicle in excess of 20,000 miles, you should have its clutch inspected at least once a year.
Wheel Alignment
Automobile wheel alignment is an essential aspect of car maintenance that every car owner should prioritize.