Tune Ups

Maintain Your Vehicle With Regular Tune Ups

Following scheduled maintenance intervals and getting regular tune ups on your vehicle is a great way to keep it running smoothly, safely and efficiently. A properly tuned vehicle can have increased gas mileage, better performance, and improved emissions (better for the environment).

What Is A Tune Up?

Essentially, a tune up is a one over by a skilled mechanic of all of your vehicle’s important systems to be sure everything is in optimal condition.

Common items that are checked during a regular tune up are spark plugs, idle speed check and adjustment, set timing, inspect the choke, throttle linkage, spark plug wires, and distributor cap. Usually a tune up includes checking the battery as well, because this is a very important component in a vehicle’s function, with a known limited life span.

Other things that are routinely inspected during a tune up are tires, transmission and fluid, brakes, exhaust, air pressure, and belts.

Simple things like checking the fluids and air pressure in a vehicle’s tires can lead to a noticeable positive difference in fuel efficiency, meaning you’ll be spending less at the pump!

Fortunately, most newer vehicles need very little when it comes to tune ups, as long as the scheduled maintenance is being performed alongside with oil changes at normal intervals.

Brakes

Stay Safe - Maintain Your Brakes!

Brakes are the most important safety device on your car. If you’ve ever partially lost your brakes in the past, you’ll agree that it’s not something you want to experience again. Inspecting your brakes twice a year for wear and damage can protect you and your passengers. Additionally, it will also help save you money by catching any damage before it becomes too costly.

Brake System Component Issues

The master cylinder, the heart of the vehicles braking system, holds the brake fluid when it is not being delivered to the brakes through the brake lines. If brake fluid leaks because the master cylinder is worn or brake lines are plugged or broken, the fluid cannot be delivered and the brake pads will become ruined.

The brake fluid itself can become dirty or contaminated as it draws rust-causing moisture and picks up other debris, or it can break down from excess heat. Clean brake fluid is either clear or slightly yellow, while dirty brake fluid may be brown or even black. Old and dirty brake fluid can damage ABS brake systems internally.

The brake lines connect to the master cylinder through a combination valve, which combines a metering and proportioning valve. It regulates the pressure on the front and rear wheels to make sure both sets of brakes are applied simultaneously. A malfunctioning combination valve may cause the wheels to lock up.

Brake System Parts Wear Out Over Time

Brake pads and shoes can be made of ceramic, metal or organic materials, while the disc rotors and drums they press against are made of metal. Because the pads and shoes create friction to stop the car, they gradually wear down over time and may wear away completely, letting the metal of the calipers and cylinders they are attached to grind against the rotors and drums and damage them. Some pads have a metal strip attached that sounds a warning whistle when the pad becomes too worn, but this strip sounds only when the car is in motion and the brakes are not applied.

Make sure to have your mechanic routinely check your vehicle's brakes to maintain the safety of your vehicle.