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MAINTENANCE

The 30,000 mile service is where you will start seeing some of the vehicle service flushes, such as the brake fluid, engine coolant and transmission fluid, as well as spark plugs, air filters and the fuel filter.

The 60,000 mile service may be referred to as a “tune-up”. In addition to all that is done at the 30,000 mile service, the 60,000 mile service is where you will start seeing the replacement of additional fluids like the automatic transmission fluid (filter if equipped), engine coolant and differential fluids. Some vehicles will require the timing belt replacement and valve adjustment at this mileage interval.

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The 90,000 mile service is where you will see some of the fluids replaced, such as the brake fluid, engine coolant and transmission fluid, as well as spark plugs, air filters and the fuel filter. At 90,000 miles you may start seeing the wear and tear on items like the drive belts, coolant hoses, motor mounts and suspension bushings starting to show signs of wear. Oil leaks may start to appear as well.

       BRAKES & ROTORS
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Every vehicle’s brakes seem to wear a little different, so a complete and bi-annual inspection is the best way to adequately determine the wear on the front brake pads and rotors as well as the rear brake pads and rotors. Elder Auto offers a free brake check included with every oil change and we also have a Brake Display model to show how your brake repair will be done.

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Replacement of your brakes and regular maintenance on them is a very important safety measure. When driving with worn down brake pads it can put you at risk of damaging the rotors which is a more costly repair, not to mention the safety of yourself and others.

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Most cars these days come with disc brakes on all four wheels. There are still some vehicles that have drum brakes in the back and disc brakes up front. Over time the pads get worn out and reduces the vehicle’s availability to slow down and stop.

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       SHOCKS & STRUTS
 
Shocks and struts tend to lose their handling qualities over time. After approximately 50K, shocks and struts could start to leak and have excessive bounce. Annual inspections will keep you informed on their condition. It is also recommended to get your alignment and suspension checked at least once a year.
 

Struts and shocks have an important impact on the ride and handling of your vehicle. Replacing your struts and shocks is a part of your routine maintenance. They are not needed as often as fluid changes but still need to be thought of. Worn shocks can make your vehicle handle poorly. Common symptoms that your shocks are worn down are:

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  • Rough ride

  • Bounces up and down over bumps and dips

  • A rattling noise

 

There is no set mileage when shocks should be replaced. It is more about how the vehicle is driven. If driven on dirt or bumpy roads, the struts will wear much faster than a vehicle that is driven on freeway or city streets. Weak shocks can also cause added stress to other front end components as well as brakes.

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       DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS
 

Most vehicles, both import and domestic, have on board computers. Almost always when the check engine light comes on, it means the computer has detected a malfunction. If the check engine light is flashing, it means it is more urgent. A steady check engine light is cautionary and you should get your vehicle checked soon. Our technicians are certified and trained to scan and diagnose your check engine light for codes set by your vehicle’s computer.

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What is diagnostics?

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Diagnostics on a vehicle is an auto technicians way of identifying and assessing problems with your vehicle. They can range from the technician using tools, computers, scanners, or test driving your vehicle. Symptoms can range from the obvious such as fluid leaks, to the not so obvious such as check engine light on or rough idle.

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There are various sensors through out the vehicle, technicians can now hook up a code reader to the vehicle and pull codes to help give them a starting point. When the vehicle’s dashboard notifies the customer with a warning light or error message, that is the easy part. There are many things that the computer on the car won’t tell you, such as rattles, noises, or steering problems. Those are items that a certified, experienced auto tech will have to diagnose by test driving the vehicle, or by using their knowledge from years of experience.

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