A lot of people have cars, and it is also a fact that not everyone knows how and when one needs an auto repair, or tune up in particular. Taking care of your car is very important as it prolong its life and gives you the most value for your money. It can also be a much more comfortable ride if well taken care off.
But, what exactly is a tune up?
A tune up is a type of scheduled maintenance designed to make your car run at its optimum performance or a preventive maintenance to immediately fix a car problem so as it will not cause more problems saving you a ton of money.
When is the right time for me to get a tune up?
If you have a new car, check the owner’s manual for the recommended tune up schedule for your unit, but at 30,000 miles the transmission fluids should be replaced.
Every 60,000 miles your spark plugs should be replaced.
Then here are some tips to guide you in your auto repair tune up:
1. The Break-in
If you have new car, that does not mean it can run for a long time without worry, in fact, the first thing you have to do is to let your car “break-in.” Breaking in means that you let the machine run and settle in its place. Let your car run for a while, 500 miles is the recommended break in distance, and take it back to the shop to check for loose screws, bolts, bearings, and the likes.
2. The mileage
Every 3,000 miles, the oil and oil filter should be changed. This is done to prevent dirt from accumulating in your engine.
Every 15,000 miles the air filter should be replaced.
3. The time
Yearly, the brake fluid should be replaced while the coolant has the interval of every 2 years.
Those mentioned above are scheduled maintenance, and should be done religiously to keep your car in tip top shape. But sometimes problems arise even when these scheduled checkups are followed. If you observe some of these problems in your car, it might need to see a mechanic for some needed tune up.
4. The car takes a long time to start.
Your car should start immediately, this problem is usually caused by a weak battery, and sometimes it only needs replacing.
5. Black smoke comes out of your car when it starts or when your car accelerates.
Black smoke is the result of a high gasoline mixture, indicating that your car has a messed up air to fuel ratio, meaning that when you accelerate you expel more gasoline than you need.
6. The car stops itself.
Spark plugs may be overused and needs changing, some may be due to wire problems or fuel filters.
7. The brake system feels different or something sounds wrong when you hit the brakes.
Your brake pads may stick or something may be stuck in between the disk and the pad, sometimes the brake fluid has leaked. Never take your brake system for granted, your families safety depends on it.
8. The clutch is loosened or unresponsive (manual vehicles)
If your clutch does not return to its normal position when it was stepped on or when the gear stick is hard to get into the gear it is a sign of leak.
9. Car overheats.
Check your water levels; also make sure that the cap is placed properly. If your water level goes down very quickly, leakage is a possibility.
If you are not sure of the problem your car is having, consult a mechanic or visit an
auto repair Glendale. Having a relationship with your repair facility is utmost important. They have your records of repair and warranty of parts replaced. Never fix anything in your car if you are not sure that it is the problem. These may result in injuries and may get you to do even more damage to your car.
