Rochester, NY 14607-1636
Phone: (585)242-2360
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What does it mean when my "check engine" light comes on? What is a timing belt and why does it need to be changed? How often should I change my oil? How often should I service my transmission? How do I check my fluid and level? How do I know when I need a tune-up?
What does it mean when my "check engine" light comes on? Today's automobiles have sensors scattered all over the engine compartment and in various other compartments. These sensors monitor or control different operating systems of an automobile such as fuel delivery, ignition, timing, cooling, struts, steering, etc.. Theses sensors send and receive feedback to and from a central computer usually called the E.C.M. (Electronic Control Module) - the brain of the electronics. When the E.C.M. receives feedback from a sensor that is malfunctioning or reports information outside the operating boundaries it triggers the E.C.M. which in turn notifies the driver turning on a light on the dash or the information center. When this light comes on the computer is attempting to tell the driver that there is a problem or maintenance is needed. The computer also stores a code in its memory. Once a technician accesses the E.C.M. with diagnostic equipment and retrieves the stored code he will then know what system to start his testing (i.e. fuel, ignition, emission). What is a timing belt and why does it need to be changed? Timing belts are just that. They are either a belt (comparable to an engine belt) The belt turns a set of gears that controls the opening and closing of the valves. The valves must be timed properly because they work in conjunction with fuel delivery, and the action of the piston If the valves open at the same time the piston comes up, the two will collide and the valves will bend. This collision usually happens when the timing belt either slips on the gear or breaks after excessive wear and use. When a timing belt breaks it does not always bend the valves. If you are lucky you will only have to replace the timing belt . This usually costs approximately $200 to $500 depending on your make and model. In the event your valves bend you will be looking at repair costs of approximately $300 to $1,300, depending on the damage and your make and model. This is why replacing your timing belt at the recommended service intervals is so important. Most people feel that a few hundred dollars is too much to spend on a service, especially when there is nothing broken on their vehicle. However, this service is called "preventive maintenance" and it is meant for just that - to "prevent" your belt or chain from having the opportunity to break and then bend the valves. We compare preventive maintenance to "preventive medicine". People go to the doctor to have regular check-ups for early detection of cancer and other health issues before they spread and cause major problems - we want to do the same for you automobile. Your owners manual or Vesa Automotive can tell you when your timing belt should be replaced. How often should I change my oil? One of the most beneficial services you can do to extend the life of your automobile's engine is to change the oil regularly. However, regularly does not mean frequently. There has been discussion on the subject of how many miles should pass between oil changes. The determining factor in deciding your oil change schedule is understanding what kind of driving you do. For example, If you live in extreme climate conditions such as extreme heat, cold, heavy dirt or dust, or if you are into heavy stop-and-go driving or pulling trailers. WE have extreme conditions. Cold and hot! In our case it is recommended that we change our oil every 3,000 miles. During this process the repair shop should also check your air filter, belts, hoses, and fuel filter. By developing a habit of changing your oil every 3,000 miles and having regular scheduled maintenance performed, (such as fuel filters, air filters, fuel system cleanings, transmission services, belts, etc.) you will drastically increase the life of your engine. Synthetic or Conventional Oil? An oil's ability to protect an engine is measured and tested based on two important characteristics, pour point and flash point. Pour Point is the temperature at which the oil stops flowing. (Cold) Flash Point is the temperature at which the oil burns and then turns to a sticky tar-type substance. (Heat) Below is a chart showing the differences between Convention, Semi-Synthetic, and full synthetic oils.
As you
can see the Conventional oil offers protection for most U.S. conditions,
however the Full synthetic offers protection for automobiles in extreme
areas. How often should I service my transmission? Transmissions are becoming more complex as new models are introduced into the market. The first transmissions were built with steel or aluminum components that worked off of hydraulic pressures generated within the transmission. Today, almost every transmission produced contains over 400 parts and at least one electronic component or device that aides in a transmissions operation. With this introduced, transmission repair prices continue to climb. To rebuild late model transmissions, (depending on type and the amount of damage), repair prices can range from $600 to $3,000. As you can see, you can hardly afford to not to service your transmission. The transmission's fluid is the life-blood of the transmission so you can see why it is extremely important to keep your transmission fluid clean and at the proper levels. Some manufacturer's claim transmissions should be serviced between 30,000 and 100,000 miles. What you must know here is that manufacturers recommend this schedule based on normal or mild driving conditions. If you live in extreme conditions such as: heat, cold, dust or if you pull trailers you should perform this service more regularly such as once a year or approximately 20,000 miles. New York has extreme conditions because of Cold and hot temperatures. Therefore, you should service your transmission approximately once a year or 20,000 miles. Transmission temperatures should operate close to engine coolant operating temperatures. And, in effect if you engine is not cooling properly or is overheating, it can cause the transmission's temperature to climb and possible cause severe damage. How do I check my fluid and level? You should check the level of your transmission fluid often, especially before long trips. To properly check fluid levels the engine should be at operating temperature, running at idle and in park. Pull the dipstick once and wipe it clean. Reinsert the dipstick and pull and check the level again. The fluid should be a pinkish or reddish color. If your fluid smells burnt or is dark in color or looks like varnish, immediate service is necessary. Your fluid has lost its ability to protect and serve as required. Further driving may result with major transmission problems. Tip - In some cases servicing your transmission will cure problems you may be experiencing with your transmission. The thing is, 3 different problems can have the same symptoms, and only an experienced and well trained transmission specialist will be able to diagnose you problem and tell whether or not a transmission service will cure your problem. At least your pocketbook will love you for trying! Wheel alignment is making sure the wheels are running parallel to one another, and that the tires meet the road at the proper angle. It is done by adjusting the angles between the suspension and steering parts, the wheels, and the vehicle frame. Everyday driving with the shocks and bumps associated with it can cause the tire angles to get knocked out of line. When this happens, it can cause the vehicle to handle badly or the tires to wear unevenly. What are some signs that my vehicle needs a wheel alignment? Most alignment warning signs are easy to spot... · Unusual tire wear - tires are worn in a cupped, scalloped or diagonal stripe pattern at edges or across the tread, or wear is uneven with "feathered" edges on the treads. · Unusual steering feel - the steering feels stiffer than it should, or the wheel does not return to the center position when released. · The steering wheel is cocked to one side when the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. · The vehicle tends to pull to one side while driving, or tends to wander or weave, or is subject to front end "shimmy".
How do I know when I need a
tune-up?
Some facts about tune-ups...
Nitrogen (N2) has been used to fill tires in the trucking, construction, military and fleet industries for several years. The main reason has been the durability of tires (we're not talking 75-buck rubber here), but also for safety and better mileage.
The aviation industry has used N2 in planes for safety, durability and reliability under extreme temperature variations. The tires on a passenger jet flying at 30,000 ft. may be exposed to temps of 30 deg. F., then have to land on a scorching 130 deg. F. tarmac runway. There's just no tolerance allowed for underinflated tires in such situations.
NASCAR uses bottled N2 for convenience - as does the Formula 1 Series – for safety, durability, fire retardation (N2 doesn't fuel combustion like the oxygen in air does) and reliability under temperature extremes.
Recently, many chain service facilities (mostly tire stores) have chosen to use N2 for tire filling. Oddly, their business is to replace worn tires, but the service fees for N2 filling and the customer's need to return for checkups, rather than go elsewhere, helps increase the facility's bottom line. Customers returning for tire inspections and rotations can also be made aware of any other needed services.
Nitrogen Generation Nitrogen makes up 78% of the air we breathe. At 21 %, oxygen is the second most common element in air. Together, they make up about 99% of the air, the rest being small amounts of other gases. Nitrogen molecules are larger than those of oxygen. The fact that the smaller molecules of oxygen permeate tire material more easily and may or may not cause faster degradation of the tire structure.
N2 tire filling systems extract the nitrogen from the shop's compressed air via a special membrane that allows the smaller oxygen molecules and other gases to pass through, but traps the larger nitrogen molecules.
What’s the Real Value? Many of the features touted about nitrogen use, however, are just as applicable to plain air – again assuming that the tires are in excellent shape, properly mounted, sealed and inflated.
So what's the truth about the benefits of nitrogen tire filling, and what's also true of plain air?
The real benefit of nitrogen filling can be best described as "stabilization of inflation." Which is good for race car drivers or Military vehicles. If the tires have no defect or damage that could result in deflation and are properly mounted and sealed, nitrogen filling can give NO better results than plain air. At Vesa's Automotive we have found that every car that has been in for service, that contains nitrogen in their tires, are always at least 5 psi low. Proving that nitrogen leaks out just as quickly as plain shop air. In our opinion nitrogen is not worth the money!
General cost for nitrogen? Typically, tire stores and OE dealers don't charge for N2 filling in new tire purchases, but may for refills and definitely do for fill exchange service in tires that have been on the road for awhile. Shops need to cover the cost of equipment and labor which is typically from $4.00 to $10.00 per tire. This seems kind of high in our opinion. At Vesa's we do NOT charge to fill your tires with our dry shop air. And it can be done at any time.
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| Revised: January 20, 2012 KJ Web Designs |