 The reliability and life of your car can be greatly increased by taking advantage of our free 31-point safety check and by doing regular maintenance. We have successfully kept many cars reliable for over 200,000 miles and even have one customer with over 400,000 miles. By following the recommended service tips outlined below, you can expect longer, more reliable service from your car.  There have been many advances in today's autos in an effort to make them more reliable, energy-efficient, and environmentally sensitive. Some of these advances have increased the operating temperatures from 160 to 230 degrees, resulting in lower emissions and higher horsepower. These changes place greater demands from your car's lubrication and cooling systems. Following recommended service schedules and using quality parts will ensure the reliability and longevity of your car.  The subject of tune-ups in today's cars can cause some confusion. We've all read claims of autos that are virtually maintenance free as far as tune-ups are concerned. While many advances have been made and the days of needing tune-ups every 10-15,000 miles are gone, most cars do need this maintenance every 30,000 miles. Some cars can go up to 60,000 miles before having a tune-up but their performance decreases greatly after the 40,000 mile mark.  Many cars today utilize timing belts to reduce friction and to generate more horsepower. These belts should be changed every 60,000 miles on average. The failure to replace the timing belt at the recommended intervals can result in its breaking, which can cause costly engine damage. For the driver who puts fewer miles on their car it is still recommended that the timing belt be replaced every 5 years. The calendar ages them at a slightly lesser rate than actual miles.  To say that brakes are an extremely important safety consideration with your car is an understatement. There can be several braking systems on your car: normal and ABS. Today's systems are very complicated in that they are both electrically- and pressure-operated within the same car. Many require special procedures and require more expertise than past systems. Today's friction coefficients are engineered so precisely that it is imperative to use the correct brake pads for the material in the rotors. Many cars' brake pads are equipped with wear indicators that squeal when it's time for replacement. This is not something to be ignored. The squeal will go away, that is true, but to continue driving with these worn pads typically results in costly damage to your brake system. Your car's brakes should be checked annually.  Sophisticated electronics of today's autos can have as many as 30 computers operating everything including engine controls, braking systems, transmissions, cruise control, and A/C. Most cars have over 50 miles of wire. Having the latest diagnostic equipment and information is invaluable for the proper repair and maintenance of your vehicle. Using a high quality battery and maintaining clean connections and terminals can help prevent expensive damage to the many electrical systems in your car. With Austin's traffic and temperatures, it is important to replace your battery every 2-3 years on average. |
