What is the difference between auto maintenance and repair?

Posted by & filed under Auto Repair, Maintenance.

Auto MaintenanceIf you’re a car owner, it’s critical to know the difference between auto maintenance and auto repair. Both of these things are important to the overall performance, but they have different functions.

Maintenance is regular service that is required for your vehicle while auto repairs are performed when your vehicle is not functioning properly. Your owner’s manual will have a list of maintenance schedules with recommendations on what needs to be done and when. The most common regular maintenance, that everyone has heard of, is oil changes. Yet that’s not the only service that’s crucial for your car’s performance. Here’s a list of common auto maintenance needed to keep your car in tip-top shape:

  • Oil Change
  • Battery
  • Brakes
  • Tires
  • Power-Steering Fluid
  • Fuel Filter
  • Coolant
  • Engine Belts & Timing Belts
  • Spark Plugs

Auto RepairThat’s quite a list! It seems like a lot of things you need to manage, but many of these services are simple procedures that your auto repair facility can complete that day or with an appointment. Many customers delay maintenance for various reasons. They may think it’s unnecessary, they may be too busy to bring their vehicle in, they may want to delay paying for auto services, or they might not realize that doing maintenance now can save money in the long run by avoiding repairs. It’s OK if you don’t know the difference between a spark plug and an oil cap – as long as you bring your vehicle to a reputable shop for regular maintenance. In a nutshell: performing regular auto maintenance helps keep your ride running smoothly and can prevent costly repairs down the road.

Maintenance is regular service that will help prolong the life of your vehicle, while auto repair is when a part or fluid is not performing and needs to be fixed.

Without proper maintenance, pricey repairs might be needed. For example, changing a timing belt is a straightforward procedure that is usually done around 60,000 miles. If you don’t replace your timing belt, it may break at the worst time, leaving you stranded at the side of the road. Even worse, it can do hundreds of dollars of damage to your engine. One way to avoid an expensive repair bill is to keep up on scheduled maintenance. Of course, even with regular maintenance, your car might need repairs at some point in its lifetime.

Whether your car is running properly and needs routine auto maintenance, or your car is malfunctioning and needs repairs, Central Avenue Automotive can help. Our goal is to provide high quality workmanship on all auto maintenance and repairs so that your vehicle is running smoothly for years to come. Call us to schedule your appointment today!

Auto Repair Versus Buying a New Car

Posted by & filed under Auto Repair.

Auto Repair Versus Buying a New CarWhen your car needs repairs, it’s always tempting to consider purchasing a new vehicle. It’s tough to pay money to fix your older model, leaving you wondering – is it better to spend less money more often on repairs over time, or spend lots of money all at once on a new car? Well, it’s more complicated than that. Every situation is different, and your particular answer will depend on a number of factors that are unique to you and your car. In general, it’s almost always better for your budget to repair your existing vehicle rather than buy a new one. It’s very unlikely that the price of repairs will outstrip the cost of a new car, unless your current ride is very old and/or very run down. We’ll go into more detail about the breakdown of auto repair versus buying a new car below.

The cost of repairs is less than a new vehicle.

Scheduled maintenance is a necessary service needed on any vehicle, and won’t go away when you purchase a new vehicle. For bigger repairs, it can be shocking to get a repair quote in the thousands, but repairs of that scale don’t happen very often and they are still just a fraction of the cost of a new car. You could make the argument that you could use that money as a down payment on a new car, but that doesn’t cover the entire cost. You would still have to sign up for a monthly payment until you can buy the car outright. If your current car is paid off and still functional, it’s more cost-effective to get it fixed.

New cars incur higher insurance and registration costs.

New cars are exciting, but the cost to insure and register them is higher. That’s just a fact. This is an additional cost you need to factor in when buying a car. You may not see it on the price tag, but it will raise the overall cost of owning and operating your vehicle. It’s something to consider before purchasing.

Your new car will immediately depreciate.

From the moment you take your shiny new ride home, it starts to depreciate in value. In the first year alone, most cars lose over 20% of their value. All cars depreciate as time goes on, but depreciation is especially painful on new cars – lowering the resale value and making the car worth significantly less than you paid for it immediately.

Keeping your older vehicle is more cost-effective than trading up for a newer model.

This may seem obvious, but it seems that car commercials expect us to trade in our car for a newer version every few years. This is expensive! Driving your car for longer, like 6 years or more, before getting a new one means you’re getting more value out of the vehicle and you have time to pay off the car in full. You can even start saving for the next one while you still drive your functional car. Instead of being beholden to a car payment every month, you can use that extra cash for savings, or anything else!

Sometimes there are compelling reasons to sell or trade your older vehicle and get a new one. Many people upgrade from a tiny commuter car to a more kid-friendly vehicle when their family expands. If your current car is a safety hazard, it may be time to upgrade to a newer and safer model. And in rare cases, where the price of necessary auto repairs actually exceed the value of your car, you may consider purchasing a new one. Since every car and car owner is unique, there’s no hard and fast rule for auto repairs versus buying a new car. After taking the above factors into consideration, you need to make a decision that’s right for you.

Central Avenue Automotive is always here to answer your questions and help see whether repairs are better for your budget. Give us a call!

Be Aware: Low-Speed Pre-Ignition and Oil Issues

Posted by & filed under Engine.

Low-Speed Pre-IgnitionA recent survey of auto technicians and shop owners has shown that 58% are aware of a problem with the low-speed pre-ignition events in car models with turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engines, such as those made by Kia, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Buick. The issue is that engine oil is causing the engine to be more sensitive to low-speed pre-ignition events. If you’re unfamiliar with these events (also known as LSPI events), it means there’s an early ignition of the main fuel charge, which can cause high-pressure spikes or even catastrophic engine damage.

These events result in poor engine performance at low engine speeds, loss of compression in one or more cylinders, and internal damage to pistons, connecting rods, and the crankshaft. As you can probably see, these problems can mean serious problems for car owners, even including major engine repairs. Even though more than half of surveyed auto technicians and shop owners are aware the problem exists, only 37% can identify the engines that have LSPI problems. Thankfully, those of us here at Central Avenue Automotive are both aware of the issue and doing the necessary research to identify which cars are susceptible to this issue.

Once we understand the problem, the fix is simple enough — simply install oil with an additive package designed to prevent low-speed pre-ignition events. The engine may need to be reflashed with the latest calibrations, and the oil should meet the GF-5/SN Plus standard or the manufacturer’s recommendation. The key is in going to an auto repair shop that understands the issue and can properly diagnose it.

If you’re concerned that your car may be subject to these LSPI issues, please don’t hesitate to give us a call and set up an appointment to have us check it out. We should be able to tell you right away whether your car has a turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engine, and if so, we can easily change out the oil to make sure you’re not at risk of an LSPI event and potential engine damage. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so don’t wait until it’s too late! These vents are uncommon, but they do happen.

The Magic Box

Posted by & filed under Diagnostics.

vehicle inspectionWe often receive calls from customers looking for an estimate. They are concerned about a fee to test why their vehicle’s check engine light came on, especially when the car is running fine. Their neighbor or Dad or Grandpa came over and offered advice and a diagnosis of what he thought it might be.

Back in the good ole days this was usually effective. Cars did not have a so many parts. Friends, neighbors, and tow truck drivers helped try to figure out what the problem was, and many times they were right. However with today’s vehicles and the technological advances of computers in cars, vehicles have become incredibly complicated. To put this into perspective, Facebook runs on 62 million lines of code. Modern vehicles, especially the ones with infotainment systems, use 100 million lines of code. Today’s diagnostics are not really even done by a mechanic. With the amount of training that our technicians receive to deal with the complexity of vehicles, they are really a diagnostic engineer. With the growing cost of vehicles and the expense of individual parts, it is critical to have testing and diagnostics done by a master automobile technician or a diagnostic engineer.

We hear often “can you just plug in that box that tells you what’s wrong with the car?” The TV commercials that show this magic box are just selling you parts unfortunately. You may or may not need the part, but once it is installed you have paid for and own it. If that magic box was available, I would buy several! We would be able to still have grease monkeys, not diagnostic engineers with years of experience and training, not to mention $200,000 or more worth of tools and equipment. Then everyone would hire cheaper labor to replace the parts the magic box identified as bad. I wish auto repair was that easy.

There is no magic box. There is multiple different scan tools depending on the manufacturer of the vehicle. A scan tool, typically a custom Laptop or tablet, gathers information and data to point the technician in a direction to test the circuits and components that may have failed. But this is not the parts store tool that they do for free to sell you parts you may not need. A good scan tool typically costs $3,000 to $20,000 depending on car model. The parts store tool only scans 1 computer; most cars have 10 to 30 individual computers. The diagnostic scan tools we use at Central Avenue Automotive are complex and require extensive training to understand the data they are giving you, much the same way that a radiologist interprets X-rays and MRI scans.

What has happened over the years is many inexperienced shops or mechanics plug in the scan tool, and retrieve the code (a code is what points you in the direction of the items to test). For example, one code is PO300. This means a random misfire has occurred in the engine. With this code alone many shops will sell you spark plugs, clear the code, and hope it is fixed without any testing fee. Sometimes you get lucky and it fixes the code, other times the light returns in a few days and they sell you more parts.

Our diagnostic engineers at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent have the latest in diagnostic tools. At last count 18 scan tools and dozens of different types of testing equipment are used in our facility. Once testing is complete, an accurate repair can be performed. This process saves you time and money because the concern is fixed the first time; there’s no need to return for more parts.

As cars become more computerized, the systems are more difficult to test. Beware of anyone that will just replace parts and not test to identify the concern. Let the experts at Central Avenue Automotive use the latest technology, coupled with our rigorous training, to fix your car.

The Basic Cars Cooling System

Posted by & filed under Cooling System.

Other things that need to be inspected:

Visually check the hoses and belts related to the cooling system. Look for hoses that are too hard or too soft, or that have cracks in the rubber. Make sure that the hose clamps are tight, and check to see that the belts have the proper amount of tension, and are not cracked or worn. To check the tension, push down on the belt. It should deflect about 1/2 inch. On some cars and trucks, mostly older ones, they have a belt that turns the fan. On other cars, the cooling fan is electric.

car cooling system

All cars should be using antifreeze in the radiator, even in the summer. Why? Antifreeze contains corrosion inhibitors, and actually has a higher boiling point than water. If you remember high-school chemistry, when two chemicals are mixed together, you end up with a boiling point that’s higher than either one of them separately. Water boils at around 200 degrees depending on elevation. Modern cars of today typically have normal operating temps of 200 to 230 degrees. If your coolant/antifreeze is not up to par, your vehicle will be boiling down the road.

Should you change your coolant before the summer hits? Most coolant these days is what’s called “lifetime” coolant, which means it’s good for 60,000 to 100,000 miles before it needs to be changed. Our experience has shown us that this is too long, and its long enough to be outside of most manufacturer’s warranty. We recommend that you have the cooling system inspected at each oil change, and have the coolant replaced every 2 to 3 years.

Another thing to consider is your vehicles thermostat. If you haven’t had your thermostat replaced, and your car is a few years old, we recommend to our customers that they get a new one when they’re having any cooling system repair done. A stuck thermostat is a common cause of engine overheating. Replacing the thermostat is relatively affordable, especially when you compare it to the cost of an engine. Replacing the thermostat could save you a breakdown somewhere between Seattle and Yellowstone. Trust me when I tell you that sitting on the side of I 90 in the middle of Montana is a miserable experience.

Summer Driving Tips

Posted by & filed under Driving, Tips.

As we get into the summer season, temperatures soar, and so do the miles we put on our cars. One of the great American traditions is the family road trip. There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that when you’re driving up the North Cascades highway, or you’re on your way to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful, your vehicle does not overheat. If your vehicle has cooling system issues you will see a geyser, just not the one that you had planned on. The good news is this can all be avoided.

First, make sure that the radiator is in good shape. Rust and corrosion can cause the radiator to rot away from the inside out. Even though the radiator may not be leaking now, it will be leaking soon, which leads to overheating of the engine. When your engine isn’t cooled properly, it can easily blow a head gasket. When your engine isn’t cooled properly a cylinder head can crack or warp. Engine cooling system failure is one of the leading causes of major engine damage.

You might ask, what is a radiator? It is shaped like a small door with an opening on the top and bottom for hoses to connect to, and has another opening to add or replace its fluid. The radiator has little tubes through which the coolant flows, so that it can get cooled by the air flowing past it. This is how the engine is cooled.

It takes some experience to recognize potential upcoming cooling system problems. Fortunately, our Master Technicians at Central Automotive have years of experience with cooling systems, and can detect most cooling system failures. Our technicians here at Central Automotive will visually inspect the cooling system, and touch it to see how hard it is, to get it to crumble. They will also perform a pressure test and a chemical test on the cooling system. Unfortunately, sometimes this testing can be destructive. If the cooling system is going bad it will start to leak. But it’s much better that it happens in the shop than on the highway, right?

Another common radiator problem is a radiator that is plugged, blocking coolant from flowing through it. If this happens, you’ll notice that your engine is running hot when you’re driving up a mountain pass, or when you are in stop and go traffic, or when you turn on your AC.

A plugged radiator can be the kiss of death for your car or trucks engine. How do radiators get plugged? Rust corrosion from the engine, and deposits from water over time, will plug the small tubes just like water will plug a shower head over time. If you haven’t had your cooling system serviced every few years it’s likely that many of the little cooling tubes within the radiator core are clogged with rust. Those cooling tubes are crucial to the success of the radiator. That is how the radiator cools the engine, by passing the coolant through those channels and blowing cool air across them. So, if your radiator is plugged, it will still work, but not as well.

You’re most likely to notice the problem when the car is under the greatest demand, such as going up Snoqualmie pass with the kids in the back seat, luggage in the trunk, and maybe like the Griswold’s, your mother in law strapped to the roof of your car. If your engine ran even a little hot on the last 80 or 90-degree day, have one of our Master Technicians find the cause of it right now before it’s too late.

When It’s Time For New Brakes

Posted by & filed under Brakes, Maintenance, Tips.

Picture this: It’s raining. You’re driving down Kent Kangley and the car in front of you decides at the last minute to turn into the Starbucks (you know the one, right there on East Hill, next to Kent Meridian High School) and your life flashes before your eyes; you realize just how important your brakes are. If you’ve ever had your brakes go out while you’re driving down Highway 18 into Auburn, you know just how terrifying it can be! We want to make sure you and your family stay safe, so we’ve put together this handy guide to help you understand when you have a brake problem and how to make informed decisions about the repairs.

Often times, the first indication that something is wrong with the brakes is an unusual sound like a squeal, chatter, or grinding noise. If the sound is coming from your brakes, it’s possible that your brake rotors and/or the calipers may be damaged; this may be especially true if you drive a Ford that does not have wear indicators on their pads.

Most cars’ brake pads are embedded with a little piece of metal that will make an annoying squealing sound once the brake pads have been worn down to the point that they need to be replaced. Once you hear that sound, it’s time to have your brakes inspected right away at Central Avenue Automotive; brakes are one item on the car the longer you wait the worse it gets.

Some sounds are more urgent than others. A chattering sound usually indicates that something is loose, like the brake hardware. It could be a defective brake pad or a defective brake caliper. If one of those parts fails, you could have some serious trouble stopping the vehicle. 

A grinding noise is typically is an indication that the brake pad is completely worn away and the metal back of the brake pad is now rubbing directly on the brake rotor. That means the rotor is being damaged and will most likely need to be replaced. Other warning signs that your brakes may be having issues are if the pedal feels soft and spongy; this is an indication that you are having hydraulics issues, or something is leaking. Or, it may feel very hard to push the pedal down, which is an indication that your power assist is starting to fail. Either one could mean trouble. And of course, if you are driving a newer vehicle like a Chevy Silverado or a Range Rover, you may get a dashboard brake warning light.

When it comes time for your technician at Central Ave Auto to replace the brake pads on your vehicle, you can choose which type of replacement pads you’d like to get. If you choose the same pads that came standard on your vehicle, you can expect the same performance and durability as with the pads that came on the car from the factory. In a lot of cases, many of these standard products don’t last as long as you’d think or fall under the warranty parameters that you’d expect; this tends to be the case with models like Ford E 250, Dodge Caravans or many Chrysler products. We’ve worked on a lot of 1-year-old vehicles with less than 20,000 miles and the brakes are worn out.

Some of our customers insist on more economical, lower-cost pads. No problem! At Central Avenue Automotive we’re happy to help our customers within their budget, which is why we offer a Good, Better, and Best Brake Pad Service. Each service is equal to or better than the original parts that came on the car. Despite this, there are some brake pads that we don’t offer. Lower grade pads are usually noisier, so you’ll have to live with more noise when you apply the brakes; your friends and neighbors will always know when you are close by – so if you are trying to sneak up to the soccer game that you’re late to at Tahoma High School, good luck! They also tend to generate a lot more of that nasty black brake dust that accumulates on your wheels and typically won’t last as long. In our opinion, that’s a lot of compromise for just a few dollars in savings.

Our Premium Brake Pads perform at higher specifications than the factory pads; if you choose to purchase, you’ll find you’ll get quieter operation, less brake dust, and better stopping power.

If you have any of these warning signs we’ve mentioned, don’t wait to have Central Avenue Automotive in Kent perform your free brake inspection today! Coming in soon for oil service? We’ll inspect your brakes at the same time, as well as perform a complete vehicle inspection and tire rotation. Our friendly and knowledgeable service advisors are always happy to help you make the repair decision that’s right for you.

Central Avenue Automotive
1514 Central Avenue South Ste. A
Kent, WA 98032
253.854.6762

When you bring your vehicle into Central Avenue Automotive…

Posted by & filed under Maintenance, Tips.

When you bring your vehicle into Central Avenue Automotive in Kent, we don’t just poke around under your hood each vehicle receives a thorough comprehensive inspection by an ASE master technician. Central Avenue Automotive technicians have lists and procedures they follow for different types of vehicles.  We use a state of the Art electronic inspection and documentation process with pictures and video tailored to your make and model of vehicle.  At our Kent service center we will note the mileage on your vehicle. Then we check to see what inspections and services the OE manufacturer recommends for a vehicle of your make, model and mileage but since every vehicle’s lifestyle is different  for example we might have a Honda odyssey that drives the kids to soccer practice at starfire in Tukwila and another Odyssey that is used as a plumbers van and is loaded with tools and materials even though these were identical vehicles when they were built they both have very different needs and that’s the difference that you will find at Central Automotive in Kent  We follow the manufacturer’s service schedule and then our expert technicians perform the vehicle inspection and will tailor the service needs to your vehicle.

For our regular customers we will have documentation of all vehicle needs in the future as well as thorough record of the vehicles past supported with photos and a digital inspection this allows us to drill down the service process to the customer’s needs.

Our typical inspections will, that we do while we are servicing your vehicle the master technicians at Central Ave Auto will check belts, hoses, brakes, filters, fluids we will also inspect your engine computer for fault codes We also inspect your tires steering and suspension all of you lighting we even check your windshield wipers for wear.  Then our highly skilled service advisers will help you develop a vehicle life plan so you know if there’s an urgent problem that needs taken care of, get it taken care of and will know about problems that might be developing in the future, and with our digital inspection our customers will have online access to their digital inspection records whether you live in Kent, Auburn or Maple Valley or Covington whether you drive a BMW or a Mini cooper we will have you covered. We have more than 200 years of combined automotive service experience and have helped thousands of our customers develop  services are in order, you are given options based on driving needs and budget.

An easy way to think about it can think of it like a trip to the dentist for a check-up. The dentist will do a thorough exam and take x-rays. Then the hygienist will clean your teeth and check your gums. At the end, the dentist comes in and inspects your teeth. You’ll be told if you need any work done, about problems that are developing, and if anything is urgent.  You will be presented with different care options and recommendations.
This helps you make sure your teeth are in good working order just like your car.  At Central Avenue Automotive in Kent we do it the same the same way. We want  our clients to have worry free driving  and to be able to make informed decisions about their vehicles because none of us want to be one of those blocking disabled vehicles on I405 or HWY 167 on your way home to Auburn.

Preventative maintenance is a lot like dental check-ups, as well. Small problems can develop into big ones. A cavity becomes a root canal. A dirty filter becomes engine damage. Skipping regular inspections or “check up’s” for either your teeth or your vehicle can lead to costly repairs.
We are always hear to help call us any time 253-854-6762 or visit us at 1514 s central in Kent or on the web at WWW.centralaveauto.com

Vehicle Inspections – The Difference Between “Courtesy” and “Bumper-to-Bumper”

Posted by & filed under Inspection, Tips.

Your vehicle’s car care provider take the safety of your vehicle very seriously. You have chosen your car care professional because you trust them and look on them as the experts in their chosen career.  These professionals know you can get your oil changed in about ten minutes at a local quickie lube. The difference is the young person working there is not a technician.  The majority is working their way through college and the automotive field is not their chosen major. When you choose a shop with certified technicians and certified master technicians you get experts.  These dedicated professionals are educated in the field of vehicle inspections.  They spend money each year on continuing education so they are always up to date on the latest in vehicle service and repair.

Their vehicle inspections reflect this.  They usually come in two varieties…the Courtesy Inspection and the Bumper-to-Bumper Inspection.  They may have different titles depending on the shop, but whatever they call it, here is the difference!  I think you will get the idea.

vehicle inspection

The Courtesy Inspection is a “visual” inspection and takes a few minutes to perform.  The technician will look for obvious problems such as tires that look low in air, leaks, frayed wiper blades, corroded battery terminals, a dirty air filter and a few more items.  If something is obviously wrong they will of course tell you about it so you can make an informed decision on fixing it now or later.

The Bumper to Bumper Inspection is “hands on” and takes about an hour to perform.   This is a very thorough inspection.  An inspection every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, depending on your vehicle and your driving habits, keeps your car reliable.

Your car is the patient of an automotive shop.  It is treated much like your doctor or dentist treats you and your health needs or the vet treats your pet’s needs. A good shop will always let you know what can wait, what should be done but isn’t critical to your vehicle’s operation at this time and which item(s) should be serviced or repaired right now.

Hopefully this helps you understand more fully the difference between a courtesy and a bumper-to-bumper inspection.

 

DOES SOMETHING SMELL FUNNY TO YOU? Funny Smells From Your Car Explained

Posted by & filed under Maintenance, Tips.

DOES SOMETHING SMELL FUNNY TO YOU? Funny Smells From Your Car Explained
We get frequent complaints that “my car smells funny.”  This is just another way that your vehicle is trying to tell you something.  Here are a few examples that you may find useful when your car smells like:

Rotten Egg – This is caused by hydrogen sulfide in the exhaust.  This is caused by a fuel-injection problem or a failed catalytic converter.

Burnt Carpet – The brake pads are overheated or you left the handbrake on.

Gym Locker – Mildew in your air-conditioning evaporator.

Gas – Leak in fuel injection line or a fuel-tank vent hose.

Sulfur – Gear lube is leaking from the manual transmission, transfer case or differential housing.

Hot Oil – Oil is leaking onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Burnt Newspaper – When the clutch slips, the clutch facing is burning off.

Maple Syrup – Coolant is leaking or you have a bad heater core.

Some of the symptoms are serious, some not.  The best course of action is to have it checked out so it can be determined if it is something you can live with, if you choose, or something that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Please call us with any questions at 253-854-6762 or visit our website at www.centralaveauto.com
Happy Motoring!