Can You See Clearly? – Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement

Posted by & filed under Windshield Wipers.

About 90% of our driving decisions are based solely on what we see. So having a good pair of windshield wipers is extremely important.

Most Auburn motorists have experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm, or when our SUV windshield is very dirty. In fact, it’s estimated that 46,000,000 motorists across the nation are driving with wipers that can’t adequately clear their windshield in a storm.

It seems like your wiper blades are always at their worst when you need them the most. If that sounds like you, you’ve got plenty of company on the road. 78% of motorists only change their wiper blades after the blades function so poorly that they become a safety hazard.

wiper blades

We local motorists need to change our thinking. Instead of blades being something to replace when they fail, we need to consider wiper blades to be an important SUV safety component. That’ll keep us ahead of the storm.

You really ought to replace your wiper blades twice a year — in the spring and the fall. If you live in the colder parts of WA, you may even want to get special winter blades in the fall. Winter blades are made to resist freezing. Speaking of winter and freezing conditions, if your SUV has been sitting for a long time and the windshield becomes frozen, don’t use your wipers to clear off snow and ice. That can shred your blades and may even damage the wiper motor.

Your wiper blades live outside in the freezing cold and blistering Kent sun. Over time, they become hard and brittle, and then tear. They also lose their flexibility and just don’t clear the SUV windshield effectively. Worn wiper blades aren’t just a safety hazard, they can also scratch your windshield. That may require replacing the entire SUV windshield – that’s a significant consequence for neglecting such a small part.

AutoNetTV and Central Avenue Automotive recommend you replace worn blades right away. Your Kent service center can provide you with a quality replacement blade. At Central Ave Auto, they cost about the same as they would at the store – but installation is included.

Of course you also need washer fluid to help your blades do their work. Even though we’ll be sure to top off the washer fluid with a full service oil change, it is a good idea to have some extra fluid at home. Bring it with you if you’re heading out on a road trip.

Always use windshield washer fluid. Plain water, even that fancy French bottled water, just doesn’t cut it. It can freeze in the fluid reservoir or on the windshield itself, making things worse. Besides, water won’t clean your windows as well.

So follow these tips to keep your windshield clear and your eye on the road.

Photo Credit: Viernest via Compfight cc

The Fallacy of Cheap Tires

Posted by & filed under Tires and Wheels.

Do you ever shop for shoes in one of our Auburn area shoe stores?
When buying a running shoe, is quality important?
Does durability matter as long as the shoes look fabulous?
Would you rather have one pair of long lasting shoes or two pair of lower quality shoes at the same price?

Is the warranty important when buying tires?

When you choose new tires in Kent, what’s the most important factor for you?

Give us a call at Central Avenue Automotive at 253.854.6762 for tire recommendations.

You know, buying tires in Kent is a big deal. It’s a big ticket item so you know you’ll be spending a lot. You’re not only concerned about the price, but you want to know that it’ll be a long time before you need to buy new tires again.

And of course there’s the safety aspect as well. The tires do a lot of work – they carry the weight of the vehicle and you and your passengers. They need to be up to the task. You want to be sure they hold the road and provide good traction. If you carry heavy loads or tow a trailer, the tires need a high load rating to be up for the job.

As a tire professional, I think it’s important that people understand the effect of price on a tire’s performance and durability. When I was a kid, my dad had a saying. He said, “Pay twice as much and buy half as many”.

Dad applied that to a lot of things. He thought that one high quality suit would last longer and look better than two cheap suits. The saying really seems to hold true when it comes to shoes and boots, too.

I buy high-quality work shoes because I spend a lot of time on my feet. They’re more comfortable, have important safety features like steel toes and non-slip soles – and they last at least twice as long as cheap shoes. I feel I get very good value for my money.

I apply the same thinking to tires. The major tire brands that you’re familiar with are known as Tier 1 tires. These tires are well-engineered and very high quality. Comparable tires are usually in the same price range from brand to brand.

Stepping down in price you come to private label tires. Some large tire store chains carry tires with the chain’s own brand. It’s important to know that most private label tires are built by the same Tier 1 brands that you are familiar with – so they are a quality product. You can ask your tire professional who makes their private brand.

The lowest priced tires on the market are Tier 3 tires. These tend to be imported from China or South America. Since you get what you pay for, you can’t expect a Tier 3 tire to deliver the same performance and durability as the others.

So let’s say you need new tires. You’ve determined the features you need. So you have several options, including price options. Now, you’ve probably heard the term ‘it’s a 40 thousand mile tire’ or ‘it’s a 60 thousand mile tire’. Simply put, the manufacturer warrantees the tire for ‘X’ number of miles. If that’s important to you, look for the warranty.

What’s the difference in the tires with higher mileage warranties? It’s the rubber compounds and the amount of tread material. As you might expect, you’ll pay more for the longer-lasting tire.

Now the cheapest tires you can find won’t have a manufacturer’s mileage warranty or if it does, it’ll be relatively low. That brings us back to dad’s saying; if you buy the cheapest Tier 3 tire you can, you will likely go through two sets in the time it would take to wear out one set of good quality tires. And the good tires won’t cost twice as much, so you’ll end up paying more per mile driven with the cheap tires.

Hey, I realize that sometimes the budget will only allow for a Tier 3 tire. I make them available for my customers who need them because I would rather see them driving with safe, new tires than pushing their old tires beyond their safety limits. But I always counsel my customers to buy as much tire as they can afford, because it will be much less expensive in the long run.

Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that touch the road. You’re only as safe as your tires are well built.

Buy value – not price.

Which Item is Most Stolen from Vehicles in Kent?

Posted by & filed under Maintenance.

Which item is most often stolen from vehicles in Kent?

Is it:

  1. Stereo
  2. Wheels
  3. Air Bag
  4. DVD System

Well, if you said stereo – you used to be right. But airbags have now surpassed stereos as the biggest target for theft in Kent – approximately 50,000 a year are stolen across the country. New airbags cost about $1,000, but go for $50 to $200 on the black market in Kent.

Stolen airbags are making their way back into cars that have been in an accident. Of course, the danger to the consumer of having a stolen airbag installed is that you can never be sure what may have previously affected them and if they will work right when you need them.

Contact Central Avenue Automotive for more information about where to get your airbags checked or replaced.
Find us at 1514 Central Ave S Ste A, Kent, WA 98032
You can reach us by phone at: 253.854.6762

There are reports that 1 in 25 airbag replacements are stolen or salvaged airbags – or no airbag is installed at all.

That is definitely one car part you don’t want to take a chance with, so Central Avenue Automotive recommends following these guidelines:

  • Use a reputable collision repair center that employs ASE certified mechanics (we can offer recommendations at Central Avenue Automotive).

  • Inspect the invoice to ensure that the repair shop purchased the airbag from a manufacturer, dealer, or recycler. If you can inspect the airbag prior to installation, it should be packaged in a sealed container from the manufacturer.

  • You will see the SRS light (Supplemental Restraint System) when you first start your vehicle up. This tells you that the airbag system is activated. If you do not see the SRS light, there is likely a problem with the airbag system.

For more information, contact Blake at Central Avenue Automotive by calling 253.854.6762.

Maintaining Your High Mileage Vehicle

Posted by & filed under Maintenance.

Before the recession hit, the median age for cars in the Kent WA area was over nine years, and two-thirds boasted over 75,000 miles. At Central Avenue Automotive, we hear reports that those numbers continue to rise.

Many people in the area are keeping their vehicles longer than ever before. The economy has influenced that, but the fact that modern SUVs are more durable and reliable means that owning a high mileage vehicle doesn’t have to be a painful experience.

Local car owners with over 100,000 miles on their vehicles often ask which service intervals they should follow. Let’s start with the special needs of the older vehicle.

The reality is that time and mileage will take its toll. The engine and transmission will have more sludge. The fuel, steering, and brake systems will have gum and varnish buildup. There’ll be more dirt and contaminants in the fuel tank. Corrosion and deposits in the cooling system. Seals and gaskets will start to dry out.

All of this in addition to normal wear and tear means that the engine might not be as strong as new, so it just has to work harder to get the job done.

So we need to compensate. Consider high-mileage formulations for oil changes, transmission service, etc. These special formulations contain additives that condition the seals and gaskets to prevent leaks. They also have more detergents to clean sludge and other deposits. They cost a bit more, but they’re worth it in the long runhigh mileage vehicle.

In general, if an auto service was recommended every 15,000 miles when the car was new, you should continue to get the service done every 15,000 miles.

Talk with your Kent service advisor at Central Avenue Automotive about the condition of your engine. See if he thinks you should adjust your auto service intervals for oil changes or other auto maintenance to account for the older engine working harder.

Expect the oil filter to get dirty faster. Same goes for the fuel filter. And some leaks are to be expected so you need to keep a closer eye on fluid levels.

If anything, following recommended service intervals for your SUV is more important in a higher mileage vehicle. Skipping oil changes or other services can lead to problems much more quickly than with a newer vehicle.

So, have your Kent auto service advisor at Central Avenue Automotive help you with an assessment of your high mileage vehicle. If you haven’t gotten around to a fuel system cleaning, or replacing power steering or brake fluid, a differential service or transmission service – it’s time to start taking care of those things. It’ll help keep you on the road for many more happy miles.

Clean Fuel Equals Clean Performance For Kent Drivers

Posted by & filed under Fuel System.

Hello, Kent car owners. Let’s talk fuel filters. Fuel filters clean the dirt, dust and debris out of your fuel. Both gasoline and diesel-powered engines have them. The fuel filter is located in the fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine.

Kent auto owners don’t need to filter their fuel because it has lots of grit in it; they need to filter it because it has some grit it in. Any dirt is bad for your engine. The cleaner the fuel, the better an engine will run.

Over time, the small amounts of rust, dirt and contaminants in your fuel settle out inside the fuel tank. After about five years, this can amount to a quite a bit of sediment. This means that as your SUV ages, your fuel filter has to work harder to screen your fuel: more sediment in your tank means more potential for grit in your fuel.

The harder your fuel filter works, the more often it needs to be replaced. Check with your SUV owner’s manual or Central Avenue Automotive to find out how often it should be serviced and how long you can expect it to last. You should change it before it becomes clogged. Your Central Avenue Automotive service professional can help you with recommended replacement schedules.

If your fuel filter becomes clogged, your engine will sputter when you drive at WA highway speeds or when you accelerate rapidly. A clogged filter allows enough fuel to run the car at low speeds around town in Kent, but when you need a higher flow of fuel for faster speeds, or if you need a sudden burst of fuel, you just won’t be able to get it through the filter.

A clogged filter is actually dangerous. If you need to accelerate suddenly out of the path of danger, you just won’t have the power to do it.

Fuel filters have a bypass valve. When the filter becomes clogged, the valve allows some fuel to bypass the filter so the engine can keep running – just not enough to be running well.

That means, though, that dirty, unfiltered fuel is entering your engine. Instead of clogging up your filter, that dirt is now getting into your fuel injectors, where it can cause serious damage. Fuel injectors are expensive; fuel filters are cheap. It doesn’t seem like a difficult choice for Kent drivers.

Fuel filters are the epitome of preventive maintenance. They are cheap and easy to change, but neglecting them can lead to costly repair bills. Some fuel filters are inside the fuel tank and cannot be routinely serviced – your considerate Central Avenue Automotive technician will be able to tell you if this applies to your vehicle.

Good car care for Kent motorists means following recommended schedules for preventive maintenance, including changing your fuel filters. Take the auto advice offered at Central Avenue Automotive and in every owner’s manual and have your vehicle regularly inspected. It may save you money by preventing costly repairs, but it will also repay you in improved MPG, safety and peace of mind.

What To Do In Case of a Car Accident

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Screeching tires, crunching metal – it’s an accident! If you’ve ever been in a car accident in Kent or Auburn, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It’s hard to think straight and know what to do.

Let’s review what you should do in case of an accident:

When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident is considered a crime, even if it’s not your fault. Hit and run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your WA driver’s license, or even jail time.

Your jurisdiction may require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able. Warn other motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers, or lifting your hood. Call local emergency services as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.

car accident

Always file a police report. It’s tempting to skip this if everything seems to be okay, but without a police report, the other guy can say whatever he wants about the accident later, and you won’t have an objective report to help defend yourself. Discuss the accident only with the police. Emotions are high after an car accident and we naturally want to talk about it – don’t. Never admit fault or guilt to anyone including the police officer. Sometimes we may feel at fault, but in the eyes of the law, the other guy is responsible.

Truthfully give the officer the facts, such as “I was going thirty miles an hour,” not “I wasn’t speeding.” Remember, anything you say to the officer or anyone else can be used against you. Also get the officer’s name and ID number and ask where you can get a copy of the accident report.

Get the facts on the driver and owner of the other vehicle:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Date of birth
  • Driver’s license number and expiration
  • Insurance information

Also take down a description of the other vehicle, license plate, and vehicle identification number. Most WA auto insurance companies don’t record license plate numbers, so the VIN number is the best way to track the vehicle.

Ask witnesses, including passengers, to wait for the police. If they can’t wait, ask for contact information and request that they write a brief description of what they saw. If someone refuses to leave their name, write down their license plate number so the police can track them down later if necessary. Always call your insurance agent or your insurance company. Call or see a physician if you think you may have been injured. For vehicle repairs, call Central Avenue Automotive at 253.854.6762.

Central Avenue Automotive and AutoNetTV hope that you never have to use this information and wish you happy travels.

Photo Credit: triplezero via Compfight cc

Deciphering the Central Avenue Automotive Menu Board

Posted by & filed under Service Intervals.

Let’s talk about deciphering the auto service menu board. Kent, WA service centers like Central Avenue Automotive have a board that lists the routine services they provide. But some people don’t know what these services really are unless they ask. Let’s go down a typical list, in alphabetical order, starting with air conditioning service.

Feel free at any time to give Central Avenue Automotive a call at 253.854.6762 to learn of the many services we offer, or stop by our Kent, WA auto center at 1514 Central Ave S Ste A 98032.

First remember that all of these services are recommended by vehicle manufacturers. They set how often or at how many miles the service should be done.

Air conditioning service involves purging the old refrigerant and capturing it for proper disposal. Then fresh refrigerant is installed. The fresh refrigerant will lubricate the system and will also help it cool better.

Alignment. Service centers like Central Avenue Automotive make sure all four wheels are lined up and track with each other. This reduces tire and suspension wear and improves safety and handling.

Battery service. Service centers like Central Avenue Automotive inspect the battery for corrosion, leaks or damage. Test the battery’s ability to hold a charge. If the battery’s still strong, clean it up. If not, replace it.

Brake service. This could be two things. A brake inspection to see if the brakes are working well mechanically and to see if the pads are still safe. If not, replace the pads and make any repairs that might be in order.

The other thing is to evacuate the brake fluid, clean out the system and replace it with fresh fluid. This is important, but often over looked.

Cabin air filter. The cabin air filter is the filter that cleans the air that comes into the passenger compartment. It works like the filter on your furnace at home. It gets dirty and needs to be changed often.

Cooling system. This is the cooling system for your engine. Replace the old coolant with fresh to protect your radiator and other cooling system components from corrosion.

Differential service. Every vehicle has at least one differential. They don’t require service very often, so people don’t think of them much. The differential transfers power from the drive train to your wheels. Drain the old fluid and add fresh lubricant.

Engine air filter. This filters the air that’s burned in the engine. It also gets dirty and needs to be replaced often.

Fuel filter. This filter cleans the fuel before it gets to the engine. Like the other filters, it too gets clogged and needs to be replaced in order to maintain good flow.

Contact Central Avenue Automotive, your Kent, WA auto repair center, by calling us at 253.854.6762.

Upsizing Wheels and Tires With Central Avenue Automotive

Posted by & filed under Tires and Wheels.

At AutoNetTV we love doughnuts. So let’s pretend you have three doughnuts right in front of you for today’s discussion about upsizing wheels and tires. Hey, don’t eat them now – your going to need them later.

Many Kent motorists want to accessorize their car – you know, make it theirs. One of the easiest ways to get a custom look is to get some new wheels. There are thousands of wheel designs at Auburn area tire shops to get you the look you want. And for many Federal Way drivers, that look includes bigger wheels. It used to be that cars came from the factory with 15 or 16 inch wheels. Now 16, 17 and even 18 inchers are standard. And the factories are offering optional wheel packages up to 20 inches or more.

So let’s talk about what to consider when you want to upsize your wheels. It’s not exactly a DIY project, so you need to know a thing or two before you get started. The most important term to know is rolling diameter. The rolling diameter is simply the overall height of your tire. Unless you want to modify your SUV suspension, you’ll want to keep your rolling diameter the same when you upsize your wheels.

Let’s think about those three golden doughnuts in front of you. They’re all about the same size. So if we pretend they’re tires, they would have the same rolling diameter. The doughnut hole is the size of the wheel. Now pretend we’ve made the hole bigger on some. That’s like having a bigger wheel – but the rolling diameter is the same.

It’s important to keep the rolling diameter the same for several reasons. First of all, if the tire is bigger, it might not fit in the SUV wheel well. Next the speedometer, odometer and anti-lock brake system are all calibrated for the factory rolling diameter. In order for your anti-lock brakes to work properly, the rolling diameter must stay within 3% of the factory recommendation. If you ignore that, you run the risk that your anti-lock brakes won’t work properly.

Some drivers have cars with electronically controlled suspension that will be negatively affected by changing the rolling diameter. Let’s think about the doughnuts again. You see, as the size of the wheel gets bigger, the sidewall gets shorter. The tire holds less air, so the sidewalls are made stiffer to compensate.

Low profile tires from top auto manufacturers use special compounds that give the sidewall the strength it needs without compromising ride quality. As you increase your wheel size, you’ll typically get a slightly wider tire. This means that you have a larger contact patch. The contact patch is part of the tire that contacts the road. Because there’s more rubber on the road, the vehicle will handle better. And braking distances will be shorter. A lot of Kent folks with trucks or SUVs love the extra control.

WA auto owners need to watch out that the contact patch isn’t so big that the tires rub in turns or over bumps. What we’re talking about here is fitment. Your tire professional at Central Avenue Automotive can help you get this right. He’ll install your new wheels, add spacers if needed to make sure your brakes fit inside your new wheels, and get you rolling.

Also, if you drive off-road in WA a lot, you may need a higher profile tire to protect your new rims. And make sure your new tires have the load rating you need if you tow a trailer or haul heavy loads. Again, your tire professional at Central Avenue Automotive knows how to help.

And don’t forget about tire pressure. If you have larger rims, your new tires will hold less air and they’ll need to run a slightly higher pressure. Forget that and you’ll wear your tires out fast. Finally, get an alignment at Central Avenue Automotive after you get your new shoes. AutoNetTV wants you to safely have the look you want.

Stop by Central Avenue Automotive to learn more about how you might upsize your wheels or tires.
You’ll find us at 1514 Central Ave S Ste A in Kent, WA 98032.

Treat Your Power Steering Right

Posted by & filed under Steering.

Virtually all vehicles come with power steering so many car owners have never driven a car or truck without it. Power steering assists you when you turn your SUV steering wheel. Without it, it would be very hard to steer.

Now this power assist comes in a couple of forms. In recent years, a lot of local vehicles have an electric motor that reduces steering effort and helps improve gas mileage.

power steering

The other kind of power steering is hydraulic. This is the kind most older WA vehicles, and a lot of newer ones, have. Power steering fluid is pressurized by a pump and is used to assist steering. Of course, car owners need the right amount of fluid in the system. If it’s too low your steering is affected and you could damage your SUV pump.

Also, power steering fluid can become corrosive over time and damage the pump, hoses and connectors; leading to leaks and repairs. Power steering service at Central Avenue Automotive in includes removing the contaminated fluid and replacing it with fresh fluid.

A word about power steering pumps: Some are powered by an electric motor. Others are driven by the serpentine belt. A worn serpentine belt stresses all of the SUV components it drives, including the power steering pump, so replace the belt as advised to avoid undue repairs.

Losing your power steering while driving can be unsettling – just remember that you can still steer, it’ll just be harder. Check with your considerate local service adviser to see if it’s time to service your SUV power steering system.

In addition to power steering service, at Central Avenue Automotive we offer comprehensive automotive services including alignment, headlamp service and check engine light diagnostic.

Give us a call at 253.854.6762 or schedule an appointment online!

Photo Credit: nate steiner via Compfight cc

Tricks to Save Gas

Posted by & filed under Fuel System.

No one likes high gas prices, but if one good thing has come out of fluctuating fuel cost, it’s that people are really focused on how to reduce their fuel consumption to save gas. North Americans literally drive billions of miles less each month during times of high fuel prices, but we still need to drive, so it makes sense to try and increase our fuel economy however we can.

save gas

Let’s look at a real life example of one of our AutoNetTV producers. He has one of those really big SUVs. Lots of kids and horses to haul around, you know. His family was planning a four day camping trip. Here’s what he did to save gas:

First, he installed a new, high flow engine air filter. Then he had his service center change his oil, flush his cooling system and service his front and rear differentials along with the transfer case. He also had a fuel system cleaning, replaced his PCV value and breather element. He also made sure his tires were up to the recommended pressure.

This cost several hundred dollars, but keep in mind, it all needed to be done anyway – it was all scheduled, and some of the work was overdue.

So he headed out, loaded with nine people and pulling a trailer with everything needed for four days of camping. When the trip was over, he had turned in the best fuel economy he had ever gotten on that vehicle. It had improved 25 percent. He saved $48.00 on that trip alone, and the savings keep on coming every day.

Here’s a quick summary of what you can do to save gas in Kent WA. First get caught up on your routine maintenance. Nearly every scheduled service item can save you some fuel. If its time for a tune-up, git’er done. That’s a big item.

If your check engine light is on, have your service center at Central Avenue Automotive figure out why and fix it. Check engine problems can be real gas wasters. Proper tire pressure and wheel alignment can really help as well. Try not to carry around a bunch of stuff. An extra hundred pounds can cost a mile per gallon. You should also check your gas cap. A loose gas cap can cause a false sensor reading that’ll make the check engine light turn on. Many conditions that trigger the check engine light can hurt your gas mileage. A lot.

Now you may not want to hear this, but the single biggest fuel waster for most people is their right foot. Zooming away from stop lights and hot rod lane changes really waste fuel. Take it easy, don’t speed, and plan ahead.

Finally, you may have noticed that we haven’t mentioned any magic pills or devices that will double your mileage. That’s because there aren’t any. Some may help a bit, but there are a lot of scams.

Do some research and check with your service adviser at Central Avenue Automotive before spending your hard earned cash.