What Does Car Maintenance Include?

Fall is here with all its splendid colors.  Your car has survived the warm temperatures of summer, but the s temperatures of winter are on their way.  Do you know how to make sure your vehicle is as reliable as possible to prevent breakdowns on an icy snowy day?  Do you want to know what does car maintenance include?  It’s no secret—follow the vehicle maintenance schedule listed in your owner’s manual. 

If you have read your owner’s manual, these car maintenance items may look familiar:

• Every week or month inspect:
• Dashboard Warning Lights
• Lights, exterior and interior
• Condition of the tires 
• Windshield Washer Fluid
• Engine Oil Level
• Every 3 Months/ 3,000 Miles inspect:
• Automatic Transmission Fluid
• Battery and Cables
• Engine oil and filter
• Muffler and Exhaust 
• Hoses and belts
• Power Steering Fluid
• Every 6 Months/6,000 Miles inspect:
• Chassis Lubrication
• Wiper Blades
• Every 12 Months/ 12,000 miles inspect:
• Brakes
• Cabin Air Filter
• Coolant
• Steering and Suspension
• Car Alignment

The list above can seem to be overwhelming, but let your auto mechanic take care of your vehicle.  They are trained and knowledgeable when it comes to understanding and following the vehicle maintenance schedule for your specific vehicle.  You can drive your car with confidence knowing it is as safe as possible!  

Need to know more about the vehicle maintenance schedule?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about what does car maintenance include and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served car owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

How Can You Tell If You Have A Bad Radiator?

Although our days are still warm, it’s time to get your vehicle ready for winter.  An important part that drivers often overlook in winter is the radiator.  When it’s icy outside, the coolant in the radiator expands and contracts, adding stress to the radiator.  If cracks and leakages in the radiator go unnoticed, the end result could be damage to the transmission.  

As strange as it sounds, an engine can overheat even during cold temperatures.  Don’t delay for this to happen before thinking about scheduling a radiator repair.  Damage to the radiator can cause an undulate effect throughout the vehicle and cause the vehicle to stop running altogether.  What could have been a minor repair to the radiator can turn into a major transmission job!

So how can you tell if you have a bad radiator? 

• Engine Overheats – The flow of coolant could be limited due to air inside the cooling system, clogged hoses, or too low of coolant level. 
• Leaking Radiator – The constant icy and expanding of fluid could cause cracks in the radiator unit.
• Hose Leak – A hose from the radiator to the engine allows the coolant to flow and cool off the engine.  Over time, these hoses wear our so have them checked frequently. 
• Thermostat Failure – The thermostat regulates the amount of coolant that is recirculated and ensures that the coolant in the engine stays within a particular temperature range regardless of the outside temperature. A failing thermostat prevents the flowing coolant to the engine.
• A Smoking Muffler – Actual smoke coming from the muffler could mean that the head gasket has been broken from an overheating engine.

Before winter come to full force make sure the antifreeze/water mixture in your radiator is still effective.  Your Auto mechanic may recommend flushing the cooling system, or easily topping it off.  

Are you wondering how can you tell if you have a bad radiator?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about radiator repair and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served car owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

How often should you replace your tires?

Whenever you take your car out on the road, your tires become a little more worn.  This doesn’t mean you are a bad car driver; it’s just the nature of tires.  They are the only part of your car that actually touches the road. Thus, it’s vital that you take good care of them with regular tire service.

If you have a tire blow out or a tire goes flat while you’re driving, especially at a high speed, the result could be disastrous!  You may be stranded in the middle of nowhere, or even worse, be the cause of an accident.  The time to take care of any needed repairs is before something goes wrong!  

To make sure your tires are in as good condition as possible, here are 4 simple tire service tips that you can do yourself:

1. Inspect tread depth – The tread on your tires should not fall below 1/16 of an inch—double that if you regularly drive on wet slick roads.  You can see how much tread depth you have left by inserting a penny into the tread.  If Abe’s entire head remains visible, you don't have enough tread to drive safely.   Fresher tires now have built-in tread-wear indicator—flat rubber bars that run perpendicular to the direction of the tread.  It’s time to purchase new tires if you see these bars begin to seem on any of your tires.
2. Inspect for cracks in the sidewall – Crack may indicate air is leaking out of the tire and your tire is losing pressure. If the cracks look very serious, schedule a tire service as soon as possible. 
3. Inspect for bulges and blisters in the rubber – When the outer surface of the tire begins to wear out, bulges and blisters can show up, weak spots that are vulnerable to a blowout.  
4. Feeling excessive vibration – If you are an experienced driver, you know how much vibration is usual, and when it is too much.  More than usual vibration is usually a sign of issues so schedule a tire service to inspect for unstable tires, worn-out shock absorbers, or issues.    

Don’t endanger yourself, your passengers, and other motorists with a flat tire or blow-out on the road. Keep up with regular tire service and replace tires as needed.

Are you wondering how often should you replace your tires?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about regular tire service and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.