Do you know what’s included in a Full Car Service?

Most of us fear to have to schedule a full car service because of the money and time it takes.  We may keep delaying it for a month, or two, or three, or indefinitely, waiting to see if there might be a leftover in the monthly budget to cover the cost.  Inappropriately, this could lead to an extensive car repair; costing us much more than if we had taken care of the suggested car service in the first place.  Although your car won’t look any different after spending several hundred dollars on a full car service, it will certainly run more efficiently with increased performance and fuel efficiency.

So what’s included in a full car service? Take a look below:

• Oil change: Black dirty oil is replaced with clean oil.
• Replace filters: Oil, air, fuel and pollen filters are all replaced.
• Replace spark plugs: Replaced to maximize fuel economy.
• Brakes Checked: They can be cleaned and adjusted if compulsory.
• Fluids flushed: Most all fluids, which include the transmission, clutch, brake, power steering and coolant fluids should be flushed and replaced.  
• Road test: Picks up issues that can’t be detected easily just by checking the engine.
• Safety inspection: To make sure all the systems and sensors are working correctly so you can have confidence in your car.
• Car Battery: Make sure your battery is still holding a charge, and that the alternator is working correctly to keep it charged.
• Other checks: Your auto mechanic should check out anything else that can be seen or touched, including the transmission repair, radiator, differential oil, shocks or struts, wiper blades, lights, just to name a few.

There are two reasons why it’s vital to schedule a full car service at the suggested interval:

• Your mechanic can let you know what is starting to wear out, what should be replaced right away or what can wait, and what’s looking great. 
• Your car will remain a reliable and safe source of transportation, allowing you to drive with peace of mind. 

Need to know more about what’s included in a full car service?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about car repair and service items and to Schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served car owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

Wondering How Often Should a Car Battery be Replaced?

Wondering how often should a car battery be replaced?  If you are, more than likely you have started to experience starting issues and it’s time to consider a car battery replacement.  When a battery fails it’s generally not at a convenient time or place.  Did you know that dead batteries are one of the top reasons for roadside assistance calls?  

So, how often should a car battery be replaced?  Batteries will become worn down and inefficient within 3 years of everyday use in usual conditions. Just like your computer or smart-phone battery becomes less efficient with every charge, so your car battery gradually deteriorates every time it’s charged up by the vehicle’s engine. 

After 4 or 5 years, most car batteries will be almost completely unreliable and can present a number of safety and reliability problems.  Consider the following problems:

• Auto electrical system --  Although your car can still start with a battery that is failing, features that have significant power demands, like headlights, may not function as well as they should.
• Battery drain -- Many new cars have powerful computers that are operating all the time, even when the car is parked and switched off.  These computers can draw energy from your car’s battery at a slow, stable rate, wearing it down over time. 
• Stop-start technology -- Cars with engines that are designed to automatically switch off when at a standstill place a greater straining on their batteries than normal cars, and often want a special battery.

Before you get stranded with a dead battery, be proactive and ask your mechanic to check your battery periodically.  It could go from 90% performance to 20% over a short period of time.   Your mechanic can tell you if yours is getting close to the end.  The small price of a car battery replacement is worth it to avoid the stress of a roadside breakdown.

Wondering how often should a car battery be replaced?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about car battery replacement 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.

Wondering do bad axles affect shocks?

Does it seem like the “ride” of your vehicle is getting worse faster than it should.  You may wonder if your car shocks are going bad or if the car axles are bad.  Are you wondering do bad axles affect shocks?  Some drivers may not associate bad axles with the condition of their car shocks. 

You may be wondering just what is the purpose of car axles?  Axles are the rods that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. Axles also serve to bear the weight of the vehicle plus its passengers and cargo. 

It is vital to be aware of the critical function of drive axles and have them checked regularly. Though perhaps not as commonly understood, axles are as important to a properly functioning vehicle and vehicle safety as the engine, steering system, brakes, and tires are.

It is time for specialists to inspect your vehicle if you encounter one of the following indicators of axle damage.

1. Excessive vibrations:  Excessive vibrating may be accompanied by an unusual rumbling noise underneath the vehicle, strange tire wobbling, or sluggish driving and steering. This will cause other problems with car shocks, handling, comfort, and safety.
2. Loud Clunking:  If you hear unusually loud clunking as you change gears, or if your vehicle lacks power as you start driving, there may be axle-joint damage. This type of noise is an indicator that the transmission is unable to transfer power adequately to the wheels due to slack in the joints, or a transmission failure
3. Leaking Grease:  This can mean a leaking axle boot, which is the rubber cover over the drive axle joint. Dirt can enter a joint through a broken joint cover and cause failure to the axle joint and/or axle. 
4. Running in Place:  If your vehicle runs, but can’t move forward even though it starts fine, goes into gear, and has a normal engine sound, it likely has a broken axle.

You don’t have to put up with these problems any longer than it takes to get your vehicle to an auto repair shop so that it can be repaired by a reputable technician.

Are you wondering about do bad axles affect shocks?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about car shocks 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.

How does Wheel Balancing Affect Alignment?

This is a good question for drivers to ask as it means that they are aware that both correct wheel alignment and tire balancing are compulsory for the well-being of your tires, as well as the safety of your vehicle.  Tire balancing should be performed more frequently, while a wheel alignment service is not needed as often. 

So, does wheel balancing affect alignment?  Not necessarily.  Though, because the symptoms of misalignment and lost balancing are so similar, it is difficult to know which one might be the issue leading to damaged tires, suspension, and steering issues.  

How does a tire get out of balance, you ask?  Imperfections in the rubber and damage to a tire or rim can throw a wheel "out of balance."  Treadwear also causes the distribution of weight around the tire to change. This leads to an imbalance that causes the vehicle to shake. To balance a tire, the technician removes the tire from the vehicle and spins it on a calibrated balance.  A small lead weight is then attached to the tire to counter-balance any heavy spots.  Tire balancing is usually performed when tires are rotated, which is typically every 5-6,000 miles.

What if your car is out of alignment?  While tire wear prevention is a good reason to keep your wheel alignment in check, the penalties of misalignment can also play out in overall vehicle performance. A wheel alignment service includes checking the tread for uneven wear and an of the “toe, camber, and caster” which are the three components for measuring wheel orientation.  Then, the angle of the wheels will be adjusted to the position matching the manufacturer’s suggested specification.  Most manufacturers recommend having the alignment inspected every 10,000 miles.  

Whether your wheels are out of alignment, or the tires have lost a balance weight, watch for these signs:

• Vehicle pulls to the left or right
• Uneven or rapid tire wear 
• The Steering wheel is crooked, feels “loose,” or vibrates
• Squealing or wobbly tires

Wheel alignment and tire balancing service are well worth the little bit of time and money to protect your tire investment and enhance the safety of your vehicle.

Are you wondering how does wheel balancing affect alignment?  Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about car alignment and tire balancing services 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.

Wondering How Often Should You Take Your Car in for Maintenance?

Summer has arrived in all its glory.  You had your car serviced last fall, but now you may be wondering just how often should you take your car in for maintenance.  You want to make sure your vehicle is as trustworthy as the potential for the hot days ahead to prevent breakdowns and costly repairs. This means that you should follow the car maintenance schedule listed in your owner’s manual.

Some years ago, Kelton Research published a study that is still true today.  It shows that nine-in-ten American car owners believe they maintain their vehicles correctly.  However, only 41 percent actually follow the manufacturer’s vehicle maintenance recommendations.  The study further reports that less than one in four (23 percent) of car owners work with a certified mechanic to develop a plan for ongoing vehicle maintenance.  From these statistics, it is easy to deduce that there are a lot of vehicles on the road that is greatly in need of some type of auto repair. 

Here are several of the most important vehicle maintenance items:

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

Preserve the investment you made in your vehicle!  Taking care of your car could be one of the wisest economical decisions you make.

Wondering how often should you take your car in for maintenance?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about the car maintenance schedule 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.

Wondering is a Tune Up Necessary?

Even with today’s newer cars and advanced technology, the answer to this question is “Yes!  Most vehicle manufacturers recommend a tune up service at around 100,000 miles.  Your mechanic can test the performance of your vehicle to determine just what is needed in a car tune up service.

Is your car slow when trying to go up a hill or passing a slower vehicle? Has a dashboard light come on and you don’t know why?  Before summertime’s hot temperatures are here in full force, be sure to get a car tune up now to make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. 

Because today’s vehicles are designed with computer processors, microchips and sensors, the best way to determine whether your car wants a tune up is to ask your auto mechanic to run a car diagnostic test.  This is done using a specialized computer that scans the sensors and operating systems, producing codes which will indicate a current or a pending issue.

So is a tune up necessary? The tune-up checklist should include both preventative and restorative engine assessments, including a checkup of the engine, an analysis of your vehicle’s performance, and any needed adjustments made to the operating systems. 

Here is a car tune up checklist:

• Spark plugs.
• Fuel pump and filter.
• Fuel injectors.
• Timing.
• PCV valve.
• Points and condenser.

There is not a one-size-fits-all car tune up procedure.  It will be uniquely based on your vehicle’s age, the number of miles driven, and its maintenance history.  

Wondering is a tune up is still necessary?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about a car tune up 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.

Wondering How Often Do Radiators Need To Be Replaced?

A vital part of our vehicle that we often overlook is the radiator. Your radiator was stressed during winter’s cold temperatures as the coolant froze, expanded, thawed, and then froze again.  This can lead to cracks and leaks, resulting in damage to the transmission.   Before heading out on a summer road trip, schedule a vehicle checkup and avoid an emergency radiator repair in a strange town.  

Your radiator is working any time the engine is running. This is because coolant constantly cycles through to prevent overheating. It’s still technically on the job even when the engine is off, too, as it holds a significant amount of the coolant in the engine.  Without a working radiator, your engine would quickly overheat, probably causing catastrophic damage to your vehicle

So, how often do radiators need to be replaced?  Radiators’ do have a limited lifespan, but there’s no set number of years. A lot will depend on how well you maintain the coolant system. It should last for many years. 

Knowing the signs of a failing radiator can help prevent an urgent radiator repair, including:

• Coolant leaking on the ground under the radiator (this could also indicate a leak at a hose, the drain cock locations)
• Damaged fins on the radiator
• Temperature gauge rises quickly past normal operating temperature (this can also indicate low coolant, the air in the lines and other issues)
• Rust in the coolant
• Cracks in the plastic (many modern radiators are plastic, rather than metal)

Damage to the radiator can cause a ripple effect throughout the car, resulting in damage to the engine.  What could have been a minor radiator repair could turn into a major engine job!

Wondering how often radiators need to be replaced?  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 vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.