When should car shocks be replaced?

Shocks are part of your vehicle's suspension system that aids in the car's stability and handling. The many different parts that make up the suspension and steering systems play a big role in keeping your ride smooth and safe. What is the purpose of shocks, you ask?  Consider the following:

• Helps maintain consistent handling and braking
• Keep your tires in contact with the road
• Controls spring and suspension movements
• Reduces car roll, bounce, sway, brake dive, and acceleration squat
• Prolongs the life of other components in the suspension, such as car axles
• Prevents gradual deterioration of ride quality

Shocks wear down slowly over time as the miles add up.  And because they wear gradually, by the time a driver notices an issue, it’s well past the time that they should be replaced, and damage could be occurring to other parts, such as car axles.   Many shocks may want to be replaced at 30,000 miles, while on other vehicles they can go as long as 60,000 to 100,000 miles.  How fast they wear depends largely on how you drive and the situation of the roads.  Driving consistently over bumpy streets and bad roads, your shocks and struts will want to be replaced more often than traveling short distances on the level ground every day.    

Here are various good indicators that it's time to have your shocks checked by a certified auto mechanic and replaced as compulsory:

• You notice the poor steering response.
• Steering performance is stiff.
• Your car sways when turning and changing lanes.
• Your vehicle bounces excessively when driving.
• Braking performance is unbalanced.

Are you wondering when should car shocks be replaced? Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about the suspension system and to request an appointment.  Our automotive shop proudly serves car owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

Do you know What Should Car Service Include?

In many components of the county, people are enjoying the cooler fall days.  Probably the last thing on their mind is car maintenance.  Though, winter will soon be here with its rain and snow.  Just as you prepare your wardrobe for the cold and rain, don’t forget to get your car ready too.  

Ask your auto mechanic about what should car service include to get ready for winter driving.  The first thing to do is to schedule a full-point inspection on all the systems and parts of your vehicle so that you know are driving as safe as possible. This inspection should include:

• Car Battery--The battery connections should be clean, tight, and corrosion-free. Get your battery tested so you’re not left stranded some icy morning.  It may simply want to be recharged, or if it is starting to fail, it may want to be replaced.
• Windshield and Wiper Blades--Wiper blades usually start to lose their effectiveness in as little as 6 months. If there are streaking areas of glass, they should be replaced.  Chips in your windshield could become large cracks if not repaired.  Or, to be on the safe side, have your windshield replaced. 
• Lights-- Inspect that all the lights are working and clean so that you'll have optimum visibility at night or on dark days so that other drivers can see you coming or going.
• Oil-- Normally, multi-viscosity oil that has a "W" in the viscosity index can be used year-round as it provides the best oil flow at either hot temperatures.  Also, inspect the oil level frequently.
• Radiator, Hoses, and Belts-- Have the radiator and hoses inspected for cracks, leaks, or contamination from oil. The hoses should be firm yet pliable.  Ask your auto mechanic to inspect the antifreeze mixture in your radiator.  It may be time to really flush the radiator and add a new anti-freeze.
• Tires-- If you drive a lot in snowy conditions, you may want to use all-season or snow tires. Inspect inflation pressure every month.  Under-inflated adversely affect steering and fuel economy, plus wearing out the tires faster.
• Brakes-- If you feel any vibration, hear squealing, or the brake pedal feels “soft,” have your brakes checked and repaired as soon as possible for better-stopping performance.

Need to find quality car repair?  Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about what should car service include and make an appointment.  Our car repair shop proudly serves car owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

How Many Miles Should Brakes Last?

Many car owners may have read through their service manual to try to find out how many miles should brakes last before needing some form of repair.  Inappropriately, there is not a set schedule to go by for brake service.  The fact is, every time you feel you are starting to notice stopping issues is the time to have your brakes checked.  

Taking care of your brakes is critical for safe driving.  If you know your car, you should be able to notice when your brakes begin to fail and lose their usefulness.  If you cannot stop your car when and where you want to, you could be just minutes away from an accident.

It is smarter to put out a few dollars upfront to make sure your vehicle is driving as safe as possible rather than driving a vehicle that is not safe.  In terms of driving safety, brake repair is worth every penny!

Neglecting just one of the several components that make up the braking system can cause damage to any or all of them. The 3 most common components that want to be replaced periodically include:

• Brake Pads – A squealing sound when the brakes are engaged may be the sound of metal on metal. This means that the brake pads have worn down and want to be replaced. If not replaced in a timely manner, damage can occur to the calipers. 
• Calipers – Calipers squeeze the brake pads against the rotors, causing your car to come to a stop. If calipers want to be replaced, the cost of brake repair will be more expensive than replacing pads or rotors, so make sure to have them checked regularly. 
• Rotors – The brake pads are pushed by the calipers against the wall of the rotor, creating the friction that brings your car to a stop. Rotors have a minimum width specified by the manufacturer.  If your rotor does not go under that minimum width, it may only want to be reappeared instead of replaced.

Remember:  Brake repair should not be neglected.  Spending a few dollars now on simple brake repair is worth the peace of mind you gain knowing you are driving as safe as possible! 

Do you want to know how many miles should brakes last?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about brake repair service and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

Why the Oil Change is Important for Your Vehicle?

Whatever type of vehicle you drive, whether it’s a loaded SUV, an over-size truck, or a small compact car, it is possibly one of the biggest purchases you may ever make.  The cost of a new vehicle is escalating every year so it only makes financial sense to take good care of your vehicle. Otherwise, you may find yourself spending a lot of time and dollars in an auto repair shop.   

Did you know that the basic, and inexpensive, oil change is one of the most vital aspects of car maintenance? Regular oil change intervals are a major factor in how your vehicle performs and how many miles and years of service it will deliver you.  

So if you’re wondering why the oil change is important for your vehicle, here is a little good reason:  

1. The correct weight – Normally, a 5W-30 performs better in colder weathers, 10W-40 for warmer weathers. Understanding the difference in weight can help the overall performance of your engine.
2. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations – Be sure to use the oil recommended by your car's manufacturer. Using the wrong oil could void the manufacturer’s guarantee. 
3. Synthetic oil – Synthetic oil delivers better protection for the engine, longer intervals between oil changes, greater resistance to breakdown, increased cold weather starts, and increased fuel mileage.  With synthetic oil, many vehicles can go as much as 10,000 to 15,000 miles between oil changes.  Synthetic generally costs a little more, but the benefits may be worth it.  
4. Clean oil – During usual operation, engines produce metal fragments that can harm your engine. Regular oil changes will flush out these fragments. 
5. Choose a quality filter – A high-quality filter adds extra protection and is worth the extra cost. 

Do you want to know more about why the oil change is important for your vehicle?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive to ask about our oil change coupons and to schedule an oil change service.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

How Often Should You Replace Brake Rotors?

Many drivers don’t keep a schedule in their heads when it’s time to replace certain parts of their vehicles.  And for some parts, there isn’t a set schedule. You replace them when they fail.  This is the case with brakes.  So maybe you’ve thought about things like when should the brake pads be changed, or how often should you replace brake rotors?

                

The brake pads and rotors are the most common components of the braking system that want to be replaced periodically.  Normally, your brakes should give you around 40,000 to 60,000 miles or more of service before they want to be replaced.  How Lifespan for brake parts depends on how well you, the car owner, take care of them. It also depends on the quality of the parts you use in your car.  Just remember that these parts will wear out ultimately as even steel gives out under repeated pressure.

           

So how often should you replace brake rotors?  And when should you consider a brake replacement?  As a happy medium, it is a good idea to check the wear on the rotors every time the brake pads are replaced, which is normally about every 70,000 miles under ideal conditions.  If you start to notice signs of heavy rust, grooves or scoring in the rotors, your auto mechanic may recommend a couple of brakes repair options:

• Resurface the rotor (which means to smooth out the grooves on the surface of the rotor); or
• Replace the rotor

One of the good things is that brake pads generally come with a built-in wear indicator indicating when they want to be replaced. Though, if the pads are allowed to wear down too low, the indicator drags on the rotor creating a high-pitched squeal.  If you delay until you hear your brakes screeching, you’ll be replacing both the brake pads and rotors more often.

Are you wondering how often should you replace brake rotors?  Consult our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about brake replacement and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan,NE.

When should you replace your car battery?

As simple as the car battery sounds, it is the most important piece of equipment your car wants in order to be driven down the street.  The battery is an energy storage component that relies on a chemical reaction to produce electricity. This stored energy operates the starter motor, ignition system, and fuel system. Once the motor is running, it is really the alternator that supplies the electricity needed for all the other electrical systems, plus keeps the battery charged while the car is running.

 

Don’t delay for your battery to fail totally and leave you stranded on the side of the road on a hot summer day.  If you keep driving with a weak battery, the alternator can be overloaded which then affects the operation of the auto electrical system.

So when should you replace your car battery?  These situations are good indicators that it’s time for a car battery replacement:

• Car won’t start. As for battery ages, the cranking amps become lower than the original rating. Once the cranking amps fall below a certain level, your car won’t start.
• Battery warning light. If the battery warning light illuminates on the instrument panel while driving, have the battery charge inspected to see if it wants to replace it.
• Electrical components don’t work.  As the battery starts to go bad, the voltage it produces drips, resulting in the other electrical components in your car start goes malfunction.

Remember:  Normally, a battery will give good service anywhere between 4 to 7 years.  Although a battery will die ultimately, it is possible to extend its service life with good maintenance.  If you happen to have a new battery and it keeps dying, there is something else going on under the hood.  Ask your auto mechanic to check it out!

Wondering when should you replace your car battery?  Consult our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

How Often Do Alternators Go Bad?

If you’re noticing that your car is having issues starting, you may be wondering just how often do alternators go bad? Alternators can usually last a long time, about 7 years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles.  But many auto mechanics report that they are replacing alternators at about 80,000 miles.  

Do you want to know just how the alternator works?  It is located on the engine, provides power to the battery, and continuously charges the battery and the car’s electrical systems and computers. The battery is to start the car, but the alternator keeps it running.  The quality of the alternator, the way in which the car is driven, and how many electronics are being used inside the car all affect how long an alternator will actually last. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know if starting issues are caused by issues with the car starter, the car battery, or the alternator.  

There are a few problems that could make the alternator go bad, such as jump-starting the car the wrong way or installing an accessory that overloads it.  Leaking fluid in the alternator or a tight belt can also cause damage to the alternator bearings, causing premature wearing.  When the alternator goes bad, the electronics try to draw all of their power from the battery, which then causes the battery to die. This is why you should inspect the alternator even if you suspect the car starter or battery may be the cause of the issue.  

Often, the alternator can go out with little or no warning.  But there are a few signs that will let you know it is about ready to die:

1. The dash warning light ("ALT" or "GEN") illuminates.
2. The lights are dimmer than normal and may pulsate from dim to bright.
3. Other electrical systems, such as power windows, power locks, dashboard lights, air conditioning, radio, GPS, etc, will start to act up.
4. Bearings in the engine may fail, creating unusual rattles. 
5. There might not be enough power in the spark plugs to start the engine, or to keep the engine alive, causing it to stall.
6. The battery will drain because the alternator is not keeping it charged.  

Remember:  Check out the alternator too if you are having starting issues before replacing the car starter or battery.

Are you wondering how often do alternators go bad?  Consult our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about car starters, alternators, and batteries and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.