VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT

When temperatures rise, your vehicle’s air conditioning system has to work harder to keep you cool. Over time, the A/C may not blow as cold as you want, even though the control is at the coldest setting. Eventually, the compressor will wear out and need to be replaced. Probably the most important part of the air conditioning system, the compressor ensures a constant flow of refrigerant to cool the air channeled into the passenger cabin. Lack of cold air plus noises from clattering bearings or a squealing belt are signs of compressor failure. Although this repair is relatively straightforward, it’s best done by a professional versed in evacuating and recharging the compressor’s refrigerant.

Diamonds may be forever, but batteries are not. A car battery lasts approximately 3-4 years – or less in regions with high heat and humidity. A key sign of pending failure could be sluggish starting cycle. Many mechanics suggest having a battery “load tested” once every two years, in an attempt to predict just how much life may be left in your battery.

Air in the brake lines can create a spongy feeling when you apply the brakes. Bleeding the brake lines usually removes the air, but it isn’t a job for the faint of heart. Better left to professionals, newer ABS braking systems require specialized equipment to complete the job.

Please note: Pricing shown is for either front brakes or rear brakes. Made of ceramic, organic or metallic material, brake pads squeeze against the brake disc rotors to slow the vehicle down. Every time you apply the brakes, the pads wear down a tiny bit. Eventually a wear indicator starts squeaking to tell you it’s time to replace the brake pads. It’s always better to replace the pads before they start squeaking, to avoid damaging the brake rotors. A mechanic can check brake pad thickness during a tire rotation or other service. The number of miles you can go before replacing the brake pads really depends on your driving style.

Please note: Pricing shown is for either front brakes or rear brakes. Made of ceramic, organic or metallic material, brake pads squeeze against the brake disc rotors to slow the vehicle down. Every time you apply the brakes, the pads wear down a tiny bit. Eventually a wear indicator starts squeaking to tell you it’s time to replace the brake pads. A mechanic can check brake pad thickness during a tire rotation or other service. As part of the service, the rotors will be resurfaced by grinding part of the metal surface away to remove irregularities or other imperfections. Resurfacing extends the life of the rotor and is less expensive than replacing the rotor.

Please note: Pricing shown is for either front brakes or rear brakes. Made of ceramic, organic or metallic material, brake pads squeeze against the brake disc rotors to slow the vehicle down. Every time you apply the brakes, the pads wear down a tiny bit. Eventually a wear indicator starts squeaking to tell you it’s time to replace the brake pads.  A mechanic can examine brake pad thickness during a tire rotation or other service. Sometimes you feel a vibration while applying the brakes. That’s a sign that you may need to  resurface or  replace the brake rotors. Resurfacing a brake rotor will extend the life of the rotors by grinding a tiny amount of the metal surface area away to remove any irregularities or other imperfections that have cropped up over time. After a while, the entire brake rotor may need replacement if it has become too thin (through repeated grindings) or warped from variations in temperature. Don’t delay, as brakes are probably one of the most critical safety devices on your vehicle, right up there with seat belts. 

Please note: Pricing shown is for either front brakes or rear brakes. Sometimes you feel a vibration while applying the brakes. That’s a sign that you may need to resurface or replace the brake rotors. Resurfacing a brake rotor will extend the life of the rotors by grinding a tiny amount of the metal away, to remove irregularities or other imperfections that have cropped up over time. After a while, the entire brake rotor may need to be replaced if it has become too thin (through repeated grindings) or warped from variations in temperature. Don’t delay, as brakes are one of the most critical safety devices on your vehicle, right up there with seat belts.

Please note: Pricing shown is for either front brakes or rear brakes. Sometimes you feel a vibration while applying the brakes. That’s a sign that you may need t resurface the brake rotors. Resurfacing extends the life of the rotors by grinding a tiny amount of the metal surface area away, to remove any irregularities or other imperfections that have cropped up over time. 

Modern heating and air conditioning systems in cars use an in-cabin air filter to help purify the air and eliminate outside odors. Consult your owner’s manual or maintenance schedule for how often it should be changed. For convenience, you might consider having the cabin air filter changed in conjunction with other routine maintenance.

Periodically flushing the engine coolant can help keep contaminants that clog the radiator’s cooling element from building up. A clogged radiator could make the engine run hot, cause premature wear and even lead to engine failure. Fresh coolant also contains inhibitors that will keep the entire cooling system clean from rust, which could cause leaks in the radiator. Typically, you should flush and replace the coolant every 30,000 miles or five years, whichever comes first.

In addition to wheels, a vehicle’s drive axle includes a differential unit, which uses gears to synchronize the rate at which the wheels rotate. When your vehicle turns, the inside wheels don’t need to make as many rotations as the outside wheels, which have a greater distance to cover. The differential helps keep the axle from binding up from this difference in turning rates. A thin coat of oil lubricates these gears, and that oil needs to be changed from time to time. Your owner’s manual or maintenance minder will tell you when to replace it. If the oil becomes contaminated or the level drops too low, the gears could be damaged, which would lead to a more expensive repair or replacement.

The engine air filter helps trap dirt and debris before it can enter the engine. Typically, you should change the engine air filter every 30,000 to 45,000 miles, but if you’re in a dusty, dirty region, cut these distances in half.

Several types of engine belts need to be replaced from time to time. Vehicles from 1990 and newer typically have a serpentine belt. The belt snakes around the pulleys located at the front of the engine (or the side of a transverse-mounted engine) and drives multiple accessories including the alternator, power steering pump and air conditioning compressor. If it is squeaking or worn, it could break, which would make the engine inoperable. Check it at 60,000 miles but change it before 100,000 miles. Older vehicles usually have separate belts for the water pump, alternator, radiator fan and air conditioning system, but when they break, you still may be able to get home. Finally, engine timing belts help to keep the camshaft and crankshaft in sync so that pistons and valves operate in sync. They typically last from 60,000 to 90,000 miles. A broken timing belt could result in engine damage and an expensive rebuild.

Diagnostics are periodic checks of the system operations of your car, truck or SUV that can give you a quick window into your vehicle’s health. A mechanic performs diagnostics by plugging into a receptacle under the dashboard to access the On Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) tool or by tapping into a system like General Motors’ OnStar.

Changing from carburetors to fuel injection systems has made fuel delivery more precise. But every now and then the system needs to be flushed, cleaned and restored. Servicing your fuel injection system helps to remove waxy build-up & deposits and cleans the intake valves, cylinder heads and fuel delivery lines. This results in an extended engine life, improved performance, and better fuel economy. Most modern engines suggest fuel injector service at 60,000 miles, unless a specific problem crops up. Check your owner’s manual to know for sure with your car. If you notice a certain sluggishness in acceleration and a decrease in fuel economy, it might mean it’s time for a fuel injector service. Your local dealership service department performs this job every day. Contact them for more information.

Located inside your fuel tank, a fuel pump has a small electric motor to make sure that pressurized gasoline flows to the engine to power the vehicle. Along the way, the fuel passes through a filter, either inside the fuel tank or externally in the fuel flow line. Most fuel pumps will last for the life of the vehicle but occasionally they can fail. Signs of such failure are a car that won’t start or stalls once it has started. Other times, the fuel flow can slowly become starved causing the check engine light to come on. Or if you hear a whirring sound coming from your fuel tank, the fuel pump may be about to fail, since fuel pumps do not normally make noise. A mechanic will need to get to the failed pump through the top of the fuel tank via an access panel in the passenger compartment or by removing the tank from the vehicle. This moderately complicated job is best performed at your dealership’s service department.

An oil change is the act of replacing the oil and oil filter in your car, truck or SUV’s crankcase. Oil has a limited life span and should be changed according to the maintenance schedule in your Owner’s Manual. Many modern vehicles use synthetic motor oil, which only requires an oil change every 7,500–15,000 miles depending on the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Modern cars, trucks and SUVs all use power steering to make maneuvering effortless. The power steering system uses a pump and hydraulic pressure to assist the steering gears. Power steering fluid is designed to last for as long as 100,000 miles, but the system may leak or the fluid may become exhausted before then. Follow the recommendation from your owner’s manual to see when it’s time to flush the power steering fluid. A mechanic will flush the system by removing dark, discolored power steering fluid and refilling it with fresh fluid, while an assistant turns the steering wheel from left to right to get old fluid out of the system. When the remaining fluid appears like fresh fluid, the system has been successfully flushed. Remove the remaining fluid, refill with fresh power steering fluid and your vehicle should be good for another 100,000 miles.

Spark plugs ignite the fuel mixture in the engine, providing the power to make your car go. Sitting atop your engine’s cylinder head, it receives a spark from the electronic ignition in modern vehicles, or the distributor cap and rotor found in older cars. Eventually, at around 30,000 miles to as high as 40,000 miles, conventional spark plugs will wear out, which could cause stalling, starting problems and engine misfires. Higher-cost platinum-tipped spark plugs may not need to be replaced as often. At the same time, it might be appropriate to replace your oxygen sensor, spark plug wires, PCV valve and fuel filter.

A vehicle’s cooling system uses a thermostat valve to help regulate the engine’s temperature. When the engine is cold, the valve will be closed, bypassing the radiator and allowing the engine to rapidly come up to operating temperature. After that level has been reached, the valve on the thermostat opens to allow coolant to circulate through the radiator. But sometimes, through normal wear and tear or contaminants in the coolant, the thermostat may fail to open, causing the engine to overheat. This will be evident by the temperature gauge climbing into the high temperature (usually red) zone. Remember that a thermostat failure can also be caused by other factors, as well. For that reason, it is important to have a skilled mechanic check all the links in the chain – radiator, coolant pump, hoses and thermostat.

Critical to the operation of your vehicle, the timing belt synchs the operations of the camshaft and the crankshaft so that the valves operate efficiently and safely. Older cars may have a timing chain, similar to a chain on a motorcycle, with a life cycle of around 60,000 miles. Newer models use timing belts made of polyurethane and Kevlar for long life and durability. They can go as long as 100,000 miles although it’s always a good idea to change it before then. Belt failure can cause extensive damage to the valves, pistons and other internal parts of the engine. The cost of changing the timing belt is a bargain when you consider the cost to replace the entire engine. Start thinking about changing the timing belt once you cross the 90,000-mile threshold. Check your owner’s manual for details.

A tire pressure sensor is designed to warn that one or more of your tires is underinflated. All cars built since 2007 are required to have this system. The most common sensor uses a battery and operates via a wireless transmitter mounted inside the rim of your tire’s wheel. When it detects low pressure, it sends a signal to your vehicle’s computer system that shows up on your instrument panel as an icon of a tire or some other alert. Most warn of low pressure without indicating a specific tire, while more advanced systems can flag an individual wheel or indicate the pressure in each tire. The batteries in tire pressure sensors last around five to seven years but sometimes they can fail earlier. The sensors can also be damaged from potholes or other sudden jarring. Replacing the sensor is easy for a tire retailer or your dealership service department. Your service technician will also electronically reset the system after replacing the sensors or whenever you replace your tires.