Maintenance Tips
Vehicle Multi-Point Checkup Report
Keeping up on your vehicle's maintenance needs will greatly extend the life of your vehicle. At Gentry Ford Subaru we are here to help you with all of those maintenance needs. Regular oil changes are vital in keeping your vehicle's engine in good shape. Having your vehicle inspected regularly by a certified mechanic will help you know when it is time to have certain components serviced or replaced, this tends to save you a lot of money in expensive repairs. When you notice a small problem with your car, like a check engine light, noise, vibration, etc. it is best to have your vehicle inspected right away, if you catch the problem soon enough then it can most likely be replaced without hurting any other components in your vehicle in the mean time. It is also important that you know when vital services are due, like major mileage services that way your vehicle is always running in peak performance. Included in an oil change from Gentry Ford Subaru is a multi-point vehicle inspection with a vehicle check up report, this is our way of helping you know when it's time to have other components serviced. At Gentry Ford Subaru our certified technicians are experts on vehicle maintenance and service, we are glad to help you with any and all of your questions and services!
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Brakes are one of your vehicle's most important safety features, proper inspection and servicing is very important for your vehicle's proper operation and your own personal safety. To ensure that your vehicle is stopping safely your brakes are meant to wear down; this is why proper maintenance is so important. When you think its time to get your brakes inspected or service stop by Gentry Ford Subaru so our certified technicians can help you. Here are some signs that you are in need of a brake inspection:
When Should You Have Your Brakes Inspected?
-Brake pedal pulsation or vibration
-A squeaking or grinding noise
-Brake system warning light comes on your dashboard
-If your brakes aren't as responsive as they should be, if your pedal sinks towards the floor
-If your vehicle pulls to one side over the other when braking
-Clicking noises during braking
-A noticeable burning smell
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Taking care of your transmission properly can extend the life of your transmission and also make it so there is a less likelihood of you having transmission problems. Periodically checking transmission fluids as well as having regular transmission services you will greatly increase the performance of your vehicle's transmission.
How to Prevent the Transmission from Damage?
-Occasionally check your transmission fluid level and condition by using the dip stick, if your vehicle does not have a dip stick or you can't find it then refer to your vehicle's owners manual. Some transmission fluids have to be checked strictly by the dealer.
-When the fluid is dark (brown rather than red) or if the fluid is dirty then it needs to be replaced
-If the fluid level is low, most likely there is a leak somewhere and needs to be inspected
-Never shift a vehicle to reverse or park until the vehicle is at a complete stop
-Make sure you hold the brake completely down when shifting out of the parking gear
-An automatic transmission can never be completely drained, this is why it is important to have your transmission serviced regularly
-Check your parking spots regularly to see if there is any fluids on the ground
-Check your owner's manual to see when scheduled transmission services are due
-Stop by Gentry Ford Subaru to help you with all of your transmission needs!
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Here's How We Can Help Save Fuel When You Come To Gentry Ford Subaru:
By having your vehicle serviced at Gentry Ford Subaru, you are not only improving the life of your vehicle but we also help save you money in pricey gas. Here are some of the services that our factory certified technicians perform that will improve your mpg and save you money at the gas pump!
1. Inspect your vehicle's tires and tire pressure: making sure that your tires are wearing evenly and are inflated to the right amount will help maintain proper gas mileage. We also have nitrogen-filled tire inflation that will help hold tire pressure 2-3 times longer than oxygen-filled tires. Nitrogen-filled tires helps reduce tire rolling resistance and helps maintain maximum gas mileage.
2. Engine tune-Ups: Getting an engine tune-up for your vehicle when needed can get your engine components running in peak performance! When all systems are operating properly you save a great deal in fuel efficiency.
3. Inspection of your vehicle's emission control system: having a faulty oxygen sensor replaced can improve your mpg by as much as 40%! The performance of any oxygen sensor deteriorates over time, having your vehicle's emission control system inspected is vital in maintaining proper emission levels and the best gas mileage for you!
4. Air filter replacement service: your vehicle's engine performance is altered when your air filter is clogged. Air filters get clogged with dirt, dust, and grime and affect your gas mileage drastically.
5. Bring your vehicle in for regular oil changes: keeping up on your vehicle's oil changes not only improves the life of your vehicle but also gets your engine running at proper performance which improves your gas mileage. Fuel efficiency is also improved when you use the recommended grade of motor oil for you vehicle, at Gentry Ford Subaru we carry only high-quality engine oil and will ensure that your vehicle receives the proper grade.
There are also some things that you can personally do to help improve your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Here are some tips to help ensure the best gas mileage for your vehicle.
1. Avoid idling: While waiting in the car it is more fuel efficient to simply turn off your vehicle. While idling your vehicle gets exactly zero miles to the gallon, it is way more efficient to just turn of the vehicle rather than letting it idle.
2. Don't drive on a cold engine: let your vehicle warm up before driving it, your engine works more efficiently when it is warmed up.
3. Use cruise control: when driving at a constant speed it is always more fuel efficient.
4. Drive steadily: slowing down and speeding up waste gas, the more constant your speed the better gas mileage your vehicle will receive.
5. Check owners manual for recommended maintenance intervals: keeping up on your vehicle's maintenance needs is the best way to ensure that that the engine and components are running at proper operational performance.
6. Remove excessive weight: removing extra clutter in your vehicle can save about 2% in fuel efficiency for ever 100 pounds you remove.
7. Check your gas cap: ensuring that your gas cap is on and sealed tight helps keep fumes from escaping which saves you gas mileage loss as well as prevents unnecessary smog-causing compounds in the air.
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Electrical malfunctions can leave you stranded and needing help! The best way to not have to jump-start a battery is being able to realize when your battery is starting to wear or quit working. Gentry Ford Subaru can perform a quick battery test if you notice any of the following problems:
Signs for a worn, aging battery
-Difficulty or a hesitation when starting your engine
-Consistent electrical problems
-Corrosion around the battery terminals and cables
-Your dashboard battery light is on
-If your car won't start
-If the vehicle makes a ticking noise when you turn the key in the ignition
If your car doesn't start and you are stranded here are some things that can usually get your vehicle going
-Check the water level in the battery
-Scrape corrosion away from the battery posts and battery cables
-Make sure the battery cables are connected
-Carry jumper cables or a battery charging device
-Call us to schedule a service appointment to have the battery tested and replaced if needed
Instructions for jumping your vehicle's battery
1. Open both hoods of the vehicles and locate where the battery is
2. Make sure both cars are turned off!
3. Remove corrosion and battery terminal covers
4. Attach positive (red) cable to positive (red) terminal of the dead battery
5. Attach the other end of the positive cable to the good battery the same way (make sure both are secured tightly)
6. Attach the negative (black) jumper cable to the negative (black) battery terminal of the good assisting battery
7. Attach the opposite end of the negative (black) jumper cable to a clean unpainted metal surface underneath the dead car's hood (do NOT connect the opposite end of the negative jumper cable to the negative battery terminal in the car with the dead battery)
8. Start the good assisting vehicle's engine
9. Start the dead car's engine
10. Let both vehicle's run connected for about three minutes
11. While the vehicle that needed to be jumped is running, remove the cables in the reverse order that they were connected
12. Close both hoods and make sure the jumped vehicle runs for at least thirty minutes so the battery can fully charge
13. Stop by Gentry Ford Subaru so we can perform a battery test so you don't get stranded again!
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The performance of your vehicle's tires is critical in maintaining adequate safety and efficiency of your vehicle. After time your vehicle's tires begin to lose some traction and braking ability, it is very crucial that you know when to have your worn out tires replaced. Schedule a service appointment at Gentry Ford Subaru today to make sure your vehicle's tires are up to proper operating standards. Here are some tips to know when its time to start thinking about replacing your vehicle's current tires:
When should you replace your tires?
-Sudden loss of tire pressure
-Check tread by doing a "penny test": place a penny upside down (sticking up vertically) and the Lincoln head side facing you in the center of the tread. If you can see the very top of Lincoln's head or the space above it then your tires need to be replaced immediately, the tread is almost completely gone. If you can see the hair on the top of his head then it is time to go tire shopping. If tire tread is at least as deep as Lincoln's forehead then your tires still have life on them and don't need to be replaced yet.
-Check and see if one part of the tire is wearing faster than the other, and if a particular tire is in worse shape than the others
-If you can see wire mesh or threads anywhere this is a serious problem and you need to replace your tires as soon as possible
-If you start to experience poor handling or traction
-Watch for the wear bars, when the wear bars are even with the tire tread only 2/32 inches of tread remains (if you can see the wear bars then it is time for the tires to be replaced).
-If your car is new enough or advanced enough you should also have a tire monitor light that will come on when an issue arises
How to change a flat tire if you don't want to have your vehicle towed or pay for road side assistance:
-Try to pull over to a safe suitable spot to change your tire
-Set your vehicle's parking brake
-Turn on your hazards
-Block the other tires so your vehicle won't roll
-Remove the spare tire and jack kit from your vehicle
-Check the tire pressure of the spare
-The jack kit should have a tire iron included, loosen the lug nuts but don't take them all the way off
-Raise the corner of the vehicle that needs the tire replaced, just high enough to put the spare on
-Pull off the loosened lug nuts
-Now your flat tire is ready to be pulled off
-Put the spare tire on your vehicle
-Replace the lug nuts, but don't tighten them yet
-Lower the vehicle by reversing the jack
-Tighten each lug nut, but not one by one. Start with one tighten about 50% and go to the next one. Continue until all are completely tightened
-Stop by a repair shop to have your flat tire replaced as soon as possible
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