Routine Maintenance

Guarantee a Long Life for Your Vehicle

Scheduled maintenance is the key to happy, healthy car. A healthy car means fewer unexpected breakdowns and fewer expensive repairs. A properly maintained vehicle will perform better, and won’t need to be replaced as soon.

The best way to find out what maintenance is needed is to consult your owner’s manual. If you don’t have an owner’s manual or have questions about maintenance, give us a call or stop in. We have access to the owner’s manual for your vehicle, and would be happy to help.

Sticking to what your vehicle manufacturer recommends for scheduled maintenance is one of the best things you can do to keep you car in good shape and avoid costly repairs.

Why Scheduled Vehicle Maintenance is Important

Ignoring normal maintenance can lead to a variety of issues. These issues  can include transmission replacement if the fluid is not changed in a timely fashion.

• An engine replacement may be needed if the engine oil is not changed when it is recommended.
• On many Volkswagens and Audis the timing chain will need to be replaced if regular oil changes aren’t done.
• Your engine will often misfire and run poorly if the spark plugs are not changed when recommended.
• The brake system, cooling system, steering system, and suspension system should be inspected regularly to prevent failure. If any of these systems are not properly maintained they may fail unexpectedly.

Routine Car Maintenance Schedule

The first thing that comes to mind for most people when they hear “maintenance”  is oil and fluid changes. These are both very important parts of keeping your car healthy. Over time the fluids degrade and do not lubricate, cool, or contain contaminates as well as when they’re new. This is true for engine oil, transmission fluid (both automatic and manual), power steering fluid, coolant/antifreeze, differential fluid, and transfer case oil.

Brake fluid and clutch fluid are slightly different kinds of fluid which retain moisture. As the fluid retains more moisture it will “squish” more, which can cause the brake pedal to feel squishy. The moisture also leads to deterioration of the brake and clutch fluid systems, which can cause failure. The brake fluid and clutch fluid of your vehicle should be replaced at least once every two(2) years.

The engine oil, differential fluid, transfer case fluid and sometimes transmission fluids are replaced by removing the drain plug, letting the fluid drain out, and then refilling the fluid to the correct level.

The brake fluid, clutch fluid, and sometimes transmission fluids are flushed so new fluid is added to one spot and pushes the old fluid out. This often utilizes a machine to reduce time and help the technician be more precise.

The power steering fluid is often replaced multiple times by removing the fluid in the reservoir and refilling with clean fluid. The fluid is then run through the system and removed again to remove all of the contaminants and renew the fluid.

The coolant is either drained and refilled or it is drained and water is forced through the system to remove build up and old fluid. The system is then put under a vacuum and refilled. This process allows all of the coolant to be replaced and also prevents any air bubbles in the system. Air bubbles in the cooling system can cause overheating and no heat in the vehicle.

When you bring your vehicle to Alexander’s for scheduled maintenance, we always give it a check-up and let you know if any parts need replacing, or will need replacing soon.  This means you’ll be prepared to replace your brakes when they’re due, or replace that worn ball joint before it breaks and leaves you and your car stranded.