Oh No! My car warranty expired! Now, what will happen if it breaks down? If this is a subject on your mind, here are the 5 most common services that will help add years more dependable service to any car, pickup, SUV, or van.
Collected from years of providing car care service and products, and seeing the results.
What the heck is a timing belt? My advice.
Replace your motors timing belt about when the car has reach 75,000 miles.
Cost: under $250.
A motors timing belt turns the motors cam shaft, which make the valves open and close, to let fuel in and exhaust out.
After so many millions of flexing actions, the belts internal steel strands weaken.
If the belt breaks, on some motors, the valves will stay open - instead of closing, causing the piston to smack into the valve with a sledge hammer hit - a damage that can cost over $2000 to repair.
Not all motors need this service, but its wise on your part to check your car manual, or have a mechanic look to see if your motor has timing belt, or not.
And of course, replace it every 4-5 years or 75,000 miles.
Change your other four fluids if your car is near 100,000 miles.
My advice.
They are radiator, power steering, transmission, and brake fluids.
Cost: about $75 for each service.
Why? Because several unseen conditions; electrolysis, acid attack, and fluid breakdown, are all reaching a dangerous point, and present in the fluids - they are the common causes of: Your cars radiator coolant leak and funny smell, when the a/c or heater is on - and that scum on the inside of your windows that won't clean off.
That is a heater core leak problem.
[Replacement cost: up to $550].
New radiator service products, strong enough to end such leaks - but, have no fibers or particles, may solve the problem.
These new stop leaks work effectively; even stopping intake-manifold coolant leak problems - a $1500 repair, otherwise.
The new breed of radiator servicing and problem solving products can also improve cooling characteristics, and stop electrolysis - one negative that eats holes in the radiator, erodes and causes manifold gasket and seal leaks.
Coolant fluid breakdown - a condition where the protective additives in the coolant are used up, occurs in about two years - the time period before your next service and coolant replacement.
Ignoring this service can have you and your family on the side of the road looking a your well-cooked engine - if ignored.
A good treatment will claim to clean and neutralize acids, offer ingredients for better cooling efficiency, provide long-lasting stop leak protection.
Protect gaskets and seals and rubber hoses.
Power steering fluid needs a good clean-out and protection, too.
Cost: $95.
Power steering fluid loses its lubricity and turns bad on the system.
The cause of seal leaks, the constant drone emanating from the pump, and the cause of your steering gear or rack developing a rough, severe wear spot you feel, just off center-turning of the steering wheel, left or right.
Acids, friction, and surface roughness can be removed with a complete flush, clean and anti-wear product.
"$2,599 to overhaul my transmission? Are you crazy? No sir! That's what it cost!" And when they change your fluid, demand they pour new fluid out of a bottle - into your transmission, because most shops buy recycled transmission fluid - a profit building tactic, that, down the road will take many years of life off your transmission.
If your transmission has developed a rough shift, slow shift, leak, or clunk sound - around 40mph, It needs some real medicine - a fluid change just won't do now, as its not strong enough! What may work to end the hidden causes of those problems? New chemistry products packaged as a complete service treatment.
They should include cleaners containing protectors, along with metal and fluid conditioners.
"The brake pedal is almost touching the floor! We could have killed that person in the cross walk!" The brake pedal never goes down that far unless you brake system has a leak - or the automatic adjusters are dirty and stuck.
Remedy? It time for a complete brake inspection.
The tech - better yet, your local mechanic - who will do the inspection and brake correction service - just as good as a franchise shop will do for you, for less than half what they charge.
You may just need front wheel brakes or all four wheel brake shoes or pads.
When doing so, your cars brake cylinders are also rebuilt and flushed out at this time.
If all seems OK, and just a little cleaning is all that's needed - ask them to flush the system out with new brake fluid.
That's it! Conclusion So, those are my reasons why, at about when your cars are 4 to 5 years old, all the above services need to be done - to avoid costlier problems.
Then, every three years - because fluids breakdown almost twice as fast in older vehicles.
Servicing cost for all the above run about $500, and is good car care life assurance - that may help you avoid many times that amount, is this mechanic's opinion.
Do one a month to spread the cost until your all done.
Collected from years of providing car care service and products, and seeing the results.
What the heck is a timing belt? My advice.
Replace your motors timing belt about when the car has reach 75,000 miles.
Cost: under $250.
A motors timing belt turns the motors cam shaft, which make the valves open and close, to let fuel in and exhaust out.
After so many millions of flexing actions, the belts internal steel strands weaken.
If the belt breaks, on some motors, the valves will stay open - instead of closing, causing the piston to smack into the valve with a sledge hammer hit - a damage that can cost over $2000 to repair.
Not all motors need this service, but its wise on your part to check your car manual, or have a mechanic look to see if your motor has timing belt, or not.
And of course, replace it every 4-5 years or 75,000 miles.
Change your other four fluids if your car is near 100,000 miles.
My advice.
They are radiator, power steering, transmission, and brake fluids.
Cost: about $75 for each service.
Why? Because several unseen conditions; electrolysis, acid attack, and fluid breakdown, are all reaching a dangerous point, and present in the fluids - they are the common causes of: Your cars radiator coolant leak and funny smell, when the a/c or heater is on - and that scum on the inside of your windows that won't clean off.
That is a heater core leak problem.
[Replacement cost: up to $550].
New radiator service products, strong enough to end such leaks - but, have no fibers or particles, may solve the problem.
These new stop leaks work effectively; even stopping intake-manifold coolant leak problems - a $1500 repair, otherwise.
The new breed of radiator servicing and problem solving products can also improve cooling characteristics, and stop electrolysis - one negative that eats holes in the radiator, erodes and causes manifold gasket and seal leaks.
Coolant fluid breakdown - a condition where the protective additives in the coolant are used up, occurs in about two years - the time period before your next service and coolant replacement.
Ignoring this service can have you and your family on the side of the road looking a your well-cooked engine - if ignored.
A good treatment will claim to clean and neutralize acids, offer ingredients for better cooling efficiency, provide long-lasting stop leak protection.
Protect gaskets and seals and rubber hoses.
Power steering fluid needs a good clean-out and protection, too.
Cost: $95.
Power steering fluid loses its lubricity and turns bad on the system.
The cause of seal leaks, the constant drone emanating from the pump, and the cause of your steering gear or rack developing a rough, severe wear spot you feel, just off center-turning of the steering wheel, left or right.
Acids, friction, and surface roughness can be removed with a complete flush, clean and anti-wear product.
"$2,599 to overhaul my transmission? Are you crazy? No sir! That's what it cost!" And when they change your fluid, demand they pour new fluid out of a bottle - into your transmission, because most shops buy recycled transmission fluid - a profit building tactic, that, down the road will take many years of life off your transmission.
If your transmission has developed a rough shift, slow shift, leak, or clunk sound - around 40mph, It needs some real medicine - a fluid change just won't do now, as its not strong enough! What may work to end the hidden causes of those problems? New chemistry products packaged as a complete service treatment.
They should include cleaners containing protectors, along with metal and fluid conditioners.
"The brake pedal is almost touching the floor! We could have killed that person in the cross walk!" The brake pedal never goes down that far unless you brake system has a leak - or the automatic adjusters are dirty and stuck.
Remedy? It time for a complete brake inspection.
The tech - better yet, your local mechanic - who will do the inspection and brake correction service - just as good as a franchise shop will do for you, for less than half what they charge.
You may just need front wheel brakes or all four wheel brake shoes or pads.
When doing so, your cars brake cylinders are also rebuilt and flushed out at this time.
If all seems OK, and just a little cleaning is all that's needed - ask them to flush the system out with new brake fluid.
That's it! Conclusion So, those are my reasons why, at about when your cars are 4 to 5 years old, all the above services need to be done - to avoid costlier problems.
Then, every three years - because fluids breakdown almost twice as fast in older vehicles.
Servicing cost for all the above run about $500, and is good car care life assurance - that may help you avoid many times that amount, is this mechanic's opinion.
Do one a month to spread the cost until your all done.