General Maintenance
Routine maintenance involves keeping the electrical system in your vehicle in good working condition. Computerized vehicles, especially, must have good power and ground connections and some of the most important ones are at the battery. Avoid letting a build-up of corrosion from remaining on the battery terminals as a poor connection will cause everything from slow starting or an engine running poorly. Since simply disconnecting the battery on some computerized vehicles can have all kinds of computer relearn issues, it is recommended to have a professional service your battery terminals.
Caution: Some vehicles have “vat or vehicle anti-theft” systems built into the computers and will not restart without the correct information being available to the technician. We have the information needed to perform what sounds like a simple task.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
Brake fluid is like any other fluid used in cars and trucks and is subject to degradation. It can get so hot that it literally turns black from the heat. The black color is soot and falls out of suspension creating sludge deposits in critical parts. The fluid is also a hydroscopic fluid, meaning it will absorb water. It absorbs water from the atmosphere and will become less effective.
Have you ever noticed your brake pedal becoming spongy while descending longer hills? It is from the hydraulic fluid, after time, absorbing moisture and this moisture will boil, creating a gas that you literally compress (giving the spongy feel) by pushing on the brake pedal.
Brake fluid should be completely flushed out with new fluid every two years and is recommended when performing brake pad and shoe replacements. Anti-lock brake systems are in even more critical for the need of this service because of all the moving parts in very expensive electronic controllers.
We can boil a small sample of your existing brake fluid and it is most common to find boiling points below 325 degrees F. Moisture will fall out of suspension, turning into water, collecting in sensitive areas such as wheel cylinders and/or brake calipers. Good clean brake fluid will only boil at or above 450 degrees F.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
This is your basic "grease job" usually supplied with an engine oil and filter replacement to lubricate all the suspension parts and driveline parts, if they have a port or nipple that will accept this service. A lot of today's cars and trucks have sealed units and are not serviceable.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
Why should you do a coolant flush? A coolant flush or service means more than just draining and refilling your radiator. Old anti-freeze gets not only dirty, but loses it "package" of ingredients that lubricates the water pump to prevent corrosion.
Today's engines have many different metals like: aluminum, cast iron, copper, tin from solder, etc., which will create a reaction when mixed. The new coolant package is designed to prevent this and also to lubricate moving parts in your water pump.
We have all heard and know about someone who had to replace an expensive radiator because it was rotted out or someone whose water pump broke and saved very little by not flushing their coolant. A properly done flush includes using a special machine that allows the coolant to reach operating temperature which pushes the new coolant through the entire engine, heater assembly and radiator, thereby eliminating all the old coolant. We then dispose of the old coolant in an environmentally responsible way.
Antifreeze must be used year round to properly dissipate heat and to properly protect your vehicle from freezing during a winter. The new antifreeze must also be correctly mixed with water, as pure antifreeze will cause overheating and for your air conditioning not to function properly. The correct and optimum mixture of antifreeze and water is usually -35C unless you live in extreme cold conditions, which would force it to be different. This mixture level dissipates the most possible heat from your radiator to keep from overheating. It also allows your air conditioning condenser (mounted in front of your radiator) to dissipate the maximum amount of heat to ensure your air conditioner cools more effectively.
Here is a tip. Never cover your vehicle grill with a screen like those on a home door as this will drastically reduce air flow through the radiator and air conditioning condenser causing excessive heat in both.
Do you ever remember what it is like standing behind your home screen door when the wind is blowing outside? What you should remember is not feeling much wind; neither will your radiator. Cleaning bugs out of your radiator is a pain, but is better than the screen. Your air conditioner will work much better.
Look after your car and it will look after you!
When you read your vehicle's maintenance schedule, you will find that every 36000 miles, it will call for replacing the fluid or oil. Like any hard working part in your car, the differential or rear end (as some call it) gets hot from all the work it does. This breaks down the oil so it is not as effective as when it was new. This will cause wear in all its moving parts to accelerate. It only has to be done a few times during the life of your vehicle, but will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
Drivability Problems and Diagnostics:
Today's vehicles are very complex. They are controlled by many computers and are very efficient compared to years past. Carburetors are no longer used and simple repairs are not as common.
We have the most current and up to date diagnostic equipment with certified technicians necessary to diagnose and repair hard to find drivability issues.
Sometimes these "gremlins" are computer software updates, broken wires that supply either power or grounds to electrical parts, simple bad connections buried deep in all those wires under the hood or dashboard. Sometimes they can be any combination of the above or more.
We will always authorize a dollar value that we feel should find the problem and will never go over that pre-set spending limit without further authorization. We promise no surprises when paying your invoice. It takes the most experienced technician, plus the most current equipment to find these problems quickly and efficiently. Completing a correct diagnosis to identify the faulty part or problem is the least expensive way to repair a drivability issue.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
Your new car owner's manual has all of the service intervals and most of the necessary items listed to fully maintain your car throughout its life. Like anything you buy new, if you don't look after it, the condition will deteriorate quickly. This makes a large investment in a vehcle necessary more often.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
Since you purchased your new vehicle, dirt, varnishes and carbon deposits have been forming in the fuel system on the intake valves and in the combustion areas. These build-ups can rob your car of performance, and if left untreated, these build-ups may lead to costly engine repairs.
Symptoms related to carbon build-up are:
 | engine pinging |
| hesitation |
| poor acceleration |
| lack of power |
| repeated stalling or poor performance when cold |
| rough idle |
| poor fuel economy |
Our Fuel Carbon Cleaning System is a revolutionary new process that will clean your vehicle's fuel system, including injectors, and remove harmful carbon deposits. Our system utilizes a unique cleaning solution that will not damage your vehicle's sophisticated engine components.
After our Fuel Carbon Cleaning System cleans your engine, you will notice improved performance, acceleration and increased fuel economy. Make an appointment today!
Take care of your vehicle, and your vehicle will take care of you!
This is the most basic of services. While most people seem eager to change the engine oil and filter and even ask for a grease job, they usually never think about all the other necessary maintenance of other fluids like transmission, coolant, brake fluid, etc. At N & J Automotive, we always do a complimentary 20 point inspection to keep you advised on any obvious up and coming expenses.
Explore the rest of this website and learn more about these necessary services.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
Pack Wheel Bearings - when and why:
Although most wheel bearing repacks happen when brakes are being replaced, there are some exceptions. Repacking wheel bearings is more common on trucks and trailers, especially some of the four wheel drive front hub assemblies. These may have to be repacked more often and even between brake replacements.
If the vehicle has been used in severe conditions such as off-road or driven through streams or deep water, the seals intended to keep out the elements often need some help with new grease. Travel trailers often are neglected, but should have some sort of record kept as to just when the last time it was serviced. The best way to ruin a holiday is to ignore such an important service.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
At one time or another, most drivers encounter a power steering problem with their car -- anything from fluid leaks or noise to stiff steering or hard turning after first starting the car. Normal driving eventually causes your power steering fluid to suffer from heat, friction and electrochemical degradation. The high pressure created when you hold hard turns is especially damaging.
Your power steering fluid, which starts out clear, eventually turns dark with age. Sludge and varnish deposits build up in your power steering system and prevents the easy turning and responsive handling you expect from your vehicle.
Our Power Steering Fluid Flush safely removes varnish and sludge deposits. It is also the best way to remove wear metals that slowly grind away your power steering's internal components, including the power steering hoses, power steering pump, rack and pinion and/or gear box. Our Power Steering Fluid Flush thoroughly cleans your vehicle's steering system and protects it with fresh power steering fluid and conditioners that revitalize the seal and O-rings.
If your vehicle's power steering system is showing any signs of contaminated fluid, try this service before major and expensive repair work becomes necessary. Let our certified technicians perform a Power Steering Fluid Flush for you today.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
CONSUMER WARNING:
UNDER NO CONDITION IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID (ATF) TO BE USED IN POWER STEERING SYSTEMS. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SUBSTITUTE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR POWER STEERING FLUID IN YOUR CAR UNLESS SPECIFIED BY YOUR VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURER! The pressure in a power steering system during hard turns is much higher than that in an automatic transmission under load. The ATF will become very hot under pressure and break down much faster than power steering fluid. Once this electrochemical degradation begins, your power steering pump and rack and pinion will be subject to leaks, stiffness or complete power steering system failure.
Just like the oil in your car's engine, automatic transmission fluid (ATF) suffers from heat, friction and electrochemical degradation. In fact, nearly nine out of ten transmission failures are due to overheated, contaminated fluid.
However, unlike oil, which can be completely drained from your car's engine, most of the transmission fluid cannot be drained. Instead it stays in the torque converter, valve body and transmission cooler lines, making a complete fluid drain impossible.
Typical transmission service removes and replaces only 25% of your car's contaminated automatic transmission fluid. Adding a few ounces of new fluid to the remaining contaminated fluid will not effectively replace transmission oil, as over 70% of the degraded oil will remain, causing serious malfunction or even complete failure of your automatic transmission.
Now you have an option. Our Transmission Fluid Exchange safely removes most, if not all, of the old contaminated fluid, as well as varnish deposits. It also cleans the transmission cooler, valve body and torque converter to remove wear metals that slowly grind away your transmission's internal components. Our Transmission Fluid Exchange thoroughly cleans your car's transmission and protects it with fresh ATF and conditioners that revitalize the seals and O-rings.
If your vehicle's transmission is showing any of the typical signs of contaminated transmission fluid -- slippage or rough or hard shifting -- try this service. It may help you avoid the cost of major repair work or even prevent the need for a new transmission.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!
When and why should you get a wheel alignment?
| If you find your steering wheel is not straight or it pulls to one side of the other. |
| If any front end parts are replaced. |
| If you or your service center notices any abnormal tire wear. |
| If you hit a large bump or pothole that makes your car drive different. |
These are a few of the reasons to ask for a front end inspection and alignment.
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!