What are the Symptoms of a Bad Strut?

Is your vehicle’s ride not quite as comfortable as it once was?  You may be noticing that your car is bouncing more than it used to when you drive over potholes and bumps in the road.  Your car seems to “lunge” forward when you step on the brake pedal.  Are you wondering what is wrong?  Is it an issue with the shocks or struts?  What about the other components of your vehicle’s suspension system, including the car axles?

So what are the symptoms of a bad strut?  Here are a few problems to be aware of when your car struts or shocks are wearing out:

1. Excessive bouncing when hitting a bump.
2. Vehicle nosedives forward when braking or accelerating.
3. Tire "cupping" as the rubber wears off the tire every time it hits the ground.
4. Leaking hydraulic fluid from inside the shock.

What causes a strut to go bad?  Shocks or struts do wear out over time in the normal course of driving as the miles add up on your vehicle.  But if you are consistently driving over bumpy streets, hitting potholes, or other obstacles in the road, they will wear out even more speedily.  When struts go bad, the results can be risky, as it impacts the steering and stopping the performance of your vehicle, as well as adding stress to the car axles.  

You don’t have to worry about these problems any longer than it takes to get your vehicle to your auto repair shop.  Replacing your car’s struts or shocks as needed will increase stopping the performance as well as increase the safety of your vehicle!

Need to know more about what are the symptoms of a bad strut?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Auto Max of Oregon today for more information about suspension systems, including car axles, and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Canby, OR and surrounding areas.

What causes front end alignment problems?

When your car is first manufactured, the wheels are aligned, tested, adjusted and eventually verified at the factory. But over time, many drivers will find that their wheels fall out of alignment, a condition when tires are not pointing in the same direction as the steering wheel.  It can shorten the life of your tires by thousands of miles and compromise essential steering and suspension parts.  

So what causes front end alignment problems?  There are several reasons for wheels to fall out of alignment, most of which have to do with driving conditions. Driving down a poorly maintained road can cause wheels to become misaligned. Hitting potholes, going too fast over speed bumps, running into curbs, or having an accident, no matter how minor, can also affect your car alignment.  You will more than likely find yourself struggling to keep your vehicle going straight down the road.

Some drivers are not aware of how damaging car alignment issues can be.  It not only affects how your vehicle handles, but it also adds excessive wear to your tires, suspension, and steering systems. Has your wheel alignment checked about every 6,000 miles?  At the very least, have it checked at the first sign of premature tire wear. 

By maintaining the alignment of your vehicle, you will:

• Boost your car’s handling and safety, 
• Increase fuel efficiency,
• Prevent damage to important vehicle components, and 
• Extend the life of your tires.  

Remember, the price of an alignment service is much more cost-effective than paying for a new set of tires!

Need to know more about what causes front end alignment problems?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Auto Max of Oregon today for more information about our car alignment service and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Canby, OR and surrounding areas.

Wondering how often should you have your car serviced?

If you are like most drivers, you want a safe and trustworthy vehicle.  But you may be wondering, “How often should you have your car serviced?”  The answer is quite simple. Follow the factory suggested vehicle maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual.  Adhering as close as potential to this schedule will help prevent an expensive car repair and ensure that you are driving as safe as potential, especially during winter’s cold days.

Many newer cars have an in-vehicle maintenance reminder system that provides an alert on the dash when it is time for certain services, such oil changes, fluid level inspects, component checkups and other car maintenance services.  This reminder system makes mileage-based schedules obsolete and also takes a number of vehicle operating conditions into account.  Although you should be able to trust these reminder systems to guide your maintenance visits, it is still wise to double-check with your car repair technician, especially if you don’t put many miles on your car during a year’s time.

Older cars commonly still rely on mileage for service intervals. There are commonly two different maintenance schedules, one for cars driven in “normal” conditions and another for those used in “severe” conditions. Normal conditions would be straight level ground with little stop-and-go traffic.  Though, many drivers possibly meet the definition of severe conditions, involving one or more of the following conditions:

• Primarily short trips stop-and-go driving 
• Extremely hot, cold, or dusty climates
• Mountainous terrain
• Carrying heavy loads or towing a trailer.

Plan ahead for car repair and maintenance by finding an auto shop and technician you can trust before you want them. Inspect them out for an appearance, technician training and certification, insurance coverage and customer satisfaction. 

So how often should you have your car serviced?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Auto Max of Oregon today for more information about car repair service and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Canby, OR and surrounding areas.

What Does a Full Car Service Include?

The list of services is similar for all vehicles with a few variances depending on the make and model of your car. Every car has its own service schedule--generally stated in the owner’s manual.  Following this schedule will help keep your vehicle at its optimum performance level and ensure it lasts you as long as you need it to. 

Wondering what does a full car service include? Ask your car repair specialist.  We recommend that you have the best level of service you can afford.  Just be sure to always ask what is included in a full car service so that you understand what you are paying for.

So what does a full car service include?  Normally, minor services are normally performed at 7,500, 15,000, 45,000 and 75,000 miles while major services are performed at 30,000, 60,000 and 90,000-mile intervals.  Though the major car services are not performed as frequently, they want to be done to protect the guarantee, maintain safety, and boost the resale value of your vehicle.

Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, here are several of the car maintenance items that you should take care of on a regular basis:

• Oil change
• Tire rotation, wheel alignment, and tire balancing
• Car battery
• Inspect and either replace or top-off all fluids.
• Windshield wipers—replace about every 6 months.
• Replace burned-out lights.
• Replace the timing belt and/or serpentine belt at the suggested mileage interval.
• Service the air conditioner/heater.
• Other services related to fuel delivery, ignition and emissions systems.

There are two major benefits of keeping up with vehicle maintenance.  

1. First, your mechanic can let you know what may want to replaced right away, or what can wait a while. 
2. Secondly, you can drive with peace of mind knowing that you have a trustworthy and safe source of transportation. 

Do you want to know more about what does a full car service include?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Auto Max of Oregon today for more information about our car repair services and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Canby, OR and surrounding areas.