1307 County Road 8
Shortsville NY 14548
Do you FEEL anything out of the ordinary?
Some experiences that customers who have needed an automobile mechanic have in common are:
Do you HEAR anything different or unique?
Some common sounds that warrant a visit to your mechanic are:
Do you SEE anything new or questionable?
Some common problems you might see are:
Do you SMELL anything funny?
Some common smells that mean your car may need a repair shop are:
Stop by Farmington Service at 1307 County Road 8, Shortsville, NY 14548, or call 585-924-3470 to talk to one of our friendly and professional technicians.
General Maintenance
It's Time for the 21st Century Tune-up
Times are changing...cars are changing. One of the biggest changes in today's automotive industry is the perception of a "tune-up." Ask ten vehicle owners their definition of a tune-up, and chances are there'll be ten different answers. The classic "tune-up" was once the heart of the automotive business, and contrary to some beliefs, today's modern vehicles still need tune-ups to keep them performing at the most efficient levels.
The tune-up was historically associated with the routine replacement of key ignition systems parts like spark plugs and ignition points, along with some basic adjustments to help "tune" the engine. Mounting pressure for increased fuel economy and lower emissions drove the car manufacturers to adopt electronics and do away with ignition points in the '70s and the carburetor in the mid-'80s. This eliminated the need to replace and adjust many ignition and fuel system parts.
As the pace of technology quickened, the procedures required to perform a traditional tune-up changed dramatically. Highly sophisticated ignition and fuel systems are now the norm, using one or more onboard computers to control critical engine and transmission management functions. Things that were once handled mechanically are now controlled electronically through the widespread use of onboard computer technology.
Because vehicles have changed so much over the years, the Car Care Council has introduced the 21st Century Tune-up. This program is designed to help redefine and educate motorists on what a tune-up should consist of on today's modern vehicles.
"There is a misconception that today's modern vehicles don't need tune-ups because they never break down, but that simply is not true," said Rich White, the Car Care Council executive director. "If you're at work and your computer goes down, you can't get any more work done. It's the same with your vehicle. If the vehicle isn't properly maintained, you won't get where you want to go."
As part of the 21st Century Tune-up on today's modern vehicles, the following systems should be inspected:
Vehicle owners ask for tune-ups for various reasons, including improving performance, maintaining reliability, planning a vacation, preparing for winter/summer, or giving the car to a friend or family member.
To help ensure good performance, fuel economy, and emissions, the Car Care Council also recommends that motorists take the time necessary to become familiar with their vehicle from every aspect. Study the owner's manual to become thoroughly acquainted with the operation of all systems. Pay special attention to the indicator lights and instruments.
Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Winter
Mechanical failure—an inconvenience anytime it occurs--can be deadly in the winter. Preventive maintenance is a must. Besides, a well-maintained vehicle is more enjoyable to drive, lasts longer, and could command a higher resale price.
Any do-it-yourselfer can perform some of the following tips; others require the skilled hands of a professional auto technician.
- Engine Performance - Correct engine drivability problems (hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power, etc.) at a good repair shop. Cold weather makes existing problems worse. Replace dirty filters-air, fuel, etc.
- Fuel - Put a bottle of fuel de-icer in your tank once a month to help keep moisture from freezing in the fuel line. Note that a full gas tank helps keep moisture from forming.
- Oil - Change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual—more often (every 3,000 miles) if your driving is mostly stop-and-go or consists of frequent short trips.
- Cooling Systems - The cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled every 24 months. The coolant's level, condition, and concentration should be checked periodically. (A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water is usually recommended.) DIYers, never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled! A pro should check the tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps, and hoses.
- Windshield Wipers - Replace old blades. If your climate is harsh, purchase rubber-clad (winter) blades to fight ice build-up. Stock up on windshield washer solvent-you'll be surprised how much you use. Carry an ice-scraper.
- Heater/Defroster - The heater and defroster must be in good working condition for passenger comfort and driver visibility. Newer models have a cabin air filter that should be replaced periodically. Check your owner's manual for the location and replacement interval.
- Battery - The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. Routine care: Scrape away corrosion from posts and cable connections; clean all surfaces; re-tighten all connections. If battery caps are removable, check the fluid level monthly. Avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves.
- Lights - Inspect all lights and bulbs; replace burned-out bulbs; periodically clean road grime from all lenses. To prevent scratching, never use a dry rag.
- Exhaust System - Your vehicle should be placed on a lift, and the exhaust system should be examined for leaks. The trunk and floor boards should be inspected for small holes. Exhaust fumes can be deadly.
- Tires - Worn tires will be of little use in winter weather. Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. Check tire pressures once a month. Check the tires when they are cold before driving for any distance. Rotate as recommended. Don't forget your spare, and be sure the jack is in good condition.
- Carry emergency gear - gloves, boots, blankets, flares, a small shovel, sand or kitty litter, tire chains, and a flashlight. Put a few "high-energy" snacks in your glove box.
Getting Your Vehicle Ready For Summer
Summer's heat, dust, and stop-and-go traffic will take their toll on your vehicle. Add the effects of last winter, and you could be poised for a breakdown. You can lessen the odds of mechanical failure through periodic maintenance. . . Your vehicle should last longer and command a higher resale price, too!
Some tips are easy to do; others require a skilled auto technician.
- Air Conditioning - A marginally operating system will fail in hot weather. Have the system examined by a qualified technician. Newer models have cabin air filters that clean the air entering the heating and air conditioning system. Check your owner's manual for location and replacement interval.
- Cooling System - The greatest cause of summer breakdowns is overheating. The cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled about every 24 months. The coolant's level, condition, and concentration should be checked periodically. (A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water is usually recommended.) DIYers, never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled! A pro should check the tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps, and hoses.
- Oil - Change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual-more often (every 3,000 miles) if you frequent short jaunts, extended trips with lots of luggage, or tow a trailer.
- Engine Performance - Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.) as recommended, often in dusty conditions. Correct engine drivability problems (hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power, etc.) at a good shop.
- Windshield Wipers - A dirty windshield causes eye fatigue and can pose a safety hazard. Replace worn blades and get plenty of windshield washer solvent.
- Lights - Inspect all lights and bulbs; replace burned-out bulbs; periodically clean dirt and insects from all lenses. To prevent scratching, never use a dry rag.
- Tires - Have your tires rotated about every 5,000 miles. Check tire pressures monthly and when cold before driving for any distance. Don't forget to check your spare and ensure the jack is in good condition. Examine tires for tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. An alignment is warranted if uneven tread wear or your vehicle pulls to one side.
- Brakes - Brakes should be inspected as recommended in your manual, or sooner if you notice pulsations, grabbing, noises, or longer stopping distances. Minor brake problems should be corrected promptly.
- Battery - Batteries can fail any time of year. The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. Routine care: Scrape away corrosion from posts and cable connections; clean all surfaces; re-tighten all connections. If battery caps are removable, check the fluid level monthly. Avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves.
- Emergencies - Carry some basic tools and a technician for suggestions. Also include a first aid kit, flares, and a flashlight. Consider buying a cellular phone.
Keeping Your Vehicle in Tune with the Environment
Car care is a win-win situation. Besides helping the environment, a properly maintained and operated vehicle will run more efficiently, be safer, and last up to 50% longer, according to a survey of ASE-certified Master Auto Technicians. The following tips should lead you to environmentally conscious car care.
- Keep your engine tuned. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended.
- Check your tires for proper inflation. Under inflation wastes, fuel-your engine has to work harder to push the vehicle. Out-of-line wheels (as evidenced by uneven tread wear or vehicle pulling) also make the engine work harder. Properly maintained tires will last longer, meaning fewer scrap tires have to be disposed of.
- Keep your air conditioner in top condition and have it serviced only by a technician certified competent to handle/recycle refrigerants. Air conditioners contain CFCs-gases that have been implicated in the depletion of the ozone layer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, almost one-third of the CFCs released into the atmosphere come from mobile air conditioners; some leak out, but most escape during service and repair. So it's important to choose a qualified technician.
- Do-it-yourselfers: dispose of used motor oil, anti-freeze/coolant, tires, and old batteries properly. Many repair facilities accept these items. Or call your local municipal or county government for recycling sites. Never dump used oil or anti-freeze on the ground or in open streams.
- Observe speed limits. Mileage decreases sharply above 55 mph.
- Drive gently. Avoid sudden accelerations and jerky stop-and-go's. Use cruise control on open highways to keep your speed as steady as possible.
- Avoid excessive idling. Shut off the engine while waiting for friends and family. Today's vehicles are designed to "warm up" fast, so forget those five-minute warm-ups on cold winter mornings.
- Remove excess items from the vehicle. Less weight means better mileage. Store luggage/ cargo in the trunk rather than on the roof to reduce air drag.
- Plan trips. Consolidate your daily errands to eliminate unnecessary driving. Try to travel when traffic is light to avoid stop-and-go conditions. Join a carpool.
Remember, how your car runs, how you drive it, and how its fluids, old parts, and tires are disposed of seriously affect the environment.
Cost Saving Tips
Are You Ready For The Road?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 13,000 Americans are killed between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, some due to unperformed vehicle maintenance. Each year, neglected maintenance leads to more than 2,600 deaths, nearly 100,000 disabling injuries, and more than $2 billion in lost wages, medical expenses, and property damage.
Most mechanical failures can be traced to neglected maintenance. For example, the U. S. Department of Transportation reports that the leading cause of mechanical breakdown on our nation's highways is overheating, an easily avoidable condition. Other deficiencies that are simple to detect include low antifreeze/coolant, worn or loose drive belts, and defective cooling system hoses.
Checking tire pressure and inflating a tire costs nothing, yet an average of 21 percent of cars inspected in check lanes during National Car Care Month have under-inflated tires. This can lead to a blowout and a serious accident.
Fuel Saving Tips
| Condition | Effect | MPG Penalty up to |
|---|---|---|
| Under inflated tires | Increase rolling resistance | 1-2mpg |
| Dirty air filter | Causes excessively rich fuel/air mixture | 2.0mpg |
| Worn spark plugs | Cause inefficient combustion, wasted fuel | 2.0mpg |
| Worn O2 sensor | Unable to detect and adjust air/fuel mixture | 3mpg |
| Dirty or substandard engine oil | Increases internal engine friction | 0.4mpg |
| Loose gas cap | Allows fuel to evaporate | 2.0mpg |
| Potential loss in fuel economy if all of the above were neglected | 11.4mpg |
The Car Care Council offers these fuel-saving tips:
- 1. Vehicle gas caps -- About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose, or missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize yearly.
- 2. Under-inflated tires -- When tires aren't inflated properly, it's like driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.
- 3. Worn spark plugs -- A vehicle can have four, six, or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced as recommended by the manufacturer.
- 4. Dirty air filters -- An air filter clogged with dirt, dust, and bugs chokes off the air and creates a "rich" mixture -- too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 20 cents a gallon.
Fuel-saving driving tips include:
- Don't be an aggressive driver -- Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, which results in 10 to 66 cents per gallon.
- Avoid excessive idling -- Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.
- Observe the speed limit -- Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mpg driven over 60 will result in an additional 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended.
WIPERS - In the 2001 National Car Care Month vehicle check lanes, 21 percent of participants had wipers that smeared, streaked, or chattered across their windshields. Although climates vary, wipers generally need replacing every six months. An easy reminder is to change the wiper blades when you change your clock in the spring and fall. Ensure the windshield washers are working properly, and keep the reservoir filled with solvent.
LIGHTING - Another important pre-trip check should be exterior and interior lighting. Vehicle check lanes revealed an overall failure rate of over 25 percent in the lighting category. The Car Care Council reminds motorists to check their lights monthly. Other suggestions from the Council include turning on headlights both day and night. This helps define your car's position and distance from other drivers on the road. When your vehicle's lighting is defective, other motorists may not get the message that you intend to stop or turn. The result could be disastrous.
10 Minute Pre-Trip Checkup Can Pay Off
Car Care Council offers three suggestions for a traveler's 10-minute pre-trip checklist:
- Check all fluids. Several fluids, in addition to antifreeze, require attention, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids, and windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
- Check hoses and belts. A belt that fails can affect the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering, and cooling system. Cooling system hoses may be deteriorating from within, so old hoses and clamps in marginal condition might need to be replaced.
- Check the tires. Check tire inflation and inspect the tread for uneven wear, indicating the need for wheel alignment. Also, look for bulges and bald spots.
"While a last minute checkup is better than no checkup, motorists should plan to allow time to perform necessary maintenance themselves or at the local service facility. A properly maintained vehicle is safer and more dependable and will even save a few dollars at the gas pumps," said the Car Care Council's Executive Director, Rich White.
Not only can a pre-trip inspection help reduce the chances of costly and possibly dangerous road trouble, but it also provides an opportunity to have repairs made at home with one's technician who knows the vehicle. Especially important, it provides peace of mind. While no inspection can guarantee a car's performance, knowing proper precautions were taken is comforting.
Preventive Maintenance
Courtesy of the Automotive Service Association
The following simple and inexpensive preventive checks will greatly extend the vehicle's life, ensure safer operation, and benefit the environment.
- Always consult your owner's manual for individual service schedules because maintenance requirements vary by manufacturer.
- Always consult your owner's manual, but a good rule of thumb is to change the oil filter regularly - every 3,000 to 4,000 miles.
- Have all fluids checked, including brake, power steering, transmission/transaxle, windshield washer solvent, and antifreeze? These fluids play a large role in the safety and performance of the vehicle.
- Check tire inflation. Under-inflated tires can result in a loss of fuel efficiency. This is the least expensive form of preventive and safety maintenance. Tires should be checked once a month.
- Keep your engine tuned. A fouled spark plug or plugged/restricted fuel injector can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.
- Have the chassis lubricated frequently. This step extends the life of the moving components of the vehicle's suspension system.
- Check battery cables and posts for corrosion and clean them as needed. The battery fluid should also be checked and filled if it is low unless it is a maintenance-free battery.
- Have the lighting system checked frequently, including headlights, turn signals, brakes, and taillights.
- Check windshield washer blades for cracks, tears, and windshield contact. Replace them at least once a year or sooner if streaking begins.
- Inspect engine belts regularly. Worn belts will affect the engine performance. Look for cracks and missing sections or segments.
- Have the air filtration system checked frequently. The air filter should be checked every other oil change for clogging or damage. This system ensures that the vehicle is performing at its peak condition.
Service Interval Schedule:
| Vehicle System or Component | Check Monthly | Check Every 3,000 Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission Fluid |  |
|
| Battery and Cables | |
|
| Belts | |
|
| Brakes and Brake Fluid | |
|
| Cabin Air Filter |  |
|
| Chassis Lubrication | |
|
| Check Engine Light On | |
|
| Coolant (Antifreeze) | |
|
| Engine Air Filter | |
|
| Engine Oil and Filter | |
|
| Exhaust | |
|
| Fuel Filter | |
|
| Hoses | |
|
| Lights | |
|
| Power Steering Fluid | |
|
| Shock Absorbers and Struts | |
|
| Tire Inflation and Condition | |
|
| Windshield Washer Fluid | |
|
| Wiper Blades | |
Trading In A Gas Guzzler
Not so fast! Often, it is cheaper to drive an older car with lower MPG than to take on a car payment.
We understand that times are difficult right now. We want to help you make an informed decision by calculating the cost of gas for your current vehicle so that you can see if keeping it vs. the cost of a new or used car payment makes sense. Answer the questions below, and you can quickly see if trading in your vehicle makes sense today. You can even calculate your cost if gas prices increase.
