Posted on 11/30/2020
In the course of 2020 we have all seen some crazy things that we could have never imagined. So, what if something goes wrong after your vehicle is serviced? While we take every precaution possible inevitably something could still go wrong. In the unfortunate event that you should have an issue with any work performed we cover all repairs and services with a 2 Year and 24,000 mile Nationwide warranty. Some products and services have even more coverage than that! I'm sure that you are not surprised that a local family business takes warranty issues extremely seriously, but you may be wondering how this service can be extended across the nation for you next road trip? We have partnered with a Nationwide network to make sure that you have the peace of mind that coverage is always available in the unlikely event that you should have a failure. Should you ever experience an issue reach out to us immediately and we will work to resolve any issue and or concerns straight away. No one likes to ... read more
Posted on 11/19/2020
What the heck is a Control Arm? You have your car in for a concern that it is pulling to the side when braking. You are informed that you need a new "Control Arm"! But what is that anyway? Control arms are an integral portion of independent suspension. These arms are generally made of iron or aluminum and a wishbone or triangle shape. Depending on the type of suspension system your car may have one or more control arms at each wheel. The metal arm has a combination of bushings and/or ball joints connecting to the adjacent suspension components. What goes wrong with a Control Arm? Outside of accident damage and rot the metal portion of the arm can last an extremely long amount of time. The failure on modern control arms is the joints and bushings that are attaching the arms to the suspension. In some cases we can save some expense by replacing just the end components. Your service advisor can direct you based on your particular situation and vehicle. The pulling describ ... read more
Posted on 11/18/2020
There is some kind of funny warning light on my dashboard!?! The tire warning indicator on your vehicle may look like the clam shell pictured or may even be a message that says "check tire pressure". Realistically not many people actually have their own tire pressure gauge. Those quarter operated air pressure machines seem to be disappearing and never seem to work when you need them! So now what? The first thing is to not panic! Tire pressure warning systems are very sensitive and generally the indicator is on for a tire that is low on pressure and not actually flat. Start off by pulling over and just looking closely at each of your tires to see if they might be visibly sagging from low air pressure. If there are no obvious signs of a visibly low tire carefully proceed to the nearest place to have the tire properly inflated and inspected by a mechanic. If you want to work on the issue yourself here's how: Start off by inflating the tire to the proper p ... read more
Posted on 11/13/2020
So you are unlucky to find out your car didn't start. After having the road service come and getting your car to the repair shop you find out that the Alternator is bad. But what does the Alternator have to do with the car starting anyway? The alternator is an imperative component to the operation of your vehicle. Think of the alternator as the automotive equivalent of that little white box that your cell plugs into…… Lets start off with what an alternator does for you. The basic function of an alternator is to take mechanical energy (from your running engine) and turn that into Alternating Current Electrical Energy (to power all of the electronics). The mechanical energy is transferred to the alternator through a drive belt. This drive belt is connected to a rotor through a pulley. The rotation of this rotor within a stator produces Alternating Current Electricity. You may remember from high School science that alternating current (AC) is what is typically used in homes ... read more
Posted on 11/11/2020
We know, getting your car repaired is right up there with going to see the dentist! Well really it is actually much better than the dentist, but anyway. None of us budget the time or finances to take care of our main mode of transportation. But for today lets concentrate on the time factor. Time is the worlds most limited resource, especially if your responsible for kids, pets, homework, parents, friends, etc. The list of responsibilities goes on forever. Automotive repair is not something that can be rushed. After all when your rushing to the next kid pick-up/drop off do you really want to get a surprise car problem!!?? The best advice that we can give to assist in this battle for more time is to plan ahead. Frank's Servicenter offers a free shuttle service to get you to work or back home. If you desire even more flexibility we also offer free loaner cars for your use while your car is in for service. To reserve a loaner car or for more details ... read more
Posted on 11/4/2020
The battery in your car is an integral part for any of the components to operate. Without this one simple item nothing will function on the car! Typically a car battery will last 4-6 years in our area. While automotive batteries are rechargeable there is a limit to the number of times that you can run the battery down and restore its operation. How do you know if the battery needs replacement? Batteries are rated in Cold Cranking Amperage or CCA. Every battery has a CCA rating usually displayed on the top of the battery. A specialized battery tester can determine the available CCA. During your routine service visits we will check the available CCA of your battery and let you know if the battery is falling below the standard. What is the best kind of battery to use? There are a variety of battery options available. Frank's Servicenter offers multiple options although our preference is AC Delco batteries. AC Delco has proven to be a strong and reliabl ... read more