Chuck's Auto Repair - Shoreline

Right up there next to accelerating and braking responsibly is the ability to steer your vehicle. That’s pretty much a no-brainer. But did you know that your steering ability is closely tied to your vehicle’s suspension systems?

Wondering what to expect in the way of service and maintenance services as your vehicle approaches 30, 60, 90k miles of travel? You’ve come to the right place to find out.

Beneath the hood of your vehicle (or the trunk/boot, if you own a VW), there’s a lot going on when the engine is running. A lot of surfaces get very hot, very fast under there. It’s the belts that keep nearly everything running as well as they’re supposed to.

It’s the belts that keep nearly everything running as well as they’re supposed to. Failure to inspect and replace belts when recommended can result in your vehicle stranding you during critical moments.

Whenever there’s a car, truck or minivan in your possession, you’re in charge of making sure it gets the maintenance it requires to keep it running and serving you well. Check your owner’s manual to see when you should start bringing in your model for new drive belts, timing belts, oil changes, fluid checks and other necessities it requires to keep you keepin’ on.

Your vehicle’s radiator can go south for a number of reasons: brittle hoses, damaged water pump; weakened solders; leaky fittings; malfunctioning thermostat; rusting, and more.

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that you replace your timing belt somewhere between 60,000 and 105,000 miles. You’ll notice that’s a big gap—wait too long and you can rack up a seriously expensive repair bill.

For gasoline-powered passenger vehicles and light trucks, vehicle manufacturers recommend an oil change once a year or every 7,500 miles, whichever comes first. Diesel and turbo-charged engines should be given oil changes every 3,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first.