When do Car Shocks Need Replacement?

Shocks (or struts) are one of those car parts that we tend not to notice decreased performance because it happens slowly over time.  Once the shocks are replaced you will typically notice a marked increase in performance.

 

Used to be that car shock absorbers needed to be replaced every 30,000-50,000 miles.  Fortunately shocks on newer cars are made much better today and they will typically last longer, often 100,000 miles or more.  So how do you know when it is time to replace shocks? 

 

Most commonly the shocks will start to leak fluid.  Visual inspection will typically indicate whether this is happening or not.   You can also test the shock by leaning down heavily on one corner of the car and quickly releasing the pressure.  The car should rebound up and then come to rest without a lot of bobbing.

 

Finally, if you are noticing a lot of body roll going around corners or body lean when braking, this will indicate that the shocks are loosing stiffness and not operating well.  Replacing worn shocks will improve the vehicle handling and decrease the stopping distance in a panic stop.  So replacing your car shocks may actually help prevent a car accident!

 

When replacing your car shocks you should make sure the shock you are buying will give you the type of ride you want.  In general, stiffer shocks that give a harsher ride will perform better in terms of car handling and will hold the road better.  Softer shocks will give a cushier more comfortable ride but not give as good car handling performance. 

 

If you are looking for Auto Service Reno NV or Diesel Service Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center(775) 356-6996.

AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE

Temperatures are beginning to rise (have you seen the forcast for this weekend!)  and it is time to make sure your vehicle’s Air Conditioning is working properly.  If the system is blowing cold air and is quiet, there is nothing more that needs to be done.  You are good to go.  If the AC system is blowing warm or just slightly cool air, your system has probably lost some of the refrigerant over time (this is normal) and needs to be leak checked and have refrigerant added.  

R-12 Refrigerant was the standard for years but has been phased out since the mid 1990’s because it damages the earth’s ozone layer.  There is very little R12 available in the U.S.  Consequently, if you have an older vehicle that still uses R-12, it is very expensive to recharge.  Also, it can be difficult to find a shop that still has R-12.  Most older cars can have the AC system changed to use the current standard refrigerant called R134A.  

 

For a typical AC service we have a machine that will evacuate the R134A from the AC system and place a vacuum on the system for 40 minutes so leaks can be detected.  If the AC system does not appear to be leaking we will recharge the system with the proper amount of refrigerant.  Please note that overcharging the system may damage the AC system and will result in warm air coming out of the vents.  

 

We will also typically add a dye to the refrigerant in case there are any small leaks that can not be detected by the vacuum test.  If the AC system does have a small leak the dye, which can be seen by using a black light, will show the location of the leak.

 

You can buy R134A recharge kits at auto parts stores. Be aware that these kits to not detect any leaks you may have and are not very precise it adding the correct amount of refrigerant.  Also note that R134A refrigerant needs to be handled carefully as it can cause frost bite on the skin and loss of sight if exposed to the eyes. 

If you are looking for Auto Service Reno NV or Diesel Service Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center (775) 356-6996.

Spring Cleaning Your Car!

If the weathermen are to be believed (and who would doubt their predictions) the last major Winter Storm will occur Thursday and Friday this week.  That means Spring weather may finally be here to stay.  For many of us Spring Cleaning the house and yard are a yearly ritual.  It is also a good idea to perform Spring Cleaning of your car.  Although our winter was mild, most cars are cleaned less during the winter.  For Spring cleaning you should have the undercarriage of the car washed to remove road dirt and salt.  Cleaning the car’s interior and exterior thoroughly and applying protectant to vinyl surfaces and wax to the paint is also a good idea. 

 

Are you a skier with a ski rack on your car?  If so, remove the rack as soon as you are done skiing for the season as the added wind resistance from a ski rack can cost you 1-2 mpg of fuel efficiency.  Also, change out those winter tires and have the battery checked during your next oil change. 

 

Wayne’s now offers car detailing through a local mobile detail company and can help you with any of these chores.  If your car needs service or repair, please contact Wayne’s Automotive Center at (775)-356-6996.

Mr. Tony, Diesel Technician Magnifico!

Yesterday we had a customer sent over by another repair shop because they could not help him and, to quote what the customer told us, the service advisor at the other shop said “Wayne’s has the best diesel technician in town”.   Tony has been with us for over a year now and yes, we do have the best diesel technician in town.  In that year Tony has indeed fixed every diesel that has come to Wayne’s.  Several times customers have told us that another diesel repair shop had not fixed their diesel and they were very happy when Tony could figure out and fix their truck.

Tony was shop foreman at another diesel repair shop in town for over 10 years before coming toWayne’s.  He is also an ASE Certified Master Technician and has extensive experience with Ford, GMC, and Dodge diesel pick up trucks.

 

You may have seen our TV ads featuring Tony.  While the TV ad is supposed to be somewhat funny, we are dead serious when we say that Tony has yet to meet a diesel he can not fix.  If you are having a problem with your diesel that other repair shops can not seem to figure out, bring it to Mr. Tony at Wayne’s.  If he can not fix your diesel, it will be a first.  Me, I’ll put my money on Tony.

If you are looking for Auto Repair Reno NV or Diesel Repair Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center (775) 356-6996.

The Doctor is in at Wayne’s

Many of our customers know our Shop Foreman, Andro Hayes.  He is the tall guy that wears a lab coat over his uniform so he looks like a doctor.  He may look like a doctor, but he is actually a magician when it comes to figuring out why cars do some of the strange things they do.  He is one of those rare people that actually understand how all the electronics and sensors in a car interact and how these interactions can sometimes lead to unexpected results. 

 

Most new cars today have 2 to 3 miles of wires, lots of sensors, and multiple computers.  Most of the time they work well together and when something fails, it is not extremely difficult to locate and repair.  But there are other times when finding the source of a problem takes hours and hours because there are so many places to look.  This is when having someone like Andro is invaluable.  He will figure the problem out when other technicians, who do not really understand electronics, are lost.  Jim, our Service Manager calls Andro a spark chaser, and he is the best  in Northern Nevada.  He is also an ASE certified Master Technician.

So if your car is acting strange and other technicians can not figure out what the problem is, bring it to Wayne’s and let Andro have a look.  He will figure it out because that is what you do when you are the best.  Also remember to wish him happy anniversary as this is his 10^th year at Wayne’s.

 

If you are looking for Auto Repair Reno NV or Diesel Repair Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center(775) 356-6996.

How Well Can You See at Night?

I do not know about you, but I seem to drive both to and from work in the dark during most of Winter.  Since our daylight time is much shorter, we spend much more time driving with the car headlights on.  Do you have trouble seeing at night while driving?  If so, it may be because your plastic headlight lenses have become pitted and dull with time.  Replacing the headlight assembly is usually very expensive with each headlight assembly typically costing $300-$500 plus installation! 

 

Fortunately there are systems to polish the plastic lenses which will restore them to like-new condition.   This in turn will provide better visibility at night when you are relying on your headlights.  We have tried a few headlight restoration systems atWayne’s and now exclusively use a system provided by BG Fleming called LenzSaver.  The main advantage to this system is that it has a final clear coat that protects the lenses from UV degradation.  This means that your headlight restoration will remain in good shape for several years.  The cost for performing headlight restoration to both front headlights is $130.

 

So if you are having trouble seeing at night while driving, bring your vehicle by our shop.  We will look at the lenses and see if they can be restored.  If you are looking for Auto Repair Reno NV or Diesel Repair Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center(775) 356-6996.

What is the Warranty on your Car Repair?

Car repairs, like everything else today, can be expensive.  Therefore it is very important that your repairs come with a warranty to protect your investment. Wayne’s Automotive Center is an AAA Authorized Repair Center and Napa Autocare Center.  Being part of these organizations means that we offer a 12 month parts and labor warranty for our repairs on your vehicles.  That means that if our repair fails for any reason during the warranty period we will fix that repair at no additional cost to you, our customer. 

If you are traveling and our repair fails and has to be fixed before you return to our shop in Sparks you will be covered by the Nationwide Napa Autocare Peace of Mind Warranty.  After calling the 800 number on the back of the repair receipt you will be directed to the nearest Napa Autocare Center that can repair your vehicle (there are over 8000 Autocare Centers in the United States, so they are pretty much everywhere).   Again, the repair will be performed at no cost to you under the Peace of Mind Warranty.

We are proud to be locally owned, yet still part of a nationwide system of Auto Repair Centers that can offer such a strong warranty.  If you are looking for Auto Repair Reno NV or Diesel Repair Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center(775) 356-6996.

No Credit Check Financing for Car Repairs

For the last yearWayne’s has offered No Credit Check Financing for car repairs that has worked well for many of our customers.  Your approval will be based on your check writing history and your credit score will not be checked.  This program has proven very beneficial to people who have had their credit score damaged by the housing crisis.  The program allows you to spread out car repair payments over 90 days from the date of repair.  

To qualify for the program you must have a driver’s license, proof of steady income such as a recent pay stub, and a good check writing history.  If approved we can finance an amount equal to half of your monthly gross income and spread out the payments over 90 days.  Payments are usually scheduled to coincide with paydays. 

The company who provides this service charge a $35 set up fee and 7.5 % on the total repair.  This is typically much less than credit card finance charges. Wayne’s does not add any additional charges for this service.  Please contact Dan at Wayne’s Automotive Center if you have any additional questions. 

If you are looking for Auto Repair Reno NV or Diesel Repair Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center(775) 356-6996.

AAA Car Care Month

Why is October AAA Car Care Month?  I guess it is because winter weather is coming, so it is a very good idea to get your vehicles inspected to make sure they are ready for the cold and wet winter weather conditions that are just around the corner.    Since Wayne’s Automotive is an AAA approved auto repair facility we offer AAA members a complete vehicle inspection free of charge during the month of October.  If you mention this article we will offer the same free inspection to you even if you are not an AAA member.

 

During the inspection we will have a trained automotive technician check your tire wear, shocks, drive shaft boots, brake system, all critical fluid levels and conditions, drive belts, cooling system, battery, hoses, spark plugs, air and fuel filters, wiper blades, lights, and heater/AC operation.  Please call and make an appointment for this service as it usually takes about 1 hour to perform.  If you want to perform your own checks, we highly recommend checking the tires, windshield washer fluid (rated for freezing winter conditions), wiper blades, coolant, and battery as these are critical to safe vehicle operation during cold and wet driving conditions.  I do not know about you, but winter is my least favorite time of year to have car problems and be stranded on the side of the road.

If you are looking for Auto Repair Reno NV or Diesel Repair Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center(775) 356-6996.

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

The primary purpose of wheel alignments are to make sure your tires are parallel to each other and flat on the ground while driving.  This allows the tires to wear evenly and the vehicle to drive straight.  Depending on your vehicle it may need a two wheel or four wheel alignment.  Two wheel alignments are for vehicles that can only have the front wheels adjusted.  Four wheel alignments are for vehicles that can have all four wheels adjusted.

We are often asked how often a customer’s vehicle should have a wheel alignment.  While it is a good idea to get the alignment checked yearly, there are signs to look for that you may need an alignment very soon.  The most common sign is that the vehicle noticeably pulls left or right when driving down the road.  While this can be annoying, it can also get expensive because the tires may begin to wear unevenly, wearing out the inside or outside edge of the tire.  If this happens you may have to replace tires much sooner than normal.  In fact we have had customers who have had to replace tires with less than 5,000 miles on them because the vehicle was so out of alignment that the tires were prematurely worn out.

Periodically looking at the tires for uneven wear is important.  Especially note if the inside or outside edge of any tire is wearing more quickly than the rest of the tire.  You or your service station should check the tires for wear at least every oil change.  The tires should also be rotated every 5,000-7,500 miles to maximize tire life.

Wayne’s Automotive purchased a new Hunter Alignment Machine last year.  This state-of-the-art machine can align any vehicle that will fit on our rack.  This includes all cars, light trucks, and some smaller motor homes. 

If you are looking for Auto Repair Reno NV or Diesel Repair Reno NV for car maintenance or automotive repair, please contact us at Wayne’s Automotive Center(775) 356-6996.