When it comes to enhancing and protecting your car truck or SUV there are many ways to go about it. From ceramic coatings, to paint protection, auto detailing, and window tint, there are many incredible services to choose from. One important thing to note before having any auto detailing, enhancement or protection service done on your vehicle is to make sure you are working with a certified expert. And just as important is the quality of the product used, in fact, these two important factors will determine how long your service will last and how good your vehicle looks once it is ready for the road.

Enhance Your Vehicle With Premium Window Tint 

Premium window tint is one of the easiest & most affordable ways to help protect, enhance & add privacy to your vehicle all in one. Not only does high-quality window tint help to lend a sleek enhanced appearance to your car, truck, or SUV, it also helps to block infrared heat keeping your vehicle’s interior a lot cooler. Depending on the type of window tint film you choose, metallic, ceramic, or mirrored to name, you also gain protection against cancer-causing UV rays. In fact, did you know that most skin cancer in the U.S. is found on the left side of people’s bodies? This can be attributed to the fact that our left side is continuously exposed to harsh UV rays while driving. 

The benefits of investing in superior-high-quality window tint don’t just stop there. In fact, if you utilize a premium window tint film installed by an experienced & certified window tint professional you are looking at incredible benefits that include:

• Infrared Heat Reduction
• Maximum UV Protection
• Shattered Glass Protection Due To accident/Theft
• Provides Enhanced Privacy & Security
• Can Help Reduce Glare While Driving

If you are looking to enhance your vehicle’s overall aesthetic while also helping to protect you & your passengers from cancerous UV Rays having window tint installed on your vehicle is the way to go. It is a great way to begin enhancing & modifying your vehicle and is a great way to add extra security to any belongings or items left in your vehicle. Window tint comes in a variety of levels to ensure that you are able to choose the right tint level to meet your needs. You always want to make sure you feel comfortable driving and can see clearly especially at night with any window tint you have installed on your vehicle. 

Oil changes are one of the most important preventative maintenance services that are crucial to our vehicle’s overall health & well-being. Your vehicle runs its best when it has clean oil and a clean oil filter. While it is really simple and easy to take your car, truck, or SUV in for an oil change, you can save money & time by performing your own oil changes!

Check out this quick video on how to change your vehicle oil yourself!

Shock & Strut Repair & Replacement

The shocks or struts on your vehicle help to stabilize your vehicle’s movement. This means they enhance the control you have when your vehicle turns, brakes, accelerates or drives on uneven surfaces. Some vehicles utilize only shocks while other vehicles may utilize both. So, what are the differences between shocks & struts? Shocks are an independent component of your vehicle’s suspension system and struts are a combination of shocks and other features within a structural unit. How long the shocks or struts will last on your vehicle also is greatly determined by a number of outside factors. If you often drive on uneven, rough, or bumpy surfaces, tow a trailer, or carry heavy loads your shocks or struts usually need to be replaced every 40,000-50,000 miles or sooner. Should you drive under normal conditions with no real heavy towing or large load-carrying your shocks and/or struts should last on average from anywhere between 70,000 and 90,000 miles. 

How Do I Know If My Shocks/Struts need to be Replaced?

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you are in need of shock or strut replacement. In most cases, there is an array of different signs that you may experience one or more of. These signs include:

• You Notice Instability At High Speeds
• Your Vehicle Tips To One Side When You Make Turns
• The Front End Rises While The Backend Squats During High Acceleration
• After Hitting Any Bumps You Feel Your Tires Bounce Excessively
• Unusual Tire Wear
• Any Visible Leaking Fluid On Shocks or Struts

Should you experience any of the above signs or issues it is always best you have your vehicle looked at sooner rather than later by a certified auto repair specialist. The longer you wait the more damage that can be done. And even more importantly, any issues with your vehicle’s suspension system can be extremely dangerous to both you & your passengers and others out of the road. Replacing any worn or damaged shocks/struts can also help to ensure your tires wear evenly and won’t need to be replaced as well.

We spoke of the importance of belt checks and changes in our last article. Caring for & changing your timing belt when needed is one of the most important belts to look after and can potentially cause many issues should it become damaged, worn or old. In fact, it is an extremely important internal engine component. Your timing belt’s main job is to keep your camshaft and crankshaft rotating in sync so that the cylinders of your engine fire at the appropriate time. JNJ Auto Service owner & certified mechanic, Jim, elaborates a bit more on timing belt inspection and replacement.

Important Timing Belt Information You Need To Know

Your timing belt is subjected to a lot of dust, oil, water, and high heat, putting a lot of pressure and wear on the belt. This can lead to damage, cracked, worn and old belts. Belts that remain damaged and go unrepaired often lead to multiple other engine issues that could have been prevented had your timing belt been inspected sooner. Generally, it is advised to change your timing belt every 90,000 miles, yet it differs depending on the make and model of your vehicle. It is best to look in your owner’s manual to see what applies to your vehicle to be precise!

Warning signs that there may be something wrong with your timing belt include ticking noises, your vehicle won’t start or it misfires. Should your vehicle exhibit one of these warning signs it is highly advised to take it into your mechanic ASAP! That being said it is important that you find a certified professional mechanic you can trust. If you will be scheduling regular inspections, oil changes, and any repairs that need to be done it is best to work with someone you trust, is within your budget and you feel confident in his abilities. The more comfortable you feel taking your car into your mechanic the more apt you are to handle repairs & maintenance sooner rather than later.

We all know that it is best to schedule regular preventative maintenance services for your vehicle. These services will not only help to make sure that your vehicle maintains a stronger value and lasts longer but also drives safely and efficiently. That being said, what are the preventative maintenance services for your vehicle that you should be keeping up on and scheduling at regular intervals?

Preventative Maintenance Services For Your Vehicle

Regular Oil Changes-

If you haven’t already read our last article on oil changes check it out! Regular oil changes are crucial for your vehicle’s overall health. After timepieces of metal, dirt & debris can mix in with your engine oil causing harm to your engine and potential issues. It is best to schedule an oil change or do one yourself about every 3,000 miles. You can always look at your owner’s manual as well to see what the vehicle manufacturer suggests.

Battery Check-Up/Replacement-

Your car battery is generally an afterthought until it leaves you stuck and doesn’t want to work. Regularly checking your battery can help you to find issues BEFORE you get stuck. Car batteries will usually last 1-2 years depending on the battery & the conditions it may be exposed to.

Transmission Inspection & Flush-

Your transmission is the meat and potatoes of your vehicle. If your transmission is not working your car is not working. Your transmission is also probably the most expensive engine component to fix. That is why it is best to schedule regular transmission inspections as well as a transmission flush. You can look at your owner’s manual and also speak with your trusted mechanic on when is the best time to flush your vehicle’s transmission.

Belt Checks & Changes-

Your belts are a very important part of your vehicle and play a big role in the way your vehicle performs or doesn’t perform! Fan belt, drive belt, power steering belt & timing belt are all the belts in your vehicle that are exposed to wear & tear on a daily basis. While it is usually suggested that you change your timing belt at 60,000 miles it is always a good idea to regularly inspect your belts and change them as needed.

Speak with your mechanic about preventative maintenance service for your vehicle and look at your owner’s manual to see what the manufacturer suggests. Maintaining your vehicle’s health is similar to maintaining your own health. When both are taken care of properly you increase longevity and both function better with fewer issues!

Every mechanic will stress to you the importance of regular oil changes and maintaining proper oil levels in your vehicle. Your car’s engine and its components are under a great amount of pressure. Oil helps to lubricate the moving and non-moving parts so that metal is not grating upon metal. The friction also causes an immense amount of heat which can lead to your vehicle overheating. Worse yet if there is no oil or very little your vehicle’s engine can seize up leaving you stranded and with some very expensive repairs.  

The Importance Of Regular Oil Changes For Your Vehicle

 The tried and true guidelines for an oil change is every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. Of course, it should go without saying that you should monitor your oil levels between oil changes and top them off when needed.

Lubrication- Regularly changing your oil keeps oil-free and clear of dust, dirt particles, engine sludge and other factors that can affect the overall quality of your engine oil and how your vehicle operates

Cool Down- Proper oil levels and clean oil allow for moving parts to stay lubricated and not cause friction with other engine components which can lead to overheating or other heat-related repairs.

Fuel Efficiency- Did you know that regular oil changes and maintaining proper & clean oil levels can also help with gas mileage, which in turn puts more money back into your pocketbook! When your vehicle is well taken care of, it runs smoother more efficiently & improves the overall longevity of the car, truck or SUV.

While performing self oil changes are pretty simple, they can also be quite the hassle. Find a reputable & professional mechanic you can trust and start scheduling regular oil changes today if you haven’t already. Proper vehicle maintenance is crucial in ensuring that your car is safe, dependable, and will make it for the long haul!

Scheduling regular oil changes and other maintenance services are crucial to the overall health of your vehicle. They not only help to keep your car running it’s best they also help to improve the resale value of your vehicle as well as the overall lifespan of your car, truck or SUV.  However, regular maintenance isn’t the only factor that helps to keep your car driving it’s best or helps to hold or improve its resale value. The overall physical condition of the body of your vehicle is important too.

For decades most people washed and waxed their vehicles just as religiously as they scheduled or performed regular maintenance services. But, with ever-growing and changing technology waxing has become a thing of the past and the ultimate gloss, shine & protection comes from Ceramic Coatings.

What exactly is a ceramic coating for your vehicle?

Ceramic coatings utilize nano-ceramic technology to create a glass-like protective shield that bonds to the paint of your car. It is 3-5 times stronger than your vehicle’s factory clear coat and lasts for years to come if taken care of properly. And with self-healing properties, it virtually erases small scratches, dings and the corrosive effects of most elements. A ceramic coating such as Ceramic Pro can be applied to both personal and commercial vehicles and is often a good investment for businesses with company vehicles or fleets because of the extra protection it offers to the vehicle.

The benefits of ceramic coatings don’t stop there though. Other benefits of having a ceramic coating professionally installed on your vehicle include:

• Anti-Graffiti Properties
• Stops Your Vehicles Aging Process
• Oxidation & Corrosion Resistance
• Temperature Resistance (withstanding up to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit)
• UV Protection
• Chemical Resistance
• Cost-Effective
• Superior Gloss (No Waxing Ever Again)
• Hydrophobic
• Makes Cleaning Easier

Ceramic Coatings are a great option in terms of adding protection to your vehicle as well as giving it the ultimate gloss and shine to keep it looking detailed and new all the time. Ceramic coating’s hydrophobic abilities also make cleaning your car that much easier. In fact, rinsing off dirt, grime, bird droppings, and weather-related elements has never been so simple. One thing to keep in mind is that just like with any mechanical service you have done on your vehicle, you should be sure to utilize an experienced professional. A certified ceramic coating installer will not only leave your car looking flawless it will also help with the longevity of your ceramic coating. Our vehicles do a lot for us, taking us everywhere we need to go day in and day out. We also look to them to run smoothly and provide safety to both ourselves and our passengers. Taking good care of your vehicle goes a long way, so schedule those regular maintenance services, speak to a certified mechanic about any questions or concerns you have. And don’t forget that maintaining the body of your vehicle is almost as important as maintaining the engine and internal parts as well.

Driving downtown and found your car junked in the middle of silent roads? Regretting your capabilities and now want to enhance them from just changing the oil to serious car repairing techniques? Well, there is never too late to learn new things and there is no age to start learning. The better you get yourself a learning experience, the better you would be able to do things you retrieved for. The car repairing technique is not easy at all and with the all the confusions and complexities you might find yourself stuck in the endless path and hence, to save you from such situations below are mentioned few tips you must know before you are an expert in tackling your first car:

Do your research

You must know what all components stand for and how are they replaceable. You must know what exactly is the part which is causing the trouble and require the maintenance. With all the wires attaches, without knowing the functionalities of each wire, it is not possible to repair the car and you might also require some knowledge of electronics. You can learn about the tools by going through the aftermarket shop manuals. Though the manuals brief out on the steps but you can find the detailed version over the internet.

Set up your workspace

You need space for such works like a proper garage or some out lawn to stay put and focus on the stuff. You must have room to manoeuvre the engine to hoist otherwise even with the help of masculine people along, it will be like masochist’s game of Tetris. You must make sure you place the car for repair below an elbow level to lower down the physical effort.

Expect it to take time

As you are not a professional and even a professional might take days to repair it, and you must accept the fact. Specially when you are doing it for the first time, your adventure might even last for a month.

Take pictures, make notes and label everything

Make a final checklist

You must know your guidelines and everything you need to accomplish by the end of the completion and for that you must make a checklist to make sure, you have finally achieved all that you planned to.