AUTONET TV

Economics of Maintenance for Franklin Auto Owners

Buying a new car in Franklin is always a big financial decision. The allure of that new car smell is powerful, to be sure. But what if your current car is still in good shape? How do you decide?

People in Franklin who've been used to driving a new car every three to five years may be having second thoughts in this economy. For many, the question is, how does the certainty of a new car payment stack up against uncertain repairs for a car that may be out of warranty?

For purposes of our discussion, let's assume you live right here in Franklin and have a five year old vehicle. It's now paid off. If you keep it, you fear that there'll be some repairs over the next five years, but you really don't know what to expect. For help we turned to maintenance and repair information for cars and trucks. With this data, they project likely service and repair costs for a particular make and model. They're able to use manufacturer's maintenance schedules and repair histories for the projections.

Of course, these projections can't predict what will happen to your vehicle in Franklin, but they do give you information to use in your decision.

Let's look at the numbers for a five year old Toyota Camry V-6. In this example, the combined maintenance and repairs for the five year period is $5,748. This works out to an average of $96 a month. The year-by-year averages range from a low of $49 a month to $124 a month.

So compare $96 a month with a new car payment. And it's actually better news than that; you would still have maintenance expenses with a new car, so the repair element could be less than half that figure.

Here are numbers for some other five year old vehicles from around Franklin:

• Ford Escape - $116 a month
• Chevy Silverado - $131 a month
• Jeep Grand Cherokee - $138 a month
• Hyundai Accent - $85 a month.

Now, if your vehicle is older than five years, have a chat with your Franklin service advisor at Franklin Auto Service. We see hundreds of vehicles through our bays every month and we know your car. See if there's any particular problem in common with your vehicle that you might see over the next couple of years.

And of course, the best way to keep future repair costs down is to take care of all your scheduled maintenance. This is especially important in older vehicles that have had time to accumulate some deposits.

There are special motor oil formulations that help clean older engines and protect and recondition their seals and gaskets.

We hope this eliminates some of the unknowns in the decision to keep or trade.

Give us a call if you have any questions.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
www.franklinautoservice.net

Wobbly in Turns? Your Sway Bar May Be to Blame

When you take a corner in your vehicle, it’s supposed to feel controlled and stable.  But you might notice one day that your vehicle feels like it is unstable, or even like it’s floating.  It can be a scary sensation that gets your attention.  If you feel that as you change lanes or when turning a corner, it’s important that you not ignore it because the culprit may be your vehicle’s sway bar.

Another term for it is an anti-roll bar, and helps keep your vehicle balanced while you take a turn.  The sway bar connects your suspension’s left and right sides, helping to distribute its weight evenly.  When it’s working the way it’s supposed to, those turns feel predictable and rock-solid.  But when there’s a problem, you’ll notice your handling isn’t as reliable as it used to be. 
 
One of the most common issues involves worn sway bar links or bushings. A sway bar link is a small rod that connects the sway bar to the vehicle’s suspension.  A bushing is what secures the sway bar to the vehicle’s frame or subframe. Keep driving on rough roads and they’ll begin to wear out.  Your vehicle might lean in turns, “clunk” when you hit a bump or your steering will feel loose.

Don’t ignore these symptoms.  While you might think you can put up with an uncomfortable ride, failing sway bars can increase stopping distances.  Plus, you might find it harder to keep your vehicle under control on a slippery road. You might be wearing out other parts of your suspension, too, which can lead to expensive repairs down the road.

Bring your vehicle to us so a technician can inspect the sway bar, links and bushings. When the problem spots are found and fixed, you’ll get back your solid, precise handling, turn corners with confidence and enjoy the safe handling you remember.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
www.franklinautoservice.net

Hitting the Brakes in Franklin

Safety should always be an element of your vehicle care. So even if you don't care about how your vehicle looks, you should practice preventive maintenance to protect yourself — and other Franklin drivers — on the road. And good safety starts with good brakes.

Brakes need a regular inspection. There are  parts that wear out or wear down, and it's best to replace them before you have serious problems.

Of course, if you are having trouble with your brakes, NOW is the time to fix them. If your brake warning light is on, that's a good sign that you need your brakes checked. You can also tell something is wrong with your brakes by the feel of the pedal or unusual sounds while braking. If the brake pedal is low, feels spongy when you press it or is hard to push, that indicates a problem with your brakes. If you hear squealing, grinding or clunking noises when you brake, that can also indicate serious problems. If vibrations accompany braking, then it is to get your brakes checked.

Brakes come in two basic types. With disc brakes, a rotor is attached to the axle of the vehicle. Padded calipers straddle the rotor and close when the brakes are applied. The resulting friction causes the rotor — and the axle — to stop turning. With drum brakes, brake pads (also called shoes) press against the inside of a drum to create friction and stop the drum, and hence the vehicle's wheels, from turning.

When Franklin Auto Service services your brake system, your friendly and knowledgeable service advisor checks all of the brake pads for wear. If they are too thin, they need to be replaced. This is an inexpensive repair at Franklin Auto Service compared to what procrastination will cost you. If pads wear away completely, then the rotors and drums can be damaged. They will have to be either resurfaced or replaced, and that can be expensive. But if your vehicle brake pads are worn out, then your brakes are compromised and your stopping power is greatly reduced. You could easily wind up in an accident.

Brake pads come in several different grades such as regular, metallic and ceramic. The higher grades are more expensive, but they also work better. MI drivers who want better and smoother braking should consider upgrading. However, Franklin drivers should NEVER use a brake pad that is lower than their vehicle manufacturer's recommendation.

After your brake pads are checked at Franklin Auto Service, it's also wise to have your brake fluid checked. This is a critical element in your brake system. When you press your brake pedal, you are compressing the brake fluid, creating pressure that activates the brake pads. If your fluid pressure is low, it will decrease your braking power. The pads just won't be able to press hard enough against the rotor or drum to stop your vehicle. Just as with worn pads, insufficient brake fluid can lead to an accident in Franklin.

Water can build up in your brake fluid, which can cause corrosion in your braking system. Eventually this can cause your brake fluid to leak. So Franklin drivers should also change their brake fluid periodically. Your vehicle owner's manual will have guidelines on how often it should be replaced, or you can ask a service advisor at Franklin Auto Service. 

Remember, Franklin folks, safety first. It's auto advice for all Franklin drivers on the road. You're not just protecting others; you're protecting yourself.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
www.franklinautoservice.net

Smooth Operator

We’re used to bringing a vehicle to a stop and hardly noticing the engine’s even running when we’re sitting still.  But sometimes you might notice it running rough when you’re idling.  Your vehicle is shaking, vibrating and making sputtering noises.  You may even notice the tachometer on your instrument panel is showing the engine’s RPMs are moving all over the place.  

Rough engines can be caused by a whole lot of different things.  One possibility is a problem with your fuel system.  You might have a fuel pump going bad, or a clogged fuel filter is restricting your fuel’s pressure. Maybe your fuel injectors have gotten plugged or dirty.  

Maybe it’s something wrong with your ignition system.  Your spark plugs may be on their last legs or the plug wires may be worn out.  The ignition coils which create sparks at your cylinders may be failing.  

Another thing that can cause an engine to run rough can be problems with getting adequate air to it.  Your engine air filter may be obstructed. Modern engines have a lot of sensors that tell the engine’s computers how to adjust fuel and timing, and some of those sensors might have seen better days.

There can be serious mechanical issues with your engine, such as worn piston rings, a leaky head gasket or bad valves.  Your timing belt could also be the problem.  

And, remember when your Check Engine light comes on, it can signal it’s detected something wrong in the way the engine’s components are working together. 

Your engine should be smooth and quiet when you’re sitting at a stop light.  If it’s not, head on over to let one of our technicians track down the problem.  We can have you back to being a smooth operator in no time.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
www.franklinautoservice.net

T for Transmission, T for Trouble (Automatic Transmission Trouble Signs)

One of the hardest working components of your vehicle is its transmission, shifting gears up and down when you need it to.  The transmission is vital to your vehicle driving properly, and if you start to see signs of problems in it, it’s best to have them fixed earlier rather than later. (Since nearly all new vehicles have automatic transmissions, we’re leaving manual transmissions for another time since their issues are different.)

One sure sign your transmission has a problem is when you notice it’s not changing gears like it used to.  Or perhaps you observe when it does change gears, they slip when you are driving.  Gear change problems could be as simple as something wrong with your transmission fluid, but it could be more serious, so get this one checked out soon.

Another trouble sign is when you feel your transmission shaking and vibrating as you’re accelerating, decelerating or trying to maintain a constant speed. Hearing odd noises when you are standing still and in neutral is another warning that something’s wrong,

It's always a good idea to look around on the garage floor, or wherever you park your vehicle, to see if there is anything leaking.  Transmission fluid leaks are an important sign of trouble and should be followed up quickly.  The fluid is usually  clear or pinkish red, and it smells sweet.  Call us soon if you see it under your vehicle.

Your nose can also be helpful in sensing when your transmission might need attention.  Transmission fluid can burn when it overheats, and if you smell a burning smell, let your service advisor know as soon as you can.  Other odors that could alert you to transmission problems are burning plastic or rubber from wires. 

The earlier we can catch a transmission problem, the better.  If you drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission and notice any of these trouble signs, have a technician check them out so we can “shift” our attention to it as soon as possible.

Franklin Auto Service
32725 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI 48025
248-626-2080
www.franklinautoservice.net