Why Preventative Maintenance Matters
I am sure we have all heard the saying “Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance”. Well, that saying applies to your vehicle’s preventive maintenance, too! You can save yourself a lot of stress and money by staying on top of your vehicle’s basic needs.
Just like us, our vehicles have an anatomy of systems– wiring instead of arteries, suspension instead of muscles, and a chassis instead of bones. Both are a physical structure that keeps us and our vehicles moving forward. Our bodies heal with rest and energy, but cars have no such self-repairing ability. Preventative maintenance is necessary to keep your vehicle performing under pressure!
Keeping your vehicle fed, watered, and cleaned is important in maintaining its health year-round! Just like we take care of animals and ourselves, we want to take care of our vehicles the same way. Your vehicle runs on a complicated network of fluids, belts, hoses, and physical machinery that all work in concert to get you where you need to go. Here are four reasons preventative maintenance should matter to you:
- It keeps you safe – Staying on top of your brake maintenance, tire maintenance, and fluids will keep you and your family safe! Rainy conditions can sneak up on us in the Central Valley, so make sure your vehicle is ready for all the weather conditions it might encounter.
- It saves you money – It all comes down to saving you money in the end! The closer you pay attention to keeping your vehicle healthy day-to-day, the less likely you are to have those major expenses in the future. You might feel like you are saving money at the moment by not fixing the little things as they pop up. However, those little things become big when they ultimately lead to systems crashing, transmission issues, and actual collisions in the worst-case scenario!
- It gets you where you need to go – Importantly, preventative maintenance makes sure that your vehicle keeps doing what it is supposed to do, transferring you from Point-A to Point-B. In the end, our car is there to get us places; if it isn’t taken care of, we ain’t goin’ nowhere, haha!
- It keeps your vehicle healthy – Keeping your vehicle’s fluids clean, topped off, and regularly changed makes sure that its internal processes function properly. Beyond that, making sure its belts and hoses are properly maintained prevents you from incurring major expenses in the future!
Preventative maintenance might seem like a pain in the rear, but it helps you avoid pain in the wallet later on! We suggest that you stay on top of the regular things. Check your tire pressure, check your tire tread, keep an ear out for brakes squeaking, and have your hose and belts examined. Hopefully, this list helps you consider preventative maintenance in the future and why it is so important!
When considering preventative maintenance on your vehicle, there is nobody better for the job than Dick’s Automotive in Clovis, Ca! Our seasoned team of ASE-Certified Auto Technicians brings decades of experience keeping vehicles on the road to you and your family. Contact us today and schedule an appointment to check your belt, hoses, tires, fluid, and more. We look forward to meeting you and inviting you to be a part of the Dick’s Automotive family!
Brakes Equal Safety: Warning Signs You Won’t Want To Miss
Many of us purchase our vehicles based on their vehicle safety rating and how likely they are to keep us safe in the event of an accident. A crucial part of that puzzle is the type of brakes you have and their health. There are several different brake systems available today, and they all require some level of service at one time or another. You might be surprised that many people don’t know what to look for or listen for when diagnosing a potential problem with their brakes.
A lot of factors go into keeping your brakes functioning at their top level. Like a puzzle, the brake system is complicated and includes many interconnected parts that rely on each other to function correctly. The brake fluid, brake pads, discs, rotors, etc., all work together in perfect harmony to keep you and your family safe. Your vehicle’s brake system is complicated, and something as seemingly simple as topping off brake fluid can be much more tricky than you think. We want you to be safe on the road, so we compiled a list of some of the more common problems you might encounter with your brakes.
Here are some warning signs you will want to be on the lookout for before you head out:
- Brake Light On: This might seem obvious to most people, but we know well that clients often overlook problems as “a simple light that will go away on its own.” However, we strongly recommend that you take this seriously. It could be the first sign of a dangerous issue in the future!
- Grinding, Scraping, or Squealing: You might encounter either one of these issues. Both are clear-cut signals that you need to service your brakes or replace them as soon as possible.
- Slow to Stop: You press on your brakes, but your vehicle doesn’t respond the way it used to. It takes longer to stop, or worse, you might have to pump your brakes to get the car to stop. Again, it would be best if you had your brakes examined as soon as possible.
- Shaking or Jerking: Your vehicles may shake as your brakes begin to fail, causing a noticeable shaking of the steering wheel. You may also feel a jerking sensation as one side of your vehicle’s brakes fail while the others remain functional.
- Leaking Fluid: Any time your vehicle is leaking fluid, you want to have it looked at immediately, especially in the case of leaking brake fluid. Leaking brake fluid can be challenging to identify by simply looking at it, so we strongly suggest that you bring your vehicle to have our auto mechanics look at it.
Now that the weather is cooling down, many of us are looking for weekend trip ideas and ways to get away with the family. The California Central Valley’s best day trips, like Yosemite, Sierra National Forest, and Kings Canyon National Park, involve steep uphill and downhill drives. You might even encounter wet or muddy driving conditions, the types of driving conditions that can be very taxing on your brake system. We want to be sure that we know what to look for if something begins to go wrong in these moments.
So, before you and the family take that road trip to Yosemite, you are going to want to make sure that your brakes are serviced and functioning properly. Contact us if you have any questions regarding issues with your brakes, and we can schedule an appointment. Our ASE-certified auto mechanics at Dick’s Automotive will make sure you and your family hit the road safely!
Upcoming Specials
It’s time for our August blog, and we want to bring you an upcoming special you won’t want to miss out on! Here at Dick’s Automotive, we offer superior auto service and want you to leave our shop with your vehicle in perfect condition. For our upcoming special, we would like to offer 10% off any air conditioning servicing your vehicle may need.
If you have a newer car made in 2017 or beyond, your new A/C system runs on an expensive refrigerant (1234YA?) that costs $100 per ounce! We will take 10% off the labor to help you save some money but still have your system serviced with this discount. With the heat waves and expensive refrigerants, you don’t want to risk having a leak in your car’s A/C system.
If you want to take advantage of this special offer, we encourage you to schedule an appointment today or come by our shop at 1550 Tollhouse Rd, Clovis, CA, 93611. We want to inspect your vehicle to be sure your car is in perfect condition when hitting the road. Take advantage of this limited time offer and come by today for professional and courteous service!
How To Keep Your Car Cool During the Summer
Keeping your car cool is not just a matter of safety, but survival. A recent study conducted by Stanford found that during the summer, a car can heat up by an average of 40 degrees in a couple of minutes. This may be worrisome because it puts you and your pets/children in a dangerous spot. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child heat strokes can occur at just 70 degrees. On the other hand, your car can heat up to 96 degrees.
To help you prevent this, we’ve prepared a list of basic steps you can take to ensure your, your car’s, and your family’s safety.
- Park in shady areas: This is a must. If you can’t park into a garage and have to use a public parking lot, then do whatever you can to park under a tree or in an area with weaker sunlight. If you can’t do that for obvious reasons, don’t worry, we got you covered!
- Use a sunshade: Let’s be hones: Finding a great parking spot is a nightmare. It’s far easier to get a quality car sunshade. Good car sunshades cover the most significant piece of glass of your car and block up to 95% of sunlight! And the best part? Sunshades (even the best ones) are cheap and affordable!
- Tint your windows: If you are not fond of sunshades, a great alternative is to tint your windows. While tinting your windows doesn’t prevent light from coming in, it does block the UV and thermal rays, which do most of the damage. We’d suggest letting a professional do the tinting, but if you are a hardcore vehicle enthusiast, you can do it yourself!
DISCLAIMER: Different states allow different tinting degrees, so before you do anything, refer to your state’s window tinting guide.
- Cover your dashboard: A good dashboard cover can help block further sunray spread, but we suggest that you have also either tinted your windows, used sunshade, or parked in a shady spot beforehand.
- Wrap your steering wheel: Another useful thing to do is to wrap your steering wheel, because we all know how hot our steering wheels can get in the Clovis sun.
- Cover your whole car: Yes. Sometimes that’s what you gotta do! Even if you have sun shades a cover on the interior of your vehicle, the car paint can still be damaged from the extreme outside heat. When you want to keep your car cool during the summer, covering it completely might be the most practical thing to do.
If you are suspicious and feel that the summer has damaged your car in some way, but you can’t uncover it, don’t hesitate to contact us and set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians, and we will perform an inspection to make sure your vehicle is happy, healthy, and ready for the journey ahead. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
Fun in the Sun: Best Summer Road Trips in Clovis
We can’t believe how fast the year is going by! It is almost summertime. Not only will the temperatures be rising, but the pandemic is almost coming to an end. The team at Dick’s Automotive thinks this is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the open road. Fortunately, Clovis is centrally located near many summer road trips.
To help you make your destination more effortless, we have compiled a list of the best summer road trips in and near Clovis (all of these drives are easily reachable on day trips from Clovis)
- Yosemite National Park
- Hume Lake
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Sequoia National Park
- Mono Hot Springs
- Huntington Lake
- Bakersfield
- Los Padres National Forest
- Big Sur
- Pinnacles National Park
- Monterey
- Santa Maria
- Sacramento
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
Before you embark on your road trip, we encourage you to stop by Dick’s Automotive for an inspection. This way, we can make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape and ready to go for your next adventure. If you decide to go on any of these trips, please let us know how it went!
Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians, and we will perform an inspection to make sure your vehicle is happy, healthy, and ready for the journey ahead. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
Keep Your Vehicle Hydrated By Checking These Fluids
No matter who, where, or even what you are, we all have to drink fluids to stay hydrated and survive. Your vehicle is no different. Regardless of make, mileage, or model, your vehicle needs certain fluids to stay performing in tip-top condition for the long term. If your vehicle is low on fluids, its overall performance and driveability will be negatively affected. To ensure your vehicle stays safe, the team at Dick’s Automotive recommends staying on a routine maintenance schedule.
To keep your vehicle healthy and hydrated, it is essential to have these fluid levels inspected by a professional:
- Oil: We have all heard of this fluid, but you might be surprised to learn how many individuals forget to have this fluid inspected. Your vehicle is made up of thousands of moving parts, and all these parts need to stay lubricated, which is where oil comes in. When your vehicle doesn’t have enough oil, your engine might succumb to expensive and dangerous repairs.
- Transmission Fluid: Your transmission is easily one of your vehicle’s most complicated components. Without transmission fluid, your transmission system might start to break down, as transmission fluid works the same as oil — it keeps your transmission properly lubricated.
- Radiator Fluid: Coolant can be found in your radiator fluid, and coolant keeps your engine cool. Your vehicle’s radiator fluid will be tailored to your vehicle’s make, along with the time and temperature of the year.
- Brake Fluid: One of the systems most crucial to your overall safety is your braking system. Without properly working brakes, you could easily find yourself in a potentially dangerous and scary situation. Brake fluid regulates both the high pressure and temperature in your braking system.
- Power Steering Fluid: If your vehicle doesn’t have enough power steering fluid, you might not be able to steer straight through the streets of Clovis. This fluid is imperative to keep you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road safe.
Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians, and we will take a look at your vehicle’s fluids to make sure your vehicle is happy, healthy, and hydrated! We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
Let’s Make Sure Your Windshield Wipers are Ready for April Showers
Now that spring is here, we are starting to see the sun shining, the flowers blooming, and the world becoming alive again after winter. Even though we might be seeing more blue skies, we do have to be wary of spring showers. We have all heard of the saying — “April showers bring May flowers.” Your windshield wipers need to be ready for the upcoming downpour, as they are your first line of defense.
When driving in the rain, you can’t see as well, and you will be driving on a slippery, wet road. To deal with these road conditions, your windshield wiper needs to be performing correctly. If you are experiencing any of these signs, your windshield wipers, most likely, need to be replaced:
- You notice the rubber on your windshield wiper blades is cracked or broken.
- When your windshield wipers are being used, you see streaks left behind.
- You hear a chattering sound when you use your windshield wipers.
- You see that your windshield wipers are not reaching some spots on your windshield.
- The actual metal part of your windshield wiper is bent.
At Dick’s Automotive, we put your safety first. If you believe your windshield wipers need to be replaced, don’t hesitate to contact our team for windshield wiper replacement. We don’t want you driving in an April shower without properly working windshield wipers. Together, we can make sure you and your vehicle are ready for these upcoming spring showers.
Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians for windshield wiper replacement. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
Difference Between Your Vehicle’s Cabin Air Filters and Engine Air Filters
Modern vehicles have types of air filters — cabin air filters and engine air filters. It is no surprise that many of our clients think that these air filters have similar functions, but these filters perform quite different tasks in reality. If you stick to a regular maintenance schedule, our technicians will keep an eye on both your cabin air filter and engine air filter.
Let’s start with your engine air filter. What exactly does it do? Your vehicle has an intake system which essentially draws air into your engine. To keep debris and dust out of your engine, your engine air filter ensures clean air only reaches your engine. If your engine air filter is not well-maintained, it may not be working correctly, and debris, dust, and grime can potentially enter your engine and wreak havoc on other parts of your engine. Our technicians will check your engine air filter at our shop and recommend a replacement, if necessary.
Your cabin air filter might look like your engine air filter, but it has a very different responsibility. Your cabin air filter is located at the mouth of your heater box and filters out any dust, soot, pollen, or other allergens from entering your cabin. This filter makes sure you are breathing fresh and clean air in the cabin of your vehicle. It is essential to bring your vehicle to Dick’s Automotive for regular cabin air filter maintenance because it can quickly become inundated with particles.
With Spring almost here, it is even more important to keep a close eye on your cabin air filter, as we don’t want harmful allergens from reaching your cabin. Our technicians will also inspect your engine air filter to ensure you ready to go for the upcoming season. Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
What to Expect When Bringing Your Vehicle To Dick’s Automotive
Since 1971, Dick’s Automotive has been a staple in Fresno, Clovis, and the surrounding communities. We are honored to be the trusted source for auto repair in the region, as we are honest and upfront each step of the way. Regardless of your vehicle’s make, model, or mileage, our technicians will be open and upfront each step of the way. When you are bringing your car to Dick’s Automotive, you can expect to receive a level of unparalleled service.
At Dick’s Automotive, we care deeply for you and your vehicle. Our first commitment is to God and his words. Our second commitment is to our family, both our personal and extended family we call our customers. With these commitments, we strive to keep your vehicle performing in tip-top shape so that you can drive safely and smoothly through the Fresno and Clovis streets.
At Dick’s Automotive, the name of the game is convenience, value, and time. Our technicians are ASE-certified Master technicians and are dedicated to the proper diagnosis and repair of your vehicle. Our technicians continue to attend regular training and work with shops across the country to stay up-to-date with the latest repair services.
Above all, you can expect our technicians at Dick’s Automotive to go above and beyond for you and your vehicle, whether that means ensuring you can pick up your car after hours or performing a thorough and extensive repair designed to secure your vehicle’s safety. Hard work, integrity, and transparency are the foundation at our shop.
Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
New Year’s Resolutions for Being a Better Car Owner
2020 was a year like we never expected. The team at Dick’s Automotive is so appreciative of each of our clients who continue to choose our shop for service. We couldn’t be more grateful for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year for your next service. We want to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year!
The team at Dick’s Automotive wants you to get the most out of 2021, and the best way to start the New Year off on the right foot is coming up with resolutions. We are here to help, as we have compiled New Year’s resolutions for being a better car owner:
- Pay close attention to preventive maintenance. To keep your vehicle running in pristine condition for as long as possible, regularly scheduled visits at Dick’s Automotive is of utmost importance. By routinely servicing your vehicle, we can prevent bigger and often more costly problems from happening.
- Drive courteously and kindly. This year has been hectic, to say the least. We know how easy it is to feel frustrated while driving, but the team at Dick’s Automotive encourages you to take a moment, breathe, and remember to treat other drivers on the road how you would want to be treated.
- Don’t forget about your fluids! Just like you need fluids to stay happy and healthy, your vehicle does too! Certain fluids in your vehicle, including your oil, brake fluid, and coolant, need to be serviced at regular intervals. The team at Dick’s Automotive can help you stay on top of maintaining these essential fluids.
- No more distracted driving. Did you know that, on average, nine people die a day from distracted driving? We can’t emphasize this enough — put your phone away, and keep your eye on the road. Distracted driving is more than just texting and driving; but it also includes eating and drinking and changing your music while driving.
- Safety first for your little ones. If your child is age eight and under, they should be in a car seat, and if your child is age 12 and under, they should be in the back seat. We recommend following these rules for optimal safety.
Together, we can start 2021 off on the right foot by bringing your vehicle to our shop for preventive maintenance. Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
