Vehicle Maintenance Services
Below are some services Bennett Auto Center handles and a guideline for vehicle maintenance services:
- Change transmission filter & fluid as recommended by manufactorer.
- Chassis lube every 3,000 miles.
- Fuel filter: 35,000-40,000 miles.
- Timing Belt: 60,000 miles.
- Tire rotation: as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Brake & power steering fluid flush: 2 years or when dirty or discolored.
- Professional fuel injection service:40,000 miles.
- Change oil every 3,000 miles or 3 months.
- Spark plugs: Conventional: 30,0000 miles, Double platinum: every 50,000 miles.
- Ignition cap, rotor, wires 60,000-80,000 miles.
- Coolant flush green: 2 years/24,000 miles or dex-cool: 5 years/50,000 miles
- Alignment: 15,000-20,000 miles
- Air filter, pcv valve and cabin air filter:as needed.
- Air induction service: 20,000 miles.
Preventative Maintenance
If your car is to provide you with continued reliability for years to come, a regular maintenance program must be followed. Keeping to a maintenance schedule will ensure a reliable vehicle and a higher resale value. Studies have shown that a well maintained car costs about 12 cents per mile to operate while a poorly maintained one is over 22 cents per mile due to the additional repairs and depreciation.
Headlights
Headlamp systems require periodic maintenance. Sealed beam headlamps are modular; when the filament burns out, the entire sealed beam is replaced. Most vehicles in North America made since the late 1980s use headlamp lens-reflector assemblies that are considered a part of the car, and just the bulb is replaced when it fails. Manufacturers vary the means by which the bulb is accessed and replaced.
Tune Up
The term “tune up” was originally derived from the practice of tuning an engine’s ignition timing. Modern automobiles use self-correcting, computer-controlled ignition, and so tuning is required very rarely. However, the term has survived to refer to a single service that covers multiple components, usually the following:
Batteries
Common causes of premature battery failure can be: Loss of electrolyte (which accounts for over 50% of the failures) due to under-hood heat or overcharging, deep discharges (leaving your lights on), misapplication or using an undersized battery, undercharging or loose alternator belt , excessive vibration (due to a loose hold own clamp), using tap water, corrosion, and freezing. Bennett Auto Center carries a full line of batteries for vehicles. Come in and purchase one or let one of our professional mechanics do the install work for you.
Bennett offers FREE battery & charging system testing. Please inquire for more details.
Factory Maintenance
If you want your vehicle to provide you with continued reliability for years to come, a regular maintenance program that the factory suggests, must be followed. Keeping to a maintenance schedule will ensure a reliable vehicle and a higher resale value. Studies have shown that a well maintained car costs about 12 cents per mile to operate while a poorly maintained one is over 22 cents per mile due to the additional repairs and depreciation.
Belts & Hoses
The timing belt is a notched rubber belt that allows the crankshaft to turn the camshaft. The camshaft opens and closes the valves in synchronicity with the movement of the pistons. A timing belt may also be called a Gilmer belt or a camshaft drive belt. If your timing belt breaks, your engine will stop working, stranding you wherever you may be. Even worse, it could cause major engine damage.
Tire Rotation
Tire rotation or rotating tires is the practice of moving automobile wheels and tires from one position on the car, to another, to ensure even tire wear. Tire wear is uneven for any number of reasons. Even tire wear is desirable to maintain consistent performance in the vehicle. Car manufacturers will recommend tire rotation frequency and pattern. Depending on the specifics of the vehicle, tire rotation may be recommended every 7,500 miles.
Cooling System Flush
Coolant is a depletion of buffering ingredients and over time becomes extremely corrosive, literally eating holes in cooling system components. By-products of corrosion damage, as well as rust and scale, clog the passageways that conduct the water through the radiator and choke off the flow. This may result in an overheated engine that may be damaged beyond repair. The solution is to do a cooling system flush. The entire cooling system is first cleaned and then all debris and worn out coolant is completely removed from the system. Then, fresh new premium coolant is added. Conditioners are also included to prevent rust and corrosion and a universal cooling system sealer is also included to prevent leaks.
Maine State Inspection
Maine requires all motor vehicles to undergo a safety inspection once a year. Vehicles registered in Cumberland County are also required to undergo an emissions test. Inspections are conducted at automobile dealerships, service stations and garages. To insure inspection mechanics are complying with the state’s many safety provisions, motor vehicle inspectors conduct periodic reviews of their practices and facilities, and investigate complaints. At Bennett Auto Center, appointments are not necessary to have your vehicle inspected.
Oil Change
In engines, there is inevitably some exposure of the oil to products of internal combustion, and microscopic particles accumulate in the oil during operation. Also the rubbing of metal engine parts inevitably produces some microscopic metallic particles from the wearing of the surfaces. Such particles could circulate in the oil and grind against the part surfaces causing wear. The oil filter removes many of the particles and sludge, but eventually the oil filter can become clogged, if used for extremely long periods. The motor oil and especially the additives also undergo thermal and mechanical degradation. For these reasons, the oil and the oil filter need to be periodically replaced.
Windshield Wipers
Wiper blades are one of the most neglected components on vehicles today. Many blades are cracked, split, torn, brittle, worn or otherwise in obvious need of replacement. Others may still look good, but do a bad job of wiping when put to the test.
State Inspections & Oil Changes
Maine State Inspection
Maine requires all motor vehicles to undergo a safety inspection once a year. Vehicles registered in Cumberland County are also required to undergo an emissions test. Inspections are conducted at automobile dealerships, service stations and garages. To insure inspection mechanics are complying with the state’s many safety provisions, motor vehicle inspectors conduct periodic reviews of their practices and facilities, and investigate complaints. At Bennett Auto Center, appointments are not necessary to have your vehicle inspected.
Alignment
Wheel alignment is part of standard automobile maintenance that consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are set to the car maker’s specification. The purpose of these adjustments is to reduce tire wear, and to ensure that vehicle-travel is straight and true (without “pulling” to one side).