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SERVICE SOLUTIONS: Challenges for the Lube Service Technician
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By Mighty Auto Parts
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link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view. Scheduled vehicle maintenance makes good business sense, especially when compared to costly engine repairs or an engine replacement. Many vehicle owners unknowingly select a service interval that is not healthy for the engine or recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Most vehicle manufacturers offer two service schedules…Normal and Severe Service. These options have created much controversy […]
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By NAPA
What to Expect from Your Brake Service with NAPA Auto Care
There are more than 285 million vehicles registered in the United States today. The average vehicle on the road is 12 years old. And, it is estimated that more than 51 million commuter vehicles are in need of brake service and repair. This is a concerning number considering antilock brakes are the most important safety system in a car, truck, van or SUV. That’s why the experts at NAPA recommend having your brakes inspected as often as twice a year for wear and damage. If a small issue is caught early, this routine maintenance can save you from a much more intense, costly repair.
Depending on your make and model, the quality of your OEM parts, the climate in which you live and your driving habits, your brake pads should last between 20,000 and 80,000 miles. Additionally, you should have your brake fluid flushed and replaced every two to five years. Because these ranges are vast, NAPA recommends a routine brake inspection every 10,000 to 12,000 miles as part of your yearly vehicle maintenance.
A leak in your brake system, often caused by contamination and corrosion, could dampen or even prevent your stopping power. The right amount of
link hidden, please login to view is essential for the proper function of anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control systems. Replacement link hidden, please login to view include the master cylinder and valves, which determine the pressure applied to both the front and rear brakes, brake pads that protect your expensive disc rotors and brake lines that carry critical fluid. More than 17,000
link hidden, please login to view nationwide are committed to diagnosing a wide range of automotive problems and fixing them right the first time. NAPA Auto Care centers are known for reliable service performed by ASE-certified technicians and specialist mechanics. This NAPA standard for trusted car and truck repair has grown for more than 80 years across these local, independently owned auto shops and collision centers. Our promise to NAPA customers is to perform high-quality diagnostic and repair services by installing superior link hidden, please login to view. Check out NAPA’s free nationwide Two-Year/24,000 Mile link hidden, please login to view, which covers parts and labor on qualifying repairs and services across The NAPA Network. If You’ve Reached The Breaking Point, Head to NAPA link hidden, please login to view
There are many reasons why you need brake service. Powerful friction wears out even the best
link hidden, please login to view and intense heat can warp link hidden, please login to view. Air getting into a brake line is a common issue. Your link hidden, please login to view will measure the vehicle’s brake fluid level during a full-service oil change. But what if you are experiencing a noticeable problem, such as a squealing noise or a change in brake responsiveness? A standard brake inspection at a NAPA Auto Care center could include:
Brake pad or brake shoe replacement Brake rotor resurfacing or brake drum turning Brake rotor or drum replacement Brake fluid flushing Brake line leak repair Brake light diagnosis Keep in mind, brake services are duplicated on both wheels of the same axle. Multiple systems in your vehicle are designed for the parts on both sides of your vehicle to operate in matching condition.
After any inspection, the NAPA technician should thoroughly explain your vehicle’s condition. This includes documenting what problems are urgent and what repairs you can delay. If the damaged part no longer performs as designed, the repair is considered necessary. For instance, a cracked rotor requires replacement, so a less expensive ‘fix’ like a new brake pad is an unsafe repair in this case.
A NAPA Auto Care service technician can also make recommendations that are not critical. This includes proactively replacing parts likely to fail in less than a year. Your trusted mechanic should also advise you on maintenance recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer. And, an inspection might include improvements that you can make with an aftermarket part upgrade to enhance performance, such as installing
link hidden, please login to view. With NAPA, you are always in good hands. Still, it is always best practice to do a little research before arriving at any auto body shop. Use the
link hidden, please login to view to instantly find out what your auto repair or service should cost at a NAPA Auto Care center. This competitive pricing tool provides quick and easy cost estimates for the most common repairs. Image courtesy of
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By Mighty Auto Parts
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view. When I started my career as a technician, performance-related diagnostics were not that challenging when compared to today’s technology. Most symptoms could be isolated to a fuel or ignition-related problem with a simple road test. Diagnostic equipment was limited to some basic tools such as a timing light, rpm/dwell meter, compression gauge, vacuum gauge, volt/ohm meter, […]
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By NAPA
Ideally an oil drain plug should always thread in and out easily. It isn’t a structural fastener, just a plug to hold back fluid. But it can be awkward laying under a car trying to get an oil drain plug started when you feel a little resistance. Maybe it is just a piece of crud and the plug will free up in another turn. Except it doesn’t free up and now it is tight and nowhere near seated. Or just as bad the plug now turns freely but doesn’t seat. Now you have a problem. Let’s take a look at how to fix a cross threaded oil drain plug and other oil drain plug problems.
How To Fix Cross Threaded Oil Drain Plug
If your oil drain plug starts to tighten up before it is seated against the oil pan drain hole, it is link hidden, please login to view. At the very first sign of resistance you need to stop tightening the plug and back it out again. Once the oil drain plug has been removed you will need to repair the oil drain plug hole threads with a
link hidden, please login to view. This special tool typically comes as a kit with several different thread sizes. Pick the repair tool with the thread size that matches your oil drain plug. Apply a few drops of lubricant to the repair tool and gently thread it into the oil drain plug hole turning it slowly by hand. The repair tool will repair the threads as it goes. Be careful to not allow the repair tool to pass completely through the oil pan drain plug hole, stay within the threaded area. Use a new oil pan drain plug (the old one may be damaged) and thread it in gently by hand to verify the repair. How To Fix A Stripped Oil Drain Plug Hole
The first step in how to fix stripped oil drain plugs is to not panic. Once you realize that the oil drain plug won’t tighten, immediately stop turning it. Try to reverse the drain plug out of the hole by hand. If the drain plug only spins in place but does not back out, try inserting a flat-tip screwdriver blade behind the head of the bolt and gently prying away from the pan. Turn the drain plug slowly to help the remaining threads catch on the drain hole. The plug should come out.
Once the drain plug is out it is best to just replace it with a new one. To address the stripped oil drain plug hole you have a few options. You can install a
link hidden, please login to view to renew the drain threads. You can also use an link hidden, please login to viewg or a link hidden, please login to view. Lastly you can try link hidden, please login to view the drain hole for a larger drain plug, but this is best done with the oil pan removed from the vehicle to contain any metal shavings. How To Fix A Stripped Oil Pan Drain Plug
The easiest answer to “how to fix stripped oil drain plugs” is to simply replace the plug with a new one. A new oil drain plug is cheap insurance against a potential oil leak. While it is entirely possible to repair screw threads, the cheap cost of a new drain plug isn’t worth gambling with your engine’s lifeblood.
Oil Pan Replacement
If all else fails then the only solution is an oil pan replacement. Depending on how your vehicle was engineered this may be an easy job requiring removing just a few oil pan bolts, or it could require removing the entire engine from the vehicle. Some newer vehicles have plastic oil pans which may not be repairable with common methods.
If none of these methods work you can always try a
link hidden, please login to view. These link hidden, please login to view are meant to seal the oil drain hole regardless of the thread conditions. Resist the temptation to use sealants as they might leak back into the oil pan and clog the oil pump pickup. You will still need to perform routine maintenance on your engine, so whichever route you take make sure the oil can still be drained in the future. Check out all the
link hidden, please login to view available on link hidden, please login to view or trust one of our 17,000 link hidden, please login to view for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how to fix stripped oil drain plug threads, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local link hidden, please login to view. The post
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By NAPA
Let There Be Light
It’s a simple truth that humans have known since the dawn of time: everything is easier to do when you can shine a little light on it! This is especially true in a garage, workshop or work site. Even in the brightest automotive garage, the dimly lit conditions of a Lexus RX350 or a Honda Accord engine bay, coupled with the complex arrangement of the engine components, can present a big problem for a mechanic looking to identify a problem and undertake repairs.
In the past, finding a dependable work light that performs in an auto shop setting was challenging. Most mechanic work lights used wall sockets, so your range of use was limited by the length of the cord. The brightest work lights usually use incandescent bulbs that could get very hot—a recipe for disaster when working with hazardous fumes and flammable liquids. Not only that, but incandescent lights usually require safety cages, which make them too bulky to fit into the dark recesses of an engine. The best auto mechanics are never without a trusty pen light tucked in their coveralls; however, they tend to have a limited number of lumens plus use small watch batteries, making them very inconvenient.
Thanks to the advancement of
link hidden, please login to view, automotive work lights are now far safer, more efficient, smaller and brighter. The best work lights for mechanics should be: Rechargeable – you should get at least two hours of bright light; 170 lumens or higher is ideal Rugged – the housing should feature strong, weathertight thermoplastic polymer construction such as ABS to withstand use in a garage or work environment Reliable – you should not have to worry that your work light will shatter or overheat A bonus in modern mechanic work lights is their easy mounting capability. There’s no need to drill any holes or glue anything—as most work lights feature magnetized bottoms and durable hooks—so that you can mount them to the hood of your vehicle or the side of the engine bay, as well as hang them from the latch mechanism. These magnets are safe to use around metal tools and sensitive electronics.
Illuminate the Job with NAPA and Carlyle Tools link hidden, please login to view
Whether you’re wrenching on the exhaust system of a lifted Ford F150, keeping your home renovation site lit or setting up a tent after sunset, a work light solution from
link hidden, please login to view is the best way to illuminate the job at hand. Named after one of NAPA’s founding members Carlyle Fraser, the brand is synonymous with hard-working reliability and quality craftsmanship. The NAPA Network is proud to offer this professional-grade line of lighting solutions so you can get a safe, reliable illumination to get your work done right. A rechargeable,
link hidden, please login to view from Carlyle is a must-have for close-quarter repairs in an engine bay. You get a full two hours of illumination if used on the high setting and up to five full hours on the low setting. The slim work light is small enough to maneuver into tight spaces and offers a brilliant 500 lumens, while the convenient magnetic base and hook offer cord-free mounting and hanging. Lose those smoky, unsafe incandescent cage lights on the job site and replace them with this super-brilliant rechargeable
link hidden, please login to view, which offers up to two hours of illumination on the high setting and five hours of luminescence on the low setting. The plastic/aluminum construction provides durability without added weight. For a smaller option that features both flood and spotlight functionality, the link hidden, please login to view features 260 powerful lumens with up to nine hours of continual brightness on a single charge. The safe and comfortable link hidden, please login to view offers the perfect hands-free light that shines right where you need it. The old-school auto mechanics will appreciate that Carlyle also offers a rechargeable link hidden, please login to view—small and reliable with no need for a watch battery. Best of all, Carlyle also offers a cutting-edge
link hidden, please login to view that wirelessly charges a wide range of their lighting solutions—such as the link hidden, please login to view—for fast and easy wireless charging. You’ll never get left in the dark again when you have the brilliant and reliable illumination of NAPA and Carlyle Tools lighting solutions at your side! Sign up for link hidden, please login to view today and get 1-point for every $1 you spend. Once you earn 100 points, you get $5 off your next NAPA purchase. The post
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