My check engine light is on. Is it safe to drive?

Basic rule that holds true with any vehicle, if the check engine light is on steady, and the vehicle is running ok with good oil pressure and not overheating, then it should be safe to drive until you can have the vehicle checked by your shop. If however the check engine light is flashing, and or you detect a performance problem, then it’s not recommended to drive the vehicle any distance.

My battery light is on in the dash. Is it safe to drive?

Normally when the battery light is on, that indicates a possible issue with the alternator. If indeed the alternator isn’t recharging the battery, you run the risk of being stranded if driven as the battery voltage will become depleted.

When should I have maintenance items like spark plugs, driveline fluids, timing belt, filters, etc?

By far the easiest way to keep up with all the maintenance items on your vehicle is to stay close to the Manufacturer’s recommended service schedule. Remember all vehicles may not have the same service intervals for a certain item. So It’s always best to check the owner's manual for your specific vehicle.

We are driving on a long trip soon, but my car isn’t due for any maintenance yet. Should I have the vehicle looked over before leaving?

Absolutely 100% you should have the vehicle checked over before driving on any long trips. Things like spare tire pressure, quick visual inspection of tires for nails/cuts and pressures. Visual inspection under the hood to assure no leaks and all fluid levels are good. These things take maybe 15 minutes and are totally worth the piece of mind while traveling long distances.

There is a warning light on in my dash. What should I do? It seems to be running ok.

Every warning light on the instrument panel has a purpose. Warning lights are there to alert us that a computer/module has detected an abnormality in one of the systems on your vehicle. If you’re not sure what the light indicates, there is a section in your owner's manual that will give detailed information related to the light in question.

I have noticed a fluid leak under my car when parking ?

Any fluid leak should be inspected by your shop to verify the source. Trying to identify fluid on your driveway or parking lot can be a bit tricky. Coolant while water based, can have an oily feel on your fingers and may lead you to think it’s engine oil. Engine oil and transmission fluid are similar, but transmission fluid if not too spent, will have a red look unless it’s a CVT transmission. Engine oil could be darker looking, or clear if you just had the oil changed recently. Brake fluid is usually clear, but oily feeling much like engine oil. Checking the under hood fluid levels many times can lead you in the right direction.

How often should I change my engine oil?

I don’t think any 2 vehicle manufacturers are the same. At Creech Import Repair, we recommend every 5,000 miles to change the oil and filter. Many mfg’s recommend longer intervals, but if they extend past 5k we highly recommend checking the engine oil level every 1,000 miles. By nature of design, any internal combustion engine is going to use or consume some amount of oil. Also detergent in oil is designed to suspend by-products of combustion, which is what eventually turns the engine oil dark. At some point the detergent content will become loaded and can’t store anymore. This is the point when the engine can start to gum up inside with deposits and can be harmful to your engine and shorten its life.

A Brake Inspection: The 7 Big Signs You Need One

Car Suspension and Brakes Maintenance in Auto Service.

Brake Inspection -

It should be pretty obvious to all drivers that brakes are an essential factor in making sure your car is safe to drive. But for some reason, all too many drivers are complacent about keeping up with brake inspection, repairs and preventive maintenance. Brake pads wear down relatively quickly (especially in automatic transmissions, which are far more common -- on the used car market, they outnumber manuals 10 to 1), and they need to be replaced before more extensive damage is caused to the brake rotors themselves. Brake fluid is also essential. A recent car maintenance survey found that 18% of vehicles had contaminated or low brake fluid. That can lead to total brake failure.

Brake Pad Service In Raleigh, NC

The good news is that the brake pad service doesn’t cost much. Also, there are often brake inspection and service specials throughout the year. If you are uncomfortable with the upfront cost, you need to remember that brake maintenance should cut down on brake repairs. And even the cost of brake repair is nothing compared to the costs, both financial and emotional, of a car accident.
How can you know if you need a brake inspection? Here are seven signs the Car Care Council recommends looking out for:

Noise: The brakes make any screeching, clicking or grinding noises when you apply pressure.
Pulling: The car drifts to the right or left when you brake.
Low Pedal: You have to push the pedal nearly to the floor before it engages.
Hard Pedal: You have to apply a great deal of pressure to the pedal before the brakes engage.
Grabbing: The brakes grab when you barely press on the pedal.
Vibration: The brake pedal shakes, vibrates or pulsates even when you’re braking slowly and on a normal surface.
Light On: The dashboard brake light is illuminated.

Even if you aren’t seeing any of these symptoms, brakes should always be part of your annual inspection. Car and brake inspections are a modest cost. Also, when compared to your overall investment in your vehicle, and they can keep you safe and save you money in the long term. And since there are around 87,032 auto repair shops in the U.S., you really have no excuse for skipping preventive measures.
How often do you invest in brake maintenance or brake repair? Join the discussion in the comments.

The 7 Signs You Need A Brake Inspection

Brake Inspection -

Brake Pad Service In Raleigh, NC