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Archive for April 2017

Does Your Car Have A Recall Item?

Posted April 24, 2017 10:51 AM

Recalls are pretty serious for brandon residents and don't happen all that often. But sometimes cars have less serious problems that brandon residents still might want to know about. For these less serious cases, the vehicle manufacturer issues what is known as a Technical Service Bulletin – or TSB. These bulletins tell brandon service centers (including autoclinic of brandon) how to repair a problem that occurs frequently or is especially difficult.

Your brandon service center receives updated information through subscription plans, which are sometimes available in consumer versions too.

Whatever your source, pay attention to brandon vehicle recalls to keep you and your passengers safe.

No matter how well they're made, vehicles are bound to have problems with their design or manufacturing. Think of all the moving parts. When the government thinks a problem is really serious, they require the vehicle manufacturer to issue recall notices to brandon residents and to fix the affected vehicles free of charge. The they try to contact all brandon residents who own that type of car so they can have it taken care of at their brandon service center.

To find out if your car has any recall issues, give us a call:

autoclinic of brandon
901A WEST BRANDON BLVD
brandon, florida 33511
813-654-8686



Transmission Service at autoclinic of brandon in brandon

Posted April 16, 2017 9:24 AM

Let's talk about transmission service. It can be easy for brandon drivers to forget about getting their transmission serviced because it doesn't need it very often. It's easier for people in florida to remember to change the engine oil - you know, every 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But proper transmission servicing keeps your vehicle running smoothly and helps you avoid repairs down the road.

The transmission undergoes a lot of stress. The grit you can see in used transmission fluid is actually bits of metal that wear off the gears in the transmission. In addition to that, the transmission operates at very high temperatures. Usually, it's much higher than engine temperatures. Those high temperatures eventually cause the transmission fluid to start to break down and lose efficiency.

As the fluid gets older, it gets gritty and doesn't lubricate and cool the vehicle transmission as well - leading to even more wear. The fluid can actually get sludgy and plug up the maze of fluid passages inside the transmission. At best, your transmission won't operate smoothly. At worst, it could lead to damage.

When your transmission is running properly, it transfers more power from your engine to the drive wheels and improves fuel economy. That's why it is recommended to change your transmission fluid at regular intervals. Your owner's manual has a schedule for transmission service and, of course, your service advisor at autoclinic of brandon can tell you what is recommended.

Hot and dusty brandon area conditions, towing, hauling, stop-and-go driving and jackrabbit starts all begin to increase the load on the transmission and its internal temperature. That means brandon vehicles with these types of transmission requirements need to change the fluid more often. A good rule of thumb is every 35,000 miles, 55,000 kilometers or two years. If your owner’s manual suggests more frequent intervals or if you're driving under severe service conditions around the brandon area, you will need to change it more often.

Most brandon auto service centers (including autoclinic of brandon) have the ability to perform a transmission service while you wait and the cost is quite reasonable. It's downright cheap when you think about how much a major transmission repair can cost! Our pros at autoclinic of brandon will know the right type of transmission fluid to use. If it's getting to be time to have your transmission serviced, do your vehicle a favor and have it done.

autoclinic of brandon
901A WEST BRANDON BLVD
brandon, florida 33511
813-654-8686

 



Change Your Wiper Blades Twice Yearly at autoclinic of brandon

Posted April 9, 2017 3:51 AM

Because 90% of our driving decisions are based on visual information, unobscured vision is paramount. Which brings us to the topic of today's autoclinic of brandon article: wiper blades. While this isn't the most exciting automotive subject, it's important. You wouldn't drive at night in brandon with your headlights off, but a dirty or streaked vehicle windshield can catch the glare of the sun or on-coming headlights and make it just as difficult to see.

Most of us in brandon replace our wiper blades when they no longer do the job. They are so worn, hard or brittle that they can't clean the windshield. They may even be falling apart. In other words, we deal with our wiper blades from a failure perspective. We address them when they no longer function. The theory, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," doesn't apply here. Instead, we should think about wipers blades as an important safety system that we should maintain rather than repair.

florida automotive experts recommend that we change our wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and fall. That way you have functional blades for those brandon spring showers and winter storms.

When we use our wipers a lot, they get worn from the brandon road grime and bug juice. Even if we don't use them very often, they're exposed to the sun, heat and cold, and air which cause them to dry out, become brittle and break.

And of course, you need a good windshield washer fluid in your vehicle to help the wipers do their job. Always use washer fluid because plain water doesn't work as well and it can freeze in the reservoir. If you're driving where there are a lot of bugs in florida, you can pay a little more and get fluid that does a better job of clearing them. If you live where you have extremely cold winters, you can get fluid that resists freezing.

Like everything else in the automotive world, there've been some big advancements in wiper blades, both in terms of the design and the materials from which the blade is made. If you are a local brandon driver that has a need for better than average windshield wipers, you can pay some more for an upgraded wiper. And if you live where there's a lot of snow and ice in florida, they make special winter blades that don't clog up and freeze like standard blades.

At one of your fall and spring oil changes, ask your autoclinic of brandon service advisor which is best wiper blade for your driving conditions. Replace your blades on schedule so you never have to struggle with your vision when you switch on your wipers.

autoclinic of brandon
901A WEST BRANDON BLVD
brandon, florida 33511
813-654-8686



Ask autoclinic of brandon: What Happens When a Serpentine Belt Breaks?

Posted April 2, 2017 9:38 AM

The serpentine belt is aptly named since it snakes around under your hood. It may lack its namesake's fangs, but it sure packs a wallop when it breaks.

The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine systems. It runs the alternator, which charges the battery; the water pump (on some vehicles), which cools the engine; the air conditioning, which cools the driver and passengers; and the power steering pump, which allows for easier steering. When the belt breaks, all of these systems shut down.

Okay, so maybe you can live without air conditioning and power steering for a while, but your battery can't live very long without an alternator, and when the cooling system goes down, your vehicle engine will overheat. That's why brandon drivers should never wait to get a serpentine belt replaced.

Serpentine belts are fairly inexpensive at autoclinic of brandon in brandon. And they look downright cheap when you compare them to the cost of an overheated vehicle engine, a tow truck, time lost on the road, inconvenience, and the potential safety consequences of being stranded.

Good car care means never putting off preventive maintenance. Do yourself a favor. Ask your friendly and knowledgeable autoclinic of brandon  technician to glance under your hood and give that serpentine belt a quick look-over.

autoclinic of brandon
901A WEST BRANDON BLVD
brandon, florida 33511
813-654-8686



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