Since Meineke is a nationwide chain of independently owned and operated
franchises, prices - and services -- vary from location to location. Contact
your local
Meineke dealer for specific pricing information. For the most accurate
estimate, take your vehicle to Meineke for a free inspection. Our trained
technicians can then assess your vehicle's needs, answer any questions
and review your options.
What are all these maintenance services for?
It is very important to maintain your vehicle in order to ensure proper
running condition and to maximize the life of your vehicle. Below is a
list of auto maintenance services and explanations of what each service entails
and why it is necessary for your vehicle. For more information about the
auto maintenance services required for your specific vehicle, consult your
owner's manual.
Oil and Lube Service / Filter Changes
Your
vehicle's engine has hundreds of moving parts in it. These parts cause
friction when they rub against each other and the friction, in turn,
causes massive amounts of heat in your engine. To protect against all
of this friction and heat, we introduce lubricating oil into the engine.
The oil has two jobs in the engine. One is to reduce the amount of friction
by putting a layer of oil between the moving parts and the other is
to help vehiclery heat away from the hottest parts of the engine as
it circulates through.
If there were no oil in your engine, the moving parts would create
so much heat that they would eventually melt together causing the engine
to lock up. Once those engine parts melt together, there is no getting
them apart. So we can all agree that the oil in your engine is pretty
important.
But why change the oil? Isn't the oil that came with the vehicle good enough?
The answer is no, and here is why...
Over time, all oil breaks down. There are many factors that contribute
to the breakdown of the oil in your engine, but heat is the biggest
contributing factor. In addition to the breakdown of the oil itself,
there are also additives that are put in engine oil. These begin to
break down and lose their effectiveness over time. There is also the
issue of contamination. Small bits of dust, dirt and debris get into
your engine and make the or way into the oil. All these little bits
of "stuff" make the oil much less slippery and much less effective
at cushioning the moving parts of the engine.
So, how often should you change the oil? Most technicians recommend
that you get an oil change every 3000 miles for maximum engine protection.
Check your vehicle's owner's manual for the recommendations for your
specific vehicle, but be vehicleeful. Some manuals recommend an oil change every 7500 miles under certain driving conditions. Make sure
your driving meets those conditions before you decide to risk waiting
that long for an oil change.
Wheel alignment is making sure the wheels are running parallel to one another,
and that the tires meet the road at the proper angle. It is done by
adjusting the angles between the suspension and steering parts, the
wheels, and the vehicle frame.
Everyday driving with the shocks and bumps associated with it can cause
the tire angles to get knocked out of line. When this happens, it can
cause the vehicle to handle badly or the tires to wear unevenly.
What are some signs that my vehicle needs a wheel alignment?
Most alignment warning signs are easy to spot...
Unusual tire wear - tires are worn in a cupped, scalloped or diagonal
stripe pattern at edges or across the tread, or wear is uneven with
"feathered" edges on the treads.
Unusual steering feel - the steering feels stiffer than it should,
or the wheel does not return to the center position when released.
The steering wheel is cocked to one side when the front wheels are
pointing straight ahead.
The vehicle tends to pull to one side while driving, or tends to
wander or weave, or is subject to front end "shimmy".
The process of tire balancing is when the weight of the tire, when mounted on its
wheel and the vehicle's axle, is uniformly distributed around the axle.
Or, in simple terms, there are no heavy spots on the tire.
An out of balance tire can affect ride quality, shorten the life of
tires, bearings, shocks and other suspension components. If your vehicle
has a vibration that is dependent on speed, and usually becomes noticeable
around 40-45 mph and increases as your speed increases, it's probably
balance related.
Tire balancing is achieved by adding weight across the tire from the heavy
spot to "balance" things out.
As you drive along the road, your tire tread is rubbing off on the
road surface. That is what is known as tire wear. Tire rotation ensures that all of the tires wear evenly in order
to extend the length of the tire's life on your vehicle. You see, front
tires wear on the outside because the tire leans over when you turn
the vehicle. Rear tires wear much less because they follow the front
tires. So, in order to make sure the tire wear evenly, you want to change
which tires are in the front to keep one pair of tires from wearing
out too quickly.
When should I rotate my tires?
Most technicians recommend tire rotation every 6,000 to 7,500
miles. Check your vehicle's owner's manual for your manufacturer's recommendation.
A tune-up is the process of checking and adjusting all of the systems
in your vehicle that contribute to the efficient combustion of fuel.
How do I know when I need a tune-up?
Keep a log of your gas mileage. When the average falls by 10% - 15%,
your vehicle needs a tune up. As always, check your vehicle's owner's
manual for manufacturer recommendations.
Some facts about tune-ups...
Tune up can improve your fuel economy by 4 to 12%.
A too rich fuel to air mixture will lower fuel efficiency.
A too lean fuel to air mixture can cause misfiring or engine damage
Spark plug timing must be set to specifications.
Clean and properly adjusted points will produce fuel efficient firing.
One spark plug misfiring half of the time reduces fuel economy by
7% and two can reduce it by 20%.
Too high an idle speed wastes gas.
In a fuel injection system , the fuel is sprayed through the fuel injection
nozzle into the combustion chamber. For good combustion, the injectors
must produce a fine cone-shaped mist of fuel vapor. Wear or deposits
in the nozzle can create "streamers" of liquid fuel that vaporize
and burn poorly. This, in turn, can cause hesitation, emissions and
performance problems.
Fuel injection cleaning removes deposits from the fuel injection nozzle
and clears the way for that fine mist of fuel to come through.
Fuel injection cleaning will help increase performance, eliminate hesitation,
improve gas mileage and lower exhaust emissions.
Like the oil in your vehicle, the transmission fluid in your transmission
can become contaminated with dirt, dust and debris. As the transmission
fluid ages, viscosity breaks down and contaminants build up, leaving
your vehicle's transmission vulnerable to breakdowns. A complete Transmission
flush replaces all the fluid in the transmission and gives long term
protection and reliability.
After a transmission flush, you will notice the difference in smoother
shifting, improved performance, reduced component failure, and increased
vehicle longevity
Do you need new windshield wiper blades?
Look for these signs.
Good Windshield Wiper function is vital to maintaining
your driving safety. Worn windshield wipers can seriously compromise
driver vision whenever road conditions become wet or icy which is exactly
when you need to see your best. with the winter driving season just
around the corner, now is the time to make sure your windshield wiper blades are
in top condition.
Poor visibility may cause
accidents!
A good rule of thumb is to replace your windshield wiper blades every
six months, especially in climates where there are temperature extremes.
In between wiper blade changes, it is also good maintenance to clean
the rubber part of the windshield wipers at least once a month to keep the blades
in good condition. While you are cleaning the blades, it is a good idea
to inspect your windshield wipers and look for trouble in any of the
three main components: the arm, the blade, or the wiping element.
New wiper blades give better visibility!
Is the rubber element warped, hardened, split or contaminated
with foreign substances? Are there bends or twists in the wiper element's
backing strip, frame or wiper arm? A bent arm, no spring tension in
the arm, or other damage to the wiper assembly also requires replacement.
Such damage isn't rare. Windshield wiper superstructure can be damaged by automatic
vehicle washes, by scraping ice off the windshield during the wintertime,
or by vandalism.
If you are experiencing any of the windshield wiper blade conditions
described in the chart below, it is time to change those wiper blades.
Streaking: May be caused
by dry rubber that becomes hard and cracked, or by tree sap, road
tar, or other foreign substances adhering to the rubber surface.
Sometimes this can be corrected by simply cleaning the rubber wiper.
Chattering: Loss of
flexibility due to hardened rubber element caused by exposure to
sunlight and extreme temperatures.
Worn Rubber: Indicated
by a general rounded or ragged wiper blade edge. Usually caused
by wintery conditions or from long wiper service without changing
the rubber.
Bent / Damaged:Bent
superstructure, blade, arm, spline, or refill are often caused by
automatic vehicle wash machines, vandalism, or ice scapers.
Torn / Split: Obvious
effect of hard wiper lift and/or damage due to ultraviolet rays
and ozone deterioration. Rubber that has pulled away from the assembly
may slip or slap against the glass.
Your
vehicle's engine has hundreds of moving parts in it. These parts cause
friction when they rub against each other and the friction, in turn,
causes massive amounts of heat in your engine. To protect against all
of this friction and heat, we introduce lubricating oil into the engine.
The oil has two jobs in the engine. One is to reduce the amount of friction
by putting a layer of oil between the moving parts and the other is
to help vehiclery heat away from the hottest parts of the engine as
it circulates through.
