Tire Tread Depth

It’s just common sense that your vehicle will drive better if all the wheels are lined up with each other and the road the way the engineers intended. When they’re not, that is called being out of alignment. Here are some signs that your alignment has problems. • Your steering wheel isn’t straight when your vehicle goes straight down a straight road. This one’s pretty easy to notice. If your vehicle’s logo on the wheel is tilted, that’s probably not the way designers wanted it to be. Bring it in and have us check it out. • Your steering wheel is vibrating on a smooth road or when you are accelerating. While this could be caused by several different things, one possibility is misalignment. If your steering wheel is shaking, it should be examined by a trained technician. • Your vehicle is pulling to one side without you wanting it to. Sometimes the configuration of the road will cause it to pull slightly left or right. But if you find yourself constantly correcting course to keep your vehicle headed straight down the road, that’s worth having us look at your alignment. • You’re going through tires like there’s no tomorrow. The tread on your tires should be wearing nice and evenly from the outside to the inside of the tire. If the wear isn’t even, it could be your vehicle needs an alignment. We have equipment designed to quickly and accurately measure your vehicle’s alignment. We can make precise adjustments to make sure you are headed straight where you want to go. Have your alignment checked regularly. It can help prevent more serious problems in the future and make your vehicle drive as beautifully as you remember it used to. Call Frosty's Today! Read the original article on the NAPA website.

Your axles are the last link in transferring power from the engine to your wheels. They’re strong parts that last a long time – but they can run into trouble. Axles just wear out over time and need to be replaced. And sometimes axle seals leak, causing the axle to wear out prematurely. Lubricant leaks out, and water and dirt can get in and contaminate the gears. When this happens you might hear strange noises coming from your axle. If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the sound would be at the rear end. If you have a front-wheel drive vehicle, the sound would be up front. Of course, with an all-wheel drive, the sound could come from either front or back. It might be a groaning sound or clunking when turning. There are different kinds of axles, each with their own potential problems. Your service technician knows this and checks for things like leaking seals, torn CV boots, worn axle joints. An inspection will reveal if there are any problems or if a part is nearing failure. When there is a concern with the axle shaft, it will be removed and inspected. If it’s damaged, the shaft will have to be replaced. If the shaft is in good shape, it’ll be cleaned, lubed and reinstalled. Damaged CV boots are replaced as well. It’s important to take care of this work as soon as you become aware of a problem. Waiting only makes the damage worse and more expensive to repair later. If the axle fails completely, it could lock up. This could severely damage other things like your transmission – very expensive. It could also contribute to an accident, which nobody wants. Taking care of your axles when they need it saves money in the long run, and helps keep you safely on the road. Give us a call

We rely on our brakes to safely slow and stop our vehicles. You’ve probably had the experience where you’ve slammed on your brakes and started to skid. When your wheels are locked up, you are just sliding over the road. And if the road is wet or slick or covered with gravel – you really get out of control. Steering is next to impossible. That is why anti-lock brake systems (ABS) were invented: to help you maintain control in extreme stopping conditions. As mentioned, control is lost when your wheels lock up. ABS keeps your brakes from locking – helping you stop while maintaining your ability to steer. Sensors on each wheel equipped with ABS monitor wheel spin and compare it with vehicle speed sensors. When you are pressing on the brakes, still traveling forward but your wheels are not turning, the ABS system steps in and modulates the brakes. They ABS quickly “pumps” the brakes, not allowing the wheels to lock up while still applying braking pressure. This is all done automatically without any intervention on your part. You will feel a pulsation through the brake pedal and will hear a clunking as the brakes are rapidly being applied and released over and over again. The first time this happens to you, you may be surprised and think something is wrong. Well, it isn’t – so just keep your foot on the brake and allow the ABS to do its thing. In fact, remember the 3 S’s of anti-lock brakes: Stomp, Stay and Steer. Stomp on the brakes, stay on the pedal and steer as needed. When you first start your vehicle, the ABS does a quick self-check to make sure everything is OK. The ABS warning light will briefly illuminate with all of the other warning lights on your dashboard and then go out. If the system detects a fault, the ABS light will come on and stay on. Definitely take your vehicle to Frosty Auto Clinic for a check if the ABS warning light is on. Proper brake system service from Frosty Auto Clinic is the best way to protect your ABS. Replacing brake fluid that is depleted and/or contaminated will help preserve proper ABS operation and protect it against corrosion. Ask your Frosty Auto Clinic service advisor if it’s time for a braking system inspection or service.

An oil change: Sounds simple, but there’s some important things to know about preventing oil sludge. Oil eventually starts to turn into jelly. Literally – petroleum jelly. Sludge clogs up oil passages and keeps oil from getting to some areas of the engine, causing parts to wear out prematurely. And that means expensive engine repairs. That’s why you need to change the oil and oil filter on schedule – to get the old oil out before it turns to sludge. Your manufacturer will have a recommendation for how many miles you can go between oil changes. They also usually have several months between recommended oil changes. That’s because the detergents and other additives in the oil break down over time. Your owner’s manual will have a recommendation for time and mileage, but you need to remember that it’s based on using the recommended weight of oil. And if your vehicle came from the factory with synthetic oil, the recommended intervals assume you continue to use synthetic. Also, how you drive can have a big effect. Most owner’s manuals will have a list of driving conditions that are harder on your vehicle. Things like stop and go driving, short trips, driving in very hot or very cold weather, heavy loads and towing. If some of your driving fits this, you may need to change your oil and do other maintenance on a shorter schedule. This may sound complicated. Some vehicles have an oil life calculator that takes all these factors into account and tells you when you should change your oil. Otherwise, talk with your service advisor about how you drive and get her recommendation for when to take care of your service. Finally, if any of the steering or suspension parts can be lubed, your technician will take care of that with a lube, oil and filter service. Give us a call.

Your vehicle weighs several thousand pounds and it takes a lot of force to bring it and your passengers to a safe stop – so everything needs to be in good working order. The wheel hub keeps your wheel attached the vehicle. The brake disc – or rotor – is attached to the hub and spins with the wheel as you drive. Your brake pads clamp onto the rotor to slow the wheel. The brake caliper straddles the rotor and squeezes the rotor to slow it down. The calipers contain brake pads which rub on the rotor when you step on the brakes. The brake piston causes the calipers to squeeze and release as you use your brakes. Your brake pads start to wear the first time you step on the brakes. Eventually the pads are worn out and need to be replaced. If you don’t replace the pads when they’re worn out, the metal parts of the brake will grind against the rotor and carve grooves into the surface. If a scored rotor isn’t too bad, your technician can put the rotor on a lathe and smooth it out. If the grooves are too deep, or if the rotor is warped or cracked, you need to be replaced it. Servicing disc brakes require special attention to the mechanical sliding and mounting portions of the system. Your service supplier knows the special needs. Sometimes brake pistons can stick and must be replaced. Typically, it’s cheaper to replace the entire caliper than to rebuild the piston. So, there you have it – an inside look at how your disc brakes work. Replacing your brake pads on time will not only keep your vehicle stopping safely but could save you money on unnecessary brake repairs down the road. Give us a call. Read the original article on the NAPA website.

It’s easy to forget about servicing your transmission because it doesn’t need it very often, but proper transmission service keeps your vehicle running smoothly and helps you avoid costly repairs down the road. The transmission undergoes a lot of stress. The grit you see in used fluid is actually bits of clutch material. This grit flowing through your transmission under pressure eats away at seals and gaskets which can lead to leaks. The transmission operates at very high temperatures – much higher than engine temperatures. Those high temperatures eventually cause the transmission fluid to start to break down and loose efficiency. At best, your transmission won’t operate smoothly. At worse, it could lead to costly damage. When your transmission’s running properly, it transfers more power from your engine to the drive wheels and improves fuel economy. That’s why manufacturers have recommended changing your transmission fluid at regular intervals. Your owner’s manual has a schedule for transmission service and, of course, your Frosty Auto Clinic service advisor can tell you what the manufacturer recommends. At Frosty Auto Clinic, we may be able to perform a transmission service while you wait and the cost is quite reasonable. Actually, it’s downright cheap when you think about how much a major transmission repair can cost! Give us a call.

When your vehicle doesn't start, the first thing you think of might be the battery. That may be the culprit, but it also might be that your alternator has gone bad. An alternator sends power to your vehicle's electrical systems and accessories like your entertainment system, charging ports, and so on. Any extra electricity goes to re-charge the battery. So, your battery is what gets your engine started, but once the engine's running, your alternator is what's turning out the power. A failing alternator may not be able to keep the battery charged. One of the most common causes of an alternator's demise is the bearings fail and seize up. That can happen from dirt and liquid getting into the bearings combined with the heat of the engine. You might hear a grinding sound, an early warning that something's wrong. Other signs your alternator may be failing? A squealing noise in your engine, or your headlights dimming when engine RPMs drop. You may notice an electrical smell coming from the engine. If any of these are happening, you'll want to have your vehicle checked at your NAPA AutoCare Center. Many modern alternators have a decoupler pulley that allows the alternator to rest when it isn’t needed. This extends alternator life and helps with fuel economy. A bad decouple pulley could cause your battery to go dead. If your alternator needs to be replaced, you should also replace the serpentine belt that turns it, and the belt tensioner as well. As you can imagine, if the alternator isn’t rotating as it should, the belt that turns it won't freely move, and that can cause excessive belt wear. The service advisor at your NAPA AutoCare Center will recommend the right replacement parts based on your vehicle's needs and your driving habits. And remember, if you notice any of those warning signs that the alternator might be going bad, it's always better to have it checked out, so you don't find yourself stranded on the road. Contact us today! Read the original article on the NAPA website.

The thermostat is part of your cooling system. JEFFERSON CITY residents' vehicle thermostats perform a similar function to the thermostats in their homes. At home, you set your thermostat to maintain a comfortable temperature range. When your home gets too hot, the air conditioning kicks on and when it gets too cool, the heater turns on. Now your engine also has an optimal temperature range: warm enough to run efficiently and not so hot as to cause engine damage. Your vehicle's thermostat is a valve between the engine and the radiator. When JEFFERSON CITY residents first start a cold engine, the valve (thermostat) is closed, allowing the coolant surrounding the engine to warm up to the proper operating temperature. As the coolant gets hotter, the thermostat opens, allowing coolant to flow through to the radiator to be cooled. The thermostat opens and closes to keep the engine within a certain temperature range. Now thermostats are rated for a specific temperature depending on the engine – not a one size fits all proposition. Thermostats are subject to normal wear. Proper operation depends on a special wax that expands as it heats up to open a spring-loaded valve. A worn thermostat could stick in the open position causing the engine to run too cool. This is inefficient and could affect performance and fuel economy. If a thermostat sticks in the closed position, the engine can be subject to the results of overheating. There isn't a specific routine for JEFFERSON CITY residents to maintain their thermostat, but maintaining the cooling system by changing the coolant/antifreeze on schedule will make sure the coolant has enough corrosion inhibitors to protect the thermostat and other system components. Cooling system experts and the team at Frosty Auto Clinic in JEFFERSON CITY recommend replacing your thermostat when you do a coolant flush or exchange. Also, thermostats usually wear out faster than your hoses, so if a worn hose replacement is performed, replace the thermostat at the same time. If your temperature warning light comes on, have an inspection of your cooling system right away. This could be a thermostat . The thermostat could also be the culprit for JEFFERSON CITY residents who aren't getting hot air when they turn on their heater. The thermostat is a relatively inexpensive part that stands guard between you and catastrophic engine damage. Follow your owner's manual instructions, or check with your friendly and knowledgeable Frosty Auto Clinic service advisor to see if it's time for a cooling system inspection or service. Give us a call. Read the original article on the NAPA website.

A lot of people in MO have older vehicles. They're good commuters, grocery-getters or toy-haulers. They enjoy that fact that they're paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their vehicles for 200,000 miles/320,000 kilometers or more – as long as it's economical to do so. There are plenty of people in JEFFERSON CITY whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles (240,000 or 320,000 kilometers). We can learn from what they're doing to keep our own cars on the road. A common denominator is that they never skip an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it's really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine. Enough said. There's another reason the scheduled oil change is so important. It's simple — a Frosty Auto Clinic professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won't get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss — let's use brake fluid as an example — your JEFFERSON CITY technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair. Your JEFFERSON CITY service technician will also visually inspect the vehicle for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car's worth. And your JEFFERSON CITY service advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done. Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to the dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don't skip it. Of course, good maintenance costs money, but it's far cheaper than new car payments. Give us a call to schedule your next oil change today. You can find us online at Frosty Auto Clinic, or you can find us in JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101, at 310 VETERANS LN. Or simply give us a call at 573-635-1767. Read the original article on the NAPA website.