Oil Changes, Brakes and Car Maintenance

BRAKE REPAIR/ABS

Feeling brakes grind and pulse during a near collision surely is a teeth-clenching experience.

If you notice screeching brakes, a soft brake pedal, leaking brake fluid or your ABS warning light, it's time to schedule an appointment with Hong Kong Auto Service.

If you have a question or concern about the condition of your brakes, we will perform a FREE VISUAL BRAKE INSPECTION that looks at your:

Brake pads and/or brake shoes
Brake calipers
Brake rotors and/or drums
Brake hardware
Brake fluid

If you have a more serious braking issue, such an ABS light, we can also troubleshoot that. This is not included in the free inspection. Ask us about our diagnostic services.

Maintenance Tip: Brake-fluid flushing is important for all braking systems but it's vital for vehicles with antilock brakes (ABS) because the brake-pumping motor can accumulate dirt or moisture and transfer those contaminants to the brake fluid. Replacing a pump is anything but cheap, making preventive maintenance a true bargain.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

Think about preventive auto care like visiting the doctor before you're sick: You can catch minor car care issues before they turn into major repairs.

When we don't feel quite right, it's usually a signal to us to see our doctor for a checkup. The same thing goes for automobiles. Why not enjoy a smooth-running machine and the peace of mind a well-maintained vehicle brings instead of worrying about that noise you've been ignoring?

Tasks like checking fluid levels and changing filters might seem trivial, but they make a big difference in preserving your vehicle's vim and vigor. Unlike humans, cars do have maintenance schedules. Detailed in your owner's manual, these schedules recommend maintenance services at specific mileage or time intervals and often include:

Oil changes
Changing air filters
Flushing coolant
Changing fuel filters
Flushing the transmission fluid
Rotating and balancing tires
Replacing the spark plugs
Aligning wheels
Replacing the timing belt

When you trust your car to the technicians at Hong Kong Auto Service, they will inspect it and advise you of your maintenance needs. This not only helps you stay on top of your maintenance schedule, it can also catch developing problems, which saves you money, time and aggravation.

OIL CHANGES

Pull in and pop the hood.

Hong Kong Auto Service offers Wilmette's most comprehensive oil change to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape. Typical quick lubes might be fast, but how effective are they?

Hong Kong Auto Service provides a full-service repair/maintenance facility plus great automotive technicians who devote attention to the entire vehicle, not just a few easy services. Go with "the other guys," and they might overlook issues that could turn into pricey or unsafe problems later on.

Come in to us for an oil change, and we'll inspect your car up, down and sideways.

TIMING BELTS

"It's all about the timing." You've heard that expression many times. It's true for car engines, too.

Valves, pistons, camshafts and crankshaft all need the timing belt to move them into the right position at the precise time. Through the years and over thousands of miles, the timing belt begins to wear and it can break if not replaced at the recommended interval.

When that happens, your best-case scenario is a stalled vehicle (without warning) that requires a tow truck and an unexpected repair bill. Even worse, you could have pistons and valves colliding, causing internal engine damage. Often, the extent of this damage is unknown until the engine is disassembled. Such repairs can easily cost $2,000 or more.

Unfortunately, there are really no warning signs before a timing belt fails. Your only protection is to replace it at the recommended interval. On many cars, it's 90,000 miles; some are 105,000 miles.

Check your owner's manual or ask the professionals at Hong Kong Auto Service to advise you when it's time to replace your timing belt.

(Note: If your vehicle uses a timing chain, it does not need to be replaced at a particular interval. It would only need to be replaced in fairly uncommon circumstances.)