Steve's Auto Repair & Tire Blog

The Price and Value of Oil Change Service at Steve’s

In Maintenance by Steves Auto Repair and TireAugust 8, 2015

Oil change service varies from location to location, and so do the prices depending on the area. No matter where you go, you want to ensure that your car is in good hands. So, what makes Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire the right place to go for your next oil change? Let’s talk about it.

We do so much more than just change your oil. We offer many different packages to accommodate your personal needs.

Our basic Bronze service starts out at $39.95, and covers up to 5 quarts of motor oil and your filter.

One perk to note when you choose us for an oil change, is that we will do a tire rotation for no charge. Our competitors charge an additional $20 for this service. Why pay more, when you can entrust your car to us, and get it as an added bonus?

The next step up is our Silver service for $59.99, which includes up to 5 quarts of motor oil, a filter and our BG MOA engine oil supplement.

Checking brakes, tires and suspension component during an oil change.

Our premium service, which is called the Gold service – for $79.99 – includes up to 5 quarts of motor oil, a filter BG MOA engine oil supplement and BG CF5 Fuel supplement.

What we check during our oil change service

Looking for additions to your oil change service that improve the quality and stability of your vehicle? At Steve’s we offer full synthetic oil, for an additional fee, that makes a big difference in the performance of your vehicle.

Checking the brake fluid for moisture content, to much moisture can cause brake pedal fade.

During the service, our technicians check all of your vehicle’s vital fluid levels and test their condition. If you’re low, we will top them off for you. This includes the following fluids:

Washer fluid up to 1 gallon
Power steering fluid
Transmission fluid (dipstick type only)
Radiator engine coolant
Brake fluid

In addition to the fluids we top off, we also inspect the following during our service:

Visual inspection of brake pad and rotor condition
Battery corrosion
Battery life
Belts for cracking and wear
Radiator hoses to make sure they are not worn
Fluid leaks
Tire pressure
Lights to make sure the bulbs are all working
Maintenance reminder light
Exhaust
Windshield wipers to make sure they are not torn
Inspection sticker to make sure you are not expired or about to expire

Battery terminal corrosion found during and oil change, this can cause shorter battery life and a no start problem.

Our goal is make sure your vehicle is maintained properly to help you avoid major costly repairs, so if we see something that may potentially develop into something bigger, we will alert you in plenty of time for you to address the problem before it becomes a major mechanical breakdown.

The Price and Value of Oil Change Service at Steve's

Checking wiper blades and brake lights during an oil change.

So when it’s time for that routine oil change, don’t just go to any shop. Go to a shop that cares, and goes the extra mile to inspect and take care of your car, and stop by Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire for your next oil change.

*Prices subject to change. Prices reflect service on August of 2015.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.

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Why do auto repair shops not want to use my own parts?

In Shop Talk by Steves Auto Repair and TireJuly 31, 2015

Keeping your car well maintained is important. And for some people, letting a technician isn’t enough – they want to take the extra step and order their own auto parts and really be a part of the process. And while that effort is appreciated, there are several reasons why many auto repair shops will not install car parts that you bring to them when you’re getting your vehicle serviced.

The easiest way to explain why is to give you some example scenarios.

Alternator and Air Filter from a quality aftermarket parts supplier

Let’s say you order your water pump and timing belt off of the internet or purchase them at a local parts supply house. When you bring in your parts, you are feeling all happy because you feel like you just saved yourself some money. In this scenario, let’s pretend we agree to install them.

One of our technicians gets your car into the bay, and sets it up on the lift. We go to install your part – but oh, wait –the water pump does not fit. Then you’re in a position where we’ve begun labor, and now you’re stuck with a part that doesn’t fit, waiting for days or weeks until you can get the appropriate part from an internet parts retailer or taking time to run back and forth to the store to complete the job, all the while the car is stuck in the repair shops bay.

Genuine GM parts from the dealer

Or say, maybe we installed that part, and six months down the road, you return to our shop and say the water pump and timing belt we installed are making noise and are not working properly. If we had installed your parts – and not our own – then you aren’t covered with the 2 year, 24,000 mile warranty that we offer our customers with our parts. And while yes we do need to sell auto parts in order to keep our shop open, another important reason why we do that is so we can offer the great warranty.

In this scenario, you would now be paying our shop two times for the same job to be performed, and overall you haven’t saved any money.

Now let’s look at another scenario so you can better understand the hazard of using your own parts, instead of those from an auto repair shop.

Radiator for a Nissan from an aftermarket parts supplier

Say you call the shop to get a price on replacing an oxygen sensor. You say you have been to a local auto parts house and have the code and they say it’s your oxygen sensor. You are asking us to put in the part that you have, and go off of another person’s word that this will fix your problem with the check engine light.

Then comes in the fact that as an auto repair shop, we absorb the liability when you walk out the door with your car keys in hand. If you were to have someone install a customer supplied part and it’s wrong, it could cost cause further car problems, an accident, or even put your safety at risk.

Radiator cap from an overseas parts supplier

When you allow us to diagnose and replace the products that we purchase we are guaranteeing your money is well spent. If the part fails, you will not be paying labor again, nor will you be paying for the part. We as a company have to absorb the expense when a part fails within its warranty time and that is why we use quality parts from our trusted suppliers.

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Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire partners with Caarmo on new auto technology in Woodbridge

In Maintenance, Monitoring System, Safety, Service Standards by Steves Auto Repair and TireJune 29, 2015

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire partners with Caarmo on new auto technology in Woodbridge

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire has partnered with Caarmo to bring our customers more information and reliability to their vehicle maintenance.

Steve’s is one of 18 auto repair shops to offer Caarmo’s car diagnostic device, which will give consumers information about their car’s needs and allows them to connect with auto technicians to speak about their car and schedule service.

“One of the biggest expenses that people have is their vehicles. And that can be for businesses or consumers. They spend a lot of money, and a lot of time on them – but they don’t know what’s happening. So we’ve created sort of a really sophisticated ‘Fitbit’ for a car,” said Vinay Raman, CEO of Caarmo.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is partnering with Caarmo to create a better car-care experience for customers.

According to Raman, the device is smaller than a pack of cards, runs off the car’s power and plugs into the diagnostic port in your vehicle to begin transmitting diagnostic information.

“Since 1996, every car in the United States has got this diagnostic port…we use that same port [with our device] but we partner with a repair shop, to help their customers understand more of what’s happening with their vehicle,” said Raman.

Perks of the auto technology

One of the biggest benefits for customers is peace of mind that they will have information about what is going on with their vehicle, and that certified technicians will also be keeping an eye on the health of their car.

Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire owner ST Billingsley places the Caarmo device in a car’s diagnostic port.

“[We put] these devices in the vehicles to let them know, ‘Hey your car is operating just fine’ or if a check engine lights comes on – some people kind of freak out when they see that – we can take a look at that and say, ‘Based on the make and model of your vehicle, let me give you a sense of what’s actually happening.’ It gives you more of a sense of what’s going on than just a light on your dashboard – you have an expert on the phone,” said Raman.

Staff at Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire will be able to open their mechanic’s portal at the shop, or use a phone app that will be able available to the shop and customers with the device. From the portal, technicians will be able to see if a customer’s car is in need, call to schedule maintenance, or reassure them that everything’s okay.

“If something goes wrong with one of the vehicles, a light will pop up on the screen…it’s an opportunity to call the customer and give them some peace of mind,” Raman commented.

Consumers will only pay $80 a year for the constant service, and the application will give you diagnostic information, service reminders and GPS tracking.

For those in the auto industry, using Caarmo’s technology is also a good way to work with fleets that need to ensure that their vehicles are functioning properly at all times.

ST Billingsley, owner of Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire, is proud to be partnering with Caarmo.

“We know how important it is to keep our customers informed and on the road. By offering Caarmo devices to our customers, we hope to ensure that their vehicles are getting the best care possible,” said Billingsley.

Steve’s will be offering the auto technology to customers in the coming months, when Caarmo officially launches the device.

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5 Summer Car Care Tips from Scott, Gabe and S.T.

In Maintenance by Steves Auto Repair and TireMay 27, 2015

With summer comes sun, fun and increased driving, which may take a toll on your vehicle! To better prepare you for summer on the road, we present our top 5 summer car care tips from your Steve’s Auto Repair Staff!

Since we live in an area that our summer months can reach over 100 degrees, there are a few things to consider. These tips could save you time, and prevent costly breakdowns that could leave you on the side of the road.

Summer Car Care Tips

Check the tire pressure
Tire pressure is important at all times. It’s critical to have properly inflated tires, as this assures the best possible contact between the tire and the road. Especially if you’re doing lots of high-speed driving on a summer-vacation road trip. Properly inflated tires will also last longer and improve gas mileage. Also, an improperly inflated tire can heat excessively, potentially leading to a blow-out on the highway.

Inspect the belts and hoses
The belts and hoses in modern cars last a long time. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential to fail. Before summer begins, have the belts and hoses inspected on your vehicle. And if you’re not sure when they were last replaced, consider having them changed, especially before commencing a long road trip.

Inspect the wipers and wiper fluid
Visibility is always important and our experience tells us that summer storms can be quite severe in some parts of the country. The life expectancy of a wiper blade is six month to one year. If your car’s blades are dried out and not making full contact with the windshield, replace them.

Check the battery
A battery gives little warning before it goes dead. And it’ll likely do so when you least expect it. Hot weather can put additional strain on a battery similar to what is experienced in cold weather. If your vehicle battery is more than three years old, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion. If you’re embarking on a long trip, consider replacing the battery if you don’t know how old it is. These days, batteries are not very expensive, and it’s cheap insurance when you’re out on the open road. We also recommend that you always carry jumper cables, as mentioned below in the emergency kit section.

Check coolant/antifreeze mixture
The ideal mixture of coolant and water inside your vehicle’s radiator is 50/50. If the mixture deviates from this norm, then hot-weather performance (and cold) can be compromised. If you were to put pure water in your vehicle’s radiator, it would boil at 212° Fahrenheit. But if you combine the water with an equal amount of antifreeze, the new mixture boils at a much higher temperature. You can check the composition of a radiator’s mixture by using an antifreeze tester. You can find these at all auto parts stores, and they are inexpensive and easy to use. If the mixture’s balance is off, adjust it by adding either coolant or water.

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12 Tips to Help you Save Fuel

In Fuel Economy by Steves Auto Repair and TireMarch 27, 2014

So, you’ve got more interesting things to do with your money than use it on fuel. But how do you save money for the fun stuff?

Here are a few tips compiled by our service writer, Teresa Anderson, perfect for the upcoming spring months.

How to save fuel

Use a low rolling resistance tire! These can save up to 3% in fuel annually!
Pre-route and combine your errands and try to drive the least miles to accomplish all errands at one time.
Keep your car light! Take out the things that create excess weight in your car and take things off the roof racks that create resistance while driving (luggage) Being aerodynamic improves your gas economy
Only fill up your gas tank half way, and never allow your tank to go below ¼ tank. Each gallon of fuel weighs approx. 6 lbs, so a full tank will make your car heavier. When you allow your tank to get below ¼ tank that puts additional stress on your fuel pump and can suck up residue that forms in the bottom of your gas tank clogging the injectors, which can hinder your gas mileage.
Slow down! Follow the posted speed limit and use your cruise control when possible. Don’t tailgate; keep a distance from the car in front of you so you can brake less often. This keeps your fuel consumption down.
Proper tire inflation is a must! You can lose up to a pound of tire pressure per week, so always check your tire inflation pressure. Too little air pressure can not only wear your tires out but affect your gas mileage.
Make sure your transmission fluid is flushed according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Clean fluid makes your transmission shift smoother causing less stress on the engine.
Do a fuel induction service at least once a year. This removes the carbon buildup on the injectors and can make your car run more smoothly and burn fuel more efficiently.
Avoid using your air conditioning when you can. Use of the a/c unit also burns more fuel. So drive with your windows down when you can!
Keep your air filter clean. Have your technician check it at each oil change. A clogged air filter can cause your engine to starve for air, making the mixture of air and fuel less economical.
Avoid idling for long periods of time. If you want fast food, rather than go through the drive thru park the car and go inside. Remember the more the car is turned on, the more fuel you are using. (and it’s good exercise!)
Keep your engine tuned up. Foul plugs can cause misfires and cause the other plugs to work twice as hard to run, which in turn costs your more money in fuel, not to mention engine damage.
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