Page 19 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – September/October 2017

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
How AAA Can Help You Repair and Maintain Your Vehicle
AAA
Ask the Tech
QUESTION:
Is oil the only fluid that should be changed on our car? What other fluid services are recommended for today’s vehicles and why?
ANSWER:
In today’s modern vehicles the engine oil is not the only fluid that should be changed regularly.
All vehicle manufacturers have their own specific service intervals they recommend for the vehicles they build. This service schedule is often shown
in a separate maintenance book included with
the owner’s manual. If you don’t have an owner’s manual, any AAA Approved Auto Repair facility can look up the maintenance schedule for your vehicle in their repair information system.
The other way of knowing when fluids should be changed is by having them tested. At Manheim Car King Service, when a vehicle comes in for an oil change we test the engine coolant and brake fluid. Both of these fluids are often overlooked when
it comes to preventive maintenance, and when
left unchanged can cause serious damage to the engine or brake system. The engine coolant can lose the ability to protect the engine block from freezing up in cold weather and cracking the block, as well as cause rust or sludge to build up in the engine, radiator and heater core. Brake fluid can absorb moisture through normal operation, which can interfere with the way the fluid works when you’re pushing the brake pedal to stop. Also, the moisture in the brake system can cause corrosion, which can damage the metal brake lines, brake calipers and master cylinder.
Additionally, the fluids in the transmission transfer case or transaxle should be serviced per the maintenance schedule for your vehicle. A good rule of thumb is every 30,000 miles. These services keep excess debris out of their respective units and keep the fluid fresh and working well. The fluids need
to be changed and renewed in order to keep your vehicle running its best for a long time.
George Gaede
Service Manager, Manheim Car King Service of Harrisburg
Manheim Car King Service of
Harrisburg is a AAA Approved
Auto Repair facility that offers
high-quality automotive repair
service performed by ASE and
manufacturer certified technicians. They work on most domestic and import vehicles, performing minor repairs to major engine overhauls.
They can be contacted at 717-564-3500 or
ggaede@manheimcarking.com.
TM
As the automotive fleet age has increased over the last few years, whether you own a new or older vehicle, it has become increasingly critical to maintain and repair vehicles in an economical and competent manner to make sure they are safe and reliable to drive. So how do you go about doing this? Well, your local AAA club has many ways to assist in maintaining your vehicle.
APPROVED AUTO REPAIR
The first area to look at is the repair facility
that is going to repair and maintain your vehicle. You can go by word of mouth or advertising to choose one to use, but a better way is to look at AAA’s Approved Auto Repair program, which has approximately 7,400 automotive repair facilities across the U.S. and Canada. Each facility is annually inspected and certified in up to 10 mechanical areas by a AAA representative. They must offer AAA members a written estimate if requested, document any additional work related to the original repair, and offer a minimum of 24 months or 24,000 miles labor and parts warranty. Additionally, they must perform a free visual maintenance inspection
with other paid work, they must return old parts if requested at the beginning of the repair, and must be willing to submit to arbitration if requested
by a member. They also must employ ASE or manufacturer-certified technicians and have them in ongoing update training. Additionally, all AAR facilities offer AAA’s Discounts & Rewards savings on repair work for AAA members. So, the next time you have your car in for service, ask what Discounts & Rewards discount they offer.
We currently have about 60 certified AAR facilities concerned with mechanical repair in
AAA Central Penn’s market area. We are constantly adding new facilities as we get recommendations from members or employees. We also offer a
AAA Approved Auto Body repair program to identify those body shops that can meet AAA’s standards. Currently, we have 13 certified body shops in the program.
AAA BATTERY PROGRAM
Another way AAA can help you maintain
your vehicle’s reliability is by using our battery program. If you feel you may need a battery, or
if you need a jump start, one of our AAA battery technicians can come out and check the battery, as well as the charging and starting systems.
You can call 1-800-AAA-HELP or go to AAA.com to get a battery quote online, then have a high quality, competitively priced battery delivered and installed by one of our trained AAA technicians. This service is available in most
of AAA Central Penn’s region, but there are
some areas that may not have coverage, so be sure to check with a AAA representative before ordering.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
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Now!