SPRING STREET AUTOMOTIVE
Archive for July 2024The Neglected Windshield (Windshield Care)Posted July 28, 2024 4:00 AMYou look at it every day, yet you don't really see it. We're talking about your vehicle's windshield, and if you're not seeing it at all, that's probably a good sign. The fact is that unless our windshields get fogged up, hazy or cracked, we don't pay all that much attention to them. Considering how vital front visibility is in a vehicle, paying a little more attention to your windshield will pay off in the long run. Keep it clean! In ancient times when gas stations had attendants who filled your tank for you, they used to clean the outside of your windshield while the fuel was being dispensed. In these days of self-serve gas, we don't have that luxury any more. But it's a good idea to clean your windshield regularly, even when it's not filthy. If you let dirt build up on the outside, it acts like fine sandpaper when you turn on your wipers when the glass is dry. Really, try to avoid turning on your wipers unless your windshield is wet. If you must use your wipers to clear off something like bird droppings, use your washers liberally to help avoid scratches. It's also important to wash the inside of the windshield, too. Even if you're not a smoker, you might notice the inside glass sometimes get a greasy film on it. That's the plastic inside your vehicle off-gassing petroleum products that they're made of. A hazy windshield when you are driving directly into low sun can blind you. Use soaps that are made for automotive glass since they won't streak or harm vehicle interiors. Your service advisor can recommend some. Keep an eye on your windshield wiper blades. Let them go too long without replacing them and you might wind up with the metal wiper frame actually touching the glass, a recipe for major scratches when you turn your wipers on. Finally, do a quick inspection every once in a while for chips in your windshield glass. Catch them quickly and they can be repaired while they're still small. Often they will spread into a major crack, and at that point you'll have to have the whole thing replaced. So there you have it. Give your windshield a little love and it will reward you back with a beautifully clear view of the road up ahead. Spring Street Automotive Inc Cool Breeze: Air Conditioning Service at Spring Street Automotive Inc in QuincyPosted July 21, 2024 4:00 AM
Snake in the Engine (Serpentine Belt)Posted July 14, 2024 4:01 AMThere's a belt that snakes through your engine. It's even named for a snake, the serpentine belt. It'll bite you when it breaks, possibly leaving you stranded. So, it's good to know a little about this snake-like belt. In early engines, there were lots of belts. They were used to convert the rotating power of the engine to turn a mechanical part. But engineers had an idea. Why not consolidate all those belts into one that ran a bunch of different parts simultaneously? Voila! The serpentine belt. It's found in the front or side of your engine unlike older belts which were often in a V shape, the serpentine belt has ribs on it which more effectively connect with the pulleys that power the other components. A serpentine belt may power the water pump, power steering pump, alternator, and the air conditioning: all from one crankshaft. Now, all that's fine when everything is working well and the belt is intact. But when a serpentine belt wears, gets loose, or breaks, it can affect many engine components at once. Not an ideal situation. If you hear squeals coming from the engine compartment, see a battery light, or the engine overheats, those could be signs that your serpentine belt needs replacing. The good news is that they usually last a long time, from 60,000-100,000 miles or 100,000-160,000 km. Still, they don't last forever, and your vehicle's manufacturer usually recommends replacing them when they've gone close to the expected maximum. It’s also recommended that you replace the pulleys and belt tensioner at the same time as they have the same service life. Regular maintenance and inspection of the serpentine belt is not only a good idea; it’s one of those things that you should not let "slip" by. Spring Street Automotive Inc Breathe Deep With Your Cabin Air FilterPosted July 7, 2024 4:01 AMBad air quality while you're driving around Quincy is nothing to sneeze at. But seriously, more and more vehicles these days come equipped with a cabin air filter. Since they're fairly new on the scene, a lot of folks don't know about them yet. Spring Street Automotive Inc | ||
SearchArchiveJune 2015 (3)July 2015 (1) September 2015 (2) October 2015 (5) November 2015 (3) December 2015 (3) February 2016 (2) March 2016 (4) April 2016 (4) May 2016 (5) June 2016 (4) July 2016 (4) August 2016 (5) September 2016 (4) October 2016 (4) November 2016 (5) December 2016 (4) January 2017 (5) February 2017 (4) March 2017 (4) April 2017 (3) May 2017 (5) June 2017 (4) July 2017 (5) August 2017 (3) September 2017 (3) October 2017 (4) November 2017 (5) December 2017 (3) January 2018 (5) February 2018 (4) March 2018 (4) April 2018 (5) May 2018 (4) June 2018 (4) July 2018 (5) August 2018 (4) September 2018 (5) October 2018 (4) November 2018 (4) December 2018 (5) January 2019 (5) February 2019 (3) March 2019 (5) April 2019 (4) May 2019 (4) June 2019 (5) July 2019 (4) August 2019 (4) September 2019 (5) October 2019 (4) November 2019 (4) December 2019 (5) January 2020 (5) February 2020 (4) March 2020 (5) April 2020 (4) May 2020 (5) June 2020 (4) July 2020 (4) August 2020 (5) September 2020 (4) October 2020 (4) November 2020 (5) December 2020 (4) January 2021 (6) February 2021 (4) March 2021 (4) April 2021 (4) May 2021 (5) June 2021 (4) July 2021 (4) August 2021 (5) September 2021 (4) October 2021 (5) November 2021 (4) December 2021 (4) January 2022 (6) February 2022 (4) March 2022 (4) April 2022 (4) May 2022 (5) June 2022 (4) July 2022 (5) August 2022 (4) September 2022 (4) October 2022 (5) November 2022 (4) December 2022 (4) January 2023 (5) February 2023 (4) March 2023 (4) April 2023 (5) May 2023 (4) June 2023 (4) July 2023 (5) August 2023 (4) September 2023 (4) October 2023 (5) November 2023 (4) December 2023 (5) January 2024 (5) February 2024 (4) March 2024 (5) April 2024 (4) May 2024 (4) June 2024 (4) July 2024 (4) August 2024 (4) September 2024 (1) | CategoriesMaintenance (41)Automotive News (7)Shocks & Struts (6)Tires and Wheels (31)Windshield Wipers (9)Battery (13)Air Conditioning (14)Serpentine Belt (6)Alignment (16)Brakes (16)Safety (4)Cooling System (16)Service Standards (11)Fuel System (37)Fluids (14)Fuel Economy (7)Older Vehicles (3)Service Intervals (9)Exhaust (7)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (1)Transmission (8)Headlamps (5)Steering (10)Timing Belt (6)Diagnostics (5)Parts (6)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (4)Drive Train (8)Inspection (7)Monitoring System (3)Trip Inspection (1)Auto Safety (5)Check Engine Light (4)Winter Prep (3)Engine Air Filter (2)Alternator (4)Suspension (3)Dashboard (2)Oil Change (6)What Customers Should Know (54)Cabin Air Filter (6)Wheel Bearings (1)Differential Service (3)Tire Rotation and Balancing (2)Safe Driving (1)Emergency Items (1)Tires (5)Diesel Maintenance (1)TPMS (2)Winter Tires (1)Customer Detective Work (1)PCV Valve (1) |