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Archive for December 2023Winter Watch List (Winter Maintenance Items)Posted December 31, 2023 8:38 AMDon't love winter weather? Here's a list of four things you need to keep a watch on during the winter months. Let's start with coolant levels. Coolant is as important in cold weather as it is in hot weather. Think of the term "anti-freeze." Your coolant needs to be adjusted for climate and temperature so the coolant doesn't freeze when the vehicle isn't running. Your service facility will know the right mixture. Next, windshield wiper fluid. Winter weather can be challenging when it comes to visibility, so it's important to have the correct windshield washer fluid. Some of it is specially formulated for ice and freezing temperatures. And it won't freeze if your vehicle has to sit out in below-freezing temperatures. And don't forget you can get winter wiper blades that stay clearer in snowy, icy weather than ordinary blades. Don't forget your tire pressure and tread. After all, tires are what connect your vehicle and the road. As temperatures go down, so does the air pressure inside your tires, so it's important to keep that up to the manufacturer's recommended pressure. Also, make sure your tires have enough tread so they can grip slippery roads. Any service facility can perform a simple test so you'll know. If you need some new tires, they can help you find those that will fit your driving patterns. Finally, oil gets thicker when the temperatures go down, so it's important to have the proper viscosity for your climate. Consult your service advisor who will make sure your vehicle is using what the manufacturer recommends. Keep your vehicle prepared for winter weather and it will reward you with the safety and performance it's designed for. Long Hill Auto Service Let's Clear Some Things Up (Headlight Restoration)Posted December 24, 2023 11:10 AMYou know how exposing your skin to sunlight can cause sunburn and other unhealthy things. Sunlight can also create major problems for your headlights. After they've been exposed to ultraviolet light, acrylic headlights can yellow and fog due to oxidation. And when that happens, less light can pass through the plastic, reducing the effectiveness—and safety—of your headlights. It's not just the UV light that causes headlights to turn cloudy. Road grime and debris gets kicked up and can scratch the plastic, diffusing the light that should pass through them when they're clear. Plus, when your vehicle was new from the factory, the headlights had watertight seals all around to prevent moisture from getting into them and fogging them up with water vapor. Just like clouds can hide the sun, tiny water molecules can diffuse the light from your headlight bulbs. Sure, you could buy replacement parts and start fresh. But the good news is many vehicle repair facilities can restore your original headlights to perform like they did when you first bought your vehicle. Here's how it works:
Visibility at night is vital for safe driving, and if your headlights aren't performing up to their potential, the less you'll be able to see ahead of you. There are many advantages of having your headlights restored rather than buying new or aftermarket replacements. It's friendlier to the planet since plastics are made of oil, so it's reducing the amount of plastic that is manufactured. And it's usually cheaper to have your headlights restored rather than replaced. Consider headlight restoration a way to literally recycle those parts of your vehicle. That seems to be perfectly clear! Long Hill Auto Service 3 Winter Windshield Tips (Care of Windshield)Posted December 10, 2023 8:10 AMCold weather can present some real challenges when it comes to your vehicle's windshield. Think of it. Your windshield is your window to the world when you're driving, and clear visibility is extraordinarily important for safe travels. So here are 3 tips to ensure that your windshield can do its job during the cold weather.
Long Hill Auto Service A Hot Mess (AC System-Compresser)Posted December 3, 2023 9:12 AMAir conditioning used to be a real luxury in a vehicle, but now it's standard in most. Your vehicle's air conditioning system is built to last a pretty long time, but like anything mechanical, sometimes it fails. It helps to know a little about how the A/C works. There's a compressor that pressurizes the refrigerant (you probably recognize the term Freon). That makes it hotter, so it then goes through a condenser that cools it off. Then another component takes out impurities and humidity before the Freon goes to a device that makes it lose pressure before it goes to the evaporator. That's where it gets colder and takes the humidity out of the air. Then your vehicle's ventilation system blows air over the evaporator, cooling the cabin air that gives you such relief on a hot day. Of all these parts, one that does a lot of work is the compressor. It has to compress that refrigerant and circulate it through the system. It turns on and off several times when it's working. The good news is that if it's going to fail, it sometimes lets you know. One of the signs that your air conditioning compressor is going bad is a noise under the hood when the engine is on, sometimes a squealing or grinding sound. It usually is pretty noticeable. Compressors have a bearing that can seize up after time, causing the belt that drives it to squeal when it's trying to turn something that won't turn. It will sometimes cause that belt to break. Your service advisor can tell you if your compressor is repairable or must be replaced. In the case of a broken belt (often a serpentine belt that drives several components) the belt will have to be replaced as well. The compressor also has a clutch that turns the compressor on and off so it doesn't have to run all the time. Sometimes that clutch can fail, too, and your service advisor will often recommend you replace the compressor and the clutch at the same time. Our technicians can help make sure your air conditioning system keeps its cool, and you along with it. Long Hill Auto Service | ||
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The guys working there are super nice and friendly F. Ahmed, 10/19/2024 |
The staff here are great people. I would recommend checking them out before anyone else. Sebastian Mendoza, 10/02/2024 |
We were in town visiting family for a wedding celebration. I noticed vibration in the front end of our Honda Pilot, and at the advice of my brother (local resident), I asked if Bob could check it out Friday afternoon. Having a full schedule on Saturday, Bob slipped us into the schedule, made the repair, and got us on our way back to Florida. Great service/great communication/honest and friendly staff/fair pricing- strongly recommended! Barton Parker, 08/11/2024 |