Basic Car and Truck Maintenance

Garrett Auto and Truck Repair has put together a vehicle maintenance guide for car and truck owners. This guide is meant to help you keep your vehicle running properly and at top efficiency. It does not cover all aspects of vehicle maintenance, and it doesn't replace your vehicles OEM maintenance schedule. You should look to this guide as the most basic maintenance tips and continue to have your vehicle(s) routine inspections and maintenance performed by trained and certified mechanics.

Garrett Auto and Truck Service's Basic Vehicle Maintenance Guide:

Tires and Wheels: Rotate your tires every 5000 miles. This is not easy if you haven't done it and don't have the proper tools and equipment to do it safely. There are safety concerns as any car or truck can severely injure or kill you if falls on you. Bring your vehicle to Garrett Auto and Truck Service if you wish to have your tires rotated for you.


Tire Pressure Check: Anyone who owns a car or truck needs to own a tire pressure gauge. These are very common, you can get them at Walmart, gas stations and truck stops, and some grocery stores even have them. If you have more than one vehicle, buy one for each car and leave it in the vehicle. Use it to check each tire for proper air pressure. If the air pressure is too low, you can have problems and your fuel mileage will suffer. If you are uncomfortable with checking your air pressure and filling it to the proper PSI, you need to take it to an auto center where it can be done for you. Garrett Auto performs this service.


Tire Tread Depth Check: Tires need the proper amount of minimum tread to function properly. If your tire tread is too worn, the tire won't evacuate road debris such as water, snow, slush and sleet, and may lose traction, causing loss of control. Tires where not enough tread is left are commonly said to be "bald", since they're so much smoother after tread wears them down. Most tires today have "wear bars" built in to them. If the wear bars are visible, the tire tread is worn to it's limit. New tires are required. If you are unfamiliar with finding and recognizing tread wear bars on your tires, you can take your vehicle in to an auto or truck service and have a pro check them for you. If you're lucky enough to be in our area, bring your car or truck to Garrett Auto and Truck Service and we'll be happy to inspect your tire tread wear.


Clean Your Tires and Wheels: Brake dust comes from your brake pads tightening up against your brake rotor. The friction causes tiny bits and pieces of the rotor and pad to flake off, forming a powder. It's nasty stuff and if your leave it on the wheels too long it can get really difficult to clean off. The brake dust will become saturated with moisture and grime from the road, and then heat from applying your brakes will bake it on to your wheels. Brake dust often clings to wheels because of static electricity and the simple way to remove it is using damp sponge with clean cold water.

Engine Maintenance:

Belt Inspections and Replacement: Your engine is the main power supply for your vehicle. It not only makes the car move forward and backward, it also powers the components and accessories that make the engine itself operate properly and keep the cabin (where you ride) comfortable. How does it power those components and accessories? The engine turns, and a rubber reinforced belt transfer the rotation from the engine to the components and accessories. After the engine is started, the engine powers the alternator which keeps the battery charged and provides electricity to everything that requires electric current from the vehicles on-board computer to the lights in the cabin and the radio. In short, healthy belts are mandatory for operation of the vehicle. Make sure you have the belts inspected at least every 25,000 miles and we recommend replacement every 50,000 miles.


Oil Level Check

Maintain the proper oil level for optimum engine performance and longevity. Most people can check the oil level in their vehicle engine. Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground (not down hill or up hill, or tilted down hill sideways) and make sure the engine and oil have cooled down so that you don't burn yourself. Giving the vehicle some time to cool down also allows oil to flow back to the oil pan, which will give you a more accurate reading. Go get a clean rag. There's a dipstick under the hood, open the hood of your car or truck and find the oil level dipstick and pull it out. Wipe the oil off the end that was in the engine the furthest and look for oil level range indication markings. There is a low and high marking or there's a shaded area marked on the tip of the dipstick (end that goes into the oil tub or dipstick tube first). Slowly replace the dipstick into the tube and slide it all the way down so that the end you're holding reseats, closing the oil tube completely. Now slowly pull it back out and examine the end with the oil level indication markings. Is the oil level within the low and high markings or shaded area? If it's below the low mark, you need to add a little oil.


Engine Oil Replacement (Time for an oil change)

Manufacturers recommend different intervals for oil changes. Generally, and oil change every 3,000 miles is safe. The best service recommendation is the one your vehicle manufacturer recommends for your vehicle and engine. When you have your oil changed make sure your oil filter is changed as well. This is also a good time to have the air filter changed. Clean filters allow the vehicle engine to run more efficiently and last longer. Old dirty filters become clogged with debris and road grime, causing flow restrictions that may impede proper operation of the engine. Worse, dirty filters can allow that debris to find it's way past the filters and into your engine and components, which can cause expensive damage to your engine and fuel system.


Engine Coolant Level Check

NOTE: If you plan on checking your coolant levels, make certain the vehicle engine and coolant have had enough time to cool down. DO NOT REMOVE Radiator cap from the radiator when the engine and coolant are still hot from the engine running. Coolant provides essential functions for your vehicle engine. It keeps the engine from over-heating. Coolant also must not freeze during the winter months, so make sure the coolant mixture is appropriate for your climate. Coolant usually comes in concentrate form and you mix it with water. Make sure to read your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations for coolant and follow these recommendations. Your manufacturer guide will explain where to find your coolant reservoir as well as provide basic instructions for check coolant level and maintaining it. If you don't want to deal with hot coolant or have no inclination to perform vehicle maintenance, take your vehicle to a trusted, certified auto mechanic in your area and have the coolant levels checked and filled by professionals.



Dash Lights/Warning Lights

If you see any warning lights indicating there may be a problem with your vehicle, we recommend you bring it in for diagnosis. Our certified professional mechanics will diagnose any problems and help you get back on the road. If you're not lucky enough to be in our area, (Farmington Hills, MI, bordering Novi and easy to get to from Northville and the Detroit Metropolitan area), then we highly recommend you find trusted certified professional mechanics in your area.




(248) 478-8382 (Click to Call)

 

Garrett Auto And Truck Repair Service

  • Save time and money: The "cheaper" mechanic down the road doesn't stand behind their repairs, parts and labor like we do. We set the industry standard in repair work warranty!
  • Accurate Diagnosis: You'll find taking your car, truck or commercial vehicle anywhere else can end up costing you a lot more money in extra trips back and forth, lost earnings, vehicle down time and still paying extra for "new repairs" that should have been diagnosed and done right the first time.
  • We're conveniently located to serve Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Commerce, Walled Lake, Livonia and surrounding areas.

Garrett Auto and Truck Repair Serving Southeast Michigan

Garrett Auto & Truck Service was founded in 1958 as a Standard Oil gas station at the corner of Halstead Road and Grand River Avenue. Doing business under the name of “Grand Halstead Service” we did mechanical repair, towing and road service on anything that had wheels! We continued at that location until September of 1978 when we changed the name and moved into our present facility.

 

Farmington Hills Auto Repair A great deal has changed in the years since we began serving the repair and maintenance needs of our friends and neighbors here in Farmington Hills. In 1971, Ten Mile was a dirt road! From decades past, working on farm equipment and trucks for local farmers, to present day providing fleet maintenance and repair solutions to corporate clients both large and small at Garrett Auto & Truck, we really do have all the answers for your fleet maintenance and repair needs.

 

Our full-time mechanics are licensed, certified in their specialties, and have over 50 years collective experience in maintaining and repairing all types of vehicles. We’re experts in our field, capable and qualified to handle everything from tire repair and brake repair to complete Auto and Truck engine overhauls.

Car, SUV, Light Truck, Heavy Truck, Commercial Vehicle Mechanics

Auto Engine Repair Auto Engine Repair Auto Engine Repair Automatic Transmission Repair
Auto Engine Repair Manual Transmission Repair Auto Engine Repair Clutch Inspection and Replacement
Auto Engine Repair Transfer Case Repair Auto Engine Repair Transaxle Repair
Auto Engine Repair Brake System Repair Auto Engine Repair U-Joint Repair
Auto Engine Repair Driveshaft Repair Auto Engine Repair Halfshaft Repair
Auto Engine Repair Steering Column Repair Auto Engine Repair Steering System Repair
Auto Engine Repair Differential Repair Auto Engine Repair Rear Axle Repair
Auto Engine Repair Front Wheel Drive Repair Auto Engine Repair Four Wheel Drive Repair
Auto Engine Repair All Wheel Drive Repair Auto Engine Repair Suspension System Repair

Garrett Auto and Truck Repair Service

Garrett Auto and Truck Repair Mission Statement

 

Garrett Auto & Truck Repair Service is here to serve you by performing the highest quality automotive & truck repairs at fair prices, using only proven materials of the highest quality.

 

Our service is backed by our personal pledge of customer satisfaction. We will provide you, our customer, with outstanding professional courtesy and service. And we will stand behind our workmanship.

Auto Repair, Truck Repair and Maintenance Services

 

Garrett Auto & Truck Repair Service believes in preventative maintenance. Bring your vehicle in for routine oil checks and get your oil changed. New, clean oil will lubricate the engine appropriately and help protect it from unnecessary wear and tear. Oil filter replacement, air filter replacement, and other routine maintenance services will keep your vehicle running longer and better. We’ll help you save time and money by providing the diagnostic, repair and replacement services recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.


We've put together a great guide for basic automotive and truck maintenance that you can refer to if you wish to keep your vehicle running right. These are things you can easily do if you have the time and want to put in the effort.

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