May 17, 2012

Cooling System Service At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.

Filed under: Cooling System — demo @ 7:40 pm

Cooling System Service At Harold's Quality Auto Repair Inc.

Your family car cooling system’s job is to keep your engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it’s cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the cooled mix circulates back through the family car engine to absorb more heat.

Coolant, or antifreeze, is specially formulated to keep your engine safe in a wide range of environmental and operating temperatures in Salem.

Without coolant, the family car’s metal engine parts would expand so much that the engine would seize up and stop running.  Expensive parts could be broken or warp so badly they would have to be replaced at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. in Salem. It could even be so bad that the whole engine is ruined and has to be replaced.

Also, if it’s freezing outside in Salem, the water in your engine could freeze while your vehicle is sitting out in the Oregon cold. This is why you check coolant levels frequently and have your cooling system inspected for leaks. Also your manufacturer has a maintenance requirement for draining and replacing your coolant. These recommendations can vary widely, so check your Salem owner’s manual or ask your service advisor at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. in Salem.

The reason you need to change the coolant is that it has additives in it to protect the cooling system. As you can imagine, with all the heat, the cooling system’s a pretty harsh environment. The additives keep the fluid from becoming corrosive and damaging the radiator and other Salem cooling system components. Over time, the additives are depleted and the coolant just has to be replaced. A simple pH test can measure the coolant’s acidity.

You may have noticed that there are different colors of antifreeze at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.: it is very important that you use the correct type.  The different coolant types are different colors so you don’t mix them up.  Manufacturers use different materials to make the cooling system, and they require different types of antifreeze to protect them.

So check with your treat you like family Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. service advisor or owner’s manual for the right kind because using the wrong coolant can void the warranty for your family car cooling system.

Ask us about tires, preventative maintenence and alignment & tires.

Give us a call

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.
503-365-9702
675 Bartell Dr NW
Salem, Oregon 97304

At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. in Salem Oregon (97304) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 503-365-9702. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 9, 2012

Getting The Right Wheels And Tires At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. In Salem

Filed under: Tires — demo @ 7:13 pm

Getting The Right Wheels And Tires At Harold's Quality Auto Repair Inc. In Salem

A lot of people in the Portland area want custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes they just don’t fit right: The tires rub in turns or over bumps. Consulting a tire professional at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. in Salem can ensure you get the right fit for your family car. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs and what you want in your new wheels.

Now, not every wheel can go on every vehicle. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside. If you don’t want to make any modifications to your family car, you would need to focus on a wheel and tire combination that would fit. With trucks, some Salem people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Salem people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The family car computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong sensor information. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your family car vehicle control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc., we can give you information about control computer reprogramming.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Salem. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your Salem tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs – and the best way to do all this is to have your treat you like family Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. tire specialist see your family car in person so mistakes are not made.

At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc., we also offer brake pads and preventative maintenence.

Give us a call

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.
503-365-9702
675 Bartell Dr NW
Salem, Oregon 97304

At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. in Salem Oregon (97304) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 503-365-9702. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 3, 2012

Viva la Differential At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.

Filed under: Differential Service — demo @ 5:37 pm

Viva la Differential At Harold's Quality Auto Repair Inc.

With front-wheel drive being so common in Salem these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Salem folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive family car differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for Oregon people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many family car differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Salem four wheel drive family cars need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. at different intervals.

Your Salem service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your family car owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.
503-365-9702
675 Bartell Dr NW
Salem, Oregon 97304

At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. in Salem Oregon (97304) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 503-365-9702. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 24, 2012

Deciphering The Menu Board At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.: F to W

Filed under: Making Your Vehicle Last — demo @ 8:53 pm

Deciphering The Menu Board At Harold's Quality Auto Repair Inc. F to W

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Salem and on Portland freeways, by the way.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your treat you like family Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. advisor for information.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Inspections: Salem drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Salem. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Salem auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Salem motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Salem.

Give us a call

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.
503-365-9702
675 Bartell Dr NW
Salem, Oregon 97304

At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. in Salem Oregon (97304) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 503-365-9702. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 19, 2012

Wheel Alignment Service At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. In Salem

Filed under: Alignment — demo @ 8:25 pm

Wheel Alignment Service At Harold's Quality Auto Repair Inc. In Salem

When all of a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Hitting a road hazard in Salem or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday Oregon driving can cause your family car wheels to be out of alignment. This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear.

Here are some alignment basics from Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.:
The first angle is called toe: do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire.
The next angle is called camber: do the wheels tip in or out at the top.
And finally, there is castor. Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle.

The ideal alignment for your family car was designed by its engineers. Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. alignment service starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension – so see if anything’s bent, broken or worn out. Then the Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. technician will look at tire condition. From there, the family car is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels are then aligned to manufacturer’s specifications.

Your owner’s manual probably has a recommendation for how often your family car alignment should be checked – usually every couple of years. If you suspect an alignment problem with your family car, get it checked at Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. before you suffer expensive tire or suspension damage.

Give us a call

Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc.
503-365-9702
675 Bartell Dr NW
Salem, Oregon 97304

At Harold’s Quality Auto Repair Inc. in Salem Oregon (97304) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 503-365-9702. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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