No matter how well they’re made, cars are bound to have problems with their design or manufacturing. When the government thinks a problem is really serious, they require the manufacturer to issue a recall notice to Medford residents and to fix the car free of charge. The manufacturer then tries to contact everyone who owns that type of car in Medford and elsewhere until the work is done.

If you have questions about vehicle recalls, give us a call:
Medford Automotive
4642 Table Rock Rd. Medford, Oregon 97502
541-664-3860

These recalls always affect safety, so you need to take them seriously. It’s really easy to find out if a vehicle is being recalled. For links to government sites, look in the AutoNetTV website.

Other website include: carfax.com; autobytel.com; and dmv.org. All of these sites have free recall searches.

Recalls are pretty serious and don’t happen all that often. But sometimes cars have less serious problems that you still might want to know about. In this case, manufacturers issue what is known as a Technical Service Bulletin – or TSB. These bulletins tell service centers how to repair a problem that occurs frequently or is especially difficult.

The pros receive updated information through subscription plans, which are sometimes available in consumer versions too. You can buy access to these for an annual fee.

Whatever your source, pay attention to vehicle recalls to keep you and your passengers safe.

The post Finding Vehicle Recall Information From Medford appeared first on Medford Automotive Service Center.

When it comes to their vehicles, some Medford drivers don’t have a maintenance mindset. They know they need to take care of their cars, but it just seems really hard to get them to remember to do it. Medford drivers generally accept that many things in life require regular maintenance, but just may have not applied it to their Cars.

For example: the lawn. You water it and mow it every week. And weed the flower beds and rake the leaves. There are other things that Medford residents are diligent about. Going to the dentist twice a year. Clothes to the dry cleaner. Flu shots. Taking the kids to your Medford doctor for a checkup before school starts.

So Medford drivers really are maintenance minded. They just have to learn to apply that mindset to cars. I mean, if you never brush your teeth or go to the dentist, you’ll become painfully aware of your neglect when you get a big cavity. Once the damage is done, most of us learn our lesson and shape up.

Unfortunately, Medford drivers too often learn a hard automotive lesson when they bring their vehicle to Medford Automotive on a tow truck. So many times a little routine maintenance would have prevented a breakdown.

So how can Medford drivers get into the habit of taking care of their Car? It’s so easy to forget. If you skip cutting the grass, you see it every time you pull in the driveway.

Here’s something that will help: The key to good vehicle maintenance starts with the oil change. Think about it – when you go in for a full-service oil change, your Medford Automotive tech will check all your fluids. If one of them is low, he can look for the reason why. If your serpentine belt is cracked, he’ll see it and let you know. Corroded battery cable – they’ve got you covered. And at Medford Automotive, we check to see if your Car manufacturer has recommended any services at your current mileage.

The oil change becomes kind of a focal point, a way to check in to see what needs to be done. The fact is that vehicle inspection surveys consistently reveal that over 80% of vehicles have one or more unperformed repair or maintenance service. Vehicles are generally very reliable and can take a lot of abuse and neglect. But, you’ve got to remember that Cars are complicated machines. There are parts and fluids that are critical to their operation. Without them, the Car won’t run at all.

So when you come in to Medford Automotive for an oil change, you get an automotive analysis from your honest service advisor and a reminder for recommended services so you can avoid a total failure. And remember that your Medford Automotive technician can help you work out a maintenance and repair plan, prioritizing and scheduling the work to make sure you and your family are safe, and helping you avoid expensive breakdowns.

The post Medford Automotive And The Maintenance Mindset appeared first on Medford Automotive Service Center.

Today Medford Automotive is talking about the proper fluids for your vehicle. It’s become more complicated with changes in automotive design and manufacturing. It’s not that people in Oregon are confused as much as they don’t realize how much things have changed in recent years.

If you have questions about the fluids in your vehicle, please don’t hesitate to stop by Medford Automotive. You can find us on 4642 Table Rock Rd. in Medford, Oregon 97502.
Just give us a call at 541-664-3860

Let’s take engine oil. Twenty or thirty years ago, there were just a handful of different weights of oil. The weight of an oil is a scientific measure of its properties, particularly its viscosity or thickness.

It was common in those days to use a lighter weight oil in the winter when it’s cold outside. That way the oil would be able to splash around inside the engine and protect the parts before it was fully warmed up. And a heavier weight oil would be used in the summer. The thicker oil wouldn’t thin out too much in the summer heat and vaporize in the engine.

Modern valve trains have become very complicated with more moving parts and small passages than ever before. The valve train is in the top of the engine, so when the car has been turned off for a while, the oil tends to run down to lower areas and the valve train parts are vulnerable at start-up, before the oil starts circulating.

So new weights of oil have been introduced to meet the engineering specifications of these newer engines.

Manufacturers are recommending specific weights of oil. The recommendation is often printed on the oil fill cap. It’s certainly in the owner’s manual. Of course, your Medford Oregon auto service center can look it up for you.

It’s more important than ever to have the correct weight of oil. The wrong weight could actually harm the engine.

Other fluids are also becoming more sophisticated. In the last few years new types of transmission, power brake fluid and coolant have all been introduced for some of the same reasons as for engine oil.

In addition, vehicle manufacturers are now using a wider variety of materials in these systems. Looking at the cooling system as an example, it used to be that the parts were all made out of steel or iron and the hoses were rubber. Now, some parts are plastic, aluminum or other materials.

So the anti-corrosion additives contained in the coolant, or anti-freeze, need to be different in order to protect the different materials used to make the cooling system. If you use the wrong coolant that wasn’t formulated to protect your plastic cooling system parts, they could become corroded and fail. And if you’re using the wrong coolant, your cooling system won’t be covered under warrantee. So it’s important to use the right coolant and to not mix different types.

Your owner’s manual or your Medford Oregon service advisor at Medford Automotive can make sure you’re using the right type. You may have heard of universal coolant. Universal, or global, coolant can be added to other types without harmful reactions. That’s OK for an emergency top off, but following your manufacturer’s recommendation for your Car or other auto type is always a safe bet.

In the area of brake fluid, there are a couple of new formulations. It’s important to remember that the new ones aren’t better than the old ones. They’re just different formulations for different vehicles. So if your vehicle calls for DOT 3, using DOT 4 or DOT 5 is not an upgrade. Use the recommended formula.

There are fluid formulations for vehicles with higher mileage. These are special engine oil, transmission fluid, and so on that contain additives to condition and restore seals and gaskets in older engines.

They’re fine to use as long as they’re a variant of the proper fluid. In other words you can use a high mileage engine oil as long as it’s also the correct weight recommended by the manufacturer. Same goes for transmission fluid; as long as it’s the right type for your transmission.

The post Using Proper Fluids In Your Car Or Other Vehicle appeared first on Medford Automotive Service Center.

Todays Tuesday Tune-Up Tips is about road hazards and what you can do to not be a hazard on the road and how to avoid road hazards. In the simplest form, a road hazard is anyone or anything that is posing danger to you or others. We have all been aggravated by a reckless driver on the road and the root reason why they aggravate us is because they are being dangerous.  We want to do something to release our anger and in turn can become a road hazard ourselves. So lets talk about avoiding road hazards.

Recently our family drove from Medford, OR to Bakersfield, CA to visit family and attend church convention. Being  on the road for that many hours gives you plenty of time to see hazards and avoid them. The first one that we had to deal with was road construction. This is a hazard that you can’t always avoid but road construction will increase the possibility of a hazard. Keeping alert and aware of the flow of traffic slowing can help prevent an accident from developing. Watch out for the road crews working and always obey traffic control signs indicating speed and lane changes. Remember that traffic violation fines are increased when in a construction zone.

The next hazard that we encountered was dust blowing across the road from farm equipment working in the fields. Dust can block your vision worse than fog at night! Watching traffic ahead of you can give some fair warnings. Be prepared for panic stops and drivers who aren’t paying attention. Other hazards that we encountered was road debris on the road. Semi truck tire treads from blowouts and tread separations can be very dangerous! Large pieces of tire on the road can do some damage to your car but the worst part is having a vehicle that is out of control moving into your lane!  Having a reasonable safety zone between you and other vehicles on the road will give you more time to react to changing conditions. Now the next time you are driving down the road and passing a semi, don’t just hang out next to them, get past them! Also, be on the lookout for wildlife, they are out in the daytime as well as the night time.

Last but not least, you can prevent your vehicle from becoming a road hazard to others on the road. Routine Safety Inspections and Maintenance Services will prevent problems on the road. Remember that anything can happen on the road so if you feel like something is not normal when driving your vehicle, don’t just brush it off as nothing and hope that is goes away. Turn off the music, slow down and listen to your vehicle. Exit when safe and have a look around. If you can’t see anything wrong, don’t chance it, find a Service Center. Most Service Centers are happy to help a concerned traveling customer as well as their local customers.

We hope this information is helpful to you and with those that you share it with. If you have questions about your vehicle, feel free to contact one of our helpful Service Advisors at your convenience.

The post Tuesday Tune-Up Tip, April 30, 2013 appeared first on Medford Automotive Service Center.

We find that a lot of Medford service and repair at Medford Automotive are a little tentative when they talk with their automotive advisors. They want to ask questions, but don’t want to be embarrassed or to seem pushy. Cars are very complicated and there’s more to know about them than most of us have the time to learn. Maybe it’s because cars have become so much more reliable that the average person just doesn’t need to know as much to keep their vehicle on the road.

You know, your local hospital has a Patient’s Bill of Rights that they post throughout the hospital. We think our Medford automotive service customers also have a right to ask any question they need to understand what is wrong with their car and what it will take to fix it. They need to feel free to ask the cost and benefits of recommended services. And they certainly have a right to understand the financial end of the transaction.

It’s all about the communication. It’s a little harder when you’re trying to find the right service center in Medford. But once you’ve developed a relationship, the communication should come easier.

What are some of the barriers to communication? Well, let’s go back to the medical example. When your doctor’s explaining something to you, it’s something that she understands very well and is very familiar with. So she may use jargon you don’t understand or that you don’t have the education and training that’s foundational to understanding what she’s trying to explain.

So you fall behind and get frustrated.

It can be the same with your Medford automotive service advisors. Most of them are very busy trying to service and fix cars to get their customers back on the road. So, just ask when you feel you need more information.

Financial related issues seem to be most frustrating to customers. If you’re not sure, ask what the payment policies are. For example, there’s a big difference between giving your car a quick once over and doing a thorough inspection. Diagnosing a problem may take quite a while. Make sure you know what’s done as a courtesy and what has a fee. Remember, you still have to pay for the office visit even if the doctor says you only have a cold.

Communication is a two way street. If you have some real budget concerns, ask your Medford service advisor what he can do. He can give you priorities and options. He can tell you what needs to be taken care of right away for safety or financial reasons. Then you can work out a plan for when to get the rest done. He can also help you with options on the parts. The preference is to always use a high-quality part with a reputation for reliability. But if money is real tight, he might be able to find a rebuilt part or a used part. He should tell you the difference in the guarantee for the part so you can make a good decision.

Ask about warranties for parts and labor. Be sure to get all the paperwork you need to make a possible claim in the future. Your service center and its technicians stand behind their work and want you to understand precisely what that means.

Be sure to ask for and keep a detailed explanation of all the work that’s done on your vehicle. These records will help you keep track of service, warranties and document the good care your vehicle has received when the time comes to sell it.

Call Medford Automotive to make an appointment.
4642 Table Rock Rd.
Medford, Oregon 97502
541-664-3860

The post Questions To Ask Your Medford Service Advisor appeared first on Medford Automotive Service Center.

As you may know April 22 was Earth Day. You probably heard an advertisement making the statement of  being “green” or having an “eco-friendly” product or service. You may have also heard about your carbon footprint and how to reduce your footprint. We are encouraged to reduce the use of non-renewable energy and recycling all waste. But how does this apply to your car or SUV?

The first thing that comes to mind is fuel economy. Obviously the more gas your vehicle uses, the more pollution goes into the atmosphere. So making sure your car or SUV is running at his best will minimize the fuel consumption. Did you know that low tire pressure can really lower the fuel efficiency of your vehicle? Keeping the tires properly inflated will reduce the rolling resistance of the tire on the road. If you are in need of new tires, ask your tire salesperson for the low rolling resistance, fuel efficient tire options. These tires have a low rolling resistance and can really pay for themselves over the life of the tire in fuel savings!

While we are talking about fuel efficiency, lets talk about how the fuel is sprayed into the engine. Each engine has fuel injectors that are controlled by the computer. Over time the injectors get dirty and the spray pattern doesn’t spray right, it kind of drizzles out. That doesn’t let the fuel atomize correctly and mix with the air causing poor performance and poor efficiency. Having a Major Fuel Injection Service performed every 30,000 miles will keep the fuel injectors spraying correctly. The Major Fuel Injection Service will also keep the intake throttle body, idle air control valve, intake valves and even the EGR system clean. When the engine is running efficiently, the catalytic converters don’t have to work as hard to clean up the emissions and will make the converter last even longer.

Every Gasoline engine has spark plugs. The job of the spark plug is to ignite the fuel and air inside the combustion chamber. Over time the spark plug will wear out and the gap will widen causing the spark to not ignite the fuel and air mixture completely. You can experience a rough acceleration or misfire at times. To avoid this situation, it is recommended to replace the spark plugs and other ignition components. Every manufacturer sets the spark plug replacement time and mileage interval. Look in your owners manual or contact your favorite Service Center to find out when to replace the spark plugs.

The engine air filter and fuel filters also need to be inspected and replaced when dirty. The engine air filter has a very big job to do, filtering all of the air that comes into the engine. That is a lot of air!  As the filter does its job, it starts to restrict the air flowing into the engine. A dirty air filter can hurt your fuel economy and power. A dirty fuel filter restricts the flow of fuel to the engine and when the demand for power is increased, there is not enough fuel flow to support the power demanded. A restricted fuel filter will also cause electric fuel pump failure. It makes the electric fuel pump work really hard to push the fuel past the filter, the fuel pump gets hot and fails. Some vehicles do not have a serviceable fuel filter so ask your favorite Service Center, next time you are in, if the fuel filter can be replaced.

For more information on Being Green, visit the Askpatty Be Green website.

If you have questions about taking care of your vehicle, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to answer your questions and take care of your vehicle needs.

The post Tuesday Tune-Up Tip, April 23, 2013 appeared first on Medford Automotive Service Center.

So you love our job, and your family life is great: You have achieved balance. But can you the same for your wheels? You can tell if your tires are out of balance by vibrations at higher speeds. If one of the front tires is out, you feel the vibration in the steering wheel. If it’s a back tire, you’ll feel the vibration in your seat.

Tires and wheels are pretty heavy. When a tire is mounted on a wheel, it is usually not perfectly balanced. So the tire technician will spin the tire on a machine to determine where it’s too heavy. He will then place weights on the wheels in strategic locations to balance it out. When a tire is out of balance, it actually bounces down the road instead of rolling smoothly. Since the average size tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 MPH, it is actually slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That’s where you get your vibration.

Most people are surprised at how smoothly their car rides after balancing all four wheels.

Most high-quality tires hold their balance pretty well. They just get out of balance gradually with normal wear and tear. If you suddenly feel a vibration, it is probably because you lost a wheel balancing weight along the way. Definitely get a balance if you feel a vibration, change your rims or have a flat repaired. Putting off a needed balance job leads to excessive tire wear, wear to your shocks, struts, steering and suspension parts. wheel balancing not only improves your ride and handling, but also can save you some big repair bills and possibly an accident. Additionally, you will get better gas mileage.

Some people have their tires balanced at every rotation. Others do it every other time. Check your owners’ manual for your requirements, or ask your technician. Doing thus will put you on the path to mechanical wheel balance

.

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What is a Ladies’ Car Care Clinic?

Every year Medford Automotive holds a Ladies’ Car Care Clinic because we care about our Female Clients! We are your Certified Female Friendly Service Center from AskPatty.com! The Clinics are a great time for the ladies to come and be in the shop where cars get fixed every day. The purpose of the clinic is to provide a hands on experience that will empower the ladies to care for their cars, have confidence when taking their cars in for service and to help them be Car Care Aware.

At the Clinic we do a lot of show and tell. The best way to learn about your car is to see what we are talking about! How many times have you been given a repair or service recommendation and turned it down because you had no idea what the Advisor was telling you? It is not uncommon to not buy a service or repair when you don’t understand the need or benefit of the service. We will help our Female attendees to understand the basic operation of the engine and brake system and show them the simple safety checks that you can do!

• Do you know how to change a flat tire to a spare tire? We will show you how to safely perform the roadside tire change!
• Do you know how to check the vital fluids in your car? We will show you what fluids are important and how to check them properly.
• Do you know how to safely jump and start a vehicle with a dead battery? Don’t worry, we will go over that as well!

Who should attend the Ladies’ Car Care Clinic? Female drivers that want to know more about caring for their car, young drivers that need to know the basics of the vehicle and understand when it is having a problem and those that just want to get dirty in the shop!  The best part of the Clinic is socializing with the others while we eating some treats and win prizes! We love to give-a-way useful items to help you care for your car. We love to answer all the questions that the ladies have, no question needs to go unanswered!  You can sign up for the Ladies’ Car Care Clinic right HERE!

Medford Automotive Ladies Car Care Clinic Flyer

The post Tuesday Tune-Up Tip April 16, 2013 appeared first on Medford Automotive Service Center.

When your car breaks down in the Medford Oregon area, or just needs some routine service, it can make you a little nervous. Because your car’s so important to your life, you need to be back on the road as soon as possible. And, with the problem fixed right the first time.

We’ve been checking into some of the training our Medford Oregon technicians receive, and we’re very impressed. It’s amazing how much knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern car. So it’s not like when your uncle worked on his hot rod over weekend.

Today there are four cylinder engines that make more power than the V-8’s in luxury cars 20 years ago. A new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket’s Ferrari in a race to 60 mph.

Our engines are more and more powerful and at the same time their fuel economy keeps inching up. And they’re so reliable. This is all due to engineering. But the advances come at the price of simplicity. Modern cars are so much more complex from a mechanical standpoint that it makes your head spin.

Then there’s the electronics. Some cars in the local Medford Oregon area have several networked computers controlling most of the engine functions and many other vehicle functions as well. We take all of this sophistication for granted – but somebody has to fix it when it breaks.

It’s a real challenge for your local Medford Oregon technicians to keep up. It requires a high level of commitment on the part of the auto technician and the service center as well. In addition to the training, there’s the financial commitment to purchase the diagnostic and repair tools as well.

So where do Medford Oregon technicians go for training? There’re many sources. It’s usually a combination of formal classroom training, training provided in the service center by parts and equipment manufacturers, on-line courses and home study courses. There are many independent certifications available all the way up to Master Technician.

And AutoNetTV produces monthly training for service centers called The Pro Channel. If you were to watch the Pro Channel segment on re-flashing the engine control computer, you’d be amazed at how much is involved: special software, hardware interfaces and a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill.

Service centers in Medford Oregon have a lot of other resources available as well. No one can know everything, so service centers like Medford Automotive subscribe to data services, technical libraries and even on-line communities that can help them with they run into a difficult problem.

It’s like those medical diagnosis shows on TV. Here are the symptoms – what’s the diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is every bit as much an art as a science. As consumers we want everything to be simple, straight forward and cheap – and sometimes it just isn’t.

So, be more relaxed next time you take your car in. You really should trust your service advisor at Medford Automotive. You’re in good hands. The more you know, the more comfortable you can be with your automotive service decisions. Visit AutoNetTV.com to see more great auto tips videos about many service topics.

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How to save money on auto repairs:

We all love to have a vehicle to drive, but it can become a real problem when the cost for service and repairs is more than expected. Lets face it, the normal oil change service is not bad, but when other fluids are due for service or major scheduled service like the timing belt, it can be difficult to say the least.  So how can you maintain your vehicle and save money without breaking your budget?

There are a few options that take some discipline but can pay off in the long run. Every vehicle has an estimated cost of ownership. According to AAA.com the average cost of owning and operating a sedan in 2012 was $8,946 or 59.6 cents per mile. If you drive an SUV the average cost was $11,360 or 75.7 cents per mile. That means on average it will cost $745.50 per month to operate your sedan. This includes Fuel, Tires, Depreciation, Maintenance and Insurance. If you pay your insurance monthly, why not make a monthly deposit into an Automotive Maintenance Account. Start adding Auto Repair and Maintenance to your monthly budget and set that money aside. Then when it is time to perform a needed service, you don’t feel strapped to come up with the cash! This does take discipline each month and in the end you will have a happy vehicle that will give you many years of service!

The next option is to find financing for the larger ticket repairs. Many Automotive Repair Shops are offering a financing option to help customers fix their vehicles. Be sure to look at the offer and understand the cost of the financing. Some will offer a 90 days same as cash, others will be an no interest for 90 days, and then the more traditional credit card style interest. All financing comes with a cost that will be in addition to the repairs, so choose wisely.

The last option we would like to mention is the Car Care Club Memberships. This membership comes with a minimal upfront purchase cost that allows you to get Free Oil Change Services, Free Tire Rotations and other services at a discounted prices. This is a way to save money while take care of your vehicle. Ask your favorite Automotive Service Center if they have a Car Care Club Membership available. In the long run it can save you a bundle of money!

We hope this information was helpful and useful in the future. If you have any questions about taking care of your vehicle, feel free to contact your favorite service advisor at Medford Automotive!

The post Tuesday Tune-Up Tip April 9, 2013 from Medford Automotive appeared first on Medford Automotive Service Center.