Scheduled Maintenance

Suspension and Steering Systems: 

The suspension, steering, and framework should be checked by experts regularly, at minimum twice a year. Key components, such as ball-joints, tie-rods, and struts can easily fall prey to our Texas-sized potholes.

The smallest amount of wear or play in those parts can lead to alignment problems, tire wear issues, and reduce the comfort of driving. 

Our professionals can provide a thorough inspection of your steering and suspension to ensure your vehicle is firmly planted to the road surface and that it’s heading the direction you point it. 

Brakes: 

Brakes are the most essential system for your vehicle. It doesn’t matter if it starts and drives, if it cannot stop when needed.

Modern brakes are routinely expected to stop 5000 lbs. vehicles traveling at modern highways speeds of over 70MPH. Nothing is more fear inducing than a vehicle that does not stop as well as it should when asked to do so. 

Our automotive experts will inspect your vehicle's brake system to isolate any cause for concern. Brake friction material, rotors, and fluid are just a few of the components and systems we inspect before making recommendations on your vehicle's brake system needs. 

Batteries: 

Vehicle batteries have a distinct lifespan. In the North Texas climate, a battery’s lifespan is somewhere in the 3-5 years range, with the normal battery needing replacement around the 4 year mark. 

While most batteries are “maintenance free”, periodic post cleaning or adjustments may be necessary. Modern batteries are also hidden in strange locations, so they can sometimes be overlooked. Routine inspection and cleaning is paramount to longevity. At Machado’s Auto Care, we would rather catch the declining battery before it fails and not start the engine when the key is turned, or the button depressed.

Engine:

The motors of most modern cars are often required to operate at several thousands of revolutions per minute, for many hours at a time.

The average engine crankshaft is spinning 30-60 times every second. Pistons, connecting rods, valves, and camshafts are just a few of the components inside your engine, constantly rotating or reciprocating.

Thanks to modern technology, you hardly have to think twice about all that marvel occurring on every drive you take.

We take pride in keeping those parts working correctly, and are able to identify and service the various parts when they happen to fail.

There’s a reason for everything, and if your car didn't make “that” noise, it’s a good indication, it’s not supposed to.

Cooling System:

When the engine is running, it produces heat. That heat needs to be controlled to insure the engine will not run too hot and fail. Also, an engine running at the proper temperature is more fuel efficient and produces less emissions.

The engine cooling system contains many components, such as the water pump, radiator, and thermostat, to name just a few. When the system is working properly, your engine coolant will efficiently keep the engine temperatures around 220 degrees F.

The engine cooling system is also conjoined with your passenger heating system. As the engine cooling system is warming up, that warm engine coolant is pumped into a heater core (heat exchanger) behind the dash assembly and air is blown across to provide heat for you and your passengers inside.

When the cooling system is left unchecked, the possibility of failures or leaks within the system can occur. This can lead to severe engine damage and cause your engine to stop working efficiently, or stop running altogether.

Cooling systems should be serviced on regular intervals to make sure the coolant is of proper mixture and level, and to make sure the system can flow and cool itself correctly.

Transmissions:

The transmission is what transfers the rotating motion of the engine and transfers the power to the final drive which then drives your wheels. Inside the transmission is a combination of fluids, clutches, and bands that provide your vehicle with multiple forward gears, and usually just one reverse gear.

Not long ago, most transmissions had only 3 forward gears; however, many modern transmissions have 5 and even upwards of 8 different gear sets. This allows for much smoother performance and reduced emissions and also improved fuel efficiency.   

Many transmissions do not even have a dipstick (to allow the transmission fluid level to be checked), but must be checked through a special port located under the car, and at a very specific transmission temperature.

Servicing the transmission needs to be done on a regular basis, but usually occurs at 30,000 miles on some models, to upwards of 100,000 miles on others. 

State Inspections:

The state of Texas requires annual “State Inspections” We are equipped to perform those inspections as well as any needed repairs relating to your vehicle passing the inspection.

Emission Repairs:

Modern vehicles are equipped with a host of computer systems and management components to insure your tailpipe emissions are as low as possible. Periodically those systems fail or have component failures.

Our qualified technicians are able to diagnose and provide proper repair recommendations for all emission systems needs.

Not sure what your next scheduled maintenance should be? Please do not hesitate to call us or stop by our auto shop!