1212 Golf Road

Waukegan, Illinois

(847) 623-9609

Next to a home, a vehicle is probably the most expensive purchase most people make.  So it's important to protect that investment through preventive & routine maintenance.  It will not only add years to the life of your vehicle, but will help keep it operating in a safe and cost-efficient manner. 

Preventive maintenance involves the service or replacement of parts because they're wearing our and are nearing the end of their useful life. 

Scheduled maintenance, on the other hand, involves the adjustment or replacement of certain components according to a time and/or vehicle mileage table based on the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations or warranty requirements. 

Both scheduled and preventive maintenance are intended to keep small problems from becoming larger, more expensive problems.

Please note:  Because there are so many different makes and models of vehicles, there is no one right maintenance schedule for all cars.  Recommended maintenance schedules do vary, and the appropriate schedule for your car is found in your owner's manual. There you will find two service categories: "severe" and "normal."  Surprisingly, most of us fall under the "severe" category since we do a lot of stop-and-go driving. 

Grease, oil & filter -  Changing your oil every 3,000 miles is very important. We also check & fill all your other fluid levels  (including windshield washer solvent!), grease all of the fittings, lubricate your door hinges & check the pressure in your tires - every time!  We use Pennzoil motor oil for most car and truck applications.

Tire Rotation - Front-to-back and left-to-right.  To get the most out of your tires, have them rotated every 6,000 miles (or every other oil change). 

Tune-Ups & Maintenance (30/60/90,000 mile) Intervals

Unfortunately, not all "tune-ups" are exactly alike in the repair industry, and often times an advertised special amounts to nothing more than changing spark plugs.   We do a very thorough maintenance tune-up which includes scope checking the motor and scanning the computer for trouble codes.  We change the spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, PCV valve, & distributor cap & rotor, if applicable.  Ignition wires are inspected but only replaced when necessary.  And of course, no tune-up is complete until the vehicle has been road-tested to check for smooth, responsive, ping-free acceleration and operation. 

For specific requirements, see your owner's manual for the recommended services and when they should be performed.   You won't find this information under the heading of "tune-up."  What you will find is a list of things all good car owners ought to do every so many months or miles, otherwise known as "scheduled service."  Or just ask us and we'll print you a copy that pertains to your vehicle!

T-Tech Transmission Fluid Flush - State-of-the-art transmission service that replaces nearly 100% of your vehicle's dirty old fluid with brand-new ATF to help your car shift and run smoother.   T-Tech equipment flushes the transmission system (the torque converter, too!) removing virtually all abrasive particles & contaminants.  Viscosity is restored - just like when your car was brand new.

Transmission Filter Service - Some particular vehicles and those experiencing a problem with the transmission should have the transmission pan dropped and inspected for foreign materials inside.  The fluid is drained, the filter is changed and a new gasket seals the pan back up.   

Fuel System Cleaning - Not just a fuel injector cleaning, we highly recommend the MotorVac CarbonClean Service to remove carbon build-up, gum & varnish from your engine - from intake to exhaust.  Cleaning your car's fuel system is the best way to keep it driving as it should, to improve performance, restore fuel economy and may lower emissions. 

Cooling System Flush - All coolant loses its protective qualities eventually.  When it does, that's when water pumps and radiators deteriorate. 

Cooling System Inspection - We pressure-test the entire cooling system - radiator, water pump, fan, thermostat, radiator cap, belts, hoses, clamps - as well as visually inspect for signs of any leaks.  Then we test the concentration of antifreeze and make sure your vehicle will be safe even if the temperature dips down to -40 degrees!

Serpentine & Drive Belts Replacement - Whether your vehicle has (5) belts under the hood or just one serpentine belt that drives all of the accessories, as belts wear, they stretch and get thinner. If it breaks, power can be potentially lost to the alternator, the water pump, the power steering pump and the air conditioning all at the same time.  We have a large stock of quality NAPA belts for a wide variety of applications.

Battery Service, Testing & Replacement - while many batteries today are maintenance-free, it's a good idea to have it tested once a year if it is three years old or more. We stock both Interstate Batteries that come with a (5) year guarantee and Delco Maintenance-Free Batteries that come with a (6) year guarantee. 

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement - Not just annoying, but worn out wiper blades can potentially scratch the windshield and be dangerous under certain conditions. 

Timing Belt Replacement - It's important to have your timing belt (or chain) inspected and changed whenever your manufacturer recommends (for most vehicles, that's about every 60,000 miles).  If a timing belt breaks, it can act like a grenade inside an engine.  In seconds it can severely damage valves and even pistons, resulting in expensive repairs to replace the motor.