How to Reduce your Vehicle Maintenance Costs

If you want to avoid nasty and unexpected surprise maintenance costs, sticking to a regimented schedule of preventative maintenance is something you are going to want to get used to. The reason being is simple frequent maintenance will keep your car in good health, ensuring you get the most out of all those expensive-to-replace parts. While it might sound counterintuitive, the best way to reduce maintenance costs is to stick to a prescribed maintenance schedule.

This content was provided by DriverSide. For more information go to: http://www.driverside.com/

For the month of January, we have our ever so popular Maintenance Special available.  This Special will expire the end of February, so act now!

Also, don’t forget to visit www.Silverdaleautoworks.com every month for other Specials and the monthly drawing.

Check out what is included in the

Maintenance Special

for only $69.95

_________________________________________________

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY:

The Giveaway is a random drawing of individuals that enter the giveaway; consisting of $50 Gift Certificates of Local Restaurants in Kitsap County.

Congratulations

You are the lucky winner of a

$50 Gift Certificate to

Every service with

Silverdale AUTOWORKS earns up to

Offer expires 2/29/2012 so call now 360-692-5201

Present coupon at time of Service Write-up. Most Cars, Light Trucks, & SUVs. Not to be combined with any other Coupon or Bonus Bucks. One Coupon per Vehicle.

Valid  thru 2/29/2012

3342 NW Byron Street . Silverdale . WA . 98383 . (360) 692-5201

We Wish You all a Safe and Happy Holiday!

From all of us at Silverdale Autoworks

This content was provided by DriverSide. For more information go to: http://www.driverside.com/

Vehicle Maintenance

(I know, Again!)

If there is one thing you have probably noticed about us by now, it’s that we are always talking about “Vehicle Maintenance”. With the economy the way it’s been, it’s understandable for customers to want to put off routine maintenance, such as the factory specified maintenance services outlined in the vehicles owner’s manual.

Waiting for vehicle trouble or a breakdown to have a vehicle serviced or repaired will always cost you more in the long run. There are many benefits for you to have those routine checks and services performed though, here are just a few.

• Confidence that your vehicle is safe and reliable for you and your loved ones
• Finding problems early before they can cause progressive damage to unrelated components or systems. (example: oil leaks and check engine lights/other warning lights)
• Greatly reduce the chance of a breakdown and being stranded
• Better fuel mileage and performance
• Protects your vehicles “Factory Warranty” (most manufacturers are declining warranty services on vehicles that are not having “routine maintenance services” performed
•  Better resale value when it’s time to sell or trade in
• A well maintained vehicle is just more fun to drive!

Silverdale Autoworks is here to make it as easy as possible for you to maintain you vehicle in “Like New Condition”. We can advise you on what services are due now or upcoming, and if your vehicle is in our shop and needs repairs or additional services; we will always prioritize them for you so you can budget finances. We want to continually earn your trust and confidence by providing the best service and value around.

Here are just some of the top reasons why our customers have chosen us:

• Person & Friendly Alternative to the Dealerships
• Convenient online scheduling 24/7 and after service follow-up
• Financing Options with 6 Months Same as Cash Program
• Service Reminders to let you know when maintenance is due
• Conveniently Located
• 2 Year / 24,000 Mile No Hassle Warranties
•  Prompt Service Write-Up to get you in and out quickly
• Local Customer Shuttle
•  Cursory Vehicle Inspection On Every Visit
•  Highly Qualified ASE Certified Service Technicians
• Voted “Best Auto Repair” for 2 years now (Kitsap Reporter Community poll)

For the month of December, we have a Maintenance Special just for our regular newsletter customers. This Special is only good until the end of the month, so act now.

Also, don’t forget to visit www.Silverdaleautoworks.com every month for other Specials and the monthly drawing.

Check out what is included in the

Maintenance Special

for only $69.95

_________________________________________________

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY:

The Giveaway is a random drawing of individuals that enter the giveaway; consisting of $50 Gift Certificates of Local Restaurants in Kitsap County.

Congratulations

You are the lucky winner of a

$50 Gift Certificate to

Every service with

Silverdale AUTOWORKS earns up to

When it’s performed using improper and/or substandard oil and filters

Like any fine machine, your vehicle requires periodic scheduled maintenance: Most importantly, it needs regular oil changes to keep the engine running at its peak for as long as possible.

But don’t look to just anyone for your oil changes. Most late model vehicles today have been designed with great precision and craftsmanship to provide you with many thousands of trouble free miles. It requires the correct type and grade of oil, whether it is conventional or synthetic, quality filters that are designed to filter the oil properly and only oil made by a high quality producer.

To select the correct oil – and to perform a much-needed oil change – put your trust in Silverdale Autoworks Inc. Our trained Mechanics, Technicians and Service Advisors will help put you and your vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible. Not only that, but we’ll treat you and your car like a member of our own extended family.

We use only factory-specified and expert-recommended oils and oil filters and our shop features the latest state-of-the-art equipment. We even reset the oil maintenance reminder light without an extra service charge!

Silverdale Autoworks Inc specializes in maintenance and repair of Asian, Domestic and fine European automobiles, like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Mini Cooper, Porsche, Saab, Volkswagen and Volvo cars and SUVs.

To make an appointment call 360-692-5201 or request an appointment online

Seven Frequently Asked Questions about Automotive Batteries

The cold weather is finally here and we thought we would take this month to talk a little about batteries. Most people don’t think much about their batteries until it’s too late. Cold temperatures put more strain on your battery and if you battery is marginal already, that extra strain could be too much for the battery and leave you or your loved ones stranded. We recommend having you battery and charging system tested at least twice a year, at the beginning of winter and summer. If it is time for a new battery, here are some frequently asked questions about them…

 What effect does extreme cold have on my battery?
Cold temperatures dramatically reduce the effectiveness of chemical reactions within the battery, while increasing the battery’s internal resistance. Both of these cause a reduction in cranking power as temperatures drop. Batteries left in a discharged state are also susceptible to freezing, which damages internal components and containers. Cars require an increased amount of cranking power in cold weather, due to the fact that motor oil is thicker and makes engines harder to crank.

What is Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) Rating?
This industry rating measures the cranking power a battery has available to start a car’s engine at 0 degrees F. Battery Council International defines it as the number of amperes a lead acid battery at 0 degrees F can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell.

What is Cranking Amp (CA) Rating?
Similar to CCA; Cranking amps is a measure of the number of amperes a lead acid battery at 32 degrees F can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain at least 1.2 volts per cell. (CA ratings are more commonly used in climates where temperatures rarely drop to 0F.)

What is Reserve Capacity (RC)?
A battery’s Reserve Capacity represents the length of time the battery can maintain the vehicles electrical needs in the event the alternator fails. Battery Council International defines Reserve Capacity as a measure of the time (in minutes) a lead-acid battery can deliver 25 amps at 80 degrees F and maintain terminal voltage of at least 1.75 volts/cell.

How can I determine what is the correct battery for my vehicle?
Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual. It will provide the vehicle manufacturer’s group size and CCA rating requirements for your car. Or, just give us a call and we would be happy to look up the proper battery your vehicle. Remember: Never use a battery with a CCA lower than the manufacturer’s recommendation. Also, whenever available, a battery with a higher CCA is more capable of providing for the electrical needs of older vehicles, and will not adversely affect the vehicle’s electrical system.

Why is battery power not always proportional to its size?
A battery’s group size is simply a measure of the physical dimensions of the battery. This measure has no relation to the battery’s electrical capacity. Regardless of group size (physical dimensions), two batteries are equal in power if the RC and CCA ratings are the same.
What effect does extreme heat have on my battery?
Heat is the number one cause of battery failure. Extreme heat causes the water in the battery’s electrolyte to evaporate. Further, heat causes a battery’s positive plate grids to corrode more rapidly. Both of these conditions are detrimental to the long-term life of a battery.

Finally, most people ask what the difference is between an expensive battery and the cheaper ones. Basically, the higher priced batteries have more materials such as lead and other components that drive the cost of construction up. These additional amounts of materials are what make the more expensive batteries last longer, have more reserve capacity and make them more reliable. This is also makes them a better value to you in the long run as well.

Make sure you check out our Fall Maintenance Special including Battery Test for only $69.95

_________________________________________________

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY:

The Giveaway is a random drawing of our current customers; consisting of $50 Gift Certificates of Local Restaurants in Kitsap County.

Congratulations

You are the lucky winner of a

$50 Gift Certificate

to

Every service with

Silverdale AUTOWORKS earns up to

Most modern vehicles today have a Cabin Air Filter (some vehicles have more than one) installed in the Heating & Air Conditioning system. A cabin air filter works much like the air filter used with your furnace and/or air conditioning system in your home. It filters out harmful spores and pollen which can be up to six times more concentrated than outside. Cabin Air Filters can also clog up and reduce air flow inside the vehicle and, in some cases, cause fault codes in vehicles with automatic climate controls.

Silverdale Autoworks Premium Cabin Filters will help trap close to 100% of airborne contaminants before they enter the interior of your vehicle and keep passengers and downstream heating and air conditioning components protected. Most manufacturers recommend replacing your cabin filter regularly, every 15,000 miles, or sooner in dusty areas.

Let Silverdale Autoworks help you have cleaner, healthier passenger cabin air.

Not sure if your vehicle has a cabin air filter? Just give us a call @ 360-692-5201 and we would be happy to see if your vehicle is equipped with one.

Many of us have had our “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light come on at some point.  Depending on your personality, your reaction may have been anything from total panic to completely ignoring it.  Let’s review some information that will help you know what to do.

The “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light is a warning light. It is warning you that something is wrong with the engine management or emission system.  That something could be as simple as a loose gas cap or as important as a condition that may cause expensive damage. When the light comes on, it may burn steadily or it might flash.

A flashing light means that there is something wrong that could lead to severe damage and you will probably notice the vehicle is running differently. When that happens, you’ll want to have the car inspected as soon as possible.  While it is flashing, it is recommend that you drive as little as possible before having the vehicle inspected and you certainly would not want to tow a trailer, haul heavy loads or drive at highway speeds. That kind of driving could damage expensive components before you can get your vehicle in for service and properly repaired.

A steady check engine light is not as urgent. You still want to get your car in for a diagnostic inspection as soon as possible, but you can work it into your schedule. The first thing to do when you have a steady check engine light is to check the gas cap. If it is not on tight, twist it until it clicks three times. If a loose gas cap triggered the check engine light, it will reset after several trips. It may take a few days before the light cycles back off.

If the light persists, you should have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible. Every modern car has an engine control computer that runs most of the engine functions. When a sensor reads that something is out of whack, the computer will first try to compensate for the problem. If it can’t, it turns on the check engine light and stores a fault code in the computer’s memory. When you go into your service center, the technician will attach a scanner to a data port and read the stored fault codes. The codes tell the technician what parameters are out of standard so he knows where to start looking for the problem.

It is important to know that the fault codes do not pin point the exact cause of the problem. They only give the technician a starting point for testing and diagnosis. Any number of problems could cause a given trouble code. The technician will further inspect the vehicle and perform other tests as needed to determine exactly what needs to be done to repair your vehicle. After repairs, the technician will clear/reset the fault codes and retest the system to confirm the repair.

Now don’t listen to the amateur advice you’ll find on the internet about how to deal with your check engine light. Some say you can disconnect your battery so that the light goes off. There are several problems with that. The obvious problem is that you’ve done nothing to fix the vehicle; you have only turned off the light. The other problem is that you can actually erase some of your control computers’ learned memory. If that memory is gone, your vehicle needs to relearn and make adjustments for your engine, driving conditions and driving habits. Don’t disconnect your battery to deal with a check engine light.

Unless you’re a skilled certified automotive diagnostician, avoid buying a cheap consumer scanner (cheap scanners will only read OBDII fault codes and will not read the manufacturer specific fault codes)  or getting your fault codes read at an auto parts store (remember, part stores are there to sell parts, not diagnose vehicles). Knowing the fault code is only a starting point to diagnosing the problem. You need a trained technician equipped with the latest high-tech vehicle specific diagnostic equipment to get you back on the road safely and avoid expensive repairs later on.

Silverdale Autoworks has ASE Certified technicians who attend training year round and are provided with the best diagnostic, vehicle specific scanners, lab scopes and information systems, to properly and efficiently test/diagnose your vehicle. That combination gives you peace of mind and the best overall value possible.

_________________________________________________

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY:

The Giveaway is a random drawing of our current customers; consisting of $50 Gift Certificates of Local Restaurants in Kitsap County.

…. There was a major typo with Last Month’s SAW Times, which was actually sent out with the same winner as the month before. So, since there wasn’t actually a winner for September, we will be drawing 2 winners for October!….

Congratulations

You are the lucky winner’s of a

$40 Gift Certificate

to

Every service with

Silverdale AUTOWORKS earns up to