Automotive Tips from Kingwood Service Center: Battery Testing
Posted June 30, 2019 8:28 AMThe simple fact is that 70% of car batteries fail within 4 years. They just need to be replaced at Kingwood Service Center when they are no longer able to hold a full charge.
Batteries are a big ticket item for most Kingwood drivers and it’s tempting to put off buying a new one as long as possible. But a battery that cannot hold a full charge requires the alternator to work extra hard, causing it to wear out prematurely.
Your Kingwood Service Center service advisor can test your battery to see if it should be replaced. Testing is a good idea for TX drivers because a battery might still be good, but become dead because of a bad alternator or even a worn serpentine belt and tensioner.
Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
http://www.kingwoodservicecenter.net
All Lined Up: Wheel Alignment Service at Kingwood Service Center
Posted June 23, 2019 7:37 AM
When all of your vehicle's wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Hitting a road hazard or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday driving in Kingwood can cause your vehicle's wheels to be out of alignment.
Driving for an extended time around Kingwood when your wheels are out of alignment results in uneven tire wear. This is dangerous … and expensive. Worst case scenario, you have a blowout on a crowded TX highway. It can also cause premature wear to your suspension system, which can be really expensive to repair. At the very least, you may have to replace your tires years too early.
The ideal alignment for your vehicle was designed by its engineers. Alignment service at Kingwood Service Center starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension – to see if anything's bent or broken. Then your friendly and knowledgeable Kingwood Service Center technician will look at tire condition.
From there, the vehicle is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels are then aligned to vehicle’s specifications.
Your vehicle owner's manual probably has a recommendation for how often your alignment should be checked – usually every couple of years. If you suspect an alignment problem, get it checked at Kingwood Service Center before you suffer expensive tire or suspension damage.
Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
http://www.kingwoodservicecenter.net
A Cold Day in Kingwood ? Air Conditioning Service at Kingwood Service Center
Posted June 16, 2019 8:19 AM
Most Kingwood drivers worry about a breakdown or a tire blowout on a busy TX highway, but don't worry too much about failure of their air conditioning system. A breakdown on the side of the road can be a miserable and dangerous affair during Kingwood rush hour, but so can a long ride in a hot vehicle.
A lot of Kingwood drivers judge their vehicles' air conditioning systems as “non-essential” and so may neglect them in favor of repairs and maintenance that keep the vehicle running. But preventive maintenance of an air conditioning system is simple and inexpensive, while auto a/c repair can be very expensive.
Kingwood drivers should have the refrigerant in their air conditioning system checked regularly to ensure it is adequate and clean. Air conditioning systems often fail because air and water have contaminated the refrigerant. Air reduces the efficiency of the refrigerant, and water can cause rusting of the system's components. If your refrigerant is contaminated, the system should be evacuated and recharged. This will actually extend the life of your air conditioning system, preventing repairs, and keep it at peak performance.
At Kingwood Service Center, we advise our Kingwood customers to run their air conditioner periodically in the winter. This will keep the seals from drying out and cracking, saving them the inconvenience of this relatively minor repair.
Check with your vehicle owner's manual or with your friendly service advisor at Kingwood Service Center for information about how often your vehicle air conditioning system should be serviced.
Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
http://www.kingwoodservicecenter.net
Smart Kingwood Drivers Protect Against Overheating
Posted June 9, 2019 8:54 AM
Engines get hot when they run. This heat can build up and damage vital engine parts, so engines need a cooling system to keep them running. Cooling system failure is the most common mechanical failure in vehicles. This is unfortunate, because these failures are usually easy for Kingwood drivers to prevent.
The radiator is the best-known and most recognizable part of the cooling system. Hoses filled with coolant (also known as antifreeze) connect the radiator to the engine. The coolant draws heat from the engine and then flows to the radiator. Air passing through cooling fans on the radiator cools the coolant. The coolant then cycles back into the engine to start the process over again.
The most critical component of the cooling system, however, is the coolant itself. A mixture of water and coolant/antifreeze helps keep it both from freezing and from boiling away. Either can result in serious engine damage.
Different engines require different types of coolant/antifreeze. The owner's manual will list what kind a vehicle requires. Using the wrong type or mixing different types of coolant/antifreeze may void the warranty on the cooling system and may damage it as well.
Insufficient coolant can lead to engine failure. Coolant levels need to be checked regularly and topped off as necessary. If coolant levels drop quickly or consistently, the cooling system should be inspected for leaks. Coolant/antifreeze contains additives that protect the radiator and other coolant components from rust, scale and corrosion. Over time, these additives are depleted, so it is necessary for Kingwood drivers to replace coolant at specified intervals. Changing coolant should be part of routine preventive maintenance for any vehicle.
This service is often ignored, though, since old coolant still cools the engine. Vehicle owners don't realize there is a problem until the system fails. They are left with major repairs and possibly a damaged engine, which could have been prevented with a cooling system service at Kingwood Service Center in Kingwood.
If your vehicle sends a warning message to check its coolant or if the temperature gauge is reading in the red or hot zone, then the cooling system needs serviced. This service is critical and should not be put off since the potential for damage is high.
In an emergency situation, water or antifreeze can be added to your vehicle so that it can be driven to a service center for proper car care. For this reason, your owner's manual contains instructions for how to top off insufficient coolant – allow 45 minutes for the engine to cool before attempting to add coolant or water. However, the fluid should be added to the coolant overflow bottle, not to the radiator itself. Removing the radiator pressure cap can result in severe burns.
Topping off in an emergency, however, does not fix the problem. The vehicle should immediately be taken to Kingwood Service Center in Kingwood where they can inspect the cooling system, repair any leaks and clean it if necessary. They can identify what caused the emergency situation in first place and ensure it doesn't happen again.
Regular maintenance of a vehicle's cooling system is just good auto advice for Kingwood drivers. Cooling system service is relatively inexpensive and doesn't take long at Kingwood Service Center. Lack of it, however, can put a vehicle in the scrap heap.
Talk to our service advisor at Kingwood Service Center for more information.
Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
http://www.kingwoodservicecenter.net
Service Center Standard and Procedures
Posted June 2, 2019 11:25 AM
All TX pilots have checklists for every aspect of flying. They always use their checklists even if they only have two steps on them. They do this simply because a checklist is a great way to not forget steps. It is also how they can assure a predictable outcome.
That is why Kingwood automotive service centers including Kingwood Service Center have procedural standards for each service they perform. Kingwood Service Center technicians are trained step by step. And they perform the procedures step by step, the same way each time. By training to procedural standards, TX service centers can assure a quality outcome. The job is done right every time and Kingwood customers leave happy with how their vehicle performs.
Each company trains its technicians to standards. The TX automotive industry as a whole is very committed to standards of excellence and encourages individual TX service center operators to apply them to every vehicle they service.
An example is how Kingwood Service Center grades problems and communicates their recommendations. If your service advisor tells you that a repair or replacement is required it must meet the following criteria:
The part no longer performs its intended purpose
The part does not meet a design specification
The part is missing
They may suggest repair or replacement:
If the part is close to the end of its useful life - just above discard specifications or likely to fail soon
To address a customer need or request - like for better ride or increased performance
To comply with maintenance recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
Based on the technician's informed experience
Here are some examples:
An exhaust pipe has rusted through and is leaking. Replacement is recommended because the part has failed. If the pipe were rusted, corroded or weak but not leaking, the technician may suggest it be replaced because it is near the end of its useful life and replacing it now may be more convenient for the customer.
Suppose a customer wants to improve his car's handling, but his shocks haven't failed. The may suggest replacement of the shocks to satisfy the customer's wishes.
Under these guidelines the Kingwood car repair shop must refuse partial service of a required repair if the repair creates or continues an unsafe condition.
Let's say a customer has a cracked brake rotor. This is a dangerous condition that must be repaired. If the customer does not want to replace the rotor but instead just wants new brake pads installed, the shop must ethically refuse the partial repair. That can be an upsetting conversation, but understanding that Kingwood service centers operate under service standards and procedures is comforting. You want your service to be done right and to have confidence in your technician's recommendations.
The TX automotive service industry and Kingwood Service Center want the best for you and for you to keep coming back.
Kingwood Service Center
3318 Northpark Dr
Kingwood, TX 77339
(281) 360-7323
http://www.kingwoodservicecenter.net