Posted on 1/30/2015
When it comes to preventive maintenance on our vehicles, most of us North Kansas City car owners remember to get our oil changed. But Northtown Auto Clinic services that occur at longer intervals — like transmission service — sometimes get overlooked. Yet transmission service is an essential part of car care for North Kansas City drivers. A poorly maintained transmission will impair fuel economy and lead to costly repairs. The transmission transfers power from the engine to the drive wheels. When it’s clean and well – lubricated, it gives maximum fuel efficiency. But when it gets dirty or worn down, your MPG will suffer. Your transmission relies on transmission fluid to keep everything running well. Transmission fluid has two jobs: to cool and lubricate the transmission. The transmission operates at high temperatures. It can get 100-150°F degrees hotter inside your transmission than inside your engine. Transmission fluid transfers some of the heat away f ... read more
Posted on 1/20/2015
Virtually all vehicles come with power steering so many North Kansas City auto owners have never driven a car or truck without it. Power steering assists you when you turn your SUV steering wheel. Without it, it would be very hard to steer. Now this power assist comes in a couple of forms. In recent years, a lot of Kansas City vehicles have an electric motor that reduces steering effort and helps improve MPG. The other kind of power steering is hydraulic. This is the kind most older Missouri vehicles, and a lot of newer ones, have. Power steering fluid is pressurized by a pump and is used to assist steering. Of course, Kansas City motorists need the right amount of fluid in the system. If it’s too low your steering is affected and you could damage your SUV pump. Also, power steering fluid can become corrosive over time and damage the pump, hoses and connectors; leading to leaks an ... read more
Posted on 1/13/2015
Hello North Kansas City motorists! Let’s talk about alignment. One of the most important parts of preventive maintenance for your vehicle is keeping the wheels in alignment. Poor alignment causes your tires to wear unevenly, which can significantly reduce their lifespan. This means you will have to replace them more often, which can be costly in North Kansas City. It can even damage your suspension system, which is a significant repair. But even more importantly, uneven tread wear can lead to blowouts on the road, a dangerous and potentially deadly safety risk for North Kansas City auto owners and their passengers. It may not take an accident or bad driving habits to “knock” your tires out of alignment. Tires can go out of alignment with just everyday Missouri driving. North Kansas City road hazards, pot holes, uneven or gravel roads, even the bumps and bounces of normal Kansas City highways and surface streets can gr ... read more
Posted on 1/6/2015
Blind spots may be a good thing when it comes to a spouse’s annoying habits, but when driving an automobile in North Kansas City, they are definitely to be avoided. So, while it’s not good marital advice, it’s good auto advice to minimize your own blind spots and stay out of other Kansas City car owners’ blind spots, especially when it comes to large, heavy vehicles like trucks and buses. First, minimize your own blind spots. Do this before you pull out of the driveway or parking space. Adjust your rearview mirror so that you see as much of the area behind you as possible. And, no, this doesn’t include the passengers in the back seat. The rearview mirror isn’t designed to be a baby monitor. Next, lean to the side until your head almost touches the driver’s side window. Now adjust the driver’s side mirror so that it just catches the side of the SUV. Then, lean to the middle of the c ... read more
Posted on 1/1/2015
If the fuel system in your SUV is dirty, you will be hurting your fuel economy and losing performance as you drive around North Kansas City, Missouri. Unless they drive a vintage car, North Kansas City motorists have fuel injectors which need to be properly maintained. That is why your SUV owner’s manual has a schedule for cleaning your fuel injectors and other parts of your fuel system. Your friendly service advisor at Northtown Auto Clinic in North Kansas City has the tools and chemicals to do the job right. Northtown Auto Clinic uses a process that gives your car a deep, professional fuel system cleaning. The particles, gum and varnish that build up in your fuel system are removed so that it can run cleanly and efficiently. After a professional fuel system cleaning at Northtown Auto Clinic, you’ll notice more power, impro ... read more