Preventive maintenance is the best way to ensure your vehicle is in top condition for the life of your car. Keeping up with your vehicle’s maintenance schedule ensures you know exactly what needs to be fixed and when. But seasonal maintenance is just as important, so here’s your spring car maintenance checklist to prepare your car for 2020.

Your 2020 Spring Car Maintenance Checklist

Change Your Oil

Not sure when you last changed your vehicle’s oil? That’s a good sign that you need an oil change.

Since old oil collects debris and dirt, it isn’t a great way to provide this essential cushion between the parts inside your engine. Regularly changing your oil helps keep your engine’s parts from wearing against each other and causing premature damage. Or, worse, seizing up and causing your engine to lock up while you’re driving. Changing your oil this spring could help you prevent an expensive repair bill later.

Check Your Fluids

You may be thinking that you just checked your fluid as part of your fall or winter car maintenance. Ideally, you should check your vehicle’s essential fluids twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall. Your essential fluids include transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, oil, and coolant. If you don’t feel comfortable checking these, don’t worry. Call T3 Atlanta – we’ll check and top off your fluids for you.

Test Your Car’s Air Conditioner

If you’ve lived in Atlanta for any amount of time, you know that summer heat will be here before you know it. Test your car’s air conditioner to make sure that you aren’t caught off guard when the first hot day of 2020 arrives.

While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to check your air filter. Your air filter is essential to good engine performance and can get clogged with debris over the winter. Replace your air filter if needed.

Inspect Your Engine Compartment

Many people never open their engine compartment more than a couple of times per year, if ever. This spring, take a look inside your engine compartment and clear away any debris that may have accumulated from falling leaves or pine needles.

You’ll also want to check your battery to make sure that there is no corrosion on the terminals. If you do see corrosion, you apply a quick mix of baking soda and water with a toothbrush to clean it off.

Check Your Windshield Wipers

Maybe your windshield wipers were in good condition when you winterized your vehicle, or maybe you skipped over this part of winterizing your vehicle. Whatever your situation, ‘2020’ isn’t just for eyeglasses – the new decade is the perfect time to make sure you can see when it’s raining, too!

Check to make sure that your windshield wipers don’t smear or leave streaks. If they do, it’s time to replace them for this year’s spring showers.

Check Your Tires for Wear and Damage

Your tires are one of those very important but easy to forget about car parts. They undergo a lot of wear and tear even on short trips to the store. Having adequate tread on your tires isn’t just important for winter driving conditions; it’s essential for wet spring conditions.

Use the penny trick to check how much tread is left on your tires. To do this, insert a penny in the tread of your tire with Abraham Lincoln’s head facing you. If you can see the top of his hair, you will need to get new tires.

In addition to tread, check your tires and wheels for bulges or signs of damage and visit your local tire shop if needed. You don’t want your tire to blow out while you’re driving, after all!

Lastly, you likely deflated your tires for the winter months. It’s time to reinflate them in preparation for warmer weather. Your local auto shop can quickly take care of this for you.

Spring Car Maintenance at T3 Atlanta

T3 Atlanta has more than 20 years of experience servicing Nissan, Lexus, Infiniti, and Toyota vehicles. We’re happy to give your vehicle a full inspection to make sure your car is in top shape for the new season and new decade. With our two convenient metro area locations in Smyrna and Decatur, we make fast and friendly spring car maintenance easy.

Auto shocks are one of those invisible pieces of technology that make our lives more comfortable without us even realizing it. Shocks control the movement from your vehicle’s suspension to make your vehicle’s ride smoother, instead of rough or bouncy like older vehicles. When should you get auto shock maintenance? Let’s find out.

How To Know When To Get Auto Shock Maintenance

Most shocks last about 50,000 miles, depending on where you live and the type of driving you do. Cars that do a lot of offroading, for example, can expect a much shorter lifespan than cars that stick to city streets. Since the average car shocks take a while to wear out, it’s often hard to notice that they’re beginning to give out when you drive every day.

Unlike many other components in your car, auto shocks don’t directly affect your engine performance. It’s easy to put this piece of maintenance at the very bottom of your to-do list. Here’s how to tell when you need to get auto shock maintenance.

Your Ride Is Bouncy

…and we’re not talking about bouncing lowrider cars! The number one tell that your shocks are shot is a bouncy ride. When you drive over bumps in the road, your car shouldn’t be bouncing all over the place. Likewise, your traction control system (TCS) light shouldn’t flicker on when you drive over bumps. When your TCS turns on over rough terrain, this means that your vehicle’s wheels are having difficulty keeping enough grip while the wheels are bouncing off the road.

Your Shocks Are Singing

Well, not literally. But if you hear strange creaks, pops, or groans when your car goes over bumps in the road, that’s a good sign that your shocks need replacing. Your shocks start to squeak or creak when the lubrication in your suspension system wears out.

Your Car Starts Bottoming Out Regularly

Unless you have an extreme lowrider or your car has a very low profile, regularly bottoming out over speedbumps, railroad tracks, steep driveway skirts, or uneven terrain is another big sign that you need auto shock maintenance.

You can actually damage your vehicle’s undercarriage if the bounce in your car is extreme enough for it to touch the road. It’s important to get your shocks replaced in order to prevent potentially costly maintenance later.

Your Car Dives Forward When You Accelerate Or Brake

It’s normal for your car to lean slightly forward or back when you accelerate or brake quickly – that’s just physics at play. However, when your vehicle significantly dives forward (or backward) when you accelerate or brake, that can be a sign that your shocks need replacing. Remember that your shocks mitigate excessive motion, so this extreme movement means that your shocks can no longer do their job.

Similarly, it’s normal for your car to lean in the direction you are traveling when you are making turns. Healthy shocks will help minimize this lean while shocks in bad condition will result in an extreme lean. This may sound like a minor inconvenience, but it can actually impact the handling and safety of your vehicle.

Auto Shock Maintenance at T3 Atlanta

There’s an easy test you can perform at home to tell if auto shock maintenance is about to make its way to the top of your to-do list. Grab a friend and push down as hard as you can on each corner of the car, then let go. If the vehicle keeps bouncing after you let go, your shocks need to be replaced.

The best surefire way to tell if your vehicle needs new shocks is to have a trained mechanic inspect your suspension system. T3 Atlanta is here for you. We’ll inspect your vehicle and recommend the best course of action to ensure your ride is safe and comfortable. Give us a call or visit us at one of our convenient metro Atlanta locations in Smyrna or Decatur.

Car brakes are important for obvious reasons, but despite how crucial they are to keeping us safe on the road, they’re one of those maintenance items that’s easy to forget. As long as the car stops when we step on the brake, they’re working, right? Well, yes. But car brake maintenance is just as important as regular oil changes and essential to keeping you and others safe on the road.

Signs That You Need Car Brake Maintenance

Your Brakes Don’t Work As Well As They Used To

‘Brake fade’ is the technical term for ‘your brakes don’t’ work as well as they used to’. Brake fade is often difficult to identify because the gradual wear of your brake pads happens over time. In other words, you get used to needing to apply more and more pressure to the brakes to stop and just don’t notice it. Brake fade happens when your brake fluid is low, your brake pads are worn down, or both.

Your Car Pulls to the Side When You Brake

Your car shouldn’t be moving anywhere but straight forward when you press the brake pedal. When your car pulls to the side when you brake, that’s a good sign that you need car brake maintenance. Debris in the brake fluid, unevenly worn pads, suspension problems, and worn rotors are just a few potential reasons your car may pull when you brake. All of these issues can lead to larger and more costly issues down the line, so addressing them sooner can help you avoid expensive repairs later.

Your Brake Fluid Levels Are Low

Your brake fluid ensures that there’s enough pressure in the braking system to effectively apply force to stop the vehicle. A leak is one of the most common causes of low brake fluid levels, which means it’s especially important to bring your car to a mechanic like T3 Atlanta.

You can check your brake fluid yourself by opening your hood and, after consulting your owner’s manual to find out where the brake fluid reservoir is located, checking to see how much fluid is inside. If you aren’t comfortable with doing this, any mechanic can check your brake fluid.

Although it may be tempting while your brakes still work, don’t ignore the problem: when you run out of brake fluid, it’s just like you see in the movies – your brakes will no longer stop your vehicle. Since you want your brakes to stop your car when you press the brake pedal, it’s important to find and fix what’s causing low brake fluid in your car.

Your Brakes Are Making Strange Noises

When your brakes are working properly, they shouldn’t make any unusual noises unless you’re coming to a very sudden stop or the moisture from wet road conditions is making them squeal.

The rest of the time, any noise from your brakes should be a reason to get your brakes inspected. There’s a metal shim in your brake pads that is designed to notify you when your brake pads are getting thin. Regularly hearing this squeal is a sign that your brakes will need to be changed soon.

Once you start hearing grinding or growling noises, you need to take your car to your mechanic as quickly as possible for car brake maintenance. Grinding and growling noises indicate that your brake pads are completely worn out. Not changing your brake pads can lead to expensive rotor or caliper damage, which can, in turn, cause the brake system to overheat and fail.

Your Brake Pedal Vibrates When You Press Down

Your brake pedal should depress smoothly when you press it unless you’re braking very quickly and you feel your anti-lock system kick in. The rest of the time, a vibrating brake pedal means that you need car brake maintenance.

From debris in your brake pads to misaligned wheels, there are many possible reasons your brake pedal may vibrate. That’s why having an experienced mechanic inspect your car is important: the mechanic can identify exactly what’s causing the vibration and prevent costly long-term damage.

Visit T3 Atlanta For Car Brake Maintenance

Modern brake pads have a long life, generally lasting 50,000 miles or more depending on your driving habits. If you notice any of the signs we’ve outlined above, give T3 Atlanta a call. Our team is made of highly trained and experienced professionals who are dedicated to giving you the best quality service Atlanta’s auto shops have to offer.

Georgia doesn’t usually get much ice and snow during the winter. However, since the city isn’t equipped for this kind of weather, ice storms can make driving a real challenge, especially on untreated side roads. Here are our top tips for safely driving in ice and snow in Atlanta.

Tips for Driving in Ice and Snow in Atlanta

No matter how experienced you are, winter weather driving presents a unique set of challenges, so please don’t hop in your car and drive like you normally do! It’s possible to drive safely on snow and ice, and here’s how:

• Speed up and slow down gradually since you cannot stop quickly.
• Drive below the speed limit so you can give yourself more time to react to road conditions or other drivers.
• Try to avoid hills if you can. If you live at the top of a hill, don’t slam on the accelerator, as this increases your risk of spinning out. Keep your speed consistent.
• Try not to stop on a hill, as you may backslide.
• If you do slide, don’t panic! Point your wheels in the direction you’re sliding to let the tread catch and help you regain traction.
• Plan extra time to get where you’re going since your trips will take longer than usual.
• Keep your headlights on when the sky is overcast to improve your visibility to other drivers.
• Absolutely do not use cruise control! You may not be able to react quickly enough to any unexpected road conditions and potentially end up in an accident.

Before you start your trip, always clear any snow or ice off your vehicle (including the roof). Always check that the tailpipe is free of ice, slush or other debris as well, or else you could cause carbon monoxide to enter the vehicle’s cabin.

Prepare Your Car for Winter Conditions

Preparing your car for winter conditions is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to driving in ice and snow. A quick trip to the mechanic can mean the difference between your car being prepared for the season and getting stranded on the side of the road.

Whether you take a DIY approach or you want a mechanic like T3 Atlanta to inspect your vehicle, you’ll want to check your vehicle’s…

• Lights
• Windshield wipers
• Brakes
• Fluid levels (and add antifreeze if needed)
• Defroster
• Heater
• Tires (for adequate tread as well as any cracks or damaged areas)

You may also want to pack an emergency kit. As too many of us remember from the 2013 ice storm, being caught off-guard can result in getting stranded in your car overnight.

Make sure to include:

• Sand, salt, or cat litter to help your tires get traction if you become stuck
• Foldable snow shovel
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Ice scraper
• Towel or roll of paper towels
• Jumper cables
• Extra clothing and blankets
• Water and high-protein snacks
• Cell power card and emergency charger
• Snow chains

If you do become stranded, do not abandon your vehicle. Instead, call roadside assistance or the non-emergency line for assistance. Stay in your car for safety (other drivers may be having difficulty on the roads as well) and bundle up to stay warm while you wait. Run your car’s heater as needed to help you stay warm.

On that note, you’ll want to make sure your gas tank is always filled at least halfway during the winter months. If you wind up getting stranded, you’ll be glad you have the extra fuel to help stay warm while waiting for help!

T3 Atlanta can help ensure that your car is ready for snowy and icy conditions. With our two convenient locations in Smyrna and Decatur, we make your annual winter car preparation a snap. Give us a call today!

It’s always a terrible thing to have your car stolen. This is especially true for a city like Atlanta, where most people have long commutes to work or school. Fortunately, there are a lot of easy things you can to prevent your car from being stolen. Today, we talk about our top recommendations to help you avoid this unwanted scenario.

How to Prevent Your Car From Being Stolen

Lock Your Car

The easiest (and most obvious) way to prevent someone from quickly driving off with your vehicle is to lock your car. It’s important to get into this habit, even if you are just running into the store or your house for a couple of minutes. You’ll also want to make sure to close your windows and sunroof (if you have one).

Although though a locked car won’t always prevent your car from being stolen, a simple button press makes your car a less likely target for car thieves.

…Or Get a Steering Wheel Lock

Extremely popular in the ’80s and ’90s, a steering wheel lock works just as well now as it did back then. This heavy-duty device is designed to attach to your steering wheel and literally ‘lock’ it in place. So, even if someone were to break into your car and start it, they wouldn’t be able to steer it. This option is perfect for people who are very serious about preventing their car from being stolen.

There are a lot of steering wheel options with a wide price range to suit your budget and needs. If you do get a steering wheel lock, though, just make sure that you don’t lose the key!

Keep Your Car in the Garage

Not everyone has a garage, but if you do, don’t use all of it for storage. A garage is one of the most effective ways of keeping your car safe overnight since most car thieves go for easy targets (eg. cars that are parked on the street or are unlocked). A garage is harder and more noticeable to get into, so it’s a natural deterrent.

Just make sure to close your garage door at night!

Hide Your Valuables

Many of us use our cars like a backpack or purse – a convenient place to put everything from workout clothes to a work computer. A stolen car is already a great prize for a car thief. A stolen car with extra goodies like electronics inside is even better.

Resist the urge to use your vehicle as a secondary storage space. Or, store your valuables in the trunk (and lock your car!) when you leave it for any amount of time. Car thieves work very quickly, and even 20 minutes can make all the difference in the world. For people who have SUVs or hatchbacks, a cargo cover is an inexpensive and effective way to make your car a less likely target for thieves.

Deter Thieves With… Your VIN?

Your car has a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) stamped on several locations on the car’s body. Thieves remove the VIN before selling the car to chop shops that dismantle and sell the parts.

You can deter car thieves from stealing your car by etching your VIN (discreetly) onto the window or other areas that are more difficult to simply erase. While this may sound extreme, putting your VIN on non-stock parts can also help you recover your vehicle if it is stolen.

Be Aware of Where You Park

For people who don’t have a garage, be aware of where you park. Choose spots under street lights in well-trafficked areas, if you can. Don’t park at the far end of a dark parking lot: that’s the perfect spot for a car thief to work unnoticed.

If you’re parking in a part of town where car thefts are common, consider paying for a spot in a patrolled pay lot. This way, your car will be monitored overnight and give you the peace of mind that it will still be there in the morning. The cost of a paid lot, even over the course of a year, is a lot less than the headache and cost of recovering a stolen vehicle – or having to buy a new one altogether.

Install a Kill Switch

A ‘kill switch’ may sound like something straight out of a movie, but it’s a real device that you can install on your car to help prevent your vehicle from being stolen. There are various configurations of kill switches, from pressing an extra button or needing a secondary key to start your vehicle.

Vehicle Inspections at T3 Atlanta

We hope that you never have to go through the ordeal of having your car stolen. If this does happen, however, and your car is recovered, it may be a good idea to have your vehicle inspected for any damage. T3 Atlanta inspects and services Nissan, Infiniti, Toyota, and Lexus vehicles at our Smyrna and Decatur locations. Give us a call today!

We’ve all been there: it’s a great day for driving, you’ve got your favorite tunes on, and there’s nothing to be worried about. Until, anyway, the ‘Service Engine Soon’ light flickers on. It’s only natural for a torrent of thoughts to race through your mind, the biggest of which is ‘What’s wrong with my car?’ But before you panic, let’s learn what the Service Engine Soon light actually means.

The Real Meaning of the Service Engine Soon Light

First of all, it’s important to note that the Service Engine Soon light isn’t the same thing as the Check Engine light – at least, not all the time. Some manufacturers feature both lights, while others only have one.

If your vehicle has both lights, the Check Engine light is generally an indicator of a moderate-to-severe problem with your engine. This may be a problem with your oil pressure, the engine temperature, exhaust or emissions system. In some cases, the check engine light may be a first alert about a possible engine failure.

The Service Engine Soon light, on the other hand, does several things depending on the manufacturer. The most likely reason it’s on is because it is automatically set to come on as you approach your next vehicle maintenance schedule milestone. This light may also alert you to minor problems such as a loose gas cap or minor electrical problem.

If your vehicle only has the one light, check to make sure your engine temperature and oil pressure gauges are all reading normal before deciding whether to pull over. We recommend giving your mechanic a call to schedule an appointment to diagnose the problem. It’s far less expensive to treat a problem while it is minor than wait for it to become severe and costly. Worse, you could even wind up stranded on the side of the road.

Your Service Engine Soon Light Should Not Cause You to Panic

When your Service Engine Soon light comes on, don’t panic – as long as your vehicle seems otherwise normal. Once you’ve reached your destination, you can check the following to make sure none of these items is the culprit:

• Make sure all of your fluids are topped-off, as low fluids can trigger this light. Check your engine oil, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and transmission fluid.
• Inspect your car to check for any leaks or damage. If liquid is pooling below your car, your vehicle is unsafe and needs to be repaired immediately.
• Tighten your gas cap. Sometimes, a loose gas cap can trigger a ‘Service Engine Soon’ light.

If everything seems normal, your fluids are topped off, and your car isn’t overheating, then it’s likely that the Service Engine Soon light is on as part of your vehicle’s maintenance schedule.

Diagnose Your ‘Service Engine Soon’ Light at T3 Atlanta

The Service Engine Soon light can send a jolt of panic through any car owner, but it’s not always a cause for concern. To be absolutely sure why this light is on, bring your car to T3 Atlanta. We will diagnose the issue free of charge to make sure there is not a serious problem with your car’s engine.

Our convenient locations in Smyrna and Decatur make it easy to get the car care you need quickly. Our team of mechanics has more than 20 years of experience working on Nissan, Lexus, Infiniti, and Toyota cars. When your ‘Service Engine Soon’ light comes on, call T3 Atlanta for a fast and free diagnosis!

Choosing the right oil for your car can seem daunting, considering the sheer number of different oils that are available to consumers. However, choosing the right oil for your car is actually a simple process. For starters, one’s desired motor-oil will be found in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. However, let’s take a deeper dive into the differences between motor oils to clarify why your vehicle needs the oil it does.

The Basics of Engine Oil

It is important to note that oils are differentiated according to their viscosity, and that viscosity matters according to both the needs of the particular vehicle and the heat that its oil will be exposed to. An engine that will be exposed to colder temperatures will generally need a lower viscosity so that it can better separate in your car’s engine, whereas a higher viscosity is desirable in higher temperatures so as to not separate too much. Other factors, like the mileage on the engine, will also affect the desirable viscosity.

With that in mind, the overall viscosity of the modern day motor-oil is not limited. Oils will often contain a blend of different oil so that it can best respond to a variety of conditions.

Now, the meaning of the numbers attached to the oil becomes clear: the higher the number, the higher the viscosity. And there will likely be a range of viscosities to reflect that aforementioned difference of conditions. Also, note that the “W” which precedes that range simply means “winter”, or the viscosity of the oil in colder temperatures.

The Different Types of Oil

There are also several different types of engine oils: conventional, synthetic, or a blend of the two. Synthetic oils are different from more traditional oil in that they are more refined and specifically engineered for high performance. Therefore, synthetic oils are used for vehicles that require high performance. This means vehicles that tow, or vehicles that are subjected to extreme temperatures. These don’t encompass the average driver; however, a blend of synthetic and traditional oil might might be appropriate if you are looking for better performance at a more affordable rate.

More refined, synthetic oil benefits the engine in a variety of ways. Primarily, that extra refinement means that the oil is more uniform in its composition. Therefore, it is less likely to cause friction, create deposits, or contain impurities, all of which negatively affect performance and fuel economy.

Additives

Another factor when considering your vehicle’s oil is from which additives your car would benefit. There seems to be an endless number of additives, some of which justify premium pricing. Some of the most important to look for are antioxidants and detergents which maintain the purity and consistency of your oil. These increase the lifespan of your oil so that you are less likely to require constant oil-changes.

When to Change the Oil For Your Car

Of course, all vehicles require regular oil-changes to maintain the health of the engine. Over time, the oil will break down, lose its viscosity, and fail to properly lubricate the engine. All sorts of problems ensue, including reduced fuel economy, degradation of the engine, and if not promptly addressed, engine failure.

One can easily check to see if an oil change is necessary with your “dipstick” (always make sure to wipe the dipstick clean before checking oil quality). On inspection, the oil for your car should be amber in color. If it’s dark, smoky, and tar-like, it’s too dirty and broken down to function properly and requires changing. Of course, its overall level will be indicated by the dipstick as well, which will be a good indicator of whether the oil needs to be replaced.

As a rule of thumb, newer engines require oil changes every six months, and older engines should have their oil changed more frequently (every three thousand miles or every three months). However, the dipstick will always provide the best indication of where your oil is at in its lifespan and if a change is needed.

Fast and Convenient Oil For Your Car At T3 Atlanta

When your vehicle does require an oil change, residents of the Atlanta metro area have T3 Atlanta to resolve all their automotive concerns and needs. Both of their locations in Smyrna and Decatur will be able to ensure that your engine is properly lubricated and running at its best.