Long Hill Auto is pleased to offer Gift Certificates to its customers.   Customers can either stop by and purchase them in the shop, or they can also purchase them online, here, using PayPal. Gift certificates are available in various denominations.

 

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Below you will find coupons we provide as an incentive to have the necessary routine maintenance done to keep your vehicle running smoothly for it's lifetime. Please take some time to read through the section below the coupons that describes why preventative maintenance is very important for your vehicle.

 

 

Why do cars need preventative maintenance?

Manufacturers know that a properly maintained car will be more dependable, safer, last longer, and increase your satisfaction with the product. Car makers and owners also have a responsibility to make sure emission controls receive regular service and are functioning properly. Regular maintenance helps accomplish these goals by keeping your engine running efficiently and eliminating potential problems that may leave you stranded.

What's in it for you?
A more dependable car
A car that retains the "new car feel"
Less chance of a costly breakdown
A safer car for you and your family
Doing your part for cleaner air
A car worth more at trade in or sale
An intact warranty
Manufacturer Maintenance Schedules
The manufacturer creates maintenance schedules outlining specific operations to be performed on various components and systems. This is done at different mileage intervals to ensure proper operation and prevent premature wear. The manufacturer also indicates what services must be done to maintain the factory warranty and extended warranty.

AllData Automotive Information System
This service facility is equipped with an automotive information system that provides this detailed data. The AllData system even lists high-tech specialty lubricants required for your particular car. Other information includes vehicle specific repair and diagnostic information and factory-issued Technical Service Bulletins. The bottom line is efficient, dependable, and cost-effective service for you.

Quick Reference Maintenance Chart
Change oil & filter every 4,000 miles or four months.
Rotate & balance tires every 8,000 miles. This also gives us an opportunity to check brakes as well.
Major tune-up at 60,000 miles (Cap/rotor/wires & minor tune-up)
Minor tune-up at 30,000 miles. This includes spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, PCV valve. Additionally, clean fuel injectors or carburetor.
Belts, hoses, and timing belt (if equipped) at 60,000
Battery at 60,000 or every 4 years.

Why timing belts need replacement?
What is a timing belt?
Timing belts have replaced timing chains on many of today's engines. Both belts and chains ensure that crankshaft, pistons, and valves operate together in proper sequence. Belts are lighter, quieter and more efficient than chains.

Why replace the belt?
Like other components, timing belts wear out. Proper maintenance requires belt replacement at regular intervals, before they break.

Where are timing belts located?
Timing belts are on the front of the engine, protected by a plastic or metal cover.

When should timing belts be replaced?
When a timing belt breaks, the engine stops. Replace belts before this occurs. Most manufacturers provide a suggested service life and replacement schedule for this critical component.

How do I know if my car has a timing belt?
Your vehicle manual may tell you, but you should ask your technician, they will know for sure.

What is a free-running engine?
If the timing belt breaks on a free-running engine, the engine stops and you will need a tow to the repair shop. No mechanical damage occurs and the installation of a new belt is usually all that is needed to get you on your way.

What is an interference engine?
If the timing belt breaks on an interference engine, mechanical engine damage occurs. It most commonly involves open valves being struck by pistons, resulting in the need for expensive repairs. In extreme cases, a replacement engine may be required.

What should a complete tune-up include?
Electronic ignition, computerized engine controls, and electronic fuel injection have eliminated many adjustments that were once part of a "traditional" tune-up. Most would agree that a tune-up today is a preventative maintenance service and engine performance check.

Call it what you will, a complete tune-up should combine elements of preventative maintenance, adjustment and performance analysis. One of the main reasons people bring a vehicle in for a tune-up is because they are experiencing some kind of drivability problem.

Things like hard starting, stalling, hesitation, misfiring, poor fuel economy, or lack of power are seldom cured by a set of spark plugs and a few turns of a screwdriver. Every tune-up should include a comprehensive performance check to verify that no drivability problems or trouble codes exist.

Another item that should be included is an emissions check. Thirty-five states now have some type of annual vehicle emissions check program, and all but two include a tailpipe emissions check. Most mechanics will check EGR valve operation, the PCV valve , and make a visual inspection of other emission control components and plumbing. But unless an actual emissions performance test is made at the tailpipe, there is no way to know whether or not the vehicle will meet applicable emission standards. An emissions check is a must.

Taking into account longer service intervals and reduced maintenance requirements of today's vehicle, a tune-up is probably only necessary every 30,000 miles, or once every two or three years. This is altered when a drivability or emissions problem arises that requires diagnosis and repair.

The best guide to tune-up frequency is probably the recommended spark plug replacement interval in a vehicle's owner manual

Our list of items that should be included in a complete tune-up are the following:

• Replace spark plugs
• Replace rotor
• Check distributor cap (replace if necessary)
• Check timing (adjust if necessary)
• Check ignition wires (replace if necessary)
• Check ignition performance (firing voltage and ignition patterns)
• Check idle speed (adjust if necessary)
• Check choke (on carburated engines)
• Clean fuel injectors
• Check compression and//or power balance (identifies bad fuel injectors as well as compression problems)
• Check manifold intake vacuum (reveals exhaust restrictions)
• Check battery/charging voltage
• Check exhaust emissions (verifies fuel mixture, ignition and emissions performance)
• Check vehicle computer for trouble codes
• Install new air filter
• Replace fuel filter
• Replace PCV valve
• Check all emission controls (EGR valve, air pump, etc.)
• Check all vital fluid levels (engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brakes, power steering)
• Check belts and hoses
• Check safety items such s lights, wipers, tires (including tire inflation pressure), horn, etc.