Auto Maintenance, Chandler AZ

Crawford’s Auto Repair provides auto maintenance services for customers in Chandler, Gilbert and nearby areas.

Basic Car Maintenance Schedule

A basic car maintenance schedule will help give you an idea of when each vehicle part or system should be checked. The Car Care Council has created a general vehicle service schedule. We have adapted this schedule to indicate what should be done by you as the owner of the vehicle and what we would do as your friendly, neighborhood auto repair shop:

Did you know that you should technically be checking your oil and tires every time that you fill up your vehicle with gas? Once upon a time there were full-service gas stations that ensured this happened, but for the most part those haven’t been around for a while.

The last time you filled up with gas you probably didn’t notice very many people with hoods popped open or down on their knees with a tire pressure gauge. If you’re not doing what is listed above under “monthly” you’re not alone, and no one is judging you because almost no one actually does it. However the list above still remains the recommendation.

If you wanted to bring your vehicle into the shop on a monthly basis we’d be happy to do these inspections for you, although we understand that most customers are not that particular, and we still check each of these line items when you come in for an oil change.

In fact, our Oil Change and Works Package includes a check for everything under the 12-month list and more (which incidentally is everything on the 3-month and 6-month list; the Car Care Council even included a 9-month list which we omitted because it was the same as the 3-month). We do the 12-month list and more at every oil change for at least two reasons. One is a matter of providing the best possible customer service every time you come in. The second reason is that oil changes don’t always line up with every 3,000 miles and even if they did, it’s just as quick for our technicians to check everything on the 12 month list as it is to see whether or not you are on the 3-, 6-, or 12-month visit.

Once again, according to the owner’s manual, your driving habits and external conditions, you could easily need either a “regular” or “severe” maintenance schedule for your vehicle. Some vehicles, especially older ones, will need an oil change every 3,000 miles and that lines up exactly with the list above. But most modern vehicles, here in the hot weather and with city driving will need an oil change every 5,000 miles, which does not line up with the chart above. So it’s simply a more comprehensive service to just do the full works package with each oil change, and it doesn’t really change the price of the oil change either. It’s just better service.

We also understand there are those individuals who like to do as much of their own maintenance as possible to save money. If you are one of those individuals we hope this chart is a good reference for you. Enjoy the other education we provide on this site, and if you run into anything you can’t do on your own, then consider us for the more challenging repairs.

Common Auto Maintenance Services And When They Are Performed

The following are common auto maintenance services and at what mileage they are generally performed. As stated above the intervals can change based on your vehicle owner’s manual.

Oil Change & Works Package – Generally performed every 5,000 miles for modern vehicles, but it can be more frequent in older vehicles and depending on driving habits. Learn more about the Oil Change & Works Package and other Fluid Services.

Filters, Lighting, Fuses, Wipers, Belts, Hoses – These are checked with every oil change and changed as needed. Filters that need frequent replacement are the air filter and cabin filter. Occasionally the fuel filter should also be replaced depending on the maintenance schedule for the vehicle. Wipers are inspected as part of a full safety check. We recommend they be replaced when they become dry and cracked. Belts and Hoses can be more expensive to replace depending on the vehicle. Fuses are checked as needed or when there is an electric component in the vehicle that isn’t working. Fuses and light bulbs are usually not expensive to replace.

Brakes – Brakes are checked at every oil change. Brake pads should be replaced when they are less than 20% of their original thickness. This is a perfect example of how neglect can lead to higher repair expenses, because if the rotors need to be repaired then it’s more expensive than simply replacing the pads. Learn more about The Free Brake Check and Brake Services.

Tune-Up – Tune-ups are thought of as a spark plug firing and timing service. Older vehicles required an annual tune up but modern vehicles do not need spark plugs to be serviced until 100,000 miles. Learn more about Tune-Up service.

Landmark Mileage Maintenance Checks – Most modern vehicles have standard maintenance checks at 30,000 miles, 90,000 miles, and 150,000 miles. This is simply to check for potential problems, but generally, at 30,000 miles the vehicle won’t need anything other than an oil change.

Cooling System Flush – We actually prefer to call this a “cooling system service” since the purpose is to do more than simply flush the system and replace the new coolant. This is performed about every 5 years or 100,000 miles. Learn more about Cooling System Services.

Transmission Flush – We also prefer to call this a “transmission service” if it is needed at all. Many modern vehicles do not require a transmission service as preventative maintenance; if yours does then it’s probably at around 100,000 miles. However, the fluid is often checked during standard oil changes (when access is practical) and if it’s dirty or the wrong color then we’d recommend further investigation and service. Learn more about Transmission Services.

Air Conditioning Service or “AC recharge” – The AC system should not be opened unless there is a problem. Every time the system is opened there is a small amount of refrigerant loss which will eventually lead to poor AC performance. It is generally not part of a preventative maintenance schedule, but in Arizona, it could be an annual service. A free AC check at Crawford’s Auto Repair entails a visual inspection of the AC system and a temperature measurement at the vents. If there is a problem then the evaluation is a little more involved and could include a dye mixed with the refrigerant to identify a leak. Learn more about the Free AC Check and Auto AC Services.

A regular maintenance schedule is the best way to keep your vehicle operating efficiently. However, this does not guarantee that the vehicle will not need to be serviced in between oil changes or landmark mileage checks. This becomes especially evident when the vehicle is manifesting symptoms. For those instances, we offer an affordable inspection.

Does Your Vehicle Need Standard Maintenance? Call us at 480-201-0740 to schedule an appointment.

If your vehicle needs any maintenance services whatsoever, then schedule an appointment today with Crawford’s Auto by calling 480-201-0740.

We treat your vehicle as if it belonged to our own mother. We don’t pay staff with commissions and we never try to upsell unnecessary repairs. We simply do everything we can to provide excellent service, give you a straightforward report of any findings and then discuss your options with open communication. Get affordable 5-star service today. Quality You Can Trust.