March Manager’s Minute

Posted by Mechanic on March 1, 2023 with 0 Comment

Cold Weather and Visibility

Hello, Dearholt AutoCare customers!

As we move into March, we may think that the worst of winter is behind us. However, cold weather can still wreak havoc on your vehicle’s battery. If you notice that your car is struggling to start, it may be time for a new battery. Our team at Dearholt AutoCare can help you choose the right battery for your vehicle and install it quickly.

In addition to battery troubles, visibility is also an important problem to consider during this time of year. With unpredictable weather patterns and still short daylight hours, it’s crucial to make sure that your headlights and wiper blades are in good condition. Did you know that the right NAPA Wiper Blades and NAPA Headlights can improve visibility on old lights by up to 80%? That’s a significant improvement that can make all the difference when driving in inclement weather.

At Dearholt AutoCare, we want to keep you safe on the road all year round. Come in today for a battery check or to upgrade your wiper blades and headlights. We’re here to serve!

Jim Dearholt Owner, Dearholt AutoCare

Cloudy Headlights?

Posted by Mechanic on January 3, 2023 with 0 Comment

Happy New Year Everyone,

We are excited to kick off 2023 with you, as you prepare for the thousands of miles ahead of you this year. We are happy to be your AutoCare Center and we want to keep you all informed about your vehicle maintenance, service and specials. As the car industry continue to be in flux, used cars are still pricey and the right new vehicles are hard to find. Right now, staying on top of maintenance and repairs on your existing vehicle is probably a lot more economical than buying at least for the majority of this year. And, according to AAA, “the average yearly cost to own and operate a new vehicle in 2022 is $10,728, or $894 per month.”

We are here for you to keep your vehicle running safely and reliably. Top tips for winter weather include, 1) Check your tire’s tread and pressure. Cold icy conditions are no time to need tires. Talk to us about a winter or all season tire that is right for your vehicle. 2) Our number one mechanical issue in cold weather is the dead battery. Ask us about our batteries, including the AAA battery available through NAPA. 3) Headlights, during the dark days of January, your headlights are vital equipment. Cloudy headlights can impede visibility by as much as 80%. Keep those dark nights at bay, ask us about headlights.

Thank you for your business,

Your AutoCare Team

Coolant Flush Basics

Posted by Mechanic on October 15, 2022 with 0 Comment

Coolant Flush

You need to have your engine cooling system flushed occasionally to protect, de-scale and replace your coolant/anti-freeze. This is vital to maintaining quality engine cooling levels and protecting your vehicle from summer heat and winter cold. Over time and extreme temperature, your coolant begins to break down. It begins to leave deposits. If not maintained, the deposits can clog and restrict flow, may plug the radiator or heater core. An overheating event can destroy your engine, crack your head or block. These are expensive repairs that could be avoided with a simple preventative flush service.

Coolant is extracted.
Then your system is flushed with our proprietary solution to remove dirt, rust and build up.
Your system gets flushed of all the impurities and build up and fluids.
We replace with high quality coolant.

April – Manager’s Minute

Posted by Mechanic on April 2, 2022 with 0 Comment

Hey Everybody,

Spring is here and we are excited about it. I believe everyone knows me well enough to know that Easter is an important time of year to me. It marks the renewal of our spirit and the promise of our salvation. It’s a special time for us to reflect on the people in our lives, the things we have, and to care for those things. To be good stewards of the resources God gives us.

Of course, I’m a mechanic so that makes me think of taking care of vehicles. And taking care of your big investments, like cars and trucks is part of stewardship. Every year we see a job come through that could have been prevented with regular maintenance or an inspection. We just want to say to them, “if you would have gotten the oil changed, you would have know the oil was low and maybe that connecting-rod would not be on the outside of your engine block.” Earth Day is on the 22nd of April every year and it is about being good stewards of the planet. One of the number one ranked ways for reducing emissions and reducing fuel consumption, according to AAA, is regular maintenance and repair.

We welcome to our staff Harley Chatman, as our new front desk Customer Service Representative. More great news, Cheryl Montoya has been promoted to Service Advisor. Come in and meet Harley and congratulate Cheryl on her new position. We have recently brought on Nate Martinez and an additional Technician. We are thrilled to have these new employees on board, and having Cheryl taking on a new role in the company.

And it’s National Car Care Month, so we are offering our Annual VIP Car Care Club for 25% Off. Ask Harley for the details of everything that’s included in your membership.

We hope you enjoy the spring and have a wonderful Easter. We want to thank you for being our customer and welcome you into the shop anytime.

—Jim

3 Ways To Save Gas

Posted by Mechanic on March 14, 2022 with 0 Comment

3 Tips To Save Gas

As fuel prices go higher, our customers are asking about how they can save gas. There are lots of opportunities to save money with your vehicle:

Keep up with the standard maintenance of your vehicle. The better operating condition of your vehicle, the better your gas mileage will be. Tire pressure and alignment are good examples of services that can improve fuel efficiency.
Reduce your speed and acceleration. We know it might take the fun out of driving, but the harder you push that pedal to the metal, the more fuel you are burning.
Share a ride. Car pool. Team up with co-workers and family members to share trips and commutes.

At Dearholt AutoCare, our commitment is to keep your vehicle in the best condition we can and keep you informed of how you can improve vehicle performance. Schedule your service today.

dearholtauto.com

505.857.0868

Winter Maintenance Tips

Posted by Mechanic on February 22, 2022 with 0 Comment

WINTER IS HERE!

Cold temperatures, freezing liquids, dry conditions all effect your automobile. The top priorities on your winter maintenance checklist should include:

Heater Check – You don’t want to be cold when you are driving. Let’s make sure your heating system is fully operational.
Battery Check – Don’t get stranded from a dead battery that can’t take the cold. Summer heat damages batteries, winter cold finishes them off.
Windshield Wiper Check – Don’t be caught off guard by rain and snow. This month we have an offer for buy one set, get one set FREE NAPA PROformance Wiper Blades.
Fluids Check – Windshield Wiper fluid, oil, anti-freeze levels; belts and hoses.

Our Maintenance Oil Change includes a full inspection of these items and more. A fresh oil change is always a good start to winter maintenance.

Should I Upgrade My Car Battery

Posted by Mechanic on January 1, 2022 with 0 Comment

Car Battery Upgrades

When that car battery finally gives up the ghost and it’s time to replace it, drivers have options. First, let’s be clear that you should always get a replacement battery that meets or exceeds your vehicle’s specifications. But you may have some special needs. When they first put the battery into your vehicle at the factory, they had no idea where it would end up over its life or how YOU would use it where you drive in New Mexico. That battery was chosen to meet the needs of a wide range of motorists. Replacement time is a good opportunity to talk to your service advisor at Dearholt AutoCare about how you use your vehicle so you can get just the right battery.

An obvious criterion is where you live, whether in or somewhere else. Cold starts require a lot of power from your battery. The colder the climate, the more power needed. This comes from a combination of cold sluggish oil and the slower chemical reaction within the battery itself when it is cold. If this sounds like you, talk to your service advisor Dearholt AutoCare about a battery with more Cold Cranking Amps (CCA).

The next consideration for drivers is reserve capacity. This is the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has under a particular load. If your driving is mostly short stop-and-go trips around Albuquerque, your battery may not have time to fully recharge while driving. You may need to tap into those reserves to get started again. Also, modern vehicles have a lot of always-on systems that draw on the battery – things like the security system, remote sensors, and vehicle computers. These combine with the electronic entertainment system, sensors, heated seats and even chargers for phones, tablets and computers to put a fairly high load on the battery. Your service advisor Dearholt AutoCare can give you advice on the reserve capacity you might need.

Most standard batteries are “wet-cell,” meaning they are filled with liquid battery acid. New Absorbed Gas Mat (AGM) batteries are “non-spillable” which makes them safer. They also have a longer life span and greater cycle life than wet-cell batteries. Off-roaders like these batteries because their performance is not affected by steep inclines and odd angles. They are also well suited for RV and boat owners.

Lastly, consideration for drivers is warranty. Premium batteries come with a longer warranty. Warranties are typically either full-replacement (the battery is replaced if it fails within the warranty period) or pro-rated (a partial credit is given for the failed battery depending on how far into the warranty period you are when it fails).

When the battery is replaced, your friendly and knowledgeable Dearholt AutoCare technician may need to recalibrate some accessories such as power windows and sunroofs. Also, some vehicles may need to have the battery registered into the engine computer.

Your Dearholt AutoCare service advisor can help you know how to decide which battery is right for you and your vehicle.

Serpentine Belt

Posted by Mechanic on December 17, 2021 with 0 Comment

Accessory Belt

You know that long belt that snakes around the front of your engine? It’s called the serpentine belt. The belt’s driven by the engine as it turns. It powers your alternator, air conditioning compressor, and power steering pump. On some vehicles it also runs the water pump, radiator fan, and power brakes. Sounds like a lot of important stuff doesn’t it? They should call it the Accessory Belt!

If your serpentine belt were to break, your battery would die in a few miles. If it runs your fan or water pump, your engine could overheat. And steering and braking could be more difficult. Obviously, the best thing is to replace your serpentine belt before it breaks.

Check your owner’s manual for when it’s recommended to replace your serpentine belt – or just ask your service advisor. He can inspect the belt as well to see if it’s in trouble. You may have been told to look for cracks in your belt to see if it needs to be replaced. Of course, cracks are still a concern, but modern belt material doesn’t crack as often as old belts did. What we look for these days is the thickness of the belt. We have a special little tool that measures the depth of the grooves in the belt to see if it needs replacing.

A worn belt can slip or be misaligned, putting undue stress on the accessories it runs.

Now you can imagine it’s important for the belt to be tight, so there’s a tensioner pulley on your engine that puts pressure on the belt to keep it at the right tension. The spring on the tensioner wears out over time so we recommend replacing the tensioner pulley at the same time as the serpentine belt.

Replacing your serpentine belt on schedule, or when an inspection warrants it, will keep you from an unexpected breakdown.

Winner Of Our Grill Master Sweepstakes

Posted by Mechanic on July 6, 2021 with 0 Comment

WINNERS UPDATE:

Congratulations to Felipe Marquez, he was the winner of the Traeger Grill

Runners up who received a FREE Oil Change:
Steven Alton
Jenn Lucero
Andrew Serna

Celebrating Father’s Day All Month – This Father’s Day, we are making Dad a Grill Master whether he has skills or not! Every time you complete a repair or service at Dearholt AutoCare, we will automatically enter you to win a Tailgating Grill from Traeger. These awesome little portable grills have wood pellet smoke function that will add authentic grill master flavor to everything you cook. The more services we provide, the more entries you will automatically receive.* You can also enter by liking our post on Facebook, or visiting the shop to fill out a form. Runners up will receive a no cost standard oil change. No purchase is necessary. See shop for details.

OFFICIAL RULES

Do I need a Wheel Alignment?

Posted by Mechanic on April 9, 2021 with 0 Comment

Why total alignment?

Reduce Tire Wear – Improper alignment is a major cause of premature tire wear. Over the years, a properly aligned vehicle can add thousands of miles to tire life. Many tire are replaced prematurely du to adverse wear.
Better Gas Mileage – Gas mileage improves as rolling resistance is minimized. Total alignment sets all four tires parallel, which along with proper inflation, minimizes rolling resistance.
Improved Handling – Does your car pull to one side? Do you have to turn the steering wheel to keep your car traveling straight ahead? Many handling problems can be corrected with an alignment service.
Safer driving – A suspension system inspection is part of the alignment procedure. This allows worn parts to be detected before they fail and cause costly problems.

Our shop uses four precision cameras to measure the position and orientation of targets mounted on each wheel of your car.

The aligner uses this information to calculate your car’s current alignment measurements and then compares these measurements to the manufacturer’s OEM alignment specifications. Schedule your alignment check today.

Category: Maintenance and Service