TO Haas Tire & Auto | Tires Lincoln, NE | Car Repair & Maintenance Lincoln, NE

The 21st Century Tuneup

Times are changing...cars are changing. One of the biggest changes in today's automotive industry is the perception of a "tune-up." Ask 10 vehicle owners their definition of a tune-up and chances are there'll be 10 different answers. The classic "tune-up" was once the heart of the automotive business and contrary to some beliefs, today's modern vehicles still need tune-ups to keep them performing at the most efficient levels.

The tune-up was historically associated with the routine replacement of key ignition system parts like spark plugs and ignition points, along with some basic adjustments to help "tune" the engine. As the pace of technology quickened, the procedures required to perform a traditional tune-up changed dramatically. Highly sophisticated ignition and fuel systems are now the norm, using one or more onboard computers to control critical engine and transmission management functions. Things that were once handled mechanically are now controlled electronically through the widespread use of onboard computer technology.

"There is a misconception that today's modern vehicles don't need tune-ups because they never break down, but that simply is not true," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "If you're at work and your computer goes down, you can't get any more work done. It's the same with your vehicle. If the vehicle isn't being properly maintained, you're not going to get where you want to go."

As part of the 21st Century Tune-up on today's modern vehicles, the following systems should be inspected:

battery, charging and starting
engine mechanical
powertrain control (including onboard diagnostic checks)
fuel
ignition
emissions

Tune-ups should be performed for improved performance, maintaining reliability, planning a vacation and preparing for winter/summer.

"The 'Be Car Care Aware' campaign is about helping motorists make informed decisions about their vehicles' care and maintenance," said White. "With the 21St Century Tune-up, we will continue to help vehicle owners make great strides in reducing vehicle neglect."

Alignment

Wheel alignments are the specific adjustments made to your vehicle's suspension to optimize ride, handling and steering characteristics. Each manufacturer specifies precise settings to achieve the maximum performance from their vehicle.

Maintaining the factory-specified suspension setting will make your car safer

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Brake Service

When it comes to vehicle safety, brakes top the list of vehicle operating systems that need to be routinely inspected. A properly operating brake system helps ensure safe vehicle operation and control under a variety of conditions. However, many people are unaware of the signs and symptoms that their brake system may need maintenance or repair.

T.O.'s Top 10 Signs of Brake Wear
- High pitched squealing
- Vibration in the steering wheel when

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Starting & Charging

Contrary to popular belief, summer is the season for major car-battery problems. Heat, not cold, shortens battery life.

Excessive heat and overcharging are the two main reasons for shortened battery life. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, this damaging the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate. That's slow death for a battery.

True, there are more road service calls in cold weather for dead batteries that cause starting failure. That's when a battery's output is diminished because of sluggish electro-chemical action that gives the

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Suspension & Ride Control

Suspension and ride control are key safety-related systems - just as important as your brakes. Together, they largely determine your car’s ride and handling. Have your car’s steering and suspension systems checked regularly, at least once a year and usually with a wheel alignment.

What does it do?
The suspension maintains the relationship between the wheels and the frame or unibody. The suspension system interacts with the steering system to provide vehicle control. When working properly,

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Heating & Cooling

The engine in your car is air cooled—it uses an antifreeze/water mixture as a medium to transfer heat from the engine to the coolant and then coolant to the atmosphere through the radiator. Because this fluid is asked to do so many things and its function is to transfer heat, it has some peculiar characteristics. First of all, straight water (H2O) transfers heat well—but it boils at 212 degrees and freezes at 32 degrees—hardly acceptable by itself for this task. Automotive Engineers discovered that

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Preventive Maintenance

We understand how the ravages of time and punishing use deplete the vital fluid systems of a vehicle. That's why we want to offer you an affordable alternative to costly repairs - - our Preventative Maintenance Program. The core of this program is regularly scheduled service of vital automotive components. T.O. Haas Tire & Auto believes that ongoing cleanliness of vital lubricating and cooling fluids leads to virtually wear-free components for your vehicle. This in turn, maintains the gas-mileage, performance and emission standards of new engines, ensuring the smooth operation of components while preventing leaks and expensive repairs. The program is designed to remove harmful deposits that, over time, accumulate on the inner surfaces and in the fluid systems of vehicles. These deposits dramatically reduce the proper functioning of lubricants, coolants and fuels that rob critical systems of power, economy and longevity.

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