• The right time to change your oil. - Read this MEMA special report entitled, "The Reality of the 3,000 Oil Change" dated May 2005. It contains important information about just how long it is advisable to go between oil changes.

• Q: Why should I go to a general repair shop instead of a quick oil change center? They do a lot of maintenance services there.
  
  A: Quick oil change shops do not necessarily, and usually do not employ state or nationally certified mechanics. This means that they are barely capable of performing the services that they offer. According to state laws, the maintenance work performed at these facilities does not require mechanic certification.
  
  It has been our experience here at Carter's Auto Service, Inc.that many of these workers are in the habit of over-tightening oil pan drain plugs because they do not know how tight is tight. Even do-it-yourselfers don't usually run into that kind of problem.
  
  Beware of receiving a checklist from the oil change shops that reflects the many items they were capable of checking. Because they are uncertified, these workers will often overlook needed maintenance items simply because of their lack of expertise. The result can be catastrophic in some cases.
  
  Oil change shops often never check battery water levels, yet many modern batteries are not maintenance free. Instead, they will want to sell you a new battery.
  
  Most of us are not in the habit of looking in our owner's manuals to see what kinds of maintenance schedules our vehicles have. Feel free to call Carter's Auto Service, Inc. and we can advise you in these matters. We have all of the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedules on hand.

• Edmunds hired a guy to go undercover into car dealerships to expose the tricks and corruption. For some VERY interesting reading, find the story at this link - Confessions of a Car Salesman
  

• Want to know how to avoid Auto Repair Rip-Offs, misconceptions and costly mistakes.?

• I see that Toyota is, once again, a very responsible company. There have been only 2 minor accidents reported in the US and that is enough to cause them to issue a recall announcement . Toyota has not yet even calculated what it will cost the company.
  Read more at this SUV site.

• If you are experiencing drivability problems try switching brands of gasoline. Be knowledgeable about what is in gas and how it affects the performance of your engine.  Stop by or give us a call 734-665-5205 and ask for the info about good gas. Carter's Auto Repair Service enjoys helping you stay informed and up-to-date with current issues about gasoline composition.
  
  TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is a recently established new standard for gasoline performance. Visit their site to learn more and find the list of retailers.

• Ethanol - Energy independence? - The Ethanol Mythl John says, "My biggest concern is that we pushed the price of corn so high that people in South America are starving to death as a direct result. Ethanol causes a quick buildup of gunk on the inside of the engine and, if not cleaned out regularly can lead to expensive major repairs."
  

• Future Fuels - The Other Ethanol
  

• More about ethanol production and the possibility of affecting the price of food. Corn Based Ethanol A Case Study in the Law of Unintended Consequences.

• Many technicians use sanding discs when removing and replacing engine gaskets.  This can result in particles from the sandpaper remaining in the engine.  The engine often will fail in a short amount of time as a result.  Carter's Auto Repair Service takes every precaution to avoid this situation.

• Have you called the dealership to check about recalls?  There are a variety of reasons you may not have received a notice about factory recalls for your vehicle.  It is smart to call a dealership for your vehicle to check.  All you need is the vehicle number of your car.
  ..
• Go to  www.nhtsa.dot.gov  NHTSA -National Highway Traffic Safety Association has a lot of interesting information, including a section on recalls. You can search the database of recalled automobiles in a variety of ways that I am sure you will find useful.
  

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