Jimmy's Automotive Center

Get The Right Tires And Wheels At Jimmy’s Automotive Center

jimmysaut469 — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:27:42 +0000

A lot of Leicester drivers get custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes, once they’re mounted, they just didn’t fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don’t want that.

Consulting a tire professional at Jimmy’s Automotive Center can ensure you get the right fit. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs in Leicester and what you want in your new wheels.

At Jimmy’s Automotive Center, we advise Leicester tire buyers that not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub.

If you don’t want to make any modifications to your truck, you need to focus on the wheels that fit. With trucks, some Leicester people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Leicester people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s, like the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The truck’s computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong speed. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your truck’s engine control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. For information on reprogramming the engine computer, call us at 828.658.3030.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Leicester. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your Jimmy’s Automotive Center tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs.

At Jimmy’s Automotive Center in Asheville NC (28804) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 828.658.3030. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Serpentine Belt Replacement At Jimmy’s Automotive Center

jimmysaut469 — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:55:22 +0000

Today’s Jimmy’s Automotive Center article focuses on your serpentine belt. Your serpentine belt is a long belt that’s driven by your engine. It winds around several accessories that power important automotive systems. Let’s go over them.

First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. Next, the belt powers the alternator.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. In some trucks, power steering may have an electric drive and power brakes can be vacuum driven.

And, on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump (on some cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt).

Your Jimmy’s Automotive Center service technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Asheville drivers should be aware that there’s a special, spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley and sometimes an extra pulley call the idler pulley. Their job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. That’s why it’s often recommended that the tensioner, and the idler pulley if so equipped, be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your truck. And it’s not that expensive to replace at Jimmy’s Automotive Center – so it’s good to do so before it fails.

Why Is My Check Engine Light On? Jimmy’s Automotive Center Has Answers

jimmysaut469 — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:10:06 +0000

The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some Asheville drivers and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us in NC.

First, if your truck check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. Get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at Asheville highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to Jimmy’s Automotive Center in Asheville.

If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your Asheville service advisor to get it checked out.

Some more information from Jimmy’s Automotive Center on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative. Most of your truck engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer. The computer is able to adjust many engine parameters for environmental conditions, engine condition and even the way you drive in Asheville.

In order to make these adjustments, the truck computer relies on a network of sensors to provide data. The computer knows the proper operating range for each sensor. When a sensor reading is out of range the computer runs some tests and may turn on the Check Engine Light.

The truck computer will also try to make adjustments to compensate for some readings. If it can do so, it’ll then turn off the Check Engine Light.

If the problem can’t be resolved then the light will remain on and you should get your truck looked at at Jimmy’s Automotive Center. Your cheerful service technician will plug a scanner into the on-board diagnostic port and read the trouble code stored in the computer. The trouble code will give your Jimmy’s Automotive Center technician a starting place as he diagnoses the cause of the problem.

At Jimmy’s Automotive Center, we also offer air conditioning service and battery service.

Give us a call

Jimmy’s Automotive Center
828.658.3030
277 Weaverville Hwy
Asheville, NC 28804

Wheel Alignment Service At Jimmy’s Automotive Center In Asheville

jimmysaut469 — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:42:42 +0000

When all of a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Hitting a road hazard in Asheville or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday NC driving can cause your truck wheels to be out of alignment. This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear.

Here are some alignment basics from Jimmy’s Automotive Center:
The first angle is called toe: do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire.
The next angle is called camber: do the wheels tip in or out at the top.
And finally, there is castor. Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle.

The ideal alignment for your truck was designed by its engineers. Jimmy’s Automotive Center alignment service starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension – so see if anything’s bent, broken or worn out. Then the Jimmy’s Automotive Center technician will look at tire condition. From there, the truck is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels are then aligned to manufacturer’s specifications.

Your owner’s manual probably has a recommendation for how often your truck alignment should be checked – usually every couple of years. If you suspect an alignment problem with your truck, get it checked at Jimmy’s Automotive Center before you suffer expensive tire or suspension damage.

Give us a call

Jimmy’s Automotive Center
828.658.3030
277 Weaverville Hwy
Asheville, NC 28804

Viva la Differential At Jimmy’s Automotive Center

jimmysaut469 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:09:55 +0000

With front-wheel drive being so common in Asheville these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Asheville folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive truck differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for NC people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many truck differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Jimmy’s Automotive Center technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Jimmy’s Automotive Center service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Asheville four wheel drive trucks need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Jimmy’s Automotive Center at different intervals.

Your Asheville service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your truck owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Jimmy’s Automotive Center
828.658.3030
277 Weaverville Hwy
Asheville, NC 28804

On-Board Diagnostics in Asheville NC

jimmysaut469 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:29:43 +0000

Some people in Asheville NC are confused by charges for diagnostic services for a vehicle repair, even though many other services in life include diagnostic fees – things like computer service and appliance repair in Asheville.

Even when we go into the doctor for a medical problem, we’re paying her to diagnose our ailment and of course for the tests that go along with it. So receiving a diagnostic charge for a tricky automotive problem shouldn’t be a surprise.

Automotive diagnostics can cover quite a range. If you hear a noise in your brakes, a quick visual check is usually enough to know what needs to be done. If you’re having an intermittent problem with your engine, diagnosis may be much more involved.

Some think that when the check engine light comes on, the engine computer tells the technician exactly what the problem is. The reality is much different. The trouble code just tells your Asheville technician what engine parameter is out of range, not what’s causing it. Your Asheville technician at Jimmy’s Automotive Center needs to determine the underlying problem that’s causing the symptom.

As you can imagine, some automotive diagnoses are quick and easy. Others are more involved and difficult. Of course, we at Jimmy’s Automotive Center want to figure out what’s wrong with your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

Making Your Vehicle Last With Regular Service in Asheville

jimmysaut469 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:07:12 +0000

A lot of people in NC have older vehicles. They’re good commuters, grocery-getters or toy-haulers. They enjoy that fact that they’re paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their vehicles for 200,000 miles or more – as long as it’s economical to do so.

There are plenty of people in Asheville whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own cars on the road.

A common denominator is that they never skip an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine. Enough said.

There’s another reason why the scheduled oil change is so important. It’s simple – a Jimmy’s Automotive Center professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won’t get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss, let’s use brake fluid as an example, your Asheville technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair.

Your Asheville service technician will also visually inspect the vehicle for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car’s worth. And your Asheville service advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done.

Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to the dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don’t skip it.

Of course, good maintenance costs money, but it’s far cheaper than new car payments.

Give us a call to schedule your next oil change today. You can find us online at Jimmy’s Automotive Center, or you can find us in Asheville, NC 28804 at 277 Weaverville Hwy. Or simply give us a call at 828.658.3030.

Severe Driving In Alexander

jimmysaut469 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:23:47 +0000

Most Alexander motorists know that their owner’s manuals have schedules for preventive maintenance. Things like oil changes, transmission service and so on. They say you should change your oil every so many miles or after so many months. Alexander people understand this very well. What they may not know is that there are actually two service schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. The mileage and time intervals are lower on the severe service schedule.

Now when you hear “severe service”, you may think it doesn’t apply to you because you don’t feel your driving conditions are severe or extreme – it’s just normal everyday driving around Alexander. At Jimmy’s Automotive Center, we discuss the conditions that manufacturers classify as severe so that you can make the judgment on your own driving.

Most trips are less than four miles

Most trips are less than ten miles and outside temperatures are below freezing in Alexander

You drive in very hot NC weather

Driving at low speed most of the time (under 55 mph)

Stop and go driving

Operating your vehicle in dusty, polluted or muddy conditions

You tow a trailer, regularly carry heavy loads or carry a car-top carrier on your truck

Most Alexander drivers operate under severe driving conditions at least some of the time. How do you know which schedule to follow for your truck?

Carefully think about your driving conditions and decide if you should do your preventive maintenance closer to the severe service recommendation or the regular recommendation. Of course, your Jimmy’s Automotive Center advisor can help you with your decision.

Auto Repair Ethics In Alexander

jimmysaut469 — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:12:01 +0000

We’re going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair in Alexander. Unfortunately, every profession has some bad actors that hurt the reputation of everyone else. It’s no different in the Alexander area.

In the automotive world, Alexander industry associations and NC professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards.

Yet some people are still uncomfortable with automotive service and repair in Alexander.

If we understand what’s recommended and the benefits of taking care of the work – and the pitfalls of putting it off – we’ll have more trust in the recommendation. So communication is key. It’s like going to the doctor. If she’s using medical jargon and takes a lot of basic medical knowledge for granted, we have a hard time following her train of thought. We understand It can be like that with your service advisor at Jimmy’s Automotive Center, too. He’s so familiar with all things automotive, he may forget you don’t know a PCV from an EGT.

If you don’t understand what your doctor’s talking about: ask some questions. If you don’t understand what your Alexander automotive advisor at Jimmy’s Automotive Center is talking about: ask some questions.

Let’s go back to those ethical standards. When we hear a repair recommendation, we always ask ourselves, “Is this really necessary?” Well, here’s the industry standard:

If a Alexander auto technician tells you that a repair or replacement is required, it must meet one of the following criteria:

1. The part no longer performs its intended purpose;
2. The part does not meet a design specification;
3. The part is missing.

For example, it you take your car in for a grinding noise when you step on the brakes, you may just think you need new brake pads. After the inspection, the technician says that you have a cracked rotor and need to replace it. If you tried to get him to just put new pads on, he would say that if you didn’t want to replace the rotor, he would ethically have to refuse the repair. To just put pads on a cracked rotor would have been very wrong. The brakes could’ve failed at anytime: they needed to be repaired – not just have a band-aid slapped on them.

Now, looking at something not so serious, Jimmy’s Automotive Center may suggest repair or replacement if:

1. The part is close to the end of its useful life – just above discard specifications or likely to fail soon;
2. To address a customer need or request – like for better ride or increased performance;
3. To comply with maintenance recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer;
4. Based on the technician’s informed experience.

Of course, Jimmy’s Automotive Center has the burden of making ethical recommendations and properly educating their customers. For the customer, if you are uncomfortable with a recommendation, ask some questions. More information is always a good thing.

PCV Valve Service in Asheville NC

jimmysaut469 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:55:15 +0000

The NC push for fuel economy has the benefit of using less gas as well as fewer emissions in our local Asheville environment. Cars and trucks run cleaner than ever.

Many people in the Asheville area may not realize that the first federally mandated pollution control device was in 1960: the PCV valve.

‘PCV’ stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and where the engine oil lives. When fuel is burned in the engine some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase.

Now this gas is about 70 percent unburned fuel. If it were allowed to remain in the crankcase, it would contaminate the oil and quickly turn it to sludge. Sludge is like Vaseline and clogs passages in the engine leading to damage.

Also, the pressure build up would blow out seals and gaskets. In the old days, there was just a hose that vented the crankcase out into the air. Obviously, not good for the environment.

Enter the PCV valve. It’s a small, one-way valve that lets out the gases from the crankcase, and routes them back into the air intake system where can be re-burned in the engine.

As you might imagine, the valve gets gummed up over time. If you skip oil changes now and then, the PCV valve gets gummed up even faster. If the PCV valve is sticking you could have oil leaks. Fortunately, the PCV valve is very inexpensive to replace. Some can even be checked for function by your technician.

Manufacturer’s usually recommend they be changed somewhere between twenty and fifty thousand miles. Unfortunately, PCV valve replacement is left out of some owner’s manuals, so you may need to ask your service advisor.

Come down to Jimmy’s Automotive Center and have us take a look at the condition of your PCV valve to ensure you are running at top efficiency. Just come by our service station in Asheville, NC 28804, or give us a call at 828.658.3030.