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Archive for July 2018

Automotive Tips from Steve & Stacy's Servicenter: Tire Replacement Overview

Posted July 29, 2018 3:12 AM

Tires are an expensive purchase, so knowing when tires should be replaced is important for Charleston drivers. Tires will just wear out with normal use. The depth of the tread on your tire determines how well it will stop, start and steer – especially in wet conditions. 4/32th of an inch (3.2 mm) of tire tread is considered a safe amount of tread.

Uneven tread wear can be a symptom of other problems, and simply replacing your tires will not prevent the same uneven wear from happening to the new tires. At Steve & Stacy's Servicenter in Charleston, we can inspect your tires for excessive or uneven wear. Unusual wear may lead to further inspection of steering, suspension or alignment problems. We can help with necessary repairs and with getting you the right tires for your needs.

Give us a call.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter
130 Virginia Street W
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 343-4611
http://www.steveandstacysservicenter.com



Technician Training at Steve & Stacy's Servicenter

Posted July 24, 2018 2:04 AM

Your vehicle is important to you, and keeping it running properly is important to your lifestyle. That's why you're smart enough to have it serviced regularly at Steve & Stacy's Servicenter in Charleston. And even though it may just be routine maintenance, you want it done right by automotive professionals.

It's also very important to your Charleston service center to keep you happy and on the road. You might be surprised at the amount of money our Charleston auto service center spends annually to make sure our friendly and knowledgeable technicians are properly trained.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter offers a variety of automotive services for many kinds of vehicles. We need to be current on the latest techniques and parts so that we can give you quality service. Our Charleston service centers subscribe to data services that list the high quality parts and fluids recommended by your manufacturer.

And each service has a checklist of standard procedures. Steve & Stacy's Servicenter technicians follow these procedures so they can safely deliver a consistent level of high-quality service.

Some services at Steve & Stacy's Servicenter require the use of specialized equipment. Steve & Stacy's Servicenter technicians are trained extensively on this equipment so that they can service your car quickly and efficiently.

Classroom, video and hands-on training is provided by the company and outside trainers. It's not only important that friendly and knowledgeable technicians be able to perform a given task, they also need to be thoroughly trained in inspection and diagnostic techniques. One of the great services they perform is to detect potential problems before they become serious.

The automotive service industry has standards for classifying and communicating problems. For example, it's one thing to learn that your manufacturer recommends that you change your serpentine belt every 30,000 miles/48,000 km and another to learn that the belt is on the verge of failure. These standards help you understand the urgency of recommendations, letting you make better automotive service decisions.

WV folks may be interested to know that service technicians (including those at Steve & Stacy's Servicenter) are trained in compliance with federal and local Charleston laws and regulations, including environmental regulations regarding the disposal of used parts and fluids.

It's the goal of Steve & Stacy's Servicenter to provide fast, courteous service. You should feel free to ask your friendly and knowledgeable technician or one of the managers about your service or for more information about their recommendations.

At Steve & Stacy's Servicenter, well-trained service providers, established procedures, industry standards and, of course, great people, combine to give you the best auto service in Charleston.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter
130 Virginia Street W
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 343-4611
http://www.steveandstacysservicenter.com



Steve & Stacy's Servicenter Helps You Decipher the Menu Board: Part 2

Posted July 17, 2018 5:51 AM

WV service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some Charleston drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter fuel system cleaning: Over time, the vehicle fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas, by the way.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. It's usually good to change them every year or so.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter inspections: Charleston drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they're going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle's ready for a WV summer or winter. Maybe they just bought a used vehicle and want to give it the once over. An inspection may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter oil change: There are several options: Some Charleston centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. In my way of thinking, the full service option is best because it makes sure you have adequate fluids and may uncover an emerging problem. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter PCV valve replacement in Charleston: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It's a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. It just needs to be changed now and then.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter power steering service: Often overlooked. Your friendly and knowledgeable Steve & Stacy's Servicenter technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the vehicle system running well for a long time.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter serpentine belt service: That's the belt that powers the vehicle engine's accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You'll want to replace the serpentine belt before it breaks, because that'll shut you down.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter shocks and struts: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Charleston drivers don't notice when it's time to change them. If they're worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter transmission service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It's like an oil change for your transmission.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter tire rotation and wheel balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter
130 Virginia Street W
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 343-4611
http://www.steveandstacysservicenter.com



Relax When the Wind Blows in WV: Winter Car Prep for Charleston Drivers

Posted July 9, 2018 6:57 AM

When autumn comes around in Charleston, leaves fall, nights get longer and there's a definite nip in the air. Time to unpack the boots and gloves and fold some extra blankets onto the beds. It's also time for Charleston drivers to winterize their vehicles.

Here is some expert auto advice for Charleston drivers on what vehicles need to keep everyone safe and rolling throughout the WV winter months.

1. Check your antifreeze. Top it off or change it if necessary. You don't want your radiator, engine or hoses freezing up. If your vehicle isn't generating enough heat to keep you warm, your antifreeze might be low, or you might have a thermostat problem. Either way, you should get it checked out before the full force of WV winter sets in. If you are due for a cooling system service at Steve & Stacy's Servicenter in Charleston, get that done as well.

2. Check your brakes. The slushy wet conditions of winter increase stopping distances. Ice exacerbates the problem. Your first concern, of course, is to make sure you adapt your driving habits to winter weather: slow down, and give yourself plenty of room to stop. Get your brakes checked at Steve & Stacy's Servicenter and replace any worn pads or other parts. Check your brake fluid. It can accumulate moisture and decrease your stopping power.

3. Test your battery. A battery's cranking power drops in the cold, so if your battery is already weak, the onset of winter will do it in. The last thing you want is to be on a snowy WV road in the dark and cold with a dead battery.

4. Pack emergency supplies. Toss a blanket into the trunk. If you do find yourself stranded, your first concern will be to stay warm. If you're traveling away from WV population centers, then pack some emergency food and water as well. Also, it's a good idea to top off your tank in winter. That way, if you get stuck, you'll have some fuel to burn to stay warm, and it'll keep your gas lines from freezing up.

5. Check your wiper blades. They may be able to handle a light Charleston summer rain shower, but they might not be up to the ice and snow that collect on a windshield in winter. If you experience particularly harsh winters or really wet ones, you can purchase special blades that resist freezing. And don't forget to top off your wiper fluid.

6. Check your tires. Tires lose pressure over time, but they lose pressure fast when it's cold outside in Charleston. Tires lose about one pound of pressure every six to eight weeks; they also lose one pound of pressure for every 10°F/5.6°C drop in temperature. If the last time you checked your tires it was 80°F/26.7°C outside and it's 40°F/4.4°C now, your tires could be down five pounds in pressure — and that's serious. It's a safety issue and cuts down on your fuel economy.

7. Driving conditions in the Charleston area may warrant special winter tires. Check with your friendly and knowledgeable Steve & Stacy's Servicenter tire professional to get the right tires for your area and for your driving habits. If you are getting winter tires, it's always best to get them for all four wheels. But if you're only going to get two, put them on the rear wheels, even if you drive a front-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle. Traction is more important on the rear of a vehicle if you want to prevent sliding or fish-tailing on slick surfaces.

So there you have it: a quick checklist to winterize your car in WV. When it comes to car care, preventive maintenance is always the best practice for Charleston drivers, especially when it comes to winter weather. None of us want to be caught out in the winter cold.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter
130 Virginia Street W
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 343-4611
http://www.steveandstacysservicenter.com



Automotive Tips from Steve & Stacy's Servicenter: Making Your A/C System Last Longer

Posted July 3, 2018 9:48 AM

Charleston drivers know that if their air conditioning system isn’t making cool air like it used to, there is a problem. It may be as simple as adding more of the right kind of refrigerant.

Your A/C requires special compressor oil, which circulates through the system along with the refrigerant, to lubricate and protect expensive components and keep seals and gaskets from drying out. If refrigerant has leaked out – so has the compressor oil. This oil needs to be replenished whenever refrigerant is added.

An air conditioning inspection at Steve & Stacy's Servicenter will uncover any potential problems and identify any necessary repairs needed to get Charleston drivers on the road to cool air once again.

Give us a call.

Steve & Stacy's Servicenter
130 Virginia Street W
Charleston, WV 25302
(304) 343-4611
http://www.steveandstacysservicenter.com



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What our clients are saying about us

We have established longterm and stable partnerships with various clients thanks to our excellence in solving their automotive needs!

always very friendly quotes-image
, 03/27/2024
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Customer service was excellent. Friendly and courteous. I had my transmission hose and clamp detached Also needed a serpentine belt. The service was fast. I was kept informed of additional cost of repairs.quotes-image
, 03/01/2024