Automotive Services & Repairs
Services Offered
Service or “SERVICE,” that is the question. Whether it is wiser to pay a little now or a lot later, that is the answer.
What is a service? Everyone has their own concept. What often passes as a service is a minimal amount of work performed for a minimal cost at a minimal service center.
At Haik’s German Autohaus service means complete car maintenance. It does not mean merely an oil change or air filter replacement, and it is not just engine specific. A vehicle is much more than an engine, four wheels and a steering wheel. It is a complex piece of machinery with a variety of sophisticated systems: among these are the power train and wheels, brakes, steering, suspension, lighting. Each has a level of sophistication far exceeding the Gomer Pyle years. Cars since the 90’s are more electronically sophisticated than the first space shuttle that went up. To borrow a question from automotive organization: how much can a minimum-wage employee be expected to know or care for your car?
I strive to maintain the integrity of the entire vehicle with routine visual inspection of body, chassis, interior and undercarriage, adjustments where necessary, parts replacements as needed or specified, as well as fluid changes. Test drives and the reading of diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) set by your vehicle’s onboard computer are a part of each service. Whenever possible, I try to maintain or exceed a uniformity of service work set by the vehicle manufacturer. That way no one needs to guess whether something was overlooked.
Does it cost? Quality always costs, but proper maintenance will make you and others safer on the road, and in the long run will save you money.
COMPLETE CAR CARE CHECK
MAJOR SERVICE
(every 30,000 miles)
MERCEDES BENZ B SERVICE
BMW & MINI INSPECTION II
AUDI & VW 30K SERVICE
PORSCHE 30K SERVICE
At every service the entire vehicle needs to be checked. Following is a check-list:
Underside of Vehicle: Visually inspect or physically manipulate each of the following:
- Suspension System: shock absorbers, struts, mounts, ball joints, control arms, bushings, wheel bearings
- Steering System: wheels, tie rods, drag link, steering damper, idler arm, bushing, steering box, steering rack, boots, power steering pump, hoses, leaks
- Brake System: pads, discs, calipers, hoses, brake fluid color and age, leaks
- Exhaust System: holes, damage, rust, leaks, hangars
- Wheels and tires: wear, damage, nails, inflation
- Differential: fluid level, leaks
- Transmission: cooler lines, fluid level, leaks
- Power Steering: hoses, steering rack, boots, belt, leaks
- All Leaks: check and attempt to locate source: engine oil, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, gasoline, gear oil
- Belts: air conditioning, power steering, alternator, serpentine: check condition and tension
- Driveshaft, Flex Disks and Center Support: check condition
- Run engine and listen for noises
- Fuel Filter: check for leaks, age
- Oxygen Sensors: proper sealing
Under Hood: Visually inspect or physically manipulate each of the following:
- Engine Oil: before changing check level for oil burning or usage
- Battery and Charging System: load test battery, check and neutralize acid, check charging voltage and amperage
- Cooling System: color, leaks, hoses, radiator, adjust fluid level
- Transmission Fluid: level, color, leaks, cooler lines, adjust fluid level
- Brake Fluid: reservoir, color, adjust fluid level, leaks
- Power Steering System: level, color, leaks, hoses, adjust fluid level
- Windshield Washer Fluid: leaks, adjust fluid level
- Vacuum Hoses: condition
- Air Filter: dirt, dust
- Cabin Filter: check condition, dirt, dust
- Valve Covers: check leaks perimeter or into spark plug holes
Interior: Visually inspect or physically manipulate each of the following:
- Horn: operation
- Gauges: registering
- Gear Selector: loose, worn parts
- Steering Wheel: loose, smooth
- Cabin Filter: check condition, dirt dust
Exterior: Visually inspect or physically manipulate each of the following:
- Lighting System: check headlights, high beam, low beam, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, license plate lights, parking lights, backup lights
- Lighting Lenses: cracked, discolored, missing
- Wiper Blades: check condition and operation
Trunk:
- Spare Tire: check condition and inflation
- Battery: load test
Replacement and Adjustment:
- Read Trouble Codes with computer and analyze results
- Engine Oil and filter: change
- Air Filter: replace
- Tire Pressures: adjust
- Brake Fluid: top off
- Coolant: top off
- Transmission Fluid: top off
- Power Steering Fluid: top off
- Washer Fluid: top off
- Light Bulbs: replace as needed (additional cost)
- Windshield Wiper Blades: replace as needed (additional cost)
- Interior Lighting: check dome lights, door lights, glove box light, dash lights
- Heating and air conditioning System: operation
- Electric Windows and Switches: operation, smoothness
- License Plates: front, rear
- Paint and body: condition, fading, needed conditioning
- Windows: chips and cracks
- Hinges Door and Trunk: lube as needed
- Parking Brake: adjust
- Other services upon request
Additional work at customer request:
Road test:
- Test brakes, steering, transmission shift, passing gear, engine performance, vehicle tracking, vibrations, engine temperature, gauges, clutch operation, turn signal for auto-canceling
Additional Recommended Services: (Each of the following is performed at additional cost)
- Transmission fluid flush every 15K miles older vehicles, Haik’s recommendation every 40K newer vehicles
- Power Steering fluid flush every 40K, Haik’s recommendation
- Coolant flush every three years
- Brake fluid flush every two years
- Spark Plugs: replace at service intervals as factory specified (for example, after every 60,000 miles -- 60K, 120K, 180K)
- Oxygen Sensors replacement at factory service intervals or if failing
- Cabin Filters replacement if at factory service intervals or if dirty
- Differential: Gear oil change at factory service intervals (for example, after every 60,000 miles -- 60K, 120K, 180K)
Repairs Offered
- Engine Repairs: mechanical repairs, valve cover gaskets and oil leak repairs, drive belts, timing belt, pan gasket, oil pump, head gasket, valve job, complete engine replacement
- Engine Services: tune up, spark plugs, oil change, air filter
- Transmission Repairs: mechanical repairs, leak repairs
- Transmission Service: fluid, filter and gasket changes, fluid flush
- Charging System: alternator, battery, replacement and testing
- Brakes: pads, discs, sensors, calipers, hoses, master cylinder, brake fluid flush
- Clutches: clutch disc, pressure place, throw out bearing, clutch master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder
- Exhaust System: catalytic converters, muffler, oxygen sensors, pipes, hangers
- Air Conditioning: cabin filter, refrigerant charge, leak repair, hoses, compressor, receiver-dryer, condenser, evaporator, electronic climate controls
- Chassis Electrical: electric power window lifters and motors, exterior lights, interior lights, tire pressure sensors, instrument cluster
- Cooling System: radiator, water pump, thermostat, coolant change, hoses
- Power Steering: p/s pump, steering rack, steering box, steering gear, fluid flush, tie rods, drag link, steering shock
- Suspension System: shock absorbers, struts, control arms and bushings
- Self-leveling Suspension System: pump, hoses, air bellows
- Pre-purchase and Safety Check
- Diagnosis