General Auto Repair Services

Brake Fluid Flush

Brake fluid is a weird substance. It’s “Hygroscopic” meaning that it absorbs water out of the air. Leave a bottle open for more than a few hours and you might as well toss it. Your brake system is sealed to prevent the brake fluid from becoming contaminated with water, but over time it still pulls water though the rubber hoses and seals. Having water in the system causes the internal parts of the braking system to deteriorate. Plus, the water can boil causing brake failure. For this reason, we recommend completely flushing out the old brake fluid and replacing it with new brake fluid every 3 years and/or each time you get a brake job.

Coolant Flush

To function properly, your cooling system needs to be clear of blockages and leak free, and the thermostat, temperature sensors, and cooling fans need to do their jobs also or your engine will overheat. The cooling system should be filled with a clean, high-quality coolant to keep everything working well. We believe that flushing the cooling system regularly is an inexpensive way to prevent costly repairs, and thus Suburban Tire Auto Repair Centers recommends replacing your engine coolant every 30,000 miles.

If you want to extend the coolant exchange interval beyond our 30,000-mile recommendation, we suggest a check of the coolant with a test strip to check its PH and to see if any chemical markers are in the coolant that indicate that internal parts are dissolving.

Power Steering Flush

Power steering fluid is critical to the easy smooth driving experience found in today’s vehicles.

It functions to lubricate the system and is pressurized by the power steering pump to makes it easier to turn. Over time the power steering fluid can become contaminated, and leaks can develop. This can damage the power steering system, so we check the power steering fluid as part of our Liquid Gold Oil Change service.

To eliminate contaminants, we recommend exchanging the old power steering fluid with new fluid every 2 years. This will help keep the rack and pinion and the power steering pump in good condition and can give a smoother feel to the steering wheel as it is turned.

Transmission Fluid Flush

In vehicles with an automatic transmission, the transmission gears are moved by a hydraulic system powered by pressurized transmission fluid moving through the transmission system.In addition to powering the transmission, the transmission fluid also provides cooling and cleaning functions, and prevents grinding of internal gears.

Over time, doing all this work breaks down the transmission fluid, causing it to lose its cooling, cleaning, and lubricating properties. This spells big trouble for your transmission if it goes on for too long. That is why Suburban Tire Auto Repair Centers recommends doing a transmission fluid exchange every 30,000 miles. restoration services so you can have the best possible visibility when you are on the road.

Transfer Case & Differential Fluids

The power generated by your car’s engine revving several thousand times per minute is sent to the transmission where a series of gears converts the high RPMS to usable power for the wheels. On rear wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and 4×4 vehicles, this power is then transferred from the transmission to the wheels by the transfer case and the differentials (which make your tires spin at different rates when you go around corners). The transfer case and differential are usually lubricated with very thick gear lube, which should be replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles (check your owner’s manual). If you tow a boat and sometimes have the back end of your truck in the drink, you may want to consider changing the differential fluid more often. Same for Jeeps, which seem to need this service more often than other vehicles.

Serpentine Belt Replacement

Your vehicles serpentine belt runs a variety of things, including the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, and A/C compressor. It’s designed to last a long time, typically 60,000 to 100,000 miles. But over time heat and friction eventually cause them to break down. Look closely at an old belt and you’ll see that the ridges are worn down, and the rubber may be cracked, glazed, or fraying.

We check serpentine belts for signs of wear as part of our Liquid Gold Oil Change Service and if we see trouble ahead, we will alert you to it. But if your vehicle has over 60,000 miles and you have not replaced it, have us check it out. It is typically not an expensive repair – usually between $140 and $180 – and should not take too long to replace.

Spark Plug Replacement

Your engine needs three things to run, spark, fuel, and air. Without the spark, you got a puddle of gas in your combustion chamber. The spark plugs must fire in sync with the input of the fuel and the air mixture into the cylinder in every chamber, completely igniting the fuel and air mixture or the engine will not run correctly, and you will get poor fuel economy.

If your engine performance and fuel economy have suffered recently, stop by to have one of our Master Technicians check your spark plugs. They should be a light tan color near the tip of the plug. If the tips are fouled with carbon build up, the fuel in the chamber won’t ignite properly. Replacing the spark plugs will restore the engines performance and fuel economy, and reduce you carbon emissions.

Timing Belt Replacement

The timing belt is a rubber belt that synchronizes the movement of the crankshaft, camshafts, pistons, and valves. Because it is made of rubber, it wears down over time, eventually breaking. If it breaks, the engine will stop the engine will be severely damaged, so it is critical to replace your timing belt per your vehicle manufacturers recommends. This is typically every 60,000 to 120,000 miles but check your owner’s manual to confirm.

The water pump is often replaced at the same time as the timing belt, as they tend to wear out at about the same time in the life of the vehicle, and the water pump is usually removed when the timing belt is replaced. Timing belt replacement is a significant job, one that should not be trusted to a rookie. Our Master Technicians specialize in this kind of work so give us a call if your odometer says its time.

Tune Ups

Tune-ups bring back the efficiency and power that your car may have lost over the years. You’ll find your engine starts easier, runs smoother, and is more efficient, with lower emissions, improved fuel economy, and more giddyup. But tune ups on today’s vehicles are not a one size fits all proposition. For your vehicle to get the best possible fuel economy and performance, the fuel injectors, air filters, fuel filters, and spark plugs all need to be clean and in good condition. When you drop your car with us for a tune-up, we may find it need some of these items, and others it will not. We will have one of our expert technicians check these items, inspect the engine, analyze the vehicle’s drivability, and fine tune the functioning of the engine as needed.

Our checklist includes a wide range of preventative maintenance and engine system restorations, so our final recommendations will vary from vehicle to vehicle based on its age, mileage, and manufacturer recommendations. That is why we typically do not quote a standard price for this service until we have had a chance to thoroughly go over the vehicle.

Engine Diagnostics

When your vehicle’s Check Engine Light comes to life, you can’t just ignore the issue. The light goes on when a critical mass of Diagnostic Trouble Codes are triggered by one or more vehicle malfunctions. It could be lots of little problems, or one biggie. The only way to find out is to get the problem diagnosed by one of the expert technicians at Suburban Tire Auto Repair Centers. We have the tools necessary to talk to your engine’s computer to find out which components are malfunctioning. This is where other shops stop looking and throw a part on. Our technicians look further, using their years of expertise to narrow the search, and then checking and rechecking your vehicle until the cause of the malfunction is found.

So, if your Check Engine Light is on, or your car is not running right, come visit the knowledgeable experts at any Suburban Tire Auto Repair Center in the Chicagoland area so we can help you solve the problem.