CAR CARE TIPS BLOG

Ever wonder why “shop local” has become a phrase you hear around every corner? However trendy it is, it serves a purpose. For one, it keeps jobs local and strays away from lining the pockets of CEOs and their stockholders. With auto care, however, there’s a catch. It’s true, some options nearby are inefficiency-filled corporate entities, designed to make shareholders wealthy. However, there are many locally owned and operated options for car care as well. That begs the question - What makes Schmidt Auto Care any different than other Springboro mechanics?

Community Oriented

When it comes to suspension, our expert technicians at Schmidt Auto Care have you covered from simple to complex problems. Below we’ll walk through some of the most common suspension problems in vehicles. First, however, we’ll point out how suspensions differ in different types of vehicles and why some are so much more durable than others.

Unibody vs Body on Frame

With modern manufacturing technology, vehicles are able to be made all in one go. This means that the frame of the vehicle, holding the suspension and wheels, is made with the body which houses the cabin and engine bay. This single manufacturing process is called unibody.

This is different from the way that all vehicles used to be manufactured, but is now relegated to trucks and larger SUVS, called body-on-frame manufacturing. In this process, the skeleton of the vehicle that has the wheels and suspension is entirely separate from the portion of the vehicle with the engine and cabin.

Your safety while on the road is incredibly important. One key aspect of this safety that can be easy to overlook is the state of your tires. If you feel your vehicle jiggling, won’t drive exactly straight, veering slightly to one side or another, your tire problems could run deeper than the symptoms you notice.

Tire problems like these are caused by normal wear and tear on the tires. This includes everyday driving, large potholes, and even the unsuspecting parking lot curb! While we’ll never get to the bottom of why the planners chose to put a curb right where it makes sense to drive on the lot, we can get to the bottom of your tire problems. Depending on what’s going on with your tires, you’ll either need a tire rotation, a wheel alignment, or both. Having a little information before you reach out for your next tire service can you communicate with the mechanics better and feel more comfortable with the process.

What is Tire Rotation?

As the birds start chirping and the temperatures start climbing, it’s a great time to take a look at the state of your vehicle. You may be thinking, “I’ve made it through the rough winter months on my vehicle, why look at it now?” That’s exactly one of the main reasons that you should be taking a look at your vehicle now. A good rule of thumb is generally: if it’s time for spring cleaning, it’s usually time for a spring vehicle checkup either at home or at Schmidt Auto Care. Below you’ll find a checklist for just that, some of which you can roll your sleeves up and tackle yourself, and all of which we’re happy to handle for you at Schmidt Auto Care.

Oil Change and Oil Filter

Getting your oil and oil filter changed regularly is such an important part of vehicle maintenance that it’s a must-mention in your spring car care checklist. If you’ve been neglecting to make an appointment for an oil change in the winter months, or aren’t sure when you had your last one, now is the time to make sure that everything is in order to prevent crucial damage to your vehicle’s powertrain.

Car Battery

Have you ever been outside for too long on a cold day and had your cell phone battery die on you unexpectedly fast? How about trying to use your cell phone on a sweltering summer day and it just won’t operate? While car batteries are heftier than cell batteries, weather change can actually influence their longevity in a similar fashion. Winters that snap back and forth from cold to warm can have an especially large impact on the lifespan of a vehicle’s battery. Springtime is the time to have your vehicle’s battery examined so you don’t end up with a battery that doesn’t start because it’s too hot and worn out on a summer day. At Schmidt Auto Care we can perform tests to see whether you need a new battery and take care of the new battery replacement if necessary.