Expert Advice

A generation ago, Washington DC auto owners seemed to be more inclined to keep their vehicle’s preventive maintenance on schedule. One reason for this may be that vehicles back then were a lot less reliable than they are today. Having your late model vehicle in to your Washington DC shop every year or two for repairs seemed to be a good reminder to keep the oil changed.

Some of us Washington DC motorists just love tires. All those little rubber hairs on new tires and the smell is wonderful. No matter how you drive between Washington DC and the DC metro area, where you want to go or the look you’re after, there is a tire for you.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the high nighttime accident rate in the greater Washington DC metro area, things like drowsy driving and a higher rate of impaired driving. Without a doubt, visibility is a major contributor. Let’s focus on visibility…

When your late model vehicle has a problem, or just needs some routine service, you might get a little nervous. Your car’s so important to your life in Washington DC, you need to back on the road as soon as possible – with the problem fixed right the first time.

The drive train in your vehicle includes all the vital components that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. Those components differ depending on what type of vehicle you drive, namely, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The drive train service your vehicle needs will also differ by what type of vehicle you drive.

Virtually all vehicles come with power steering. Many Washington DC motorists have never driven a car or truck without it. Power steering assists you when you turn your late model vehicle steering wheel. Without it, it would be very hard to steer.

The transmission system in your vehicle allows you to change gears. Lower gears are power gears. They get your vehicle moving and get it up hills. Higher gears get the vehicle up to speed and get it rolling faster. If you have a standard transmission, then you have to do the work of shifting gears yourself.

There have been great strides in headlight technology in recent years and DC car owners are safer at night because of it. Good headlights improve visibility and peripheral vision, enabling you to see farther and wider. The more you can see, the quicker you can react to road conditions. This is essential because nearly half of traffic fatalities take place at night.

Part of the engineering that goes into designing a vehicle is testing the components to ensure that they meet durability and safety standards. Because of this, manufacturers have a good idea as to how long the parts in your vehicle will last under normal driving conditions. They give us guidelines to follow regarding inspection and maintenance schedules for our late model vehicles.