Why Is Maintenance Important?
Your vehicle has hundreds of moving parts all working together. Through normal driving over time, some of these parts simply wear out or no longer perform the way they should. To make sure that your vehicle is running at its best, your vehicle manufacturer recommends that certain parts and systems are checked at certain intervals. By following their recommendations, more costly repairs down the road may be avoided. At Rick Ridings Auto Care, we follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. When a maintenance service is suggested based on the mileage or age of your vehicle, our auto care advisors will explain what each maintenance service includes and why it is important for the health of your vehicle.

At Rick Ridings Auto Care, we offer the Maintenance Services that your vehicle manufacturer recommends to keep your vehicle running as it should. See an auto care advisor for the recommended maintenance services recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.

Oil Change
Your engine is the heart of your vehicle. And as your engine runs, hundreds of moving parts are working together to make your vehicle move. Changing your oil according to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation is perhaps the single most important maintenance that you can perform to keep your vehicle running. As the parts in your engine work together, they create tremendous heat through friction. Without oil, the heat would actually melt these parts together. By having oil in your vehicle, it keeps the moving parts of your engine lubricated and reduces the heat. Motor oil also contains special additives to help the engine work more efficiently. Through normal driving, the constant heat in the engine begins to break down the oil. Over time, small bits of debris and dirt can get into the oil making it less slippery so that it doesn’t protect the engine as well. To make sure your engine is protected at all times, your vehicle manufacturer recommends changing the oil and oil filter regularly. This will keep your engine working its best and may avoid costly repairs down the road. At Rick Ridings Auto Care, we have several oil change services to protect your engine:

Premium Oil Change $14.95
Our value-priced service:
• install new filter
• install up to 5 quarts of Mobile Synthetic Blend motor oil
• lubricate chassis (if necessary)
• top off all fluids
• check air and cabin filters
• inspect tires
• check belt and hoses
• test battery
• free inspection


Vehicle Inspection
Proper, periodic inspections of your vehicle’s major operating systems are the best way to reduce the chances of unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs.At Rick Ridings Auto Care your vehicle receives a free courtesy check every time you visit.
This free check includes a visual inspection of:
• tires
• suspension
• lights
• fluid levels
• wipers
• belts
• battery
• hoses
• and more
At regular intervals, your vehicle manufacturer also recommends a more complete inspection of the major systems. For this more in-depth check of your vehicle, we offer a Complete Vehicle Inspection. In addition to the visual courtesy check, we perform a hands-on inspection of the brake, steering/suspension and exhaust systems to make sure they meet the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. Ask an auto care advisor for a complimentary printout of your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. Following this schedule will help keep your vehicle running properly and spot any problems before they become costly repairs.

Transmission Service
Repairing or replacing your transmission can be one of the most expensive repairs you may have to make on your vehicle. Maintaining your transmission according to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, not only prolongs its life but it can prevent a costly repair or breakdown in the future. Of all the systems in your vehicle, the transmission is one of the most complicated. It uses a complex system of hydraulics and gears to transfer power from your engine to your wheels. As you can imagine, with all the work and shifting that happens when you drive, a lot of heat is created inside the transmission. To help maintain a safe and constant operating temperature, your vehicle uses transmission fluid to cool and lubricate the moving parts. The fluid reduces the amount of potentially damaging heat inside the transmission and helps increase the life of this important system. Because some of the ingredients in the transmission fluid break down over time due to this heat, many vehicle manufacturers recommend the fluid be replaced at specified maintenance intervals. Traditional transmission service only drains and replaces about 40% of the total fluid in the transmission. Partial fluid replacement may lead to increased heat build up and transmission failure in the future. At Rick Ridings Auto Care, we follow your vehicle’s manufacturer’s recommended service interval to perform a complete transmission flush to remove all the fluid. Then, we replace it with new, clean transmission fluid. The result is a transmission that will be clean, cool and lubricated, providing reliable service for miles to come. Ask an auto care advisor when your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends this maintenance.

Transmission Flush Service $149.95
Prices may vary depending on model

Radiator Service
Cooling system failure is the number one cause of vehicle breakdowns. Because there are often no visible warning signs of deterioration, radiator and cooling system maintenance service is frequently overlooked by vehicle owners. Your engine is constantly burning fuel and therefore gets very hot. In fact, the temperatures inside the combustion chamber may reach 4,500°F. It is the job of the cooling system to carry this potentially harmful heat away from the engine to the outside air. To do this, a coolant mixture of water and antifreeze is circulated through the engine block. The coolant absorbs heat from the engine and is pumped by the water pump through hoses to the radiator. Once the radiator transfers the heat from the engine to the outside air, the coolant circulates back to the engine and the cycle begins again. To keep this important system working properly, vehicle manufacturers recommend that this system be serviced at specified time or mileage intervals. Over time, the rust inhibitors and additives in the coolant may lose their anti-corrosive properties leaving particles and debris to build up within the system. These contaminants can block passages within the radiator and reduce its ability to keep the engine running at the optimal temperature. To remove this build-up, many service providers perform a radiator “ drain-and-fill.” At Rick Ridings Auto Care, we perform a Radiator Flush which removes virtually all of the old coolant and contaminants in your radiator and replaces it with new or recycled coolant. This will keep your cooling system working properly and will protect your vehicle for miles to come.

Cooling system/Radiator Flush $89.95
Our Radiator Service includes:
• inspection of your radiator system and pressure test for any leaks
• adding flush chemicals to the radiator
• power flushing the system
• refilling radiator system, up to 1 gal. additional coolant extra
• adding lubricant to the system

Tune-up Service
Your car's engine is made up of hundreds of complex components working together to ensure that your vehicle starts and runs properly. Over time, however, these components can wear out, resulting in a loss of performance and fuel economy. Here you'll learn what a "tune-up" is, and tips to help you know when it's time for a tune up. The technicians at Rick Ridings Auto Care are trained to work on today's high tech engines. We're here to help maintain your vehicle and extend its life.

What is a Tune-Up?

The nature of an engine "tune-up" has changed considerably over the years, but the basics of how a gasoline engine works has not. Clean gas and air needs to be driven to the vehicle's cylinders where combustion initiated by a spark plug creates the power necessary to move a heavy vehicle. Clogged fuel injectors, dirty air and fuel filters, and corroded spark plugs can all decrease engine performance and contribute to decreased gas mileage and performance. That's why we examine your vehicle's air filter when your stop in, and why we recommend that you follow manufacturer's recommendations for replacing such key components as fuel filters, PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valves, and spark plugs when they are no longer working at maximum efficiency.

Time for a Tune-Up?
	It may be time for a "tune-up" if you notice one or more of the conditions below when starting or driving your vehicle: A decrease in gas mileage A noticeable loss in power Your engine running "rough" or stalling when at a stop Engine "knocking" when accelerating or running-on after the ignition is turned off Your "Check Engine" or "Service Engine" light remaining on after initial start-up

Rick Ridings Auto Care Suggestions

A standard tune-up, or spark plug replacement, done at the suggested maintenance interval will make an engine easier to start, improve fuel economy, lower emissions and restore lost power. Another (often overlooked) service designed to help your vehicle's engine running properly is the cleaning of fuel injectors and the fuel intake system. When dirt and deposits collect on fuel injectors, the amount of fuel delivered to the engine is restricted, leading to deterioration in performance and responsiveness. At Rick Ridings Auto Care, our trained technicians can perform a Fuel System Cleaning that will remove these deposits and help your vehicle maximize its performance and gas mileage capabilities. Regular maintenance of your vehicle's fuel ignition system is the key to reliability, fuel efficiency, and effective engine performance. From fixing a fuel system problem when it occurs to helping you prevent one from happening in the future, the technicians at Rick Ridings Auto Care are there to keep your engine "tuned-up" and ready to go.

A/C Service
During the summer months, the temperature inside of a vehicle sitting in the sun can easily reach 130°F or more. Keeping you and your passengers comfortable during the hottest weather is the job of your automobile’s air conditioning system. The air conditioning system works by removing the heat from air inside your vehicle and transferring that heat to the outside air. What is left when the heat and humidity have been removed is cooler, more comfortable air. To remove the heat, the system relies on several key components including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, pressurized refrigerant, valves and hoses– all controlled electronically. For this system to work correctly and be ready for the hot weather, it needs to be free from leaks so that the refrigerant stays in the system. Although A/C systems are resistant to leaks and contamination, they are not leak-proof. Over time, contamination or leaks can appear and affect the cooling performance of your A/C system. In fact, the most common cause of inadequate cooling is when the refrigerant leaks through worn seals and o-rings, loose fittings and connections. To make sure all the parts and components of your A/C system are working properly, we recommend having your A/C system checked at the beginning of the warm season. Your auto care advisor can recommend an A/C Performance Check to test for any worn hoses or seals, leaks or contamination and to make sure your vehicle is ready for the warm weather. It is important to note that some refrigerants used in automotive A/C systems are considered harmful to the environment. At Rick Ridings Auto Care, we take great care to protect the environment while we are servicing the system


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