A lot of Jetersville drivers get custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes, once they’re mounted, they just didn’t fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don’t want that.

Consulting a tire professional at Vaughan’s Car Care can ensure you get the right fit. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs in Jetersville and what you want in your new wheels.

At Vaughan’s Car Care, we advise Jetersville tire buyers that not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub.

If you don’t want to make any modifications to your minivan, you need to focus on the wheels that fit. With trucks, some Jetersville people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Jetersville people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s, like the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The minivan’s computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong speed. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your minivan’s engine control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. For information on reprogramming the engine computer, call us at 804.561.1536.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Jetersville. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your Vaughan’s Car Care tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs.

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some Amelia drivers and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us in VA.

First, if your minivan check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. Get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at Amelia highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia.

If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your Amelia service advisor to get it checked out.

Some more information from Vaughan’s Car Care on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative. Most of your minivan engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer. The computer is able to adjust many engine parameters for environmental conditions, engine condition and even the way you drive in Amelia.

In order to make these adjustments, the minivan computer relies on a network of sensors to provide data. The computer knows the proper operating range for each sensor. When a sensor reading is out of range the computer runs some tests and may turn on the Check Engine Light.

The minivan computer will also try to make adjustments to compensate for some readings. If it can do so, it’ll then turn off the Check Engine Light.

If the problem can’t be resolved then the light will remain on and you should get your minivan looked at at Vaughan’s Car Care. Your courteous service technician will plug a scanner into the on-board diagnostic port and read the trouble code stored in the computer. The trouble code will give your Vaughan’s Car Care technician a starting place as he diagnoses the cause of the problem.

At Vaughan’s Car Care, we also offer brake service and electrical system test.

Give us a call

Vaughan’s Car Care
804.561.1536
15275 Patrick Henry Hwy
Amelia, VA 23002

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Your minivan cooling system’s job is to keep your engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it’s cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the cooled mix circulates back through the minivan engine to absorb more heat.

Coolant, or antifreeze, is specially formulated to keep your engine safe in a wide range of environmental and operating temperatures in Amelia.

Without coolant, the minivan’s metal engine parts would expand so much that the engine would seize up and stop running.  Expensive parts could be broken or warp so badly they would have to be replaced at Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia. It could even be so bad that the whole engine is ruined and has to be replaced.

Also, if it’s freezing outside in Amelia, the water in your engine could freeze while your vehicle is sitting out in the VA cold. This is why you check coolant levels frequently and have your cooling system inspected for leaks. Also your manufacturer has a maintenance requirement for draining and replacing your coolant. These recommendations can vary widely, so check your Amelia owner’s manual or ask your service advisor at Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia.

The reason you need to change the coolant is that it has additives in it to protect the cooling system. As you can imagine, with all the heat, the cooling system’s a pretty harsh environment. The additives keep the fluid from becoming corrosive and damaging the radiator and other Amelia cooling system components. Over time, the additives are depleted and the coolant just has to be replaced. A simple pH test can measure the coolant’s acidity.

You may have noticed that there are different colors of antifreeze at Vaughan’s Car Care: it is very important that you use the correct type.  The different coolant types are different colors so you don’t mix them up.  Manufacturers use different materials to make the cooling system, and they require different types of antifreeze to protect them.

So check with your courteous Vaughan’s Car Care service advisor or owner’s manual for the right kind because using the wrong coolant can void the warranty for your minivan cooling system.

Ask us about power brake service, electrical system test and engine air filter.

Give us a call

Vaughan’s Car Care
804.561.1536
15275 Patrick Henry Hwy
Amelia, VA 23002

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

A lot of people in the Amelia Court House area want custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes they just don’t fit right: The tires rub in turns or over bumps. Consulting a tire professional at Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia can ensure you get the right fit for your minivan. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs and what you want in your new wheels.

Now, not every wheel can go on every vehicle. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside. If you don’t want to make any modifications to your minivan, you would need to focus on a wheel and tire combination that would fit. With trucks, some Amelia people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Amelia people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The minivan computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong sensor information. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your minivan vehicle control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. At Vaughan’s Car Care, we can give you information about control computer reprogramming.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Amelia. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your Amelia tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs – and the best way to do all this is to have your courteous Vaughan’s Car Care tire specialist see your minivan in person so mistakes are not made.

At Vaughan’s Car Care, we also offer brake service and electrical system test.

Give us a call

Vaughan’s Car Care
804.561.1536
15275 Patrick Henry Hwy
Amelia, VA 23002

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Vaughan’s Car Care’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Vaughan’s Car Care Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Vaughan’s Car Care Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Vaughan’s Car Care gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Amelia and on Amelia Court House freeways, by the way.

Vaughan’s Car Care Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your courteous Vaughan’s Car Care advisor for information.

Vaughan’s Car Care Inspections: Amelia drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Amelia. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Vaughan’s Car Care may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Vaughan’s Car Care Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Amelia auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Vaughan’s Car Care PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Vaughan’s Car Care Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Vaughan’s Car Care technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Vaughan’s Car Care Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Vaughan’s Car Care before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Vaughan’s Car Care Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Amelia motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Vaughan’s Car Care Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Vaughan’s Car Care Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Amelia.

Give us a call

Vaughan’s Car Care
804.561.1536
15275 Patrick Henry Hwy
Amelia, VA 23002

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Now when you hear “severe service”, you may think it doesn’t apply to you because you don’t feel your driving conditions are severe or extreme – it’s just normal everyday driving around Amelia Court House. At Vaughan’s Car Care, we discuss the conditions that manufacturers classify as severe so that you can make the judgment on your own driving.

• Most trips are less than four miles
• Most trips are less than ten miles and outside temperatures are below freezing in Amelia Court House
• You drive in very hot VA weather
• Driving at low speed most of the time (under 55 mph)
• Stop and go driving
• Operating your vehicle in dusty, polluted or muddy conditions
• You tow a trailer, regularly carry heavy loads or carry a car-top carrier on your minivan

Most Amelia Court House drivers operate under severe driving conditions at least some of the time. How do you know which schedule to follow for your minivan?

Carefully think about your driving conditions and decide if you should do your preventive maintenance closer to the severe service recommendation or the regular recommendation. Of course, your Vaughan’s Car Care advisor can help you with your decision.

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet Amelia conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That’s called hydroplaning. At Vaughan’s Car Care we want our customers to know that if it’s really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet Amelia roads.

So that’s why it’s so important for Amelia drivers to replace the tires on their minivans when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out tire.

And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet roads. A safe stop from VA freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

You’ve probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount.

Of course, tires are a big ticket item for Amelia car owners. Most of us want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the minivan engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.

These hot gases are about seventy percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion in your minivan. At high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.

Beaumont car owners need to know that over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won’t work well. That can lead to all of the problems I’ve already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and wasted gas.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to test the PCV valve and quick and inexpensive to replace it at Vaughan’s Car Care. Even so, it’s often overlooked because many Beaumont drivers don’t know about it.

Check your minivan owner’s manual or ask your Vaughan’s Car Care advisor. If this is the first time you’ve heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a PCV valve replacement.

Please ask us about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs.

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

In addition to just wearing out, Vaughan’s Car Care customers need to know that suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your minivan manufacturer and Vaughan’s Car Care recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your Jetersville service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around Jetersville. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your minivan dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into Vaughan’s Car Care for a suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other minivan suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well. If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at Vaughan’s Car Care.

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at Vaughan’s Car Care because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. Next, the belt powers the alternator.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. In some minivans, power steering may have an electric drive and power brakes can be vacuum driven.

And, on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump (on some cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt).

Your Vaughan’s Car Care service technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Amelia drivers should be aware that there’s a special, spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley and sometimes an extra pulley call the idler pulley. Their job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. That’s why it’s often recommended that the tensioner, and the idler pulley if so equipped, be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your minivan. And it’s not that expensive to replace at Vaughan’s Car Care – so it’s good to do so before it fails.

At Vaughan’s Car Care in Amelia VA (23002) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 804.561.1536. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.