I am not a car guy.
While I appreciate a nice-looking automobile as much as the next guy, I just do not have much of a mechanical mind. And I’ve come to terms with that. But I would like to know some things to keep my cars running smoothly, because one thing is for sure: I love to travel all around.
Last summer I bought my dream car, a 2014 Subaru Forester (I know, some “dream car,” but it is my dream, so let me have it). I like to strap on my bikes and kayaks, fill the trunk with gear, and visit rugged trails and streams all over the country with dog Peggy along for the ride. I want my car to last as many years as possible, taking me on many adventures, but I am going to need some help.
When I got my Forrester, I gave my old car to my 17-year-old son, Casey. I figured, even at 260,000 miles, the 2012 Toyota Corolla still had a few adventures left in her and so far it hasn’t let Casey down. Can you believe that? 260,000 miles and it is still going strong. I can thank my mechanic, Anton Kukharev, over at Absolute Auto Repairs and Sales for that.
When I moved to the Port Matilda area, I hoped I would find a trusted mechanic nearby. I learned to trust Anton pretty quickly when I first stopped by the shop, riding on a “donut” because of a blown tire. He ordered some tires for me that would arrive the next day, but in the meantime, he put on a good used tire on at no extra cost so that I could get around.
Since then, he has been the one I trust to keep my cars running strong, and as my Corolla can attest, he has done a good job. So I asked Anton to teach me some car-care basics.
Anton took me into the shop while he was inspecting a car so he could show me some of the things he looks for under the hood. It is always fun stepping into the waiting area at Absolute Auto, because the first thing that greets customers is Anton’s dog Diesel. He always keeps me company while my car is being serviced.
Anton opened up Absolute Auto at 7980 South Eagle Valley Road in 2008. He upgraded the shop big-time in 2011, adding a second bay, higher lifts, and a comfortable waiting area.
To get things started, Anton brought the car into the garage and went through the inspection, checking off things on an iPad as we went along. Absolute takes pictures of any issues and sends them to the customers with explanations about what is going on.
For someone like me, who doesn’t know much about cars, it is nice to get a picture that my oil level is looking low or that my tires really do look pretty bald.
As we went over the car, we looked for signs of problems that could become bigger issues if not taken care of. I, like many people, tend to drive along until a problem occurs in my car; with Anton’s help, I was able to learn some things to identify problems before they escalate.
Anton started with the exterior of the car and noted that he always checks the inspection stickers.
“I can’t help it. I will be walking through a parking lot and checking stickers; I am just trained to do it,” he said with a laugh.
We looked for any crack in the windshield or mirrors, disabling damage to the exterior, and made sure all the lights were functioning properly. We did the same thing on the inside of the vehicle, checking to make sure that the mirrors, door locks, and seatbelts were all working properly.
Anton said one thing that people often overlook or are unaware of is the vehicle’s cabin filter. Sometimes he finds some pretty nasty stuff. He pulled one out of the trash that had been used as a home by mice before he replaced it. Yuck. While that is an extreme case, the filters reduce pollutants coming inside the vehicle, so they should be checked often, Anton said.
Next, we looked under the hood, checking fluid levels, the battery, belts, and more. Anton said that every time he opens up the hood of a car in his shop, he checks the engine oil.
“It doesn’t matter if you just had your oil changed, just had your car in, we are always going to pull the dipstick and inspect it,” he said. He checks to make sure the oil is clean, with no signs of sludge, and that it is at the correct level.
We also looked at the power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant to make sure they are clean and at the right level. It is important to know what color the fluids are supposed to be. For example, in the car we were looking at, the power steering fluid was a darker color than it should have been. Any sign of dirt is something to look out for.
Following the recommended schedule for oil changes and transmission fluid flushes is important to keep things lubricated running smoothly, Anton said. And while an oil change can be done at home by handy people, a transmission fluid change is a little more difficult because a pressurized machine is used to exchange the old fluid with the new. This should be done, typically, every 60,000 to 75,000 miles in most cars, he said.
“People say flush, but it really is a fluid exchange, and that does about 90 percent of the fluid. When you do a drain and refill, you do only about 30 percent of the fluid because a lot of transmission components are holding fluid and you can’t just drain them,” he said.
Anton said he makes sure the grooves in the belts look good.
“New belts don’t really crack; after a while, the belt wears out so much that you can actually see through it because the grooves get so deep,” he said.
After checking for leaks, it was time to lift the car up and take a look underneath.
Most people don’t have a lift in their garage, so this check is more difficult to do at home, but a lot can be determined about the safety of a car by looking underneath it. The first thing we did was check the steering and ball joints by trying to move them left or right to make sure they didn’t have any play.
We also checked the brakes to make sure they weren’t sticking. When the car is up on the lift, the wheels should be able to spin around without much effort; otherwise, there may be a brake problem. Anton said this should be checked every six months to be safe, because you don’t want to be driving along and have a brake or steering issue.
We also checked the tread on the tires and the brake pads, making sure they were at safe levels.
“Once the [brake pad] level gets low, you won’t stop as well because there is little lining left; the thickness of the lining plays as a cushion and you won’t stop as well. If they get too low, the rotors will probably get worn out,” said Anton. If you keep up on this, you can save on repair costs later.
We also checked under the car for any leaks and rusty spots and to make sure that everything was connected properly.
It was lot to take in, but I learned some things about what to look out for, so I could be aware of signs of trouble that could lead to bigger issues later. I asked Anton what the most important thing is to do to keep my car running a long time.
“There is not one thing. But take it to one mechanic. It doesn’t have to be us, but the best thing to do is look at reviews … look for a good reputation,” he said.
I’ll keep an eye out for some of the things we talked about, and continue coming to a mechanic I trust to keep my cars running for many more adventures.
Vincent Corso is a staff writer for Town&Gown and The Centre County Gazette.
