FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Family Car Care offers a wide variety of automotive services including: timing belts, fluid changes, charging and cooling system repairs, brakes, a/c service, custom trailer hitches, state inspections, transmission flush, preventive maintenance services, clutch and suspension service, wheel alignments and all major brands of tires.
When you take your vehicle to a shop for repair, you should not only get an itemized bill with part number and brand name, but it should have separate labor operations for everything that was performed on your vehicle. Find a shop that does this (gives you a detailed invoice of what was performed and what exact parts were replaced). You should be offered to see or take your old parts if you want to. It's also great if the shop can document if there is anything else your vehicle may need in the future, that way you can budget ahead for future needs.
Family Car Care is an authorized state emission repair center.
We have listed below some frequently asked questions regarding normal automotive preventive maintenance and repair.
General Car Tip Questions
Why does it take so long on the diagnostic machine to find out what is wrong with my car?
Unfortunately there is no "magic machine." What it requires to accurately diagnose today's vehicles is a combination of a few things. First the technician needs to properly road test the vehicle, and then he may do a visual inspection of your vehicle.
He may do a series of scan tests, computer code tests, fuel pressure and volume tests, wiggle and tap tests, and finally he may need to scope the engine. This all requires time, it's not unrealistic for today's vehicles to require 3 to 4 hours to accurately diagnose a drivability concern.
My yellow "check engine" light comes on—what does that mean?
When a yellow "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" light comes on, you should make an appointment to have your vehicle checked. What that light means is that the computer is sensing a problem. It could be very minor such as a sensor out of range or it could be that a sensor needs to be replaced. If you would ever have a red light come on, that means your car needs immediate attention and you should shut the car off and have it looked at right away.
BRAKES
Problem: Low brake pedal, grinding or squealing, pulls when braking. Front end shimmy during high speed braking or fluid leaking around wheels.
Solution: Let Family Car Care give your car a free brake inspection and recommend needed repairs at reasonable prices.
STEERING & SUSPENSION
Problem: Front end shimmies or vibrates at high speeds. Pulls left or right, car tilts, sags or has excessive bouncing. Hits bumps hard or has abnormal wear.
Solution: Family Car Care will give you a complete inspection of all vital components, shocks, springs, struts, body mounts and front-end steering system. We'll also check wheel balance and alignment.
EXHAUST SYSTEM
Problem: Mufflers or pipes hanging low, are loud, rattles or has exhaust fumes in car.
Solution: Family Car Care will give you a complete exhaust inspection and make necessary repairs at a reasonable price. We install only quality parts and offer a lifetime warranty on mufflers.
TIRES
Problem: Low speed wobble, high speed vibration, pulls left or right, poor traction or handling, cuts, nicks, or cracking in sidewall.
Solution: Family Car Care will give you a complete inspection of your tires' balance, rotation and alignment. Tire replacement may be recommended at a reasonable cost. Family Car Care will sell you the right tire for the right price and all our tires come with a lifetime rotation. Road hazard warranty also available.
Your life rides on your tires every time you get in your vehicle. These tips will help you drive with confidence.
Of the thousands of components in a vehicle, tires are probably the most important. Your life literally depends on them one hundred percent of the time you are on the road. Recent events, in which tire failures have allegedly caused a number of fatal crashes, have focused attention on the vital role tires play in vehicle safety. To separate fact from hype, Family Car Care has gathered the best information we could find on tires and tire safety and condensed it into this handy guide.
#1: Check tire pressures and adjust at least once a month. According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on tire-related crashes, the leading cause of tire failure is under-inflation. Under-inflation can have many causes, including a gradual loss of pressure through membranes in the tire itself. It is typical for pressure to drop approximately 1 psi per month and 1 psi for each 8-degree gain in ambient temperature.
Under-inflation has immediate effects on vehicle handling (as well as fuel consumption), but its potential impact on overall safety and tire life are even greater. It results in premature and uneven tread wear on the outer edges. Under-inflation also increases stress on the car itself, through flexing and overheating, which can lead to structural failures such as tread separation.
That's why it is imperative to check and adjust tire pressure at least once a month and before every long trip (over 250 miles). Recommended pressures are printed on a label located on the driver's door frame or in the glove box.
#2: Inspect tires regularly for abnormal wear or damage. To ensure maximum tire life and safety, give your tires a visual inspection at least once a month and before long trips. This is easily done at the same time you check pressures.
Look for:
- Excessive or uneven tread wear, which may indicate improper inflation or steering and suspension misalignment;
- Cracks or bulges on the sidewalls or tread;
- Chunking of the tread or any indication of tread separation from the tire;
- Signs of puncture, or nails, screws, glass, pieces of stones or any foreign object embedded in the tire.
If you detect any of these conditions, take the vehicle in for further diagnosis immediately. In most cases, punctures can be repaired if their size is not excessive.
In general, external "plugs" are not recommended. Repairs should be made from the inside, and a complete inspection made while the tire is off the rim. Sealing compounds and other emergency aids should be treated only as a means of moving the vehicle to a safe location for repair.
If abnormal tire pressure loss occurs, check the valve stems for leakage, as well as the tire itself.
#3: Rotate tires every 6,000 miles or according to owner's manual. Tire rotation is essential to achieve even tread wear and maximum tread life. On front-wheel-drive cars, for example, most of the braking, steering and driving forces are carried by the front tires, which inevitably wears much faster.
A "cross-rotation pattern"—that is, moving the left-front tire to the right-rear axle, the right-front tire to the left-rear axle, etc.—can best balance tread wear and maximize tire life. That sequence can be performed on any vehicle equipped with four non-unidirectional tires. Designated by an arrow on the sidewall, unidirectional tires must be rotated only front to rear and rear to front, on the same side of the vehicle, so their direction of revolution does not change.
All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles are best suited to a lateral rotation - left to right and right to left - at the same end of the vehicle.
#4: Maintain tires in proper balance. Out-of-balance tires can not only cause uneven tread wear and an uncomfortable ride but also excessive wear on the suspension and other components. An out-of-balance tire can be detected by a severe thumping, usually most pronounced at highway speeds.
If such a condition occurs, have your tires dynamically balanced as soon as possible. An experienced technician can usually determine which tire is out-of-balance by driving the car.
Tire balancing involves placing weights in appropriate places on the bead or inner circumference of the wheel. Tires should always be balanced when first installed, and whenever they are remounted.
#5: Maintain steering and suspension in proper alignment. Misalignment of the steering and suspension - front or rear - can not only adversely affect the steering feel and stability of a vehicle, but also cause rapid and uneven tire wear. If not corrected, this misalignment can ruin a tire in a short time and distance.
If you feel the steering "pulling" in one direction or another when traveling straight ahead on a flat road with no crosswind, or if you notice uneven wear on the tires (particularly front tires), you should have the alignment checked and adjusted as soon as possible.
Alignment should also be checked after a vehicle has been involved in a collision or if it is used continuously on rough roads, particularly those with large potholes.
#6: Never overload a tire. Overloading is the second leading cause of tire failure, next to under inflation.
All tires are designed to operate within a maximum load range designated by a code on the tire sidewall. Exceeding this can result in both excessive wear and reduced tire life due to structural damage, including the potential for sudden failure.
In most vehicles, the maximum passenger and cargo load for which the vehicle and tires are designed is printed on the same label that designates recommended tire pressures. That load, particularly in the case of trucks and SUVs, may be substantially less than the vehicle is physically able to contain. It is critical that the maximum allowable load never be exceeded.
When determining the actual load in your vehicle, don't overlook the tongue-weight of a trailer if you are trailer towing, since it also acts directly on the vehicle's tires.
#7: Avoid overheating tires. Heat, like load, is the enemy of tire life. The higher the heat it is subjected to, the shorter the tire's life in terms of both tread wear and structural resistance.
High speeds, high loads, under inflation, coarse pavement or concrete, and aggressive driving (including high cornering loads and hard braking), all contribute to high tire temperatures. Combined with high ambient temperatures and continuous use, they can create extreme circumstances and cause sudden tire failure.
To maximize tire life and safety, therefore, it is important to minimize the simultaneous occurrence of such conditions. Be particularly vigilant at high temperatures and adjust your driving style to consider its effect on tire life and performance.
#8: Replace tires when required. Your vehicle's tires should be replaced if:
- Any portion of the tread is worn to the "wear indicator bars"—lateral bars molded into the tire grooves at about 20 percent of their new tread depth—or to a depth, as measured in a groove, of 1/16th inch or less.
- Tread wear is severely uneven (in which case have the wheel alignment checked) or the center is worn much more than the edges (be more vigilant about tire pressures).
- The tire sidewalls are severely cracked or there are bulges anywhere on the tire.
- There is any indication of tread separation from the tire.
- The tire has been punctured and cannot be satisfactorily repaired.
#9: Install tires in matched pairs or complete sets. Installing different tires on the left and right sides can significantly upset the handling balance of a vehicle - not to mention its ABS operation. For that reason, it is imperative that tires be installed in front or rear pairs, or complete sets.
Those pairs should be the same construction, size, brand and type, with approximately the same tread wear. In most cases, if you have to buy one new tire, you should buy a pair. It is essential that side-to-side pairs be the same and highly desirable that front and rear pairs also be matched, except in cases such as high-performance cars with larger tires in the rear.
If you replace only two, the new tires should generally go on the front wheels, as front tires tend to wear faster in most cases. Avoid dramatic differences in tread wear, front-to-rear. Putting new tires on the front and nearly worn-out rubber on the rear wheels is an invitation for instability.
Under no circumstances should you have tires of different construction (radial and bias ply) or different classification (all-season and winter) on opposite ends or sides, since handling can be adversely affected.
#10: Select the right tires for your vehicle and driving environment. Recent improvements in "all-season" tires have substantially advanced the concept of one-tire-for-all-needs. On the other hand, more specialized tires than ever are now available for high performance, rain, snow, ice, off-road and touring. Some are even uni-directional, "run-flat" and even "green."
Most drivers are happy just to know they have "all-season" tires, and that is the way most new vehicles are equipped. These are a benign compromise, sacrificing exceptional capability in any one area of performance for acceptable capability in all.
Within that premise, however, there are huge variations in actual performance. Unfortunately, factors that improve one tire characteristic tend to diminish another. For example:
- A hard tread compound may enhance tread life and fuel economy but detract from both wet and dry traction;
- Short, stiff sidewall construction may enhance cornering power and directional stability but detract from ride quality;
- A wide tread with minimal grooving may enhance dry grip but detract from traction in wet and snowy conditions;
- An aggressive, open tread may enhance snow traction but aggravate tire noise and sacrifice tread life on pavement.
In addition to dry asphalt, tires may be expected to function on mud, snow, ice, sand or gravel, in temperatures from above 140°F to below -40°F. You get some idea of the multiple tradeoffs designers have to make.
Just consider that exceptional virtues are probably achieved at the expense of others. Determine what your primary needs are, and narrow your choices accordingly. Then, if possible, drive a similar vehicle equipped with the tires you are considering.
ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Problem: Lack of power, stalling, poor fuel economy, hard starting, knocking or pinging.
Solution: Family Car Care will diagnose and correct the problem, at a reasonable cost (a complete tune-up may be recommended).
THE MASSACHUSETTS ENHANCED EMISSIONS & SAFETY TEST
Information as published by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection & Registry of Motor Vehicles Massachusetts has introduced a new Enhanced Emissions & Safety Test, featuring a more complete, more accurate test for vehicle emissions. With few exceptions, all registered vehicles will be required to take the test, including diesel cars, trucks & buses.
Question: Why do we need a new emissions test?
Answer: Air pollution affects the health of everyone, especially children, the elderly, asthma and bronchitis sufferers, and people who work or play outdoors. Currently, Massachusetts does not meet federal clean air standards for ground-level ozone, 40% of which is generated by vehicles. The new emissions test will identify vehicles that are contributing more than their share of pollutants and help reduce air pollution from vehicles by 25%.
Question: Why is the new test better?
Answer: It's simply more accurate and more fair than the old test. Your vehicle will be test driven on a dynamometer (a treadmill for cars) to simulate real-world driving conditions. The enhanced test will not only measure emissions such as hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide but, for the first time, will measure nitrogen oxides, a key ingredient in ground-level ozone. Because the new test is so accurate, emissions testing will be required every other year. The safety test, as always, will be required every year.
Question: Where do I go for the inspection?
Answer: All testing will be done at licensed testing stations. To find an inspection station near you, call 1-877-387-8234 toll-free or visit our web site at http://www.vehicletest.state.ma.us/.
Question: When should my vehicle be inspected?
Answer: Your vehicle must be tested for safety every year and for emissions every other year. As in the current program, your vehicle must be inspected before your current inspection sticker expires. Vehicles with even numbered model years take emissions tests during even-numbered calendar years. Vehicles with odd-numbered model years take emissions tests every odd-numbered calendar year. For example, a 1994 model will be tested for emissions in 2000, 2002, 2004, etc. A 1995 model will be tested in 1999, 2001, 2003, etc.
Question: Are any vehicles exempt from the Enhanced Emissions & Safety Test?
Answer: Every vehicle must be brought in for a safety test every year. However, model year 1983 and older vehicles will not be required to have emissions tests. New cars will be exempt for their first two years.
Question: What happens when my vehicle passes?
Answer: If your vehicle passes (and the majority will), you'll receive an inspection sticker plus a report of the test results.
Question: What if my vehicle fails?
Answer: If your vehicle fails the emissions test, you'll be given a report of the results. You then have 60 days to make the necessary repairs and pass a re-inspection. You are entitled to one free re-test, but only at the original inspection station. If your vehicle fails the safety test, it may not be driven until repairs have been made. After repair, you are entitled to a free re-inspection within 60 days of the original test at the original inspection station. Failure to get your vehicle repaired, either for emissions or safety, will result in suspension of the vehicle's registration.
Question: What if my vehicle fails the re-inspection?
Answer: If you tried hard to fix your vehicle and it still doesn't pass, you may be eligible for a waiver. To be eligible for a waiver, you must have repair receipts from a registered repair technician. For more information on waivers, call 1-877-387-8234 or go to http://vehicletest.state.ma.us.
Question: What happens if I buy a used car and it fails the emissions test?
Answer: Motor vehicle inspection stickers are not transferable to a new owner. When you buy a used car, you must bring the car to get it inspected within seven days of purchasing it. If your vehicle does not pass the Enhanced Emissions & Safety Test, and if the estimated cost of repairs exceeds 10% of the vehicle's purchase price, the state's Lemon Aid Law allows you to void or cancel the sale. Contact the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs for details: 1-888-283-3757.
Question: Do you have any testing tips?
Answer: Keep your vehicle well-maintained. Generally, vehicles that are maintained according to the manufacturer's directions have no problem passing the test. And for your own convenience, don't wait to the last minute to have your vehicle inspected. Go early in the month to avoid the end-of-the-month rush.
