Chesapeake Auto Repair

West Service Center, Inc. Advice On Buying New Tires Your browser does not support video Today’s tires and wheels offer a lot of options for every Chesapeake driver’s style, habits and driving conditions. Tires are designed for high-performance in winter or summer and even come in a long-wearing variety for all Virginia seasons. Chesapeake off-roaders should be excited about the options available to them as well. The tread on off-road tires is designed to handle the wear from bumps and rocks. The tires’ high profile protects rims from damage. But what if you own an SUV but aren’t interested in off-roading around Chesapeake? You can change out those high-profile beasts for a lower, wider look if it suits your style. West Service Center, Inc. tire professionals can offer great auto advice on how to choose tires that match your needs and style. The same goes for wheels. When Chesapeake auto owners shop for new wheels, they can be hard-pressed to ma ... read more

West Service Center, Inc. Often Asked About Premium vs. Regular Gas   Chesapeake auto owners often ask the question: “Will using premium gas make my car run better?” The answer is simple. But first, let’s talk about what exactly premium gasoline is. Different grades of gasoline have different octane ratings. Regular gasoline has the lowest octane rating and premium the highest. Most gas stations around Chesapeake, Virginia also carry a mid-grade that falls in between the two. The octane range for the different grades of gas varies by region due to altitude differences. Engines require different octane ratings because of design differences. For example, turbocharged engines usually require premium gas. There’s a sticker on your gas tank filler lid that tells you the minimum octane rating your automobile manufacturer recommends. Chesapeake auto owners should read their owner’s manuals carefully to see if it’s acceptable to use lower grades. W ... read more

A Cold Day In Chesapeake Your browser does not support video Most Chesapeake auto owners worry about a breakdown or a tire blowout on a busy Virginia interstate but don’t worry too much about failure of their air conditioning system. A breakdown at the side of the road can be a miserable and dangerous affair during Chesapeake rush hour, but so can a long ride in a hot van. A lot of Chesapeake drivers judge their vehicles’ air conditioning systems as “non-essential” and so may neglect them in favor of repairs and maintenance that keeps the van running. But preventive maintenance of an air conditioning system is simple and inexpensive, while auto a/c repair can be very pricey in Chesapeake. Suffolk auto owners should have the refrigerant in their air conditioning system checked regularly to ensure it is adequate and clean. Air conditioning systems often ... read more

Why A Trip Inspection Is A Good Idea   At West Service Center, Inc. we get a lot of Chesapeake motorists asking about car trip preparation. That’s a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas outside of Chesapeake so it’s important to know that the car is up to the task and won’t leave you stranded. Smart Chesapeake car owners plan ahead for a major road trip – there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Take a quick test drive around Chesapeake to see if you can feel any vibrations: are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok? Come to West Service Center, Inc. for a peace-of-mind trip inspection. The next thing is a full service oil change to make sure all of your critical fluids are topped off and you ... read more

Cooling System Components Today we want to talk about a key system in our cars – the cooling system. It’s one of those things that Chesapeake car owners don’t give much thought to until it fails and then they’re stranded by the side of a road in Chesapeake. Cooling systems fail more often than any other mechanical system – usually because of neglect. Don’t you hate it when something breaks, and you could have done something to prevent it? The good news is that if Chesapeake drivers take care of their cooling systems they can keep working for the life of their car. Here at AutoNetTV and West Service Center, Inc. in Chesapeake, we emphasize essential preventive maintenance services like replacing your coolant according to the factory schedule. But the various parts that make up the cooling system need attention too. The major components of the cooling system are the water pu ... read more