Chesapeake Auto Repair

Tire Maintenance In Suffolk With the recent focus in Suffolk on improving fuel economy, we’ve been told how important it is to maintain our tire pressure. Chesapeake motorists know that tires wear out, but we want to make them last as long as possible because they’re not cheap to replace. In addition to saving gas, properly inflated tires last longer. Under-inflated tires will wear out more quickly. Some Suffolk drivers wonder if they should add a few extra pounds of pressure when they fill up their tires. Bad idea. In fact, there are very good reasons not to over-inflate your tires. For one, the middle of the tread will wear unevenly because the full tread is not contacting the road properly. That also adversely affects your handling. Stop by West Service Center, Inc. to see about tire maintenance for your Chesapeake, Virginia vehicle. West Service Center, Inc. 904 Cavalier Blvd Chesapeake, Virginia 23323 757-487-4420   ... read more

The West Service Center, Inc. Guide for Chesapeake Drivers: Alignment Inspection Uneven tire wear, the auto pulling to one side or a steering wheel that is off-center are signs for Chesapeake car owners that their wheels may be out of alignment. When doing an alignment inspection, the service specialist will inspect your tires for uneven wear as well as suspension and steering parts for signs of wear or damage. He’ll also compare your current alignment with the automobile manufacturer’s settings. Your vehicle owner’s manual will have a recommendation for when to check alignment. Of course, this recommendation is based on normal driving. If you have been in collision, hit a curb/pothole, frequently drive off-road around Chesapeake, or notice any symptoms of misalignment, have your West Service Center, Inc. service specialist perform a key alignment check. Give us a call West Service Center, Inc. 757-487-4420 904 Cavalier Blvd Chesapeake, Virginia ... read more

Budget For Maintenance in Chesapeake Sometimes busy Chesapeake residents dream about going back to the “simpler” days of our grandparents. But if you could travel back in time and take a road trip around Chesapeake in a Model T, you might change your mind. The improved designs and quality of today’s automobiles have significantly reduced the amount of time Chesapeake auto owners spend at the side of the road during breakdowns. With proper maintenance, today’s vehicles can stay on the road longer than ever before. Some of those improvements, however, have led to higher repair costs. For example, older cars often broke down from vapor lock. Gas vaporized while traveling from the gas tank to the fuel pump. No gas, no power. The car quits going. The solution was simple — you just sat by the road until the car would start up again. Today’s Chesapeake drivers would hardly tolerate that kind of inconvenience; and it’s likely tha ... read more

West Service Center, Inc. Auto Tips and Videos: Serpentine Belt System Wear       The primary job of the serpentine belt is to provide essential traction to spin the accessories. As the belt wears it loses some of its grip and the accessories may not spin at optimal speeds. For example, if your alternator doesn’t spin fast enough, the battery will not completely recharge while you’re driving and you could end up stranded with a dead battery. In short, a worn serpentine belt will stress all of the accessories it powers leading to premature wear and possible early replacement. When as little as 5% of belt material is lost, the serpentine belt cannot provide the proper traction for the accessories. Your honest West Service Center, Inc. service specialist can check your belt for excessive wear and replace your serpentine belt system if it’s excessively worn. Give us a call West Service Center, Inc. 757-487-4420 904 Cavalier Blvd Ches ... read more

Keep Your Tires Well Rounded in Chesapeake: Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing at West Service Center, Inc.   Taking care of our tires is an important part of car care for Chesapeake drivers. We know they have to be replaced when they wear out, but tires also require some important preventive maintenance. This maintenance will improve gas mileage and extend the life of the tires, so it’s well worth the effort and expense for Chesapeake car owners to get it done. Tire maintenance includes keeping tires properly inflated, rotating tires and balancing wheels. The recommended tire pressure for a vehicle’s tires is printed on a sticker on the inside of the driver’s side doorjamb. A lot of engineering goes into calculating the correct pressure, so it’s a critical number for Chesapeake motorists to know. Not following this recommendation can throw off the suspension system and can lead to expensive tire damage. Underinflated tires wear out more quickly ... read more