Tip Tuesday: AC/Summer Check

We are in the full swing of Summer and that means heat. A huge essential in your car during the Summer months is the air conditioning. You never want to be in a situation where your AC is not functioning properly. If you want to make sure everything is going well with your AC, you can make an appointment for our Summer Check. This check is designed for your Summer adventures. We will check some basic safety items and some features of the AC in your vehicle as well. This is what is done during the AC check:

• Performance test
• Check belt tension 
• Compressor engagement 
• Interior venting 
• Duct temperature 

Checking the duct temperature is a very important part of the Summer Check. The technician will do this by sticking a thermometer in the center air duct on your dashboard. They will then read the temperature. As long as it is between 40-45 degrees, your AC is working perfectly fine. You can do this little test at home if you feel you are having a problem with your AC. If it is above that 45 degrees, make an appointment for an AC check and we can take a look at it for you.

Besides checking the AC, the Summer Check also includes:

• Testing the electrical system
• Battery 
• Alternator
• Starter
•  Checking Cooling system
• Engine coolant/antifreeze condition 
• Belts and hoses
• Checking tire condition 
• Adjust air pressure 
• Checking wiper blades, washer operation, and all fluids
• Checking all lights 

The Summer Check a $29.95 value and could take only 30-45 minutes to complete. Call us at (609) 655-2886 to make an appointment for one today!

Mini Blog: Oil Change/ Maintenance

Regular maintenance on your vehicle is very important to keep it running to the best of its ability. One of the more ordinary services is to change your oil. An oil change is required to keep your engine lubricated. The engine in your car is made up of a bunch of moving parts. For these parts to move smoothly without friction, they need to be properly lubricated. The oil needs frequent changing because over time it will break down and become contaminated with debris from the environment around it and from the engine too.

There are two kinds of oil changes we do at the shop, conventional and synthetic. We recommend that you need to replace conventional every 3,000 miles or 3 months. For the synthetic oil, we recommend it should be replaced every 5,000 miles or 6 months.

When doing an oil change you also need to change the oil filter. Once this has been completed, you are ready to go until your next service.

Make sure to be on top of these changes as they are very important to keep your engine running smoothly and help your car last as long as it should. Regular maintenance is simple to do and we can take care of all of it for you. Please call us at (609)-655-2886 to schedule an appointment for an oil change and ask for Dan or Joanne!

Mini Blog: Axle Maintenance

Axles are a very important component which enables your vehicle to move. Basically, the job of the axle is to transfer power and torque to your wheels. As the axle turns, the wheels go around. There are two different types of axles, one being “drive” and the other being “dead.” The drive axle is the one that will move your vehicle and the dead axle is for load bearing purposes. 

The damaged axle pictured above was the original one from a 2003 vehicle. It has a torn CV boot. Having a torn CV boot will allow the grease needed to lubricate the component to leak out. This type of damage can be a normal sign of wear where the whole axle needs to be replaced. 

Having an issue with your axles should not be something you ignore. Drive axles are a very important part of your vehicle and need to be properly taken care of to keep you safe. It is also important to keep your vehicle in tip top shape so it is reliable for you. 

In an older car, you could have more wear on your original parts. Just be on top of those maintenance jobs and you should be fine. If you suspect that your car isn’t handling the way it is supposed to, come see us. Here at Jerry Noonan’s Auto Center, “your one stop auto shop,” we can take care of all your automotive needs. Give us a call at (609) 655-2886 or stop by to make an appointment. We will be sure to get your vehicle back in shape. 

Giveback Programs

Making the Earth a better place is definitely something important. Here at JNAC we take that very strongly and wanted to create something for our community to be involved in that can better the environment. We now have two collection boxes in the waiting room one for the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge and the other for Earthworks. These are two organizations that recycle some materials that aren’t typically recycled.

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is a nonprofit in Western North Carolina. They take in injured and orphaned animals like opossums, bunnies, and owls. They raise and nurse them back to health and set them free! They use mascara wands to remove fly eggs and larva from the feathers and fur of the animals. They are perfect to use because the bristles are close together and gentle to use on the animals.

Earthworks is a company in Ohio who recycles credit cards, old licenses, loyalty cards, gift cards, etc. They grind up the cards then form it into a sheet and make new cards for a variety of consumers. No new plastic is being made for any of the cards, so there is no waste.

AWR collects the wands in February and October of each year. We have a box in the waiting room where you can deposit your used and cleaned mascara wands. Once it reaches one of the collection months we will send them in! You can also visit their website to see if you would like to donate anything else to the foundation as they are a nonprofit and can use supplies.

Earthworks takes any cards, from loyalty cards to expired licenses. If you have any cards with personal information on them please be sure to cut them up. The collection box for Earthworks has a lock and key to respect your privacy.

Please consider bringing in your cleaned mascara wands and expired or used PVC material cards. We want to make the Earth a better place and we need your help. Together we can make a difference so please keep us in mind when you use up that Cheesecake Factory gift card or upgrade to a new mascara. The animals and the future of our planet will appreciate it.

Here are the links for each of the foundations if you’d like to do your own research or donate to them personally.

AWR: https://www.appalachianwild.org/
Earthworks: http://www.earthworkssystem.com/