Car batteries wear out just like any other battery and need to be replaced. There are a couple of things York pickup owners should know when looking for a new car battery: one is cold cranking amps and the other is reserve capacity.

Let’s start with cold cranking amps. This can be thought of as the power output used to start a cold pickup engine. The number of cold cranking amps you need depends on your vehicle and where you live around York, specifically how cold it is where you live. The two factors are that the colder an engine is, the more power it takes to turn the pickup engine over to get it started. It has all that cold, sluggish oil to contend with. The other factor is that the chemical reaction in the battery that creates electrical energy is less efficient in the cold.

So the colder it gets in York, more power is needed, but the available power drops.

If you live where it’s cold, you need a battery with more cold cranking amps than you do where it’s moderate or hot. You should always get at least as many cold cranking amps as the manufacturer recommends, but may want to upgrade at Quality Service Center if you live where it gets real cold.

An important note: Batteries may also list the Cranking Amps – CA – number. It is the Cold Cranking Amps – or CCA – that is the important number here. CCA is the number to use in your comparisons.

Now with all this talk of cold temperatures in York, it’s important to note that heat is the real enemy of long battery life. In other words, the damage that’s done over the hot summer months in York shows up with the increased demands on the pickup battery when the weather turns cold.

Now on to reserve capacity: It’s a measurement of the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has at a given load. The number is more important these days because of parasitic drain. Parasitic drain is the battery energy that’s used when the key is off. So the power drawn by the pickup security system, the remote start system, even the power the pickup computers require to maintain their memory.

Reserves are also needed when you make very short trips around York. You’re not driving long enough for the battery to recover the energy it used to start the pickup engine.

So go with the minimum recommended by your manufacturer and upgrade if you need more. Talk with your cheerful Quality Service Center service advisor about options. If you need more from your battery, a larger capacity battery may be called for.

Batteries are a big ticket item for most York motorists, so the warranty gives peace of mind. Be sure to ask about the car battery warranty at Quality Service Center so you know what you’re getting. At Quality Service Center, we have been providing quality auto service in York for 10 years.

Give us a call

Quality Service Center
28 South Oxford Street
York, PA 17404

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

With front-wheel drive being so common in York these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most York folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive pickup differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable that it’s not something on the top of mind. So it’s not uncommon for PA people to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.

To better understand what a differential does, think about a high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Many pickup differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool. The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So manufacturers and Quality Service Center technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your Quality Service Center service technician will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

York four wheel drive pickups need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at Quality Service Center at different intervals.

Your York service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your pickup owner’s manual.

Give us a call

Quality Service Center
717.792.0948
28 South Oxford Street
York, PA 17404

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Quality Service Center’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Quality Service Center Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Quality Service Center Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Quality Service Center gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around York and on Dallastown freeways, by the way.

Quality Service Center Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your cheerful Quality Service Center advisor for information.

Quality Service Center Inspections: York drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in York. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Quality Service Center may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Quality Service Center Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some York auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Quality Service Center PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Quality Service Center Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Quality Service Center technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Quality Service Center Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Quality Service Center before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Quality Service Center Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many York motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Quality Service Center Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Quality Service Center Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around York.

Give us a call

Quality Service Center
717.792.0948
28 South Oxford Street
York, PA 17404

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

When all of a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Hitting a road hazard in York or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday PA driving can cause your pickup wheels to be out of alignment. This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear.

Here are some alignment basics from Quality Service Center:
The first angle is called toe: do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire.
The next angle is called camber: do the wheels tip in or out at the top.
And finally, there is castor. Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle.

The ideal alignment for your pickup was designed by its engineers. Quality Service Center alignment service starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension – so see if anything’s bent, broken or worn out. Then the Quality Service Center technician will look at tire condition. From there, the pickup is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels are then aligned to manufacturer’s specifications.

Your owner’s manual probably has a recommendation for how often your pickup alignment should be checked – usually every couple of years. If you suspect an alignment problem with your pickup, get it checked at Quality Service Center before you suffer expensive tire or suspension damage.

Give us a call

Quality Service Center
717.792.0948
28 South Oxford Street
York, PA 17404

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The Check Engine Light strikes fear into the hearts of some York drivers and is totally ignored by just as many. Just what it means is a mystery to most of us in PA.

First, if your pickup check engine light is flashing, that means that something is wrong that could cause severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. Get that taken care of right away. If your check engine light is flashing, you shouldn’t drive at York highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to Quality Service Center in York.

If the light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with your York service advisor to get it checked out.

Some more information from Quality Service Center on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative. Most of your pickup engine functions are controlled by a computer, not surprisingly, called an engine control computer. The computer is able to adjust many engine parameters for environmental conditions, engine condition and even the way you drive in York.

In order to make these adjustments, the pickup computer relies on a network of sensors to provide data. The computer knows the proper operating range for each sensor. When a sensor reading is out of range the computer runs some tests and may turn on the Check Engine Light.

The pickup computer will also try to make adjustments to compensate for some readings. If it can do so, it’ll then turn off the Check Engine Light.

If the problem can’t be resolved then the light will remain on and you should get your pickup looked at at Quality Service Center. Your cheerful service technician will plug a scanner into the on-board diagnostic port and read the trouble code stored in the computer. The trouble code will give your Quality Service Center technician a starting place as he diagnoses the cause of the problem.

At Quality Service Center, we also offer cabin air filter and electrical system test.

Give us a call

Quality Service Center
717.792.0948
28 South Oxford Street
York, PA 17404

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

In addition to just wearing out, Quality Service Center customers need to know that suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your pickup manufacturer and Quality Service Center recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your Loganville service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around Loganville. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your pickup dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into Quality Service Center for a suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other pickup suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well. If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at Quality Service Center.

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at Quality Service Center because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

It’s said that 90 percent of our driving decisions are based on visual information. Our wiper blades play an important role in this. Most York, Emigsville, and Loganville drivers know that a dirty or streaked windshield can catch the glare of the sun or on-coming headlights and make it nearly impossible to see.

Most busy Dallastown car owners deal with their wiper blades from a failure perspective. They address them when they no longer function. Instead, York drivers should think about wipers blades as an important safety system that they should maintain, rather than repair.

And don’t think that your wiper blades will last longer because you don’t use them very often. Hey, they live outside in the harsh sun and freezing cold – ice and wind. They just dry out and crack over time.

At Quality Service Center, we recommend that Dallastown motorists change their wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and fall. That way you have functional blades for those spring showers and PA winter storms. And consider a windshield treatment to help repeal water and make it easier to clean off bugs and road grime.

Like everything else in the PA automotive world, there’ve been some big advancements in wiper blades, both in terms of the design and the materials from which the blade is made. We can help you get the same type of blades that came with your Dallastown vehicle, or if you have a need for better than average windshield wipers, you can pay some more for an upgraded wiper.

And if you live where there’s a lot of snow and ice in PA, they make special winter blades that don’t clog up and freeze like standard blades.

Give us a call for more information about wiper blades or any other automotive part or service. Our phone number at Quality Service Center is 717.792.0948.

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the pickup engine’s running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase.

These hot gases are about seventy percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion in your pickup. At high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak.

Dover car owners need to know that over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won’t work well. That can lead to all of the problems I’ve already described, oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and wasted gas.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to test the PCV valve and quick and inexpensive to replace it at Quality Service Center. Even so, it’s often overlooked because many Dover drivers don’t know about it.

Check your pickup owner’s manual or ask your Quality Service Center advisor. If this is the first time you’ve heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a PCV valve replacement.

Please ask us about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs.

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Your pickup’s so important to your life in York: when it breaks down, you need it back on the road as soon as possible – with the problem fixed right the first time. If you’ve ever check into some of the training technicians at Quality Service Center receive, you may be surprised at how much knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern car in York.

Our engines are more and more powerful, fuel efficient and reliable. This is all due to engineering. But the advances come at the price of simplicity. Modern cars in York are so much more complex from a mechanical and electronics standpoint that it makes your head spin. Vehicles have several networked computers controlling most of the engine functions and many other vehicle functions as well. York motorists take all of this sophistication for granted – but somebody has to fix it when it breaks.

It requires a high level of commitment on the part of the technician and Quality Service Center as well. In addition to the training, there’s the financial commitment by Quality Service Center to purchase the diagnostic and repair tools as well.

The ability to repair your pickup requires a strong combination of training and resources. So try to relax next time you bring your vehicle in to Quality Service Center. You’re in good hands.

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. Next, the belt powers the alternator.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. In some pickups, power steering may have an electric drive and power brakes can be vacuum driven.

And, on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump (on some cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt).

Your Quality Service Center service technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

York drivers should be aware that there’s a special, spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley and sometimes an extra pulley call the idler pulley. Their job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. That’s why it’s often recommended that the tensioner, and the idler pulley if so equipped, be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your pickup. And it’s not that expensive to replace at Quality Service Center – so it’s good to do so before it fails.

At Quality Service Center in York PA (17404) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 717.792.0948. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.