May 16, 2012

Get The Right Tires And Wheels At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.

Filed under: Tires — marsha917 @ 5:57 pm

Get The Right Tires And Wheels At MARSHALL'S GARAGE INC.

A lot of Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Region drivers get custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes, once they’re mounted, they just didn’t fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don’t want that.

Consulting a tire professional at MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. can ensure you get the right fit. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs in Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Region and what you want in your new wheels.

At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC., we advise Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Region tire buyers that not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub.

If you don’t want to make any modifications to your SUV, you need to focus on the wheels that fit. With trucks, some Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Region people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Region people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s, like the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The SUV’s computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong speed. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your SUV’s engine control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. For information on reprogramming the engine computer, call us at 603.526.6231.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Region. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs.

At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. in New London New Hampshire (03233) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 603.526.6231. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 10, 2012

Why Is My Check Engine Light On? MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. Has Answers

Filed under: Check Engine Light — marsha917 @ 6:49 pm

Why Is My Check Engine Light On MARSHALL'S GARAGE INC. Has Answers

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

First, if your SUV 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 New London highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Take it easy all the way to MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. in New London.

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 New London service advisor to get it checked out.

Some more information from MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. on how the Check Engine Light works may be informative. Most of your SUV 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 New London.

In order to make these adjustments, the SUV 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 SUV 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 SUV looked at at MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.. Your Professional 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 MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. technician a starting place as he diagnoses the cause of the problem.

At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC., we also offer Brakes and Timing Belt Replacement.

Give us a call

MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.
603.526.6231
330 Elkins Road
New London, New Hampshire 03233

At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. in New London New Hampshire (03233) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 603.526.6231. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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May 2, 2012

Brake Service At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. In New London

Filed under: Power Brakes — marsha917 @ 6:55 pm

Brake Service At MARSHALL'S GARAGE INC. In New London

Most New London drivers know that braking means slowing or stopping a vehicle. The mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There’s also the power brake system and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.

Let’s step back. A car or truck rolls brand new off the showroom floor at a local New London dealer. It has brand new brakes with brand new brake pads. The brake lines and the power assist are filled with fresh fluid and are completely clean inside. And the SUV tires are brand new, with full tread. Naturally, braking power is at its peak performance.
 
Now, as your drive from New London to Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Area and back, the miles start to add up. Most New London car owners tend to focus on the brake pads. In the New London automotive service community, the pads, and shoes on drum brakes, are called the friction material. That’s because they provide the friction used to stop the SUV. The pads are designed to be effective throughout their useful life – it’s not until they are worn so thin as to be out of spec that they lose stopping effectiveness.

The mechanical parts of the brakes have pistons and springs that get quite a workout while stopping the SUV. Over many miles, these wear and get gummed up. They start to lose effectiveness gradually and could even fail. That’s why a regular brake inspection is important. At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC., we can test the operation of the brakes and see if any parts need cleaning or replacing.

That leads us to brake fluid service at MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.. Some of the critical additives in the fluid that lubricate and clean the SUV fluid system are depleted over time. That and moisture building up in the system deteriorate the performance of the brake fluid. Brake fluid replacement at MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. includes flushing the brake system to clean out deposits, water and dirt. Then the system is filled up with fresh fluid.

The tires are what connect the SUV to the road. The stopping force is ultimately dependent on the traction provided by the tires. The better they grip the road, the quicker you’ll stop as you drive around New London.

For questions about brakes, brake pads, Brakes, Timing Belt Replacement, or tires, talk to MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.  manager David Marshall.

Give us a call

MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.
603.526.6231
330 Elkins Road
New London, New Hampshire 03233

At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. in New London New Hampshire (03233) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 603.526.6231. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 25, 2012

Cooling System Service At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.

Filed under: Cooling System — marsha917 @ 6:48 pm

Cooling System Service At MARSHALL'S GARAGE INC.

Your SUV cooling system’s job is to keep your engine cool. Coolant (also called antifreeze) mixed with water flows through your engine and absorbs heat. The mixture then flows out to the radiator where it’s cooled by air flowing over the radiator. From there the cooled mix circulates back through the SUV engine to absorb more heat.

Coolant, or antifreeze, is specially formulated to keep your engine safe in a wide range of environmental and operating temperatures in New London.

Without coolant, the SUV’s metal engine parts would expand so much that the engine would seize up and stop running.  Expensive parts could be broken or warp so badly they would have to be replaced at MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. in New London. It could even be so bad that the whole engine is ruined and has to be replaced.

Also, if it’s freezing outside in New London, the water in your engine could freeze while your vehicle is sitting out in the New Hampshire cold. This is why you check coolant levels frequently and have your cooling system inspected for leaks. Also your manufacturer has a maintenance requirement for draining and replacing your coolant. These recommendations can vary widely, so check your New London owner’s manual or ask your service advisor at MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. in New London.

The reason you need to change the coolant is that it has additives in it to protect the cooling system. As you can imagine, with all the heat, the cooling system’s a pretty harsh environment. The additives keep the fluid from becoming corrosive and damaging the radiator and other New London cooling system components. Over time, the additives are depleted and the coolant just has to be replaced. A simple pH test can measure the coolant’s acidity.

You may have noticed that there are different colors of antifreeze at MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.: it is very important that you use the correct type.  The different coolant types are different colors so you don’t mix them up.  Manufacturers use different materials to make the cooling system, and they require different types of antifreeze to protect them.

So check with your Professional MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. service advisor or owner’s manual for the right kind because using the wrong coolant can void the warranty for your SUV cooling system.

Ask us about Wheel Alignment, Timing Belt Replacement and Timing Belt Replacement.

Give us a call

MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.
603.526.6231
330 Elkins Road
New London, New Hampshire 03233

At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. in New London New Hampshire (03233) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 603.526.6231. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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April 18, 2012

Viva la Differential At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.

Filed under: Differential Service — marsha917 @ 8:35 pm

Viva la Differential At MARSHALL

With front-wheel drive being so common in New London these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most New London folks don’t even have to think about it. And most rear-wheel drive SUV 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 New Hampshire 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 SUV 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 MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. technicians recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. 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.

New London four wheel drive SUVs 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 MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. at different intervals.

Your New London service advisor can look up the manufacturer’s recommended service interval or you can check your SUV owner’s manual.

Give us a call

MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC.
603.526.6231
330 Elkins Road
New London, New Hampshire 03233

At MARSHALL’S GARAGE INC. in New London New Hampshire (03233) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 603.526.6231. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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