November has arrived! But is your car ready for this winter & holiday season? After a long and hot summer here in LA there is no denying that all of our cars have been through a lot. As our climate here in California changes throughout fall, it is important to give your car some tender loving care to prepare it for a busy holiday and Christmas season. Here at FAS we take car maintenance and auto repair very seriously and don't want to see you stranded on the side of the road with your family missing Thanksgiving Dinner. That's why we have come up with a Car Care Checklist to make sure you are traveling safely around Burbank and Los Angeles through the rest of the year into 2025.
Important Maintenance Items to Consider
Safety Inspection
Whenever you bring your car to Future Auto Service, our experienced technicians perform a complimentary Safety Inspection to see if there is anything on your car that needs attention. Maintenance items we find are prioritized by color to help us understand what needs immediate attention and what could wait. Our findings are also backed by photo and video content from our technicians so you can see exactly what we see for a transparent inspection process. The following items on the list are checked by our team.
Tires & Alignment
A fresh set of tires can go a long way and is essential to be safe in any weather out on Burbank's roads. Having enough tire tread helps prevent losing control in the wet or during emergency braking. Old tires with cracking or rotting rubber can also lose air and cause a flat leaving you on the side of the road. To make sure whether your tire would need replacement, check the DOT (date of manufacturing) number on the sidewall and see how much tread there is left on each tire. You can simply do that yourself with the Penny Test, or have one of our ASE-certified technicians put the car on our Hunter Engineering lift to inspect the condition of your tires as well as any signs of unusual wear due to a bad alignment. When necessary, our Hunter Engineering equipment offers a top-quality installation process andlaser-sharp alignment, and our experienced service advisors can find you great deals on new tires for all makes & models. Shop for tires here!
Oil Change & Additives
Unsure when was the last time your engine oil was changed? If your car's maintenance light is illuminated on the dash or the oil on your dipstick seems to have a dark-ish color, it might be time for an oil change. Our team at FAS recommends always following your car's recommended factory maintenance schedule and performing oil changes on time to ensure optimal engine performance and reliability. You can find your oil change interval and which oil is required for your car right in your glove compartment but you can also simply ask one of our service advisors to pull up that information for you.
On top of that, Future Auto Service is an authorized LIQUI MOLY Pro-Line Center! We are proud to serve our community in Burbank with only the best motor oil, additives, and car care products. LIQUI MOLY's superior additive products such as Engine Flushes, Ceratec, and Fuel System Cleaners can go a long way with your oil change service to improve engine performance, reliability, and fuel economy for your car during this holiday travel season. Learn more about us as a LIQUI MOLY Pro-Line Center here!
Brake Service
Maintaining your brakes is crucial to ensure safety for yourself and others on the roads out here in Los Angeles and Burbank. You never know when you might have to make an emergency stop and having your car prepared is our Nr.1 priority. The most important maintenance items to consider during a conventional disk brake service are the brake pads, rotors, and fluid. During a safety inspection, our ASE-certified technicians take a close look at how much brake pad and rotor thickness is left on all four sides to accurately recommend. Learn more about brake service here!
Windshield Wipers
Visibility is key when traveling at night or in bad weather! Especially out here in Burbank, windshield wipers are an often overlooked maintenance item since we are spoiled with sunshine all year around. However, once it rains it pours, and we want you to be prepared. Excessive heat and dry climate can crack the rubber inserts of your windshield wipers impacting performance and ultimately your visibility while driving. If you aren't sure when you last replaced your wiper blades, this is your sign to get them checked out. Here at Future Auto Service, we stock various sizes and brands for all makes & models to replace your wiper blades the same day quickly and easily. Learn more about the different types of wiper blades here.
Coolant Flush
One of the biggest reasons drivers get stranded on the side of the road is engine overheating issues. For that reason, it is important to make sure your car's cooling system is maintained, doesn't matter which make and model your car is. From keeping up with coolant flushes to replacing the radiator, water pump, and hoses at the appropriate time, here at Future Auto Service in Burbank, we do it all using only genuine parts while providing top-quality workmanship and customer service.
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Headlight Restoration
Daylight savings in the beginning of November will turn the clock back an hour, meaning it will get darker earlier. During that time of the year, Los Angeles sees an increase in accidents and other road incidents as drivers are adapting to darker driving conditions on their daily commute. Fully functioning headlights are crucial to see and be seen on LA's roads. Our team at FAS is here to help when it comes to restoring your car's head and taillights for better visibility. We replace blubs, perform adjustments, and also restore headlight lenses to give you a clear view on the road ahead. If your car is ten years or older and has been exposed to the California sun, chances are that your headlight lenses are faded and limit the intensity of your light beam. Our professionals remove the sun-damaged headlight surface through wet sanding and polish the headlight area to achieve a like-new look that offers better overall visibility.
We are here for all your Winter & Holiday Car Care!
If you found this article helpful, right now is the perfect time to get started on your winter-season car maintenance! Future Auto Service in Burbank is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm to cater to all your car care needs. Set up your appointment with us today!