Frequently Asked Questions

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When you get your oil changed depends on the type of oil your car requires. We recommend the following, which ever comes first - the mileage met or the time passed:

• Regular oil 3 months or 3,000 miles
• Synthetic blend 4 months or 4,000 miles
• Full Synthetic 5 months or 5,000 miles

If your oil is dirty, it's time for an oil change. If you notice your engine oil is low, it may be time for an oil change. We can inspect and find where your lost oil is going.

Having your brakes checked every 10,000 to 20,000 miles will provide you with the best opportunity to spot the necessary smaller repairs to avoid the bigger and more expensive ones. If you’re experiencing any warning symptoms, then a more immediate inspection is required.  At Packer Auto Care, we visually inspect your brake pads every time you have your oil changed.

If your brakes are making a grinding or squeaking noise, it's time to get them checked. Bring your car in and we'll inspect your brakes to determine the issue.

Metal and rubber car belts can squeal in reaction to temperature changes or from a need for maintenance:

• The belt is too tight or too loose: You’re hearing the belt stretch or rub against a surface other than its pulleys. Have the belt adjusted or replaced before it breaks or slips off its pulleys.
• A pulley under the belt is worn. What you are hearing is friction from the pulley’s worn bearings. Have the pulley replaced before it breaks – in turn, disabling the affected belt.

Either way, have the belt serviced before it disables your starting, steering or engine power. You could also find yourself vulnerable to overheating if the affected belt powers your cooling system.

No, we do not offer towing services. However, we can recommend a trusted local towing company if you need assistance.

Cars made before 2000 need to have a tune-up every 60,000 miles. Vehicles manufactured after 2000 should have tune-ups done every 80,000 to 100,000 miles. If your vehicle is running rough, lacks power or if the check engine light is flashing, you need to have your car inspected. If you do experience a misfire, you need to have the misfire addressed before it causes serious damage to your engine or other components such as the catalytic convertor or the main engine computer.

This is a common and frequent question, especially in the warmer months. There are several different issues that could explain why your AC doesn’t seem to be working up to its full potential. First, your vehicle could be low on refrigerant due to a leak. Another cause for your less than stellar AC performance is that the compressor needs to be replaced. 

You could also have cold air but it isn’t reaching the cabin because you have a malfunctioning blend door motor. Yet another issue could be a bad relay for the compressor which means a breakdown in communication has occurred and something is not being engaged in the cooling process. A dirty condenser can’t exchange heat which can also cause the air to be warm.

There are two things you can monitor to know when you need to replace your shocks or struts. One thing that is easy to check is to look at your tires. If you have uneven tire wear, it’s probably time to get new shocks or struts. The other indicator is if your vehicle seems extra bouncy when you are driving or when you hit a bump then you should look into getting shocks or struts.

These noises can indicate a need for maintenance in your suspension or brakes. Worn or loose suspension components can create these noises when a ball joint, tie rod or strut needs to be replaced. It is also possible that a bushing needs to be replaced on a suspension component. Something loose in the brakes can also cause a popping noise.

Now this a question you can easily answer in your own driveway. Walk around your car and visually check your tires. If you see worn tread or no tread (also known as bald tires), you need news tires. 

While you are looking, check your tire tread wear bars. Wear bars are little lines of raised rubber that run the width of the tread in several places around the tire. Look at the tread pattern and you’ll see these bars running between the tread blocks. As your tires wear, these bars will become increasingly flush with the tire’s tread. It’s important to replace your tires before the bars become flush with the tread. City driving in mild conditions may allow you to wait until the tread is closer to the tread wear bar before replacing your tires. More adverse conditions, such as rain, snow, and unpaved roads, may require you to replace your tires sooner.

When you are driving, you can experience a couple of things that indicate you need new tires. If you have a wobble or your car feels like you are rolling around on an egg, you need to have your tires checked. Sound is the other indicator. If you have a tire roaring (this doesn’t include your typical 4 x 4 tire sound), check your tires because it’s probably time to have new tires mounted.