Albany Auto Repair

It depends on your vehicle, if it is gas or diesel, and driving conditions.  We suggest a service to check the tune up components for wear and tear which is done on every oil change that comes through our shop.  You can look in your owner’s manual for a general idea but we would suggest going with what your trusted shop recommends as they know your car and your driving conditions the best.       https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments

Just like your engine oil, transmission fluid breaks down and has a service life depending on the vehicle and what its job duties are. Service intervals can be found in your owner's manual but we have found these intervals to not be adequate with today’s driving conditions.  We suggest every 30,000 miles on vehicles and if extreme towing is all the vehicle does it is always good to shoot for 15,000 to 20,000 miles.  Maintaining and servicing your vehicle will prolong its life immensely so you don’t have the costly expense of replacing a transmission at the most inopportune time.  Knowing when maintenance is due is also a great way to budget your finances.       https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments

Whether purchasing from a dealership or a private party you will ask if the vehicle can be taken to a certified automotive facility.  (ASE trained technicians, a NAPA auto care center or a Tech Net Shop).   Most dealerships and private parties are fine with this.  If they don’t want to oblige then this might have red flags and you should probably pass over this vehicle.  Here at Crabtree Automotive we do a 36-point inspection for any minor or major issues.  This gives you an idea if you need to negotiate the price and to know what the vehicle’s future operating costs are.       https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments

    These thorough inspections take anywhere from 1-2 hours. This is because we test drive for any driving concerns. Also making sure the AC is blowing cold and the power windows and locks are working as they should. Also checking for any leaks and corrosion and make sure it wasn't in any wreck. We scan the computer to make sure there are no stored codes. Then we go in-debth and check fluids, steering and suspension, braking system, and engine cooling system. All of this comes to you via text message or email. You can take the time to look at all the photos and videos showing the issues our technicians ran across.   https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments

This is a free 38 point inspection on key components on your vehicle.  Inspecting things like wipers and fluids, lights, battery and cables, brakes, fluids, etc.    This is also called a Multipoint Inspection, Courtesy Inspection, or Digital Courtesy Inspection.  This helps you know the health of your vehicle so you can budget for things that will soon need replacing.  No surprises. Every shop is different and their inspections may be different.  That is okay.  The goal is to help you understand your vehicle and the timing of when things will need to be replaced.     https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments

Free Shuttle Service in Albany, OR    Our amazing team members will provide you with a free shuttle ride to and from our facility anywhere in the Albany area. So let’s get you back to work or home.  In addition, we offer free pickup and delivery of your vehicle anywhere in the Albany area for our amazing customers.     https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments

This is the million dollar question.  Do you like to repair your vehicle once it's broken or do you like your car running perfectly all the time. If you like it running perfectly all the time then the answer would be YES, it is necessary.  Maintenance keeps you happy!  No surprises, no breakdowns.  We suggest always doing your maintenance.  Think of it this way…you can plan ahead to pay for maintenance.  No surprises.  Repairs are always a surprise and you may not have the funds available at the time you now HAVE to replace it.  That is not fun.    https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments  

Every year!  We suggest getting your AC unit tested in May or June before the hot weather hits.  If you live in a climate that is hot for a very long time you might even want to get it serviced twice a year.  Maintaining your AC unit makes for better summer trips.     https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments  

The first thing we check is how cold your AC is blowing.  If the temperature isn’t cold enough we use a machine that pulls out all of the freon in your system.  We pull out, measure and weigh it.  Unfortunately there is no dipstick for freon.  If your system is full we then check to make sure the compressor has a good signal.  If your freon level is low we introduce nitrogen into the system to duplicate freon to see if we can find any leaks that need to be repaired.  Once everything is looking good the freon goes back into the system.  Now you rest assured your summer will be nice and cool.   https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments

Our suggestion would be to get ahead of the weather.  Have your vehicle running nice and cold for when those hot days arise.  In Oregon we suggest May to June getting your AC serviced.  We offer AC services at a discount in May which helps out with the extreme rising cost of freon these days.   https://www.crabtreeautorepair.com/appointments