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While you might not think about them as often as you do oil changes or even tires, your brakes are obviously one of the most important parts of your vehicle. If your brakes go bad or get damaged, you might not be able to bring your vehicle to a stop. We don’t need to tell you why that would be bad. It’s a good idea to get regular brake checks, which we would be happy to do for you right here at the San Jose Mitsubishi Service Department in San Jose, California. Regular Brake Checks Your vehicle has all kinds of regular maintenance needs, with getting your oil changed just being the most basic. Getting regular brake checks is another important one for the reasons we’ve already mentioned, but what exactly does “regular” mean, in this instance? Here is no hard-and-fast rule you can follow, other than checking the recommendation in your owner’s manual. However, a good rule of thumb is to get your brakes checked twice a year, or every six months in other words. That means whenever you bring your vehicle in for an oil change you could ask them for a brake check as well. Brake Service Warning Signs Even if you’re staying on top of regular brake checks, something could certainly change between checks. That’s why it’s important to look out for a few warning signs that tell you you might need to get your brakes serviced. For starters, you should naturally bring your vehicle in for brake service if the brake warning light is on, that’s the most obvious warning sign. You should also bring your vehicle in if you notice your brake fluid is low or dirty, if you hear a squealing or grinding noise whenever you apply pressure to the brakes, if the brake pedal feels spongy or otherwise strange while pressing it, if your vehicle and/or steering wheel are vibrating severely while braking or if braking makes your vehicle pull to one side or the other. Hopefully, that has given you the basic information you need when it comes to taking care of your vehicle’s brakes. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Hopefully, you’ve been staying on top of regularly scheduled maintenance like getting your oil changed if you own your own vehicle. While changing the oil is the most obvious of these regular services, there are others you should stay on top of, such as getting your alignment checked. If your wheel alignment is off, it can lead to uneven wear on your tires and other issues that will cause more problems and become more expensive in the long run. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve had your alignment checked, you should consider bringing it in at your earliest convenience. What is automotive wheel alignment? Some people call it wheel alignment, others call it tire alignment, many just refer to it as alignment. These are all the same thing, but they have more to do with your suspension system than either your wheels or tires. Making sure your vehicle’s suspension system is properly aligned makes sure that your wheels are level and pointed the right direction, which in turn ensures your tires wear down evenly and as slowly as they should. When should I get my alignment checked? There are a few signs that your alignment might be out of whack, but whether or not you notice these things you should be getting your alignment checked around every 6,000 miles. There might be issues that you simply haven’t noticed the symptoms for, so it’s important to get it checked regularly whether or not you think you need it. However, if any of the following symptoms arise, you should bring it in early: If your vehicle is pulling itself to either the left or right If your steering wheel remains off-center while you are driving straight If the precision of your steering seems too loose If your tires seem to be worn down excessively in certain spots more than others These are all telltale signs of bad alignment, so keep your eye out for them before too much damage can be done to your tires. We can take care of this service and many others right here at the San Jose Mitsubishi Service Department, so be sure to reach out if you have any questions.

Whether you already plan on bringing your vehicle in for something specific, or you just feel like your vehicle needs a good check up, the multi-point vehicle inspection is a powerful service that you can find at just about every dealership or third-party service center you happen across. If you’re looking to get a multi-point inspection for your vehicle in San Jose, California, or the surrounding area, you can do so right here at San Jose Mitsubishi! What does a multi-point vehicle inspection entail? The name multi-point inspection is apt in this case, as your vehicle is literally being inspected across multiple points. While every service center might do things a little differently, you can rest assured that several different points are going to be checked out during a multipoint inspection. Check out the list below to just get an idea of what this service entails: We’ll check your oil to make sure it’s clean and as full as it should be We’ll make sure your cooling system is up to par, checking hoses for leaks and ensuring clean liquids We’ll make sure other fluids are clean and topped off as well, such as brake fluid, power steering fluid and washer fluid We’ll check your air filter for debris and clogs We’ll make sure belts and hoses are in tip-top shape and working the way they’re supposed to We’ll make sure the battery has as much juice as it should We’ll check all safety equipment to make sure it works, such as seat belts, airbags and the horn We’ll check your brakes, making sure they’re in good condition overall and inspecting each part, from the rotor to the pads and so on We’ll make sure everything works that is supposed to, such as the lights, the wipers, the air conditioning, the cabin air filter and even your floor mats We’ll inspect your drivetrain to make sure everything is up to snuff and working the way it should be, including the transmission, differential, driveshaft, fuel lines, brake lines, exhaust and the engine overall We’ll check your suspension system to make sure all of its individual components are in working order We’ll check your alignment, making sure that your wheels are lined up the way they’re supposed to be We’ll check your tires to excessive wear and tear and make sure that they’re properly pressurized There may be additional points that are inspected during this service, but this touches the major bases. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call here at the service desk!

If you’re the proud owner of a Mitsubishi vehicle of your own, or any make and model really, then you know taking care of your vehicle is paramount to its prolonged existence. The less you take care of your vehicle, the less time you’ll have with it in the long run, as more and more will fall into disrepair or it will become too expensive to keep in working condition. One of the most important things to stay on top of is without a doubt keeping up with your oil changes. If you’re looking for a place to get yours changed here in San Jose, CA, look no further than San Jose Mitsubishi. When should I get my oil changed? The answer to this question will vary from vehicle to vehicle, but it’s definitely one of the most asked questions when it comes to automotive service. The short answer is that you should reference your owner’s manual to get the appropriate answer for your vehicle, or if you need you can always give us a call and we can help you figure it out. There are some rules of thumb that you can typically follow, but it’s still best to check your manual. In the past, it was every three months or 3,000 miles, but that’s changed quite a bit in recent years. These days, many manufacturers recommend every six months or 6,000 miles or, in some cases, 7,500 miles. It truly depends on your make and model, so be sure to check that manual. How do I schedule? When it’s time for your vehicle to get its oil changed, you can schedule an appointment right here on our website or simply by giving us a call here at the service desk. We’ll get you in at your earliest convenience and make sure your vehicle is taken care of as quickly as we can. We look forward to hearing from you!