FAQs

At First Class Automotive, we strive to educate you concerning Import Car Care.

Please e-mail any questions to questions@firstclassautomotive.com as we are happy to answer them. If we determine that your question and our answer would benefit the entire First Class Automotive Community, then we may post them here on our FAQs Page for all to see.

Please remember that car-specific maintenance questions will not be answered on this FAQ's page - As an in-shop diagnosis is usually required to detect car-specific problems.

Here are a few previous examples of questions asked by our customer's and our corresponding answers:

Q:  Should I just drive off in the mornings or let the engine warm up a bit, first?

A:  Today's computerized, fuel injection cars don't require a warm-up. Nevertheless, don't roar off. Go easy on the accelerator until the motor reaches operating temperatures; this normally takes about 5 minutes.

Q:  My car comes dangerously close to overheating while driving in the mountains or idling in traffic jams. What can I do to help that?

A:  Make sure your cooling system is flushed every other year and that the mixture is 50/50 water/coolant. If this problem persists, please bring your car in for a diagnosis.

Q:  My steering wheel vibrates whenever I go over 60 mph. What's wrong?

A:  Your front wheels may be out of balance. However, if the vibration is felt in the seat and not on the steering wheel or dash, then the rear wheels may be out of balance.

Q:  Why do my tires make a humming sound on the highway?

A:  You probably haven't rotated your tires in a while. Check your rear tires by running your hand in both directions across the tread. If it feels smooth on one side and jagged on the other, you have "saw tooth" wear and need to rotate your tires from rear to the front.

Q:  How can I tell if my battery is getting weak?

A:  There may be no warning sign. The new maintenance-free batteries don't allow you to check the cell fluids but you can clean the cables and terminal. If your battery is older, have a technician check it out.