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Frequently Asked Questions

At Tillema Auto's Repair Shop, we understand that waiting for your car to be serviced can sometimes be inconvenient. That's why we offer a range of amenities to make your wait as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. While you wait, you can relax in our comfortable meeting room spaces, where you'll find cozy seating and a welcoming atmosphere. You can also help yourself to a complimentary cup of coffee and take advantage of our free Wi-Fi to stay connected or catch up on work. We want your experience with us to be convenient and stress-free, so you can relax knowing that your car is in good hands.

We typically schedule service center appointments within the week. Our service center aims for fast, high-quality service with minimal wait times. Depending on the service, we typically schedule within 5 days of appointment creation. Most repairs can be done within the same day or the following, although some take longer depending on the complexity of the service required.

We recommend getting your oil changed every 3,000 miles on semi synthetics, and 5,000 miles on full synthetic. Many manufacturers will suggest longer intervals, but to keep your engine lubricated properly, we recommend shorter intervals. 
 
When your car is in for an oil change, we change the oil, filter, and check all your vehicle’s fluid
levels. We also check your tire pressures and all major components to ensure your vehicle is safe and in operating condition.

Oil changes typically take 30 minutes. There are a few options for scheduling your oil change. First, once you have set an appointment time, you can drop off your vehicle in the morning or the night before and have it done by the end of the day. However, if you  would prefer to wait during your oil change, we can set up a specific time for you.

Most vehicles recommend a tire pressure between 30 and 35 PSI. Larger trucks often have a higher pressure recommendation. Most vehicles have a sticker in the driver-side door jam that will tell you what pressures you should be running. 
 
Running your tires at the correct pressure extends the life of the tire and helps to save fuel
consumption. If you are unsure about your tire pressure, stop in - we will check them and fill them for you!

Our sales staff is very helpful in finding you a vehicle that will fit your needs. We try to keep a good selection of vehicles in stock, but if you have your heart set on a specific model, we would be happy to help you find the perfect vehicle. Call our staff and let us know what you’re looking for, and we’ll be happy to help you find it!

We do not offer rental cars or loaner cars, but we do have some options for you if you need transportation. We have vehicles available for rent on premise through Turo. 
 
Give us a call and we can help you find them. Because these vehicles are not always available, Enterprise also offers a discounted price to our customers.
Check engine lights and other dash lights indicate that there is something wrong with your vehicle. If your check engine light is on, we can typically pull a quick code that will give us a direction but will not necessarily diagnose it. To figure out what’s wrong we need to connect your
vehicle to our scan tools and read the actual issues. Give us a call or stop by and we’ll gladly check it out for you.
 
Other lights can mean different things. The traction control light means there is an issue with traction control, the antilock brake light means there is an issue with your anti-lock brake system and your anti-lock brakes will not work, and your low tire light means one of your tires pressures is low. If you are unsure of what the light is, give us a call, we would be happy to take a look at it and help guide you in next steps.
Brake services are only needed when your brake life is low. This changes from driver to driver. If you brake hard, you may need to replace them more frequently. When your oil is changed here, we check your brake life and advise when you need to replace it. 
 
If you are hearing a squeak or grind when braking, that could mean your brake life is low.

Different manufacturers recommend different types of oil. Some recommend full synthetic oil, while others will recommend a semi synthetic. If you are wondering what type of oil to use, call us, and we’ll be glad to help find the correct oil for your vehicle.

Oil is one of the most important things to keep fresh in your vehicle. It keeps your engine’s components lubricated and moving freely. If you don’t keep a routine oil change schedule, you could cause major damage inside your motor and cause other, far more expensive issues as well. 
 
Oil typically loses its lubrication properties between 3,000 and 6,000 miles. This is why we recommend changing at 3,000 miles for semi synthetic, and 5,000 miles for fully synthetic.
Yes, we can help you find winter tires and have them installed for you. 

Winter conditions can be unpredictable in northern climates, but does using winter tires really change the traction that much? 
 
The short answer is yes. All-season tires have a tread that is designed to be used in all conditions, where winter tire tread is designed specifically to grip on icy and snowy road conditions. The rubber is also made of a different, much softer compound, which allows the tires to grip better in the worst conditions. 
 
Installing snow tires is the best option for driving in winter conditions when it comes to maintaining traction, acceleration, stopping, and cornering in ice, snow and slushy
conditions. 
 
However, you will want to change these out in the summer, because hot roads can damage the rubber and shorten the life of your winter tires.

Yes! 
A tire rotation moves the location of your tires on the vehicle (for example, from front to back or vice versa). Doing regular tire rotations can help keep road traction, protect against blowouts, provide a smoother ride, and maintain efficiency. Tires wear at different rates, so rotating your tires on the vehicle helps them to wear more evenly and therefore extends their life.

Yes, this is a service we do, and also we believe that your essential fluids should be checked at every oil change, if not more frequently. Some vehicles demand more frequent fluid checks and changes. Many fluids can last over 50,000 miles, but engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid should be checked and changed in regular intervals. 
 
Call us to get more information on changing these essential fluids.
Your engine air filter and cabin air filter are essential to keeping your car running well and giving you good-quality air in the cabin. 
 
We check your engine air filter at every oil change, but if you notice that it is dirty or has debris, we recommend changing it. Your cabin air filter helps filter particulates from air inside the cabin. Much like your furnace filter, it helps keep the air you breathe clean. If your vehicle is equipped with a cabin air filter, you should replace it when it gets dirty or if you notice an odd odor in your vehicle.

Yes! 
Vehicle batteries typically last between 3 and 5 years. If your vehicle seems to be starting slower or you notice your dash lights flickering, that could mean your battery life is limited. We offer battery checks that will help us determine whether you need to replace your battery or not.

Having your vehicle not start is never ideal. There are many causes that could make it not start, including the battery and starter. If your car will not start, we offer service calls where we can come help you get the vehicle started and get it to our shop. This prevents the hassle of having to call a tow truck.

When going to a gas station, it can be confusing which gas to use. The different types of gas contain different levels of octane. Octane is a type of hydrocarbon that is more stable than gasoline, but just as flammable. 
 
Regular gas is typically 87 octane, mid-grade is 89 octane, and premium is typically 91 to 94 octane. 
 
Most vehicles can take regular gasoline, but some require or recommend a higher-octane fuel. Many of these vehicles are high-performance vehicles with turbochargers or other performance parts. Using too low octane fuel can cause damage to your motor. 
 
Flex fuel is another fuel offering. Many manufacturers are designing their vehicles to run on this alternative fuel. This fuel is made up of a specific blend of gas and ethanol and is a plant-based fuel made from corn. It consists of 85% ethanol and as little as 15% gasoline. Vehicles designed to run on E-85 have a yellow cap. Using regular gasoline in these vehicles will not damage them, but using E-85 in vehicles not manufactured for flex fuel will be damaged.
 
We do not recommend using E-85 in any vehicle because it can cause the engine to run hotter and will cause a decrease in mileage.
Off course, windshield wipers are essential to good visibility during rain and other precipitation. Wipers should be replaced only when needed. If your windshield wipers are leaving streaks behind, it may be time to replace them.
 
We recommend replacing wipers with a bar-style wiper blade because they offer the most versatility in both summer and winter conditions, making them an excellent value.

Yes, signal lights are really great - when they are working correctly! When one of your signal bulbs burns out, there is less load on the circuit, causing them to blink faster. If your signal lights are blinking fast, give us a call and we can set up an appointment to check all your lights and bulbs.

We highly recommend getting your vehicle checked over before a trip. If you have an oil change service due, you can schedule a pre-trip inspection at the same time! If you are not due for an oil change service, we can schedule you a pre-trip inspection where we will inspect all major components of your vehicle. 
 
You don’t want to get stranded on the side of the road with something that could have been
prevented.

We understand that looking for a trustworthy mechanic shop and vehicle dealership is no small task. At Tillema, we’re committed to making our service center and dealership a place of honesty and integrity. 

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