We have all considered buying an extended warranty contract when purchasing a new car. The problem is they can be extremely expensive and only cover a certain amount of miles and time. How would you like to have an extended warranty contract on your car for the life of that car and all you have to do is maintain that car. Sounds crazy right? Well BG Products offers just that. Let me explain.

For example: If we were to perform a cooling system flush on your vehicle using BG Products before that vehicle reaches 36,000 miles you would receive up to $4000 towards repairs in the event of a cooling system failure. The parts covered are the radiator, heater core,water pump and freeze plugs. Hoses, thermostat, clamps and engine components are not covered. If you install BG Products between 36,001 and 75,000 miles BG will pay up to $2000 in repairs.

So what’s the catch? All you have to do is service your cooling system every 30,000 miles with BG Products. Servicing your cooling system is a standard maintenance procedure, so why not do it with BG Products. The additional cost, when using the BG Product in your cooling system, is about $30 on top of a standard cooling system flush. When you consider that a water pump could cost as much as $400- $600 on most cars today, $30 every 30,000 mile is inexpensive insurance and offers great peace of mind.

BG Products also has products for your engine, power steering, fuel system, brake system, differentials, transmissions and transfer cases, all with the same great warranty. BG Products are not only good for your vehicle, but they back it up with this amazing extended warranty, which is also transferable if you sell your vehicle. Also, when using BG Products with your oil change BG will give you free roadside assistance.

Go to www.bendersauto.com, go to links at the top of the home page and click on the www.bgams.com link and read all about the products and warranties that are available. Call today and ask about our BG specials.

Did you know that if your car is still under the factory warranty you do not have to take your vehicle to the dealer for its scheduled maintenance and non-warranty repairs.

According to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 manufacturers are not allowed to void the vehicles warranty just because aftermarket parts are used on the vehicle. You also have the option to take your vehicle to any qualified repair facility to do scheduled maintenance. So, for example, lets say your transmission fails and your car is still under the factory warranty. You need to prove that you have complied with the scheduled factory maintenance by producing the service records on that vehicle.

When we are looking at a particular repair on a vehicle, relating to parts, we look at several things to determine where to purchase the part.

First, we look at the quality of the part. Some parts manufacturers are having their products built and assembled overseas. Although that is not always a bad thing some of these parts are poorly built with cheap components. If we are not comfortable with a particular manufacturer we will not use their product, plus it doesn’t hurt to support the good old U.S of A whenever possible. Most manufactures offer a 1 year warranty on the part only. We extend that warranty 1 year and offer a 2 year 24,000 mile warranty on parts and labor. We are able to do this by installing the best parts available.

Second, we look at cost. Some aftermarket parts are as good as the factory part, and less expensive. Some aftermarket parts are better than the factory parts, but more expensive. As consumers we always tend to look at the price first, when dealing with car parts. When we get a vehicle in our shop that has been in another shop with the same problem, it is sometimes workmanship, but most of the time it is a cheap part that has failed. In my opinion putting a cheap part on your car is a workmanship issue, that’s why it is so important to use the part that has the most value.

Third, we look at availability. Sometimes we want a particular manufactures part, but it just is not available so we have to go with the next best option.

It is our goal to repair your vehicle with parts that have the best value for you. That’s not always the most expensive, but sometimes it is. Even the best parts can fail, that’s why we offer a 2 year 24,000 mile warranty to give you peace of mind that if that part does fail we will stand behind it. And the Magnuson-Moss Act gives you peace of mind that your factory warranty cannot be void if we do the scheduled maintenance or non- warranty repairs.

This month I wanted to discuss Factory recalls.

Those of you who have newer cars, or are still subject to factory recalls, need to be aware of information that your dealership may not want you to know.

All of us are aware of the massive recall that Toyota is in the middle of because of the horrific accident that killed 4 people due to a sticking gas pedal. Toyota may or may not have been aware of this problem before this terrible accident. But did you know that all recalls are not announced to the car owner? Most problems never get to the recall stage; that doesn’t mean they’re not problems. It just means that the manufacture has managed to wiggle out of conducting a full recall. In this case Toyota had no wiggle room.

My Own Vehicle

I’ll use my own vehicles as an example. I have a 2006 Ford Fusion that had a ticking noise in the engine. After researching the problem I found a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) on that exact problem. I took the vehicle into Ford, with TSB in hand and they fixed the problem under warranty. Because it was not a safety issue they never sent out an official recall. I also have a 2001 Ford F-250 truck that I did receive a recall notice in the mail. They recommended that I have an electrical component replaced due to the fact that it has a tendency to short out and catch on fire. Obviously a vehicle burning to the ground, especially if you keep it in your garage, is much more severe than a ticking engine. If Ford is aware of both problems, you should be advised of both problems, but you’re not.

This is where Bender’s Automotive comes in. When you bring your vehicle in for service or repairs we can check all TSB’s to see if there are any issues with your vehicle. The Dealers are not obligated to do so and actually don’t like doing warranty work, or recalls, because they get paid considerable less by the manufacturer. There have been several times we found problems with vehicles that have been related to TSB’s and referred the customer to the dealer where they were able to get the repair covered under a “secret” recall.

The next time you bring your vehicle in ask myself, Mike or Denise and we will be happy to check for TSB’s on your vehicle.

Surprising to many, we also do car restorations and hot rod service.

So, no matter if you need maintenance, or a complex repair, give us a call.

More information on the auto repair services we provide

More information on the maintenance services we provide

More information on Restorations and Hot Rods

More information on our Machine Shop

We don’t talk down to you or talk in confusing automotive jargon. We take the time to explain things clearly so they make sense to you.  We take the time to answer your questions, patiently.

Much of the time, your find the owner, Tom Bender at the counter to help you.

Auto maintenance is very important.  It is the key to making your car last and giving you the peace of mind you deserve.  So, let us take some of the inconvenience out of it and allow us to shuttle you to your home or office and pick you up when your car is done.  It’s good for you and your car.

We know how inconvenient auto repair and maintenance can be.  We also know how important it is to take care of your car.  And that’s why we work hard to get you back up and running as soon as we can.  We also have a shuttle service to get you back and forth from our shop.

Give us a try, you’ll like our shop.

The quality of our workmanship is extremely important to our company.  When we have your automotive maintenance and auto repairs done by well-qualified mechanics, the work is done right the first time.  This helps us keep customers happy, our biggest priority.  Happy customers tell friends and family members. We like that.

In the auto repair industry, there is only one nationally recognized organization that trains and certifies auto repair professionals.  That is the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, The ASE.  Our auto repair mechanics are at least ASE Certified or ASE Master Technicians.  This helps us assure our customers that we have the qualified personnel to service their car.

We care about our customers and that’s why we only use qualified and experienced auto repair mechanics!

We use the right parts, the right fluids, the right personnel, the right equipment.  When we assemble all of that together, you get a repair that you can feel strong peace of mind.

Come to Benders Auto Care if you demand Peace of Mind!

Your cooling system is an extremely important system in your vehicle.  It’s job is to keep the engine cooled so it doesn’t overheat.

Here’s how it works.  Engine coolant, also known as antifreeze, runs through your engine’s cooling system.  It moves from the radiator to the engine and back again.  The water pump function is to keep that cooling fluid moving.  The radiator’s job is to allow cooler air to bring down the temperature of the coolant.

What is the coolant?

Your coolant is a mixture of coolant and water.  Each car manufacturer specifies exactly the mixture and type of coolant that is needed.  The coolant’s job is to stop that water from rusting and corroding the internal parts of your cooling system.  Of course, it also helps keep the coolant cooler.

Where’s the problem?

When the coolant gets older, it starts to lose its protective properties.  It begins to allow the water to eat up your internal parts.  Water pumps fail, radiators fail and more.  These failures can lead to disastrous engine problems.  Additionally, if there is a leak in your cooling system, you risk the same problems.

How to solve the problem?

Simple.  Just get routine cooling system flushes when your car manufacturer recommends it.  Most car makers today recommend about every 24,000 to 30,000 miles.  Consult your owner’s manual for proper intervals.

It’s also important to point out that we do inspect your coolant to make sure it’s protecting you well.  If it’s not, we’ll bring it to your attention.  If you have any questions about your cooling system or any part of your car, please feel welcome to give us a call.