Vehicle Maintenance

Sluggish. Squealing. Unreliable. Vibrating. If any of these descriptors fit your vehicle’s recent behavior, it just might be trying to tell you something – like it’s time for a tune-up.

Today’s vehicles differ significantly from their decades-old brethren that required a tune-up every 10,000 or 20,000 miles. With newer vehicles, it’s increasingly common for manufacturer-recommended service intervals to stretch to 100,000 miles before certain maintenance items, such as replacing the spark plugs, should be completed. 

Does your clutch go flat, rendering your car useless until you fill the reservoir back up? Are you tired of the spongy feeling in your pedal, and the mess on your driveway? At Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, we can fix that for you.

Do you need new brake pads? Most of the time, if you think you do, the answer is yes. While a lot of auto parts stores sell brake pads with lifetime warranties, don’t be misled...brake pads will still wear down.

Auxiliary transmission coolers are one of many ways the aftermarket can improve the quality and durability of your vehicle. From Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, here’s some information concerning auxiliary coolers, why you might need one, and what it can do for you.

Like anything else on your vehicle, keeping various systems clean and in good shape is essential to long life and reliability. Your fuel system is especially important - parts are expensive, problems can be difficult to diagnose, and it doesn’t take much contamination to cause a huge issue. It’s much easier to keep your fuel system clean than it is to clean a dirty or problematic system. Performing regular fuel treatment can prove very beneficial to the life of your vehicle.

A good technician will give your vehicle a quick inspection whenever you have maintenance performed. Fluid levels, tire condition, dashboard lights, and a variety of other items typically are briefly explored whenever you bring your vehicle in for maintenance. At Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, we're good at noticing things that need repair, but the fact of the matter is that only you know your vehicle. You know when your vehicle feels off when its been serviced last (or that it hasn't been serviced at all,) and have at least some vague idea of what’s going on with your vehicle day to day. Here are some questions you can ask us next time you come by the shop:

Brakes are one of the most important components of your vehicle. You need the confidence of knowing that when you press your foot to the brake, your vehicle is going to stop. That's why it's important to keep these tips in mind to help keep your brakes functioning properly. Schedule an appointment with us at Sterling Auto Service, LLC for a brake service checkup today!

These days, it seems like the oil options for your oil changes are limitless - full synthetic, blends, conventional, high mileage, and the list goes on and on. We are frequently asked if it's okay to switch between oils, and how do you know what is okay to use? At Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN we're here to help you answer that question. When it comes to engine oil, the answer to this question can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be!

Is your check engine light on? Whether you can tell a difference in the way your car, truck, or SUV is running, your car is trying to tell you something. At Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, we can help.

There’s a huge percentage of vehicle on the road, right now, with the check engine light illuminated. Many of them have had it on for years, even. Frequently, a check engine light will illuminate, but pose no immediate problems, so people just get used to it and learn to live with it being on. However, Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN would like you to know that it’s worth having it looked into. Typically, the problem can be diagnosed by simply plugging your car into our computer; the vehicle gives us a code, and we know what the problem is immediately.

At Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, we know how easy it is to overlook vehicle maintenance when everything is working as it should - we also know firsthand the toll neglected maintenance takes on a vehicle. Here’s an easy thing you can do yourself, that might save you an engine, transmission, or avoid numerous other problems.

Your vehicle is a vital part of your life; it takes you wherever you need to go and can last you a very long time if taken care of properly. A part of the care it takes to maintain the vehicle is taking it to repair shops in order to receive any necessary maintenance or fix any problems you may be experiencing. By choosing Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, you can rest assured that your vehicle will get the proper care and maintenance required to remain durable for as long as you need it.

Whether you drive a BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche (some exclusions apply), Subaru, or other performance automobiles, your car has a cooling system. With winter right around the corner, at Sterling Auto Service, LLC we want to make sure your cooling system is ready for the cold.

Coolant is vital to your engine. Without the right type, amount, and proper circulation of coolant, your engine won’t last long. How do you know when it’s time to check it or replace it? Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN has the answers.

Obviously, your brakes are essential. However, it’s easy to neglect or ignore brake issues, and even miss them altogether; as long as the car, truck, or SUV still stops, many people don’t see the need to have their brakes serviced. From Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, here are some common brake issues, and why you should fix them.

An engine can last anywhere from 50 to 500,000 miles depending mostly on how well you maintain it. While some engines are certainly more reliable than others, all of them depend on maintenance to fulfill their greatest potential. Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN has provided for you some of the determining factors of engine lifespan, to help you make sure your engine lasts as long as it possibly can.

There are many parts and systems outside of the car’s transmission that is equally as important as the parts and systems inside the transmission. Without them, the transmission won’t do much. There’s no way to transfer power from the engine to the shafts, disengage it to shift the gears, or power the differential without them. Just in case you need us, at Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, we can help keep your transmission in top shape, but here’s what you need to know.

If you drive a Dodge, Chevy, or Ford diesel pickup, you know the amount of hard work your truck puts in. You may also be aware that diesels run a little dirtier than your average gas burner. At Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, our goal is to keep your Duramax, Cummins, or Powerstroke truck on the road for many miles to come. A huge part of that is keeping your oil maintained.

Manual transmissions are generally more reliable than automatic transmissions. They don’t have as many parts, aren’t as complex, and can take a lot more abuse. However, if an issue is allowed to persist, more and more damage to surrounding components on your manual transmission will occur. Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN can help you take care of your car as soon as you notice a problem.

No matter what type of car, truck, or SUV you drive, maintenance is the key to giving your engine a long life. At Sterling Auto Service, LLC in Jackson, TN, we focus on keeping your engine running strong.