Vehicle Maintenance

  • Out With the Old - Engine Replacement Options for Fleet Vehicles

    engine

    Once you’ve determined a vehicle needs to have the engine replaced and is in good enough shape to keep on the team, it’s time to find an engine. Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA is here to help you choose the right one. There are a variety of replacement options when it comes to engines.

  • Properly Maintaining Your Battery

    headlights

    Your car’s radio and headlights, plus a slew of other important functions, are powered by an electrical current generated by your vehicle’s engine. A vital part of generating electricity is having a place to store it while it’s not being used. This is where your car battery comes into play. The battery of your vehicle holds electrical energy while the car is off in order to help the engine turn over and create a spark to start internal combustion. Without a working battery, your car will not be able to start. If you allow our team here at Zylstra Automotive & Diesel to perform proper maintenance, an average car battery can start your car reliably for roughly four years.

  • Protect Your Exhaust from Damage

    The exhaust on your truck is an important series of components, that work together to ensure smooth, reliable operation. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, we also know that exhaust systems are especially susceptible to damage and rust; pipes, mufflers, and other parts are exposed to hazards on the road, and to the environment. This situation, combined with caustic emissions and extreme heat, creates a perfect opportunity for problems to arise.

  • Protecting Your Vehicle's Interior

    Cleaning the dashboard of a vehicle

    The interior of your car can be difficult to maintain; between you, your kids, and anyone else who gets a ride from you, wear and tear on the interior of your vehicle is constant. Drinks get spilled, burn holes appear, rips and tears happen. Unlike the rest of your car, the interior isn’t made of metal, so it requires special treatment to keep it in good condition.

  • Quality Fleet Work Just as Important as Quality Product

    fleet of cars

    At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we understand the importance of a job well done. You need it done fast, but you also need it done right - cutting corners in the home stretch is obviously a bad idea.

  • Quality Work for Your Quality Vehicle

    quality car parked

    If you drive a Mercedes, Porsche, Subaru, BMW, Jaguar, or other performance and luxury vehicle, you’re a person who appreciates the value of quality. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel, we share that appreciation - that’s why we specialize in quality cars and take pride in quality work.

  • Radiator Cooling Fan Won’t Turn Off?

    Automotive radiator

    At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we know how annoying little quirks and issues can be. A common problem vehicles experience is a cooling fan that doesn’t kick on and off when it’s supposed to. While a fan that won’t kick off is far less troubling than a fan that won’t turn on, it’s still a problem that needs to be fixed for a variety of reasons. Here’s why, and what you should do.

  • Replacement Engine Maintenance to Keep Your Engine Running

    Engine Maintenance

    Once your engine is installed, you’ll want to keep it running right. Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA has you covered. Sometimes, engines just wear out - however, most of the time they meet an early demise as a result of improper maintenance. Keep your engine running like new by maintaining it the way your technician recommends.

  • Replacing Shock Absorbers

    Shock absorbers in vehicle

    Tires may be the only part of a vehicle that physically meets the road, but your shock absorbers are next in line. Working with the suspension springs, they absorb shocks from bumps and cracks in the road, while simultaneously controlling bounce and body roll.

  • Replacing Shock Absorbers

    shocks  image

    Tires may be the only part of a vehicle that physically meets the road, but your shock absorbers are next in line. Working with the suspension springs, they absorb shocks from bumps and cracks in the road, while simultaneously controlling bounce and body roll.

  • Routine Maintenance for Your Diesel

    oil being poured into a funnel

    Oil changes are integral to the performance, longevity, and reliability of your diesel truck. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, our expert mechanics understand the importance of good quality oil, changed at correct intervals, in allowing you to get the most out of your Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax diesel.

  • Signs, You May Need New Brakes

    Brakes on a wheel

    A car that brakes well and brakes correctly are just as important as acceleration, handling, or any other aspect of a vehicle’s drivability. A car with brake issues has the potential to be a far more enjoyable ride when fixed.  Your brakes have a lot to do with how your car drives. Brakes are a frequently neglected item on a lot of people’s checklists, and many drivers on the road have subpar brakes and don’t even know it. 

  • Spark Plug Maintenance is Essential

    spark plugs

    “Spark plug” is a word you are likely familiar with; it’s one of those car terms that you’ve heard your whole life. You know they’re important, you know sometimes they need to be changed. But how do you know when it’s time to replace them? What do they do, and where do they go wrong? Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia has the answers.

  • Take care of it or high repair bills? Which do you prefer?

    Oil gunked up on an engine.

    We see this with our fleet customers, our regular Visalia car pool drivers and our diesel truck drivers so it isn't just one type of driver that ends up with a nightmare on their hands costing thousands of dollars to repair, asking about the costs of a JASPER replacement engine!  The fact is your driving habits and maintenance habits can easily avoid this issue!  6 EASY STEPS - Service, Tires, Don't Ignore Service Engine Lights, Keep it Clean & Stop Driving Crazy!

  • The ABS Light - why is it on, and what should you do?

    abs light on dash lit up

    Have you ever noticed your dashboard ABS icon lit up? If you have it means there is an issue that needs to be diagnosed, ABS issues don’t need to be ignored long. The anti-lock braking system, or ABS, is an important feature on every modern car, truck, or SUV. It has been legally mandated since 2013 in the US but was standard on almost every vehicle even prior to that. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your ABS system doesn’t fail, from Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA.

  • The Importance of a Clean Vehicle

    interior of a car

    Keeping the interior of your car, truck, or SUV clean and in good shape is an important part of making your vehicle last. Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia has some tips on keeping your car clean inside, and why keeping it clean matters.

  • The Importance of Brake Bleeding

    Mechanic bleeding a brake system

    If you’ve ever been in an emergency braking situation, you’re probably all too aware that the brakes are the most important safety system on your vehicle. And like many other systems in a vehicle, the brakes need regular upkeep to continue functioning properly. One way to preserve the integrity of the braking system is through brake bleeding, and while it may not be as well known as certain services like oil changes, it is a key maintenance item for a vehicle.

  • The Importance of Maintaining Your Battery

    battery diagnostics being ran on a car battery by a mechanic

    Your vehicle's radio and headlights, plus a slew of other important functions, are powered by an electrical current generated by your vehicle’s engine. A vital part of generating electricity is having a place to store it while it’s not being used, which is where a car battery comes into play. The battery holds electrical energy while a car is off in order to help the engine turn over and create a spark to start internal combustion. Without a working battery, your car will not be able to start. If you perform proper maintenance, however, an average car battery can start your car reliably for roughly four years.

  • The value of oil changes

    oil being poured into an  engine

    At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we know that over the past decade, depending on what type of car, truck, or SUV you drive, it may seem like oil changes have gotten more expensive, and there are more options from synthetic to standard 10w/30 oil.  What kind is best for your vehicle and is the higher price worth the cost? 

  • Time to Replace Your Diesel Engine? Let's Explore Your Options

    diesel

    Whether you drive a Chevy, Dodge, or Ford diesel truck, there are a variety of options out there for a replacement engine. Depending on your truck's worth, it may depend on the type of engine and the amount of money you want to put into it. You can purchase a used, rebuilt, remanufactured, or even new diesel engine to replace your old. At Zylstra Automotive & Diesel in Visalia, CA, we’re here to help you choose the right one. 

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