High gas prices have hit most of our budgets in the Hilliard area. If increased fuel costs are consuming a bigger portion of your budget, you may be tempted to skimp in some other areas – like scheduled maintenance at Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard.

According to news reports and industry studies, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten personal vehicles on the road have at least one maintenance or repair item that hasn’t been done. Some of these items are serious safety concerns. Others are just more likely to affect the cost of operating your vehicle in Hilliard.

In this area, we can take a lesson from professional vehicle owners: fleet owners and operators like trucking companies and delivery services. Because their livelihood depends on it, they have gotten scheduled maintenance down to a science. And the last thing they skimp on is regular maintenance.

Why is that? Well, for one thing they know that routine maintenance prevents expensive repairs and costly breakdowns. They also know that a well-maintained vehicle uses less fuel.  For them, even a small decrease in fuel economy may mean not being profitable.

Here are some Japanese Automotive Service services that could potentially save you some gas in Hilliard: Fuel system cleaning, transmission service, differential service, wheel alignment, oil change, tune-up.

Ring any bells? Is there at least one thing on the list that hasn’t been done for your Honda?

Let’s suppose you chose to spend one hundred and fifty dollars and get caught up on some of these services and that they combine to improve your fuel economy by fifteen percent. What would that mean to your pocketbook?

Well, the average personal vehicle is driven about twelve thousand miles a year. If you get twenty miles per gallon in your Honda, over the course of one year you would pay for the hundred and fifty dollars’ worth of service and save an additional hundred and sixty five dollars if gas is at three dollars and fifty cents. If gas is four fifty, you would save two hundred and fifty-five dollars. And you’d rack up savings of three hundred and forty five dollars with gas at five and a half bucks.

Gas Price   $3.50   $4.50   $5.50

20 MPG        165      265       345

From this you can see that the more fuel costs, the more it pays to take care of your Honda. Some of us drive trucks for work or recreation – or want a large SUV for family needs. A fifteen percent improvement in fuel economy can generate huge savings – six hundred and sixty dollars a year if gas is four fifty a gallon. Take a look at this table to see where your savings could lie.

Gas Price   $3.50   $4.50    $5.50

10 MPG       480       660        840
20 MPG       165       255        345
30 MPG         60       120        180

So catch up on those services you’ve been neglecting. Talk with your honest and efficient. Japanese Automotive Service advisor about your Honda’s needs. Get a couple done now and a couple next time. Chances are you’ll save a lot of money on fuel this year – and a lot more on repairs in years to come.

Give David Waits a call at Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard.

Japanese Automotive Service
614.534.0370
4011 Wayne St
Hilliard, OH 43026

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Air quality affects us wherever we are in Hilliard. Many decades ago, Hilliard residents began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects health. But what about the air inside your vehicle?

Cabin air filters are now coming on most new Hondas since the 2000 model year. These filters clean the air in the passenger compartment. They can filter particles down to three microns, so that’s good enough to clean out dust, pollen and most pollutants. If you suffer from allergies in Hilliard, this is very good news.

You can look in your Honda owner’s manual to see if you have a cabin air filter. If you do, there’ll be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty. If you live where there’s a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may need to change it more often. You can also ask your honest and efficient. service advisor at Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard.

How hard it is to change a cabin air filter depends on your vehicle. Some are quite accessible; others take some doing to get to them. They’re usually in the Honda engine compartment or under the dashboard.

Because cabin air filters are so new on the scene, some Hilliard motorists haven’t heard of them – even people who have cabin air filters. Japanese Automotive Service service advisors report customers complaining of an unpleasant odor in their vehicle and it turned out to be a dirty cabin air filter.

An important note for Hilliard hybrid owners: there is a special air filter that cleans the air that cools the hybrid battery pack. This filter should be inspected every time the cabin air filter is inspected and replaced if it is dirty so that the battery pack doesn’t overheat.

Give us a call

Japanese Automotive Service
614.534.0370
4011 Wayne St
Hilliard, OH 43026

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

A lot of Columbus drivers get custom wheels. When you do this yourself (over the internet . . .) you could run into trouble if you’re not careful. Sometimes, once they’re mounted, they just didn’t fit right. The tires rub in turns or on bumps. You don’t want that.

Consulting a tire professional at Japanese Automotive Service can ensure you get the right fit. First he’ll ask you a series of questions about your driving needs in Columbus and what you want in your new wheels.

At Japanese Automotive Service, we advise Columbus tire buyers that not every wheel can go on every car. Care must be taken so that tires and wheels are not too large or that the wheel is centered too far towards the outside or the inside so the tires rub.

If you don’t want to make any modifications to your Honda, you need to focus on the wheels that fit. With trucks, some Columbus people like much bigger tires so they need a suspension lift.

Also, most Columbus people don’t realize that you need to keep the rolling diameter of your new tires – that’s, like the overall height of the tire – very close to what came from the factory in order for your anti-lock brakes and stability control systems to work properly.

The Honda’s computers that control these systems are calibrated to a certain size tire. When you go bigger or smaller, the computer doesn’t know what changes you made so it can’t tell how fast you’re going. This, of course, means it sends commands to the brakes and traction control that are based on the wrong speed. If you go with a different rolling diameter, your Honda’s engine control computer can be reprogrammed for the new tire size. For information on reprogramming the engine computer, call us at 614.534.0370.

Either way, there are hundreds of wheel and tire choices to choose from in Columbus. You can pick the style of wheel you want and then talk with your Japanese Automotive Service tire professional about how big the wheel should be – and select the right tire to meet your style, performance, ride and handling needs.

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Most Hilliard area car owners don’t service their air conditioning until after it fails. Maintaining your Honda air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can’t cool the air as well.

Along with the refrigerant, a special oil circulates in the system. The oil lubricates air conditioning components, and keeps the seals resilient. Low refrigerant and lubricating oil means that the air conditioning parts will wear out prematurely, and we all know that air conditioning repairs can be costly in Columbus.

Air conditioning service at Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard starts with a visual inspection of the components for signs of damage or leaks. The compressor is driven by a belt from the engine, most often the serpentine belt, so it’s inspected for cracks or wear.

The air conditioning compressor and other components are checked for proper operation by your Japanese Automotive Service service advisor. Then comes the leak test. If a leak is detected, often in a hose or connection, it’s repaired and the Honda system is retested. Your Japanese Automotive Service technician will also perform a temperature drop test.

If needed, the old refrigerant is evacuated and the system is recharged with clean, fresh refrigerant. A final test insures that the air conditioner is working, and you’re on your way.

How often this should be done at Japanese Automotive Service varies from vehicle to vehicle. Your Honda owner’s manual will have the manufacturer’s recommendation and, of course, your honest and efficient. Japanese Automotive Service service advisor can tell you. It’s typically every two years.

Give us a call

Japanese Automotive Service
4011 Wayne St
Hilliard, OH 43026

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Japanese Automotive Service’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Japanese Automotive Service Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Japanese Automotive Service Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Japanese Automotive Service gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Hilliard and on Columbus freeways, by the way.

Japanese Automotive Service Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your honest and efficient. Japanese Automotive Service advisor for information.

Japanese Automotive Service Inspections: Hilliard drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Hilliard. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Japanese Automotive Service may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Japanese Automotive Service Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Hilliard auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Japanese Automotive Service PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Japanese Automotive Service Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Japanese Automotive Service technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Japanese Automotive Service Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Japanese Automotive Service before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Japanese Automotive Service Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Hilliard motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Japanese Automotive Service Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Japanese Automotive Service Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Hilliard.

Give us a call

Japanese Automotive Service
614.534.0370
4011 Wayne St
Hilliard, OH 43026

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

It’s said that 90 percent of our driving decisions are based on visual information. Our wiper blades play an important role in this. Most Hilliard, Hilliard, and Columbus drivers know that a dirty or streaked windshield can catch the glare of the sun or on-coming headlights and make it nearly impossible to see.

Most busy Columbus car owners deal with their wiper blades from a failure perspective. They address them when they no longer function. Instead, Hilliard drivers should think about wipers blades as an important safety system that they should maintain, rather than repair.

And don’t think that your wiper blades will last longer because you don’t use them very often. Hey, they live outside in the harsh sun and freezing cold – ice and wind. They just dry out and crack over time.

At Japanese Automotive Service, we recommend that Columbus motorists change their wiper blades twice a year, in the spring and fall. That way you have functional blades for those spring showers and OH winter storms. And consider a windshield treatment to help repeal water and make it easier to clean off bugs and road grime.

Like everything else in the OH automotive world, there’ve been some big advancements in wiper blades, both in terms of the design and the materials from which the blade is made. We can help you get the same type of blades that came with your Columbus vehicle, or if you have a need for better than average windshield wipers, you can pay some more for an upgraded wiper.

And if you live where there’s a lot of snow and ice in OH, they make special winter blades that don’t clog up and freeze like standard blades.

Give us a call for more information about wiper blades or any other automotive part or service. Our phone number at Japanese Automotive Service is 614.534.0370.

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Now when you hear “severe service”, you may think it doesn’t apply to you because you don’t feel your driving conditions are severe or extreme – it’s just normal everyday driving around Columbus. At Japanese Automotive Service, we discuss the conditions that manufacturers classify as severe so that you can make the judgment on your own driving.

• Most trips are less than four miles
• Most trips are less than ten miles and outside temperatures are below freezing in Columbus
• You drive in very hot OH weather
• Driving at low speed most of the time (under 55 mph)
• Stop and go driving
• Operating your vehicle in dusty, polluted or muddy conditions
• You tow a trailer, regularly carry heavy loads or carry a car-top carrier on your Honda

Most Columbus drivers operate under severe driving conditions at least some of the time. How do you know which schedule to follow for your Honda?

Carefully think about your driving conditions and decide if you should do your preventive maintenance closer to the severe service recommendation or the regular recommendation. Of course, your Japanese Automotive Service advisor can help you with your decision.

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. Next, the belt powers the alternator.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. In some Hondas, power steering may have an electric drive and power brakes can be vacuum driven.

And, on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump (on some cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt).

Your Japanese Automotive Service service technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Hilliard drivers should be aware that there’s a special, spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley and sometimes an extra pulley call the idler pulley. Their job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. That’s why it’s often recommended that the tensioner, and the idler pulley if so equipped, be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your Honda. And it’s not that expensive to replace at Japanese Automotive Service – so it’s good to do so before it fails.

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Let’s focus on stopping in wet Hilliard conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.

That’s called hydroplaning. At Japanese Automotive Service we want our customers to know that if it’s really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won’t stop as fast.

So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at a tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.

And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet Hilliard roads.

So that’s why it’s so important for Hilliard drivers to replace the tires on their Hondas when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.

By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely worn out tire.

And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet roads. A safe stop from OH freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

You’ve probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount.

Of course, tires are a big ticket item for Hilliard car owners. Most of us want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

In very simple terms, a fuel injector is a valve that squirts fuel into your Honda engine. Your engine control computer tells the fuel injector how much fuel to deliver as well as the precise time it should be delivered. Of course this happens thousands of times a minute.

High temperatures under your hood and variations in Hilliard gas quality cause fuel injectors to be fouled with wax, dirt, water, additives and carbon. Injectors can become partially clogged, preventing them from delivering the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure.

When your Honda’s injectors are dirty, the fuel doesn’t burn as efficiently resulting in poor fuel economy and loss of power. So it’s important to keep your fuel injectors clean.

We can perform a full fuel system service for you at Japanese Automotive Service in which the fuel injectors are cleaned so that they operate properly and deliver the right amount of fuel at the right time.

OH drivers should remember that proper maintenance of their fuel system means that they will spend less on gas in Hilliard, enjoy strong performance and prevent costly repairs down the road.

At Japanese Automotive Service in Hilliard OH (43026) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 614.534.0370. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.