1150 Waukegan Rd, Waukegan, ILOpen until Air Conditioning Service at Tires Plus Total Car Care The temperature inside a vehicle sitting in the summer sun can easily reach (and exceed) 130°F. Keeping you and your passengers comfortable during the hottest weather is dependent on proper maintenance of your car A/C system. The air conditioning system works by removing heat from the air inside your vehicle and transferring that heat to the outside air. Once the heat and humidity have been removed, you and your passengers will have cooler, more comfortable air. To remove the heat, the automotive A/C system relies on several key components that are all controlled electronically. What Can Go Wrong For the A/C system to work correctly and be ready for the hot weather, it needs to be free from leaks so that the refrigerant stays in the system. Although A/C systems are resistant to leaks and contamination, they are not leak–proof. Over time, contamination or leaks can appear and affect the cooling performance of your car A/C system.

In fact, the most common cause of inadequate cooling is when the refrigerant leaks through worn seals and o–rings, loose fittings and connections. To make sure all parts and components of your A/C system work properly, we recommend scheduling your annual auto air conditioning service appointment at the beginning of the warm season. Your auto care advisor can recommend an A/C Performance Check to test for any worn hoses or seals, leaks or contamination — as well as help make sure your vehicle is ready for warmer weather. We want you to know that some refrigerants used in automotive A/C systems are considered harmful to the environment. That’s why Tires Plus takes great care to use environmentally friendly products and procedures when servicing these systems. Keep your vehicle running its best – check out your vehicle manufacturer’s air conditioning service schedule. THE PLUS IS IN EVERYTHING WE DO Quality people, parts and service — these are the three main reasons we think we’re the best when it comes to batteries and electrical systems.

We have ASE–certified technicians and always follow Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) guidelines when maintaining and making repairs, making sure your vehicle will start. We offer a complete line of Interstate Batteries, and we sell more of their battery products than any other retailer. Plus, our service is unmatched — we make it easy to buy, set up an appointment and install your battery and electrical systems on your schedule, with affordable pricing.how stuff works ac in car Your time is valuable. air conditioner unit for apartmentSo we guarantee your car will be ready when we say it will, or we’ll give you 10% OFF your next purchase.*how to buy new air conditioning unitFor years people have asked me this question quite frequently ... what kind of shop should I use for automotive repairs, a dealership or an independent shop?

I have shied away from answering it because I see benefits both ways and, no matter how I answer it, someone always gets offended. I can no longer duck the question because it comes up so frequently from people everywhere. Readers in the US as well as abroad are posing it to me relentlessly! So let's discuss it. I will present advantages and disadvantages of both types of shops, then you decide what's best for you ... dealership or independent shop.Has anyone noticed that dealerships are expanding their marketing campaigns to draw the retail customer into the dealership for service? Check out the advertising lately - Ford ("America's Newest Tire Store") and GM ("Good Wrench Service Plus"). Dealers are offering longer nationwide warranties, certified technicians, and original equipment parts at competitive prices. Why is this happening? ... for a number of reasons. The new car profits are at such a low that the service departments must step up to the plate and become profitable for the dealership to survive.

Another reason, warranty work use to represent 70% of the service done at dealerships. Today that figure has fallen to about 20% because cars are made better and last longer! And, finally, dealerships are offering better service in an effort to capture the customer's car purchases.Let's take a look at some of the advantages dealership service departments have to offer. First of all, In order to maintain their franchise licenses, dealerships must pay for training their technicians and providing special tools and equipment. Dealers also have access to proprietary information, usually one (1) year's worth of information on new vehicles they sell and service. This means that no one else can access this information, which is often necessary for diagnosis and repair. In addition, dealership service departments work mainly on the makes and models that they sell. Since they are very familiar with the particular car line, they can usually pinpoint a problem more quickly and more accurately.Dealership technicians are usually paid according to a method called "flat rate."

When a job is dispatched to a technician, the clock starts. If an operation calls for a time frame of two hours, then the labor will be 2X the shop's hourly rate. If the technician is proficient at this particular operation and can do it in half the time, the customer still pays for two hours of labor and the tech earns two hours of pay for one hour of work. Conversely, if the tech does the job in more than the allowed time, the customer still pays two hours of labor. This method of payment holds a standard hourly rate for the customer, and yet rewards highly skilled technicians.A drawback to this method is that technicians may find themselves hurrying to make a quota. In addition, the technicians may be reluctant to work on vehicles other than the car line they usually service because they are not as familiar with these cars and, consequently, the job will probably take longer. With these considerations, there is the possibility of "cutting corners" to get the work done faster; or lack of expertise if the tech is working on a vehicle that he has little experience with.

These potential problems are averted in a reputable service department by a good service manager whose goal is to serve the customer and develop a long term relationship with him/her.Traditionally, dealerships' hourly rates were higher than the independent shops because of overhead, cost of tools, and training. That trend is changing. Because independents are realizing escalation of costs associated with the rapid technological changes taking place ... the need for ongoing training and purchasing of new equipment and tools.Now, let's take a look at the independent shop. Independent repair facilities have always been there to serve the neighborhood. In the past, many dealerships viewed the customer as a potential car sale. The focus was not on customer service. Consequently, the customer was driven (no pun intended) from the dealership to the independent facility, where one could enjoy a cup of coffee along with a sincere conversation about the customer's family as well as his car (we've coined a name for it now ...

In addition to a personal relationship, the independent offers versatility of services on diverse makes and models of vehicles. Today, top quality independent repair facilities also offer nationwide warranties through the parts suppliers and the associations they deal with. Comparing them with the dealerships, the "scales are balancing" in this arena! As far as the hourly rate for work, as I mentioned earlier, independents have been able to offer better prices. However, this consideration is changing because of factors discussed below.What about the cost of repair? Independents charge a "flat rate" for their services. They use the same "book" as the dealerships to determine the time a job should take, and they charge the customer accordingly. The difference is that the technician is usually paid an hourly rate (based on his actual performance) or a salary. There is no incentive to hurry through a job or compete with other techs for the "easier" job. Also, seasoned techs who have worked in independent facilities have a wealth of experience and knowledge from years of working on a variety of vehicles.

They are an excellent resource for difficult car repairs.Because of the rapid changes in automotive technology, it is vital that the independent facility you associate with is qualified to work on your car. They must be "up to speed"on the latest technology, methods, training, and equipment. The trend in the past ten years has been for the independents (the ones who are serious and in for the long haul) to upgrade their facilities and equipment, as well as train their technicians, because automotive technology is escalating at rocket speed! Shingles to look for? Just to mention a few.With all this said ... what is my opinion? Find a facility (either a dealership service department or an independent) that you are comfortable with and one that suites your individual needs. Make sure they are highly qualified to do the work. Develop an ongoing relationship with them (don't hop from shop to shop looking for the next "deal"). And, at last, enjoy driving a safe and reliable vehicle.'Til next time ...