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A technician performing routine 30,000-mile maintenance on a vehicle.

Unusual Maintenance for Your CDJR's Longevity

Maintenance at your CDJR dealer is performed by CDJR-trained technicians using only CDJR-approved replacement parts. This gives you the peace of mind of knowing your vehicle receives the highest quality care and attention. We want to tell you about some of the types of CDJR maintenance we provide. Sometimes, the maintenance your car needs might be outside of the routine. Check out some examples of unusual CDJR service available from your CDJR dealership. Ignition Coil Replacement An ignition coil is connected to each spark plug and boosts its power. Spark plugs ignite the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders to create combustion, but they can only supply 12 volts. Their connected coil acts as a transformer to increase this to 30,000 volts and successfully ignite the mixture. Coils wear out due to old age and will need replacement. Worn spark plugs or other engine issues can also damage the coils. Damaged spark plugs produce more electrical resistance, which forces the coil to work harder to overcome this resistance. The additional workload heats up the coil and causes it to fail sooner than it should. If the coil fails, its spark plug won't ignite the fuel-air mixture, and your vehicle will misfire. We'll check your coils and replace any worn ones. As part of your regular maintenance, We'll also check for damaged plugs and replace them. Headlight Lens Replacement The lenses are clear plastic covers that fit over the headlight recesses. They allow light to shine through and protect the bulbs, sockets, and wiring from moisture and dirt. The covers gradually develop a yellowish tinge due to exposure to sunlight exposure, reducing headlight luminosity and making it more difficult to see the road ahead in low-light conditions. Lenses can also be damaged by gravel, sand, or other hard objects thrown up from the road surface. This causes scratches that reduce visibility and can also crack the lens. Water or mud can enter through these cracks and damage the bulbs or sockets. We'll check your lenses and can quickly replace them to improve visibility. We'll also repair any damage caused if water has leaked in. Rectifier Replacement The rectifier is a tiny component in the alternator that converts AC to DC. The alternator is powered by the crankshaft's movement, and it spins at high speed to produce magnetic energy. The magnetic energy is captured by the stator in the alternator and converted to AC. The final step is conversion of the AC to the DC your systems require. A rectifier can fail due to age, preventing electricity conversion. Without a DC supply from the alternator, the electrical systems will draw power from your battery. A battery doesn't have enough power to supply these demands continuously and will drain completely in less than an hour. Once our technicians replace the rectifier, power conversion will return to normal. Book your next maintenance today by contacting our service department at Auffenberg CDJR in Shiloh, IL.

A cutaway view of an automotive transmission.

Recognizing When It's Time for Transmission Service for Your CDJR

Transmission problems can develop over time as components age and wear out. Most transmission issues are quick and inexpensive to repair if detected when they begin. As your local Shiloh and O’Fallon CDJR dealer, we want to give you all the information you need to keep your car running just like new. Check out these signs that you need a transmission service at our dealership. Gear Slipping Gear slipping is exactly as it sounds. A gear will shift suddenly and without any warning into its previous position. This can be very dangerous, as it could shift to neutral or park when driving on the highway, stopping your vehicle instantly. You'll hear loud metallic noises as the gear drops into its new position against the instructions of the transmission computer. The slipping can be caused by worn gears or gear teeth failing to keep the transmission in the correct gear. Fortunately, the most common reason for this problem is a transmission fluid leak. Transmission fluid provides the vital hydraulic power that enables the gears to shift. We'll check your transmission for damaged gears and repair them. If you have a transmission leak, we'll find and seal it, then refill the transmission with fresh fluid. Check Engine Light The check engine light is arguably the most important warning light. It illuminates only in response to an issue that affects the engine. The computer activates this light if an engine sensor detects a problem with the component it's connected to. Every important component has a sensor, and these sensors receive instructions from the computer and send information back to it so it can make decisions. The transmission doesn't have its own warning light if something goes wrong. The reason is, that a transmission problem affects the engine, as the engine and transmission work inseparably to move your vehicle. We'll connect your vehicle's computer to our diagnostic system. This machine scans your computer for error codes. The codes allow our technicians to quickly identify and repair the problem. Burning Rubber Smell As we've seen, transmission fluid is essential for your transmission. Besides providing hydraulic power, this fluid also provides a protective coating over transmission components, preventing friction damage. It also helps reduce the temperature inside the transmission so it can work effectively. Transmission fluid becomes less effective as it ages and needs to be replaced. Older fluid also loses its heat resistance, and the high temperatures in the transmission can cause it to burn. Burning transmission fluid produces a foul smell like burning rubber. It can't provide any hydraulic power, and the transmission won't work. In addition, transmission components can be damaged as the fluid burns. We'll flush your transmission to remove the burnt fluid, then examine it and repair any damage. Transmission problems worsen if they're not repaired, and can cost thousands to fix if not addressed quickly. If you notice any of the problems above, it’s vital to get the problem assessed and corrected quickly. Contact us today at Auffenberg CDJR in Shiloh, IL.

A closeup of a technician placing jumper cables onto a car battery to charge it for starting a car.

3 Signs Your CDJR Needs a New Car Battery

The battery is one of your vehicle's most important components, as it supplies the power that starts the cranking process and enables combustion to begin. As your CDJR dealer, we want to tell you a few signs that you may need to visit us for a new car battery fairly soon. With that in mind, check out these three signs that you need a new car battery from your local dealership. Old Battery Age can be a telltale sign you need a new car battery. The average life of a battery is three to five years before it wears out. This can be further reduced due to extreme environmental factors or electrical issues. A battery usually fails due to the naturally occurring breakdown of its sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid plays a major role in the chemical reactions that allow the battery to store electricity, but as the sulfuric acid degrades, it reduces the battery's storage capacity. As its storage capacity drops, the battery will weaken, and eventually, it won't be able to supply enough charge to power the starter that cranks your engine. Long before this happens, you'll see signs like longer cranking times, dim lights, and slow or failing accessories when under battery power. Our technicians will test your battery and can quickly install a replacement if the original is failing. Rotten Egg Smell As we saw above, sulfuric acid breaks down, and in the end stage of this breakdown, it releases hydrogen. The hydrogen molecules can escape the battery casing and join with sulfur molecules, released into the engine due to the presence of fuel. These two chemicals form hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. Your battery may still carry charge, but that awful smell means it's wearing out. We'll replace the battery to prevent it from failing and potentially leaving you stranded. Phantom Drain This strange situation is caused by a fault in the electrical system. A phantom drain can cause a battery to lose almost all its stored power in a few hours. When your engine is switched off, the battery uses its stored reserves to power various systems like the alarm, doors, and lights. It doesn't require much electricity to sustain these systems, especially as many of them only draw power when they're switched on. Systems that remain on draw power and the phantom drain is usually caused by a light that remains on when it should have switched off. Two of the most likely culprits are the lights inside the glove box and the trunk, as they're impossible to see once their lids are closed. A faulty relay can allow either of them to remain on to drain the battery. We'll trace the electricity flow to identify the cause of the problem then we'll repair it. These are just a few of the many potential signs you might need a new car battery from your local dealer. If you have these or any other signs of a battery problem, contact the experts today at Auffenberg CDJR in Shiloh, IL for testing and service right away!

A service technician performing full service on a car engine.

3 Services Offered by Your CDJR Dealer

Regular servicing and maintenance extend vehicle life and reduce repair costs. ​As your CDJR dealer, we offer a full range of services to keep your vehicle in perfect condition. There are lots of reasons to bring your vehicle to a local dealership as opposed to an independent garage or chain repair center. We can offer things that some local garages cannot. Let’s review three types of CDJR service offered by your local dealership. Engine Diagnostic One of the most important preventative maintenance and diagnostic services is an engine diagnostic. Each of your important engine components have sensors connected to them. These sensors monitor their connected components for signs of trouble and also receive and transmit information to your computer. If something goes wrong, the issue will be identified immediately and the information sent to your computer. The computer logs the issue with an error code and illuminates the check engine light. An engine diagnostic identifies any issues in your engine. Our technicians will connect your computer to our diagnostic system. The diagnostic system identifies the error codes and points our technicians toward the affected system. We can then quickly repair or replace the affected component. This saves a lot of time, which translates into lower repair bills. Some local garages, however, don’t have the latest advanced diagnostics technology available to them. We do. Engine Mount Repair Your engine is connected to the frame by two engine mounts. These mounts are made from toughened rubber and are liquid-filled. This allows the mounts to act as shocks, protecting the engine against any jostling caused by driving over uneven surfaces. The mounts also prevent vibrations caused by the movement of hundreds of engine components from causing vibrations in your cabin. As time passes, the rubber mounts can become less flexible and crack. If a mount cracks, the liquid will leak, and you'll experience a thudding sensation as you drive. The engine won't separate from the mount, but it can sustain damage due to the up and down movements. We fix this issue by removing your engine, replacing the damaged mounts, and reinstalling your engine. Refrigerant Leak Repair Refrigerant is the gas in your AC. It's used to chill ​the air before it is blown into your cabin. If your AC blows warmer air than it should, you could have a refrigerant leak. Unlike most vehicle leaks, a refrigerant leak is impossible to spot with the naked eye. The gas evaporates in contact ​with the air. Fortunately, we have the technology to trace this type of leak. We inject a UV dye into the AC, and our technicians use a UV viewer to follow the dye's progress through the system. Once they identify the site of the leak, we'll permanently seal it. We then refill the refrigerant and your AC will blow cold air again. Servicing is very cost-effective, as it enables our technicians ​to identify and repair issues before they have time to become bigger and cause additional problems. Contact our service department today at Auffenberg CDJR in Shiloh, IL.

An image of a technician changing brakes on a car in an automotive service bay.

3 Signs Your CDJR Needs a Brake Repair

Worn or damaged brakes make driving very dangerous, as they reduce your ability to control your vehicle's speed. Your Shiloh, IL CDJR dealer offers trained, factory-certified technicians who are experts at brake repair, and we can fix any problem for you. These are some signs that you may need to visit us very soon. Braking Vibrations The first sign of problems with your brakes involve vibration when you step on the pedal. A set of calipers is positioned above each wheel rotor. When you hit the brakes, the calipers grab both sides of their rotor. Brake pads installed inside the calipers then generate friction against the rotors, and this friction brings your wheels to a stop. The rotor surface is smooth and flat, which allows the calipers to easily grab and hold the rotor. If you feel vibrations when you brake, one or more of the rotor surfaces are probably uneven. This can be caused by a worn rotor or from adhesive on the pads drying on the rotors. The adhesive that holds the friction material on the pads can liquify and spray across a rotor. This dries and forms an irregular surface. The vibrations are caused by a caliper grabbing the irregular surface. We can fix this issue by cleaning the affected rotor or resurfacing it. Soft Brake Pedal The braking system uses brake fluid to provide the hydraulic pressure that stops your vehicle's wheels. When you step on the brake pedal, you can feel the resistance produced by the fluid. As you put more pressure on the pedal, the resistance you feel grows and the system reacts faster. If you feel very little resistance when you press down on the pedal, this is a sign that something is wrong. The lack of resistance means there's a lack of pressure in the system. This could be caused by a brake fluid leak, which automatically reduces the pressure as you lose fluid. It could also be caused by a blockage of the brake hoses or by a damaged brake master cylinder, the component that controls the braking system. Our technicians will identify the cause of the fault and repair it. Overheating Brake Fluid As we've seen, the braking system operates under high pressure, and high pressure generates heat. If you've had to brake frequently in a short space of time, for example, if ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​you're driving down a winding road, the brake fluid will grow hotter. If the brake fluid gets hot enough, the brake fluid can overheat. Overheating brake fluid produces a foul chemical smell, and you'll feel your brakes become less responsive. The reduced response is caused by hot brake fluid losing its ability to generate hydraulic power. We advise pulling over ASAP and allowing your brakes to cool. We'll examine your brakes, identify the cause of the problem, and repair it. Your brakes are the single most important safety feature on your car. Keeping them in good shape is essential to your security on the roads. Don't risk an accident. Visit the service department at Auffenberg CDJR in Shiloh, IL, today.

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