Things You Should Know About Fisk Automotive And Proper Vehicle Maintenance
Basic Questions About Services
Basic Questions About Maintenance
Basic Trouble Shooting
Diesels, Hybrids and “Green” Cars
| Can you service hybrids? | |
| Can you service diesel vehicles? | |
| Does Fisk Automotive service fleet vehicles? | |
| How can Fisk Automotive keep my car “green”? |
Buying A New Or Used Car
Basic Questions About Services
| What are Fisk Automotive hours of business? | |
| We are open from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Early bird envelopes are available. After hours pick up can be made with prior approval. | |
| What types of payments do you accept? | |
| Cash, local check with proper identification, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. | |
| Do I need an appointment? | |
| When possible, yes. Scheduling keeps the workload even and insures we have enough staff. Emergency repairs are handled on a case-by-case basis. | |
| Can Fisk Automotive quote prices over the phone? | |
| It can be difficult since every situation can be different. Rarely are 2 vehicles or the repairs needed the same. Only after a thorough inspection can the actual total cost be determined. Shops that quote prices over the phone are misleading the client since they do not have all the information. | |
| Can Fisk Automotive answer questions about my car over the phone? | |
| Sometimes – General questions are usually not a problem. Specific questions in regards to a vehicle problem may require you to bring your vehicle to our shop for a more thorough checkout. | |
| How long are the repairs made by Fisk Automotive to my vehicle warranted for? | |
| In most cases a 2 year or 24,000 mile warranty applies. Specific parts or labor may have longer or shorter warranty periods. These items will be clearly stated on the final repair order. | |
| Is there a charge to check out a problem? | |
| Generally yes, unless repairs are performed. Some situations require a serious amount of time or even partial teardown before the final cost to repair can be determined. We estimate these check out fees before we start, and only proceed with the client’s approval. | |
| Can I wait for my car? | |
| If it is a routine job, such as scheduled maintenance items like lube, oil and filter, we prefer you to come in before 8:00. Plan on at least an hour, perhaps more, depending on the workload. We will give you an estimate of the time necessary to properly service your vehicle when you make your appointment. For those who choose to wait, we’re less than a block from Fullerton’s downtown where there are a variety of places to visit. You can grab a cup of coffee and a bagel, do a little shopping or visit the train station, library or museum. | |
| Can Fisk Automotive arrange to tow my car in, even “after hours”? | |
| Yes. We work with Anaheim-Fullerton towing. They can pick up and hold the car until the next business day at no extra cost. They will deliver your car to our shop the next business day. Their 24 hour number is 714/ 526.3314. Call or e-mail us to let us know that it’s coming and describe what issue the vehicle is having. The towing charges can easily be added to the repair order. | |
| I’m a student at the University at Cal State Fullerton (CSUF), Fullerton College or Biola University. I need my car serviced, but my parents are out of state and they are going to pay for the repairs. Can you help me? | |
| Yes. We will make the needed phone call to your family to arrange authorization and payment for services performed. | |
| Can Fisk Automotive help with a rental car or my transportation needs? | |
| Of course! We use Enterprise Rental Cars. They are close, reasonable and have a variety of cars, vans and trucks available to choose from. It’s advisable to have us set up and reserve a rental car as soon as possible. They do sometimes run low on certain models. So if you do need a car, the earlier, the better. If you’re local and need a ride to work or home, just let us know. We’re here to help. |
Basic Questions About Maintenance
| Do you handle extended service contracts? | |
| In most cases yes. We will take care of phone authorizations as needed. Keep in mind that these types of warranty contracts do not cover everything. Deductibles, checkout fees, parts or other items may not be covered 100%. The owner is responsible for those additional costs. Extended service contract providers generally pay by credit card after the client pays their portion and signs the final invoice. | |
| Do I have to take my vehicle to the dealer for service? | |
| No. Fisk Automotive can be your alternative to the dealer. Proper fluids, parts and following the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule along with record keeping makes Fisk Automotive the preferred choice. Being centrally located in North Orange County makes us the local choice. The majority of clients come from Fullerton, Placentia, Anaheim, Buena Park, La Habra, La Mirada and Brea. | |
| Can Fisk Automotive perform manufacturers warranty repairs or take care of recall notices? | |
| No. These types of repairs need to go back to the dealer for two reasons. • Warranty repairs should not cost the owner any money to repair. • Recalls sometimes require the installation of an updated part. These parts are only available through the dealer.The manufacturer tracks these repairs by using the vehicle identification number (VIN) and reports the repairs as required by state and federal agencies. Take care of a recall notice as quickly as possible. |
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| How often do I need to service my car and have it inspected by Fisk Automotive? | |
| The general rule in the past is every 3-4000 miles or what is suggested by the manufacturer. Newer cars have oil life monitors that track the service needs by mileage and driving conditions. New generation engine oils or in some cases synthetic oils like Mobil 1, help extend the time between services. That’s why at Fisk Automotive, all systems are checked or inspected to insure that our clients never have an unexpected problem. We go beyond the “fast lube” guys. We have to. |
Basic Trouble Shooting
| What does the Check Engine light mean when it comes on? | |
| The Check Engine light is a very important indicator light. It is an indicator warning you of possible engine running problems, transmission issues or more importantly, catalytic converter damage. If it comes on don’t hesitate to call us right away. Putting it off may lead to serious problems and may mean higher repair costs. | |
| My air conditioner is not cold. Does it need recharging? | |
| It is possible that the air conditioning system could be low or empty of refrigerant (Freon). Air conditioning systems are sealed so even a small leak can result in poor air conditioning performance. We provide two types of leak detection if needed, electronic method or a florescent dye. Freon is a gas that boils off around 0° Fahrenheit. It is also colorless and tasteless, so finding leaks can sometimes be challenging.Control problems and cooling system failures can also be reasons for poor air conditioning performance. Fisk Automotive can determine what part of the system needs to be repaired. | |
| What should I do if my brakes make noise when applied? | |
| Brakes, as a general rule, should not make noise. High pitched squealing or any type of grinding noise indicates the brake system should be completely inspected. Ignoring these types of noises could result in added costs if repairs are needed. | |
| My car is or may be overheating. What should I do? | |
| Never drive it while it’s overheating. Vehicles that even have a temperature gauge may mislead the driver if the engine coolant has all leaked out. Save the engine from damage by having either the Automobile Club (AAA) tow it if you’re a member or have Fisk Automotive arrange to have it towed in for a checkout. | |
| My car won’t start. What should I do? | |
| Since each situation is different, we recommend that the vehicle always be towed in. It has been our experience that even though tow truck operators want to try to help by getting the vehicle started, they shouldn’t.Why? Tapping on components, wiggling wires or cables can often mask over where the real problem lies. Lack of knowledge or equipment can lead to misdiagnoses. Installing a battery from a tow truck service such as Auto Club can result in overpaying for an incorrect or inferior battery. Other problems can be created such as stalling problems and radio lockout. Incorrect “jumping” techniques can damage sensitive electrical systems. There is nothing worse than getting jumped and having the vehicle die out a block or two later. Have it towed in to Fisk Automotive. Why take the chance of getting stuck again? We will help in getting you back on the road as quickly as possible. | |
| My car is leaking some fluid on the ground. What should I do? | |
| Vehicles are not supposed to leak any fluids. Coolant, power steering fluid or automatic transmission fluids are critical to the proper operation of the vehicle. |
Diesels, Hybrids and “Green” Cars
| Can you service hybrids? | |
| Yes, we service most makes and models including Hondas, GM, Toyotas and Fords. | |
| Can you service diesel vehicles? | |
| Yes, we service Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Dodge Cummins products. | |
| Does Fisk Automotive service fleet vehicles? | |
| Yes. We service cars and trucks up to 2 tons. Many of our current accounts include city vehicles, delivery trucks, service bodies, and contractor type vehicles. | |
| How can Fisk Automotive keep my car “green”? | |
Keeping your car “green” is good for the environment and your pocketbook. With gas prices going higher and higher, we all need to get bang for our gas bucks. There are a number of easy things to maximize your mileage.
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Buying A New Or Used Car
| What if I want to buy a used vehicle, can Fisk Automotive inspect it? | |
| Yes we can. We have a very extensive checklist we follow to make sure the vehicle is worthy of buying. A courtesy drive is performed before an intensive checkout is performed. Many times we find a problem before we start out with our checklist. Noises, leaks, performance issues or concerns are discussed before additional checkout time is spent. There is “no charge” for the courtesy drive, but once we start on the checklist, there will be a reasonable fee charged. We will advise the buyer (or whoever is paying for the checkout) on whether or not this is a sound vehicle. Obviously we cannot guarantee the soundness of the vehicle, but our check out will greatly reduce the risk of buying a previously owned vehicle.Having a list of any needs can help in negotiating the best deal for our client. Comparing to like vehicles at websites like Autotrader (autotrader.com) or the Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com) site can help in making sure a client does not over pay for a vehicle.
Final note: if we advise not to buy the vehicle, DON’T. Though it rarely happens, sometimes a client buys even when we have advised not to. Low price or emotions can cloud a buyer’s judgment. Learn to walk away from a tainted vehicle. Never buy a vehicle without a thorough professional inspection. This includes vehicles on E-Bay, Craig’s List or from a “friend”. If the seller will not let you inspect it, don’t buy it. |
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| I am thinking of buying a new vehicle. Can Fisk Automotive answer questions or advise a client on buying a new vehicle? | |
| Our past experiences with a large variety of vehicles, along with asking the right questions, will hopefully help narrow down a clients search for a new vehicle. |
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