Automotive Industry News & Information - Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service

We have great pride in our military and veterans and honor them on Veterans Day each November 11th. Did you know how and why it is on November 11th? The reason dates back to 1918 and pays homage to the date and time the WW I cease fire went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month when a temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars” eventhough the official end of the what we refer to as "The Great War" ended with the Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France.

Have you checked your brakes lately? I know you expect them to stop your car or truck when you step on that brake pedal, but when they don't work as expected it's too late and then you have an accident with damage to your vehicle but more importantly to the people inside your car and those on the road who may be in your path.

Let's avoid that issue! Test your brakes by lightly tapping them in different situations when the roads are both wet and dry. If your vehicle is pulling to one side, your brake pedal pulses up and down or the steering wheel shakes when the brakes are applied, you are very much overdue for a brake check. Getting in early will save you money as it is always easier to fix a problem before it becomes a huge issue and your brakes are gone requiring new brakes, pads, rotars, and drums.

When in doubt stop by our shop and have one of our professional automotive repair technicians take a look. Don't wait until it's too late to solve these problems and let us help you stay safe on the road! After all, that is the reason we raise these garage doors every day and open these tool boxes. We love what we do and want to ensure our drivers can stay on the roads longer with their vehicles safer and more cost efficiently.

How often should you get your transmission fluid changed? The transmission industry's standard is 25,000 to 30,000 miles or every two years. If you tow a trailer, 15,000 to 20,000 miles is recommended depending on the amount of towing. Motorhomes can vary with the amount that they are driven. The best thing that you can do is check the fluid regularly; notice the color, odor and level of the fluid. If you notice a change in the color, odor or level, have it checked by one of our trained technicians.

What type of fluid should you use? The suggested fluids differ from one manufacturer to another and you can check the owner's manual to ensure the correct transmission fluid is utilized per your specific auto or truck make and model. However, here our technicians have a computer program that will insure the right fluid goes into your transmission. We offer a full line of transmission fluids to cover all the various demands of any car or truck.

Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlothian now provides the GM 6T40 and 45E FWD and AWD Transmission Replacement Options from JASPER Engines & Transmissions. These transmissions are available for the following 2008-2011 applications: Chevrolet Equinox and Malibu | GMC Terrain | Pontiac G6 | Saturn Aura | Buick Regal and LaCrosse

Care and Maintenance Tips Keep Your Car Running in Top-Notch Condition: We’ve compiled our best expert advice, surprising tricks, and car care tips to prolong the life of your automobile!

1. Be patient during the break-in period: You’ve bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer’s lot:

During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods — this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.

We’ve all heard a car or truck in our neighborhoods that needs a new muffler. But there’s more to the exhaust system than just the muffler. The exhaust system has three main functions:

To safely get hot exhaust gas from the engine out the tailpipe
Treats the exhaust to remove harmful pollutants
Muffle the engine noise

Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlothian now provides the Jasper Engines re-manufactured Toyota A750E (RWD) and A750F (4WD) transmissions. These transmissions are available for the 2004-2011 Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, Tacoma, 4 Runner, and FJ Cruiser transmission replacements

Each JASPER re-manufactured Toyota A750E and A750F transmission is 100% dynamometer tested using a state of the art dyno software package eliminating the chance of shifting concerns and ensures a quality product for the customer. All wear areas of the valve body are reamed to oversize, where applicable, and vacuum-tested to restore the hydraulic integrity of the unit reducing the chance of low fluid pressure within the transmission, causing slipped clutches.

In addition to the value-added quality re-manufacturing steps to provide a perfect product, great care is taken to ensure each A750E and A750F transmission replacement option can stand up to the rigors of everyday life. Each transmission receives 100% new friction plates from the OE manufacturer to retain shift quality and durability. Converter linings are 100% replaced to reduce lock-up shudder and solenoids are 100% tested to verify proper operation before they are installed in the transmission.

The JASPER re-manufactured Toyota A750E and A750F transmission is covered by a three-year, 100,000 mile, nationwide parts and labor warranty. Talk to our team at Stuart Rolfe Muffler & Auto Service in Midlothian about your specific needs and any transmission replacement questions you might have for your Toyota, we'd be happy to answer them for you and see if a JASPER re-manufactured transmission is right for you.

"A great, honest place to take your car. They get the work done fast, but if you have to wait a few minutes, they have a big TV and WiFi." -Ryan Hooley