Frequently Asked Questions About Service
Maintenance
- When you choose Louisville INFINITI, you can let us worry about that. We give you a call when your car is ready to have its oil changed, so you don’t have to keep track. You can also find your car’s oil change schedule in your owner’s manual, or you can give our service center a call to find out more about when to bring your car in for a change. Different oils have different mileage requirements, and every model has its own factory recommendations.
- Some drivers wait until they have trouble starting their car, but this system can be dangerous. If your battery is more than a few years old, it’s probably time to change it. If you’re not sure, go by the warranty on the battery (normally it’s 3 years after manufacture.) The warranty is generally represented by an alpha-numeric code for the month and year, with A18 standing for January 2018, B18 standing for February 2018, and so on. Finally, you can stop by our service center to have your battery tested.
- The most common culprits are the battery, starter, or alternator. A bad timing belt or sensor may also cause your car not to start.
- If you hear a clicking when turning the key, it’s likely the starter. If not, you can check the battery with a voltmeter (hopefully you have one.) You want the voltmeter to read 12 or more when the vehicle is off, and 10.5 volts or more when trying to start the car. If your battery does reach these numbers, it’s likely the starter or alternator that’s the problem.
- Normally this means you need to see a technician. A technician will hook up a specialized computer to extract data from the vehicle’s computer system to properly diagnose the concern.
- Basic maintenance is the ticket to more time with your car, and a better selling price when you choose to part with it. Keeping up with your scheduled trips to a certified technician will mean fewer problems (and repair bills) further down the line.
- And don’t forget your tires! Check the tread and air pressure regularly to keep them in the best shape possible.
When should I change my INFINITI’s oil?
When should I replace my car battery?
What if my vehicle doesn’t start?
What should I do if my “Service Engine Soon” light turns on?
How can I make my car last longer?
Tires
- Every tire is different, so you may have to learn a little more about the ones you currently have. If they’re soft, they’re usually just meant for highway driving and will generally wear out quickly. Even the most durable tires will have a limited lifespan if you’re consistently driving on rough or unpaved roads. Check the tread’s wear bars or use the penny test to see if your tread is still holding up.
- Not necessarily, but you should at least have the technician check the alignment. Tires that aren’t properly aligned will show uneven wear on the tread, so pay attention to how your tires look (especially after long drives.)
- Most people use their tread to determine when to get new tires. Look for the wear bars on the tread (tiny threads that connect the grooves together.) Once the tread is even with the wear bars (or close to it), you should get them changed. You may also need new ones if your tires are having problems holding air or if you find other imperfections (such as a nail stuck in the tire.)
- Every driver will have different tire needs. Those who stick to the open highway should buy different tires than those in constant stop-and-go city traffic. Talk to our service staff and let them know when and how you drive for more details about your tire needs.
How often do I need to buy or replace tires?
Do I need to align my tires when I get new ones?
How do I know when to get new tires?
What kind of tires should I get?
Parts
- This question depends on the quality of the parts, their age, and how often you drive. If you look under the hood and see dry rotting, cracking or a lack of tension, it’s time to get them changed. They may also appear shiny on the underside of the part.
- Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are parts that were specifically made for your INFINITI. Generic parts will generally fit into your vehicle, but there are fewer guarantees about their efficiency. Louisville INFINITI doesn’t take chances with the quality of our repairs. We only use OEM parts for your car, so you know you can drive with confidence.
When should I replace my belts and hoses?
What is the difference between OEM and generic part?
Certified Professionals
- There are plenty of good general technicians out there, but there are also plenty who aren’t. Instead of playing that game, take your INFINITI to a certified professional. When you choose someone who’s certified and trained to work on these vehicles, you can rest easy about the quality of the work.
- All of our technicians have passed difficult and demanding test with flying colors. Our master technicians have at least two years of documented, hands-on experience. Technicians not only perform the more common repairs and maintenance tasks, but also work with specialty requests and equipment to diagnose and treat your car as a whole. We look at everything ? not just what you brought the car in for.
- Take your car to us when you can’t afford a mistake. The last thing you need in your life is to handle the aftermath of a car that refuses to start. With our technicians, you get a warranty on both the parts and the service. We know our work is excellent enough to guarantee your satisfaction, and we back it up however and whenever we can.
- There’s nothing necessarily wrong with technicians that aren’t certified, but they likely don’t know your INFINITI the way we do. There’s a lot of details that an uncertified technician may not truly understand, and just one mistake can end up costing you thousands to fully fix. Uncertified technicians may also have used or generic parts that won’t work as well in your vehicle as OEM parts. These parts may cause your car to have to work harder to perform basic functions, costing you more money in both gas and repairs.
- Louisville INFINITI technicians have already taken and passed the ASE certification test in their specialty. Master technicians not only have two years of proven experience, but they also must pass a full series of tests to receive the title.
- In general automotive knowledge, master technicians need to take and pass eight tests to achieve the title. Collision and body repair requires the technician to pass four tests. For automobiles, the eight categories include:
- Brakes
- Suspension and steering
- Transaxle and Automatic transmission
- Engine repair
- Manual drivetrain and axles
- Electrical system
- Heating and air conditioning
- Engine performance
- Technicians can take an optional ninth test in the series for diesel engines (light vehicles only), though master technicians can still earn the title without having taken this test.
- For body or collision repair the four test categories include:
- Non-structural analysis and damage repair
- Structural analysis and damage repair
- Painting and refinishing
- technicianal and electrical components
- All technicians, regardless of specialty, must take these tests every five years to maintain their certification. Call us today at Louisville INFINITI to find out more, or to schedule repairs or maintenance for your vehicle.
Why ASE-Certified professionals?
What?s wrong with uncertified technicians?
What are the certification requirements?
Technology
- With INFINITI’s InTouch? system at your fingertips, you can drive with the security that you will never have to face problems on the road all alone. In fact, the InTouch system starts looking out for you before you ever get behind the wheel. You can use the smartphone app to get into your vehicle without your keys or even lock your car from somewhere else. Once you start driving, the INFINITI InTouch system is at your command and keeps you connected, by offering you:
- In an INFINITI equipped with navigation, your dashboard GPS system helps you locate addresses and points of interest easily, so you can find where you need to be while staying focused on the road.
- With some simple voice commands or a quick, gentle swipe of the touchscreen, you can make a call hands-free, get weather information in detail for your location, and much more.
- By logging into the smartphone app you will have fast, easy access to your vehicle. The peace of mind that comes with being able to lock it from afar or get into it when you have forgotten your keys is so valuable.
- If you need emergency help or roadside assistance, there are personal security features available to assist you. If the airbags deploy, INFINITI’s Automatic Collision Notification will send an alert to an agent, who will then send response personnel to your location right away.
- You can keep track of your INFINITI vehicle, even when someone else is driving it. With Max Speed and Valet Alerts, you will get notifications if any boundaries or thresholds are exceeded. Maintenance alerts notify you if something goes wrong or looks like it is malfunctioning, and you can set a ‘Drive Zone’ and be notified when your INFINITI comes into or goes out of a pre-set region. You will also be notified when anyone who is driving your car gets to their destination.
- In the event your INFINITI is stolen, sophisticated technology can track it and greatly increase the chances of recovery, helping you feel safer and making it more likely that you can get your vehicle back quickly and undamaged.
Stay safe. Stay IN TOUCH.
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Driving & Maintenance Tips
- It’s really the stop and go that causes you to lose your expensive gas. The more you can crawl along, the less often you’ll have to spend at the pump. Any speed is better than a full stop when it comes to saving gas. Try to slow as much as possible rather than slamming on your brakes at stoplights or when traffic is starting to rear its ugly head.
- You should also try to avoid situations that will cause you to slow down and speed up constantly. Avoid congestion when you can by leaving a little later or a little earlier. Always use cruise control whenever possible, and leave as much room in front of you as possible so your speed fluctuation won’t be as extreme. The magic number is 55 miles per hour! If you can stick to this number, you’ll get the maximum number of miles per gallon. When you’re on a busy highway and 55 mph isn’t an option, go the speed limit to further conserve your gas.
- And always maintain your car! An engine that has to run on dirty oil will have to expend more energy to keep up than one that’s running with clean, efficient fluids. Sensors in your INFINITI may affect your gas mileage too, so check your codes and repair the sensors if the check engine light appears and stays on. You may also need to change out the spark plugs in your engine. If these are old, it can affect your gas mileage up to 30%!
- And finally, keep the air pressure in your tires at the right levels. This is what gives you resistance between the rubber and the road. The lower the pressure is, the more the car has to work to keep you moving.