Vehicle Maintenance

  • 12 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Vehicle

    hand handing key to someone else

    The best way to keep your car out of the repair facility with major repair problems is to follow a basic vehicle care maintenance schedule. It is recommended that you make general visual inspections and stay on top of vehicle maintenance items. The skilled automotive technicians at By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, NM can assist with basic vehicle maintenance and more complex repairs. Feel free to give us a call or come by at your convenience if you have any questions.

  • A Guide To Your Vehicles Air Filters

    air filter being added the engine

    Air filters are an important part of vehicle maintenance. What many people don’t realize is you actually have two filters; one for your engine and a cabin filter to filter the air coming into your car. Both of them function the same way but have entirely different purposes. They are often neglected, particularly the cabin filter, and yours may need to be changed right now. This guide, provided by By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, highlights the importance of filters, symptoms of an overused one, and how to maintain them.

  • A Key Safety Feature of Your Vehicle

    deployed airbag in car

    Did you know that airbags weren't mandatory safety equipment in passenger vehicles until 1997? Now, you'll find them in well over 100 million cars and trucks on the road. Since their invention, airbags, along with the seat belt, have played a major role in reducing the number of injuries and deaths in traffic collisions.

  • Air Filtration & Why It Is Important

    dirty air filter vs clean filter

    Your vehicle's engine needs clean air to burn the fuel – and it needs a lot of clean air. In fact, a typical vehicle needs about 216,000 gallons of air for every tank of gas. All that air passes through a filter that catches the dust and dirt. Eventually, the filter gets completely full, and because the filter can only hold so much, dirt starts getting through. At By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, we ensure you get the best air quality in your vehicle and explain the process of where this dirty air is going to our area drivers. 

  • Are You Having Trouble Rolling Your Window Up?

    Passenger side window

    Are you having trouble rolling one or more of your windows down? Worse yet, are you having trouble rolling them up? Either way, at By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, we have the answers you’re looking for.

  • Bad Battery?

    Without a working battery, your car will not be able to start. If you perform proper maintenance, however, an average car battery can start your car reliably for roughly four years. Your vehicle's radio and headlights, plus a slew of other important functions, are powered by an electrical current generated by your vehicle’s engine but a vital part of generating electricity is having a place to store it while it’s not being used, which is where a car battery comes into play. The battery holds electrical energy while a car is off in order to help the engine turn over and create a spark to start internal combustion.  What you don't want is to have a bad battery!!

  • Belts and Hoses Issues

    belt on an engine

    Your vehicle's belts and hoses are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems, and the engine. Don’t take these routine replacement intervals for granted because they can break down and leave you stranded.

    What is the purpose and importance of your belts and hoses? The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft mechanically synchronized to maintain engine timing. Whether serpentine, V-belt, or fan belt (the belts on the outside of the engine), they all transmit power from the front of the engine to accessories that need to be driven, such as the air conditioning, the charging system, and fans. Radiator and heater hoses carry coolant to and from the engine, radiator, and heater core.

  • Benefits to Cleaning or Replacing Your Headlight Assemblies

    man polishing headlights

    In the old days, when your headlight burned out you just replaced the entire thing with a new glass bulb. Modern headlights are plastic assemblies, with a bulb inserted through the back. What this means, is that the plastic lens that light shines through never gets replaced, and eventually will begin to oxidize and deteriorate due to time, weather, and heat from your bulb. Today you will learn when it’s time to fix or replace your headlight assemblies, what options you have in doing so, and what the benefits are.

  • Brake Fluid - It's a Problem! Why??

    technicians

    There is a reason we check your brake fluid when you come in for a service check.  Maintenance pays big dividends and we want to avoid high repair costs for our Albuquerque drivers.  Did you know that brake service isn't just all about the brake pads, drums & rotors?  That we have found low brake fluid to be the cause of a large percentage of brake issues here at By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair?  Seriously, brake fluid is an important part of your braking system and with your service intervals being less frequent on the newer vehicles 5,000-10,000 more miles this has become an issue!  Why?...

  • Brake For Great Service Today

    brake image on vehicle

    Brakes are one of the most important components of your vehicle. You need the confidence of knowing that when you press your foot to the brake, your vehicle is going to stop. That's why it's important to keep these tips in mind to help keep your brakes functioning properly. Schedule an appointment with us at By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair for a brake service checkup today!

  • Brakes for Your Fleet

    fleet vehicles in a row

    At By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, our expert mechanics are here to work for you. On large commercial trucks, there’s one component that works harder than almost all the rest; your brakes. Our technicians have the knowledge and ability necessary to have your truck stopping like the day it rolled off the lot, no matter what the problem is.

  • Buckle Up: It’s the Law

    seat belt

    At By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, were huge fans of seatbelts. They dramatically reduce the chances of being injured in an automobile accident, and in many cases, they are the difference between a fatal crash and walking away unharmed. But how long has the seat belt been around? When did wearing it become law?

  • Bumper Cover Damaged Or Loose?

    bumper on a white car with lights on

    Your bumper covers are always in danger. Between other drivers, obstacles in the road, flash floods, or any other hazard you may encounter, at some point it’s likely your bumper covers will accrue some damage. At By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, NM, we can fix that.

  • Can You Switch Between Oil Grades?

    oil

    These days, it seems like the oil options for your oil changes are limitless - full synthetic, blends, conventional, high mileage, and the list goes on and on. We are frequently asked if it's okay to switch between oils, and how do you know what is okay to use? At By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, NM we're here to help you answer that question. When it comes to engine oil, the answer to this question can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be!

  • Checking Transmission Fluid Level, Why It's Important!

    Checking the fluid level on your transmission is fairly easy, but a bit more complicated than checking your oil. Firstly, this only applies to automatic transmissions, and secondly, some modern vehicles don’t have dipsticks or dipstick tubes to check and add transmission fluid. With that in mind, here are some tips from By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, NM in regard to checking your transmission fluid.

  • Clutch Problems are a Big Problem

    bad clutch

    This is a clutch gone completely wrong and something you want to be sure doesn't happen with your vehicle! So how do you ensure you are not having an issue with your clutch when most drivers simply get in and drive? What do you look for? That is a question many of our customers ask us here at By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque and one this driver did not.

  • Common Problems with Belts and Hoses

    belts and hoses

    Your vehicle's belts and hoses are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems, and the engine. Don’t take these routine replacement intervals for granted because they can break down and leave you stranded.

    What is the purpose and importance of your belts and hoses? The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft mechanically synchronized to maintain engine timing. Whether serpentine, V-belt, or fan belt (the belts on the outside of the engine), they all transmit power from the front of the engine to accessories that need to be driven, such as the air conditioning, the charging system, and fans. Radiator and heater hoses carry coolant to and from the engine, radiator, and heater core.

  • Coolant Leaks - What to Watch Out For, and How to Find Them

    technician smiling under the hood of the car

    Coolant leaks can be a pain - they’re elusive and have a lot of damage potential. Fortunately, at By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, NM, our technicians know exactly how to diagnose and repair a coolant leak, no matter where it is. Knowing more about where these coolant leaks appear and why they're a problem will help you to recognize a problem and get it repaired before it does further damage.

  • Dash Warning Lights

    multiple dash warning lights

    It doesn't matter if you are driving a car or truck, jeep or SUV, a diesel 4x4 or a classic when those dash warning lights go off the first thing you do is think "how bad is it?" and "how much will it cost me?" followed quickly by "when was my last service visit?"!!  Driving your vehicle longer safely is all about getting it serviced based on what your vehicle manual recommends and these warning lights are alerting you to a situation that requires your attention. 

    While not all warning lights are a sign that disaster is imminent, no warning indicator light should ever be ignored!

  • Diagnosing a Bad Brake Master Cylinder

    brakes on car

    Your brake master cylinder is an integral part of your brake system. When one fails, some odd symptoms may arise, and it may be difficult to diagnose. Here’s some information to help you decide if yours has gone bad. At By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair in Albuquerque, NM we want you to know what to look out for so that you can be safely on the road.

  • Jasper
  • Acdelco
  • BG Products
  • Bosch Automotive
  • Carquest
  • Cummins Diesel
  • Duramax Diesel
  • Fleet Services
  • Ford Power Stroke Diesel
  • iATN
  • Motorcraft Parts
  • Partsplus
  • Tires
  • Towing

By The Book Diesel & Auto Repair

8400 Washington St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
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location small (505) 344-7758
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SHOP HOURS

Mon - Thu:   8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday:   8:00am - 5:00pm
Weekends:   CLOSED

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