• Timing belts should be replaced between 60,000 miles (5-7 years) and 105,000 miles (7years), depending on the car model. A timing belt drives the engine in the same way a bicycle chain moves a bicycle. If the belt breaks the car stops immediately and in some cases causes major engine damage ($1,000 to $2,000 or more).
  • A fuel filter that is not changed will block and damage the fuel pump, which can cost more than a "Major" service.
  • Battery terminals that are not cleaned can cause the alternator to overcharge and burn out. An alternator can cost as much as a "Major" service.
  • A Battery that appears to start the car well but tests as marginal or is more than 5 years old can also cause the alternator to overcharge and fail.
  • Brake fluid that is not replaced will absorb moisture, corrode the metal brake parts, cause seals to leak and boil at a lower temperature, and fail under hard braking. This will be not only expensive but dangerous.
  • Coolant not changed regularly will cause electrolysis and corrode the cooling system. Electrolysis will cause all aluminum in the engine to be transferred/corroded and deposited in the remainder of the system. The damaged aluminum parts will include the cylinder head, water pump and housing, thermostat housing, and radiator. These repairs will cost more than if the car had had every service performed for years.
  • Valves that are not adjusted regularly can and do burn, and cost five times as much as a "Major" service to repair.
  • Coolant hoses should all be replaced at approximately 150,000 miles or 10 years. Hoses get small interior stress cracks that, like a chip in windshield, can suddenly spread into a large crack or split and fail. Why come in 10 times to replace 10 hoses and overheat the engine each time. Overheated engines can, and do, blow head gaskets, a very major engine repair.

Of course, paying a flat rate shop to whistle through your auto repair services and charge you full price while missing half the checks accomplishes nothing. We are not a "flat rate" shop. For 40+ years we have taken pride in the fact that we do everything on the auto service check list, no matter how long it takes. We will also report to you any items that may need repair outside of the service, in priority order, and will let you know our recommendation about which repairs are important and which can be deferred. This priority will be based on how and where you drive as well as what is financially convenient for you.
Our goal is keeping you informed about the best course of action to maintain your car's peak performance, without intimidation or misinformation.


Auto Diagnostic Service

Mekatron services and repairs Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Acura, Lexus, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Hyundai, Kia, Scion, Suzuki, Audi, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes. Trouble with your Toyota? An issue with your Infiniti? Mekatron diagnostics are key.


The following four elements are necessary for good diagnostics:

  1. The latest equipment
  2. The latest technical data and bulletins
  3. Up-to-date training for technicians
  4. Qualified service writers to communicate the exact symptoms of a problem


A well-equipped shop should have at least one:

  1. Scan tool. We have four, including factory original equipment for the majority of the cars we service.
  2. Engine analyzer. We have three, including the latest for DIS and coil over ignition.
  3. Lab scope. We have five, including one that can look for intermittent glitches 1.6 million times per second (for those unusual intermittent problems).
  4. Break out box. We go one stage further and have Simu-tech, an advanced diagnostic analyzer that connects to 60+ wires at the main car computer. It automatically checks the resistance of every sensor and actuator, puts high current down each wire to look for bad grounds or dirty connections, and can check the real time operation of every computer-controlled component and sensor multiple times in minutes. We have the automatic interconnect cables for almost all Japanese cars.
  5. Dynamometer. We have a 450hp heavy duty unit that can take the power of any car at very high speeds. (This spares us from having to road test in freeway traffic for those difficult high speed problems.)
  6. Graphing voltmeters. We have two.
  7. Dvoms. We have six.
  8. Computerized four wheel alignment system. We have a very accurate Hunter system.
  9. Computerized wheel balancer. We have one.
  10. Brake lathe. We have two -- one for on the car and one for off vehicle.

In addition, a good shop will have:

  • All the latest lube equipment, as well as racks and power and flushing tools.
  • Hazardous waste clean up and disposal equipment.

​We rely on many resources for the most current technical data:

  1. All data computerized technical service bulletins and repair manuals.
  2. Mitchell on Demand computerized service bulletins and repair manuals.
  3. Identifix technical service fixes and hotline.
  4. IATN technical service fixes and chat line info.
  5. All the original car manufacturers’ technical data websites.
  6. Technical hotlines from our major parts suppliers.
  7. Our own in-house database of fixes cars, created over 20 years. We can instantly access this information while writing symptoms on repair orders.

All of the above information is provided to our staff via DSL lines and the latest computer network available.

Technical training

All our staff attend regular training classes for the latest diagnostic information on new cars and the latest diagnostic techniques. Many are factory specific for each make of car we service, while others cover the uses of the latest equipment we have. (See above.) Some courses have required that we attend twice a week for almost an entire year. Credible articles written in our industry indicate that the technician of the future will have to attend as many educational classes throughout his career as a medical doctor.

Communicating symptoms

Our service advisors attend the very same classes as the technicians to obtain the latest information on new car models, as well as management, sales and communication seminars. These help us to better explain the complexities of the modern automobile to the layperson. We take particular pride in our ability to relate this information to you. Mekatron's experience and integrity simply outshine the competition. We invite you to experience hassle-free car repair.