The maintenance check, question by question

The engine air filter, automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant level, windshield washer fluid, wiper blades, headlights and tail lights, and tire pressure, plus a visual look under the hood and under the chassis. A battery test is part of it at participating locations. The cabin air filter, differential fluid and transfer case fluid are checked on request.

No. It comes with the full-service oil change, along with the new filter, chassis lubrication on vehicles with grease fittings and resetting the oil-change reminder light.

We check each fluid level and condition and tell you what we see. If one is low, we tell you before adding anything, because a low level can mean a leak worth knowing about before anyone just adds more.

In person, at the car. The technician shows you the dirty air filter next to the light, the reading from the coolant tester, or the cracked wiper edge, and gives you the price to replace it. You can say yes, no or not today. Our post on showing you the filter explains why we do it that way.

Yes, every time. Nevada's garage law, NRS 487, calls for a written estimate before repair work over a set amount and your authorization before additional charges, and you can ask to keep any part that is replaced. We run the bay that way for every item, large or small.

We check the brake fluid level and condition during the inspection. We do not repair brakes. If something about the brakes looks or sounds wrong during the visit, we tell you and suggest a brake shop.

We check and set tire pressure to the placard on your door jamb, which matters here because pressure drops in the cold; the Reno airport averages 122 freezing nights a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). If we see uneven wear or a low tread while the car is up, we mention it.

While the oil drains, the technician looks at what is visible from underneath: leaks at the oil pan, transmission or differential, torn CV boots, loose heat shields and anything hanging that should not be. It is a visual look, not a teardown.

On many vehicles it sits behind the glove box and takes a few extra steps to reach. Ask and we will pull it, which is worth doing after wildfire smoke season.

Not directly. A smog test reads the car's computer. But the check catches some things that affect it, such as a lit check engine light or a very dirty air filter, and at our two Reno service centers you can run the smog test on the same visit.

Think of it as a snapshot. A filter that is fine in April can be loaded with dust by August. That is why the check happens at every oil change rather than once a year.