Service: Frequently Asked Questions

Regular maintenance is key for catching and preventing vehicle failure. In short, maintenance keeps your car running longer. By skipping oil changes, filter changes, belt repairs, or brake servicing, your car is much more likely to breakdown, and expensive components are more likely to fail. Skipping service can also lead to a decrease in performance and fuel economy — all of which mean you’re spending more money in the long run. Instead of trying to save money by doing the work yourself at home, trust the experts at Hardin County Honda's Service Department. We’ll be able to properly work on your car and identify any problems you might not recognize.

Regularly flushing and refilling your car’s engine oil is crucial for ensuring it runs smoothly and has high-quality fluid running through its veins. Clean engine oil lubricates the motor’s mechanical components so they experience less friction and more efficient performance. Over time, engine oil can become contaminated by gunk and tiny debris, whether you’re driving your car frequently or not. Dirty engine oil actually does the opposite of what it should do: It creates more friction and causes the engine to work harder. Over time, this could permanently damage the engine. That’s why it’s important to get the oil changed on your Honda model every 6 months or 5,000 miles — or more often if you drive your car frequently. An oil change at Hardin County Honda's Service Department is quick and easy. Simply schedule your appointment online or over the phone. When you arrive, we’ll start working on your vehicle right away so you’re not waiting very long. We’ll drain the old engine oil and replace it with fresh oil. Plus, we’ll swap out the oil filter since it will also have become clogged. We offer synthetic engine oil that is created to last longer, retain better condition, and perform better over time. It’s a much better investment than regular engine oil — especially for the value it brings to your vehicle. Getting an oil change is easy at Hardin County Honda! You can visit our Express Service Lane or schedule an appointment on our website to save time.

Your car relies on its brakes to stop and slow down numerous times when you drive in Elizabethtown. If the brake pads or brake rotors have worn down, that could be dangerous for your safety. Your car’s brake system largely relies on two major components: the pads and the rotors. The pads are pressed against the rotor to slow down the spin of the axle so the wheels stop spinning. With frequent use, the pads can wear down or even crack — and so can the rotors. If you hear a grinding sound when you press the brake pedal or notice that your Honda isn’t braking as quickly as it used to, it’s probably time for a new set of brake pads or even a rotor replacement. The technicians at Hardin County Honda's Service Department can inspect your car’s brake system and identify the problem. Brake replacements can be pricey, so you want to take good care of your vehicle’s brake system and not wear it out too quickly. To prolong the life of your car’s brake system, go easy on the brake pedal. Sudden, forceful stops at intersections will cause the brake pads to wear down much faster. Instead, let the car gradually slow down by letting it glide to a halt. Using the car’s momentum to speed up and slow down is better for all parts of the vehicle — including the brakes. Getting your brakes checked and serviced at Hardin County Honda should happen every 40,000-50,000 miles, unless you drive more aggressively. Call or schedule an appointment online.

For your safety and convenience, you’ll want to replace your car’s tires before they pop, deflate, or lead to an accident. This requires being observant of the condition of the tires so you notice red flags preemptively and prevent problems before they occur. The most obvious sign that your car needs new tires is if one is leaking air even after you reinflate it, if there’s visible cracks or gouges in the rubber, or if there are bulges in the sidewall. Low tread is another reason to buy new tires. If the tread is less than 4/32 inch deep, they won’t have proper traction on the road. Depending on how well you maintain the tires, how often you drive, the quality of the tires, and external forces like weather and road surface, the average mid-tier tire lasts around 50,000 miles.

We sell a variety of tire types, brands, sizes, and grades here at Hardin County Honda. The most common types are all-season, performance, 4x4, summer, and winter. Knowing the differences is important for selecting the one that’s right for your car. All- season tires are the most versatile and are made to perform adequately in a variety of conditions. When the temperature is moderate and the weather is seasonable in Kentucky, all-weather tires will suffice throughout most of the year. When the temperature gets frigid and snow is on the streets, all- season tires won’t perform well in the cold. That’s why you need winter tires during the winter. On the flipside, summer tires handle the sweltering midyear heat better than all-season tires do. Certain tires are made specifically for performance on certain types of vehicles for optimal functions. 4x4 tires are best for trucks and true SUVs that go off-roading, but they’re not made to perform well on paved streets. Performance or sport tires are made for athletic cars that burn rubber on the track and need the best traction on the asphalt.

As your car’s tires spin and come in contact with the road, they can wear down unevenly due to improper alignment, improper inflation level, or weak suspension system. Over time, this can cause the rubber on certain areas to become thinner, which directly impacts the durability and performance of the tires. To prolong the life of the tires and ensure they won’t skid, you should have the tires swapped around to different positions on the car (rotated) and ensure the wheels are level with the ground when they spin (balanced). These tasks should be performed every 6-12 months, and we can do them for you here at Hardin County Honda.

There are many reasons that this symbol will illuminate on your car’s dashboard. Sometimes it’s obvious that there’s something wrong with the engine, like if it’s making unusually loud noises or having trouble shifting properly. Other times, it may not be obvious that there’s a problem. But if you see this icon glowing, you need to take it seriously. You can’t truly know the reason this light appeared, though, until a professional uses an OBD2 scanner to read the code and diagnose the root issue. We at Hardin County Honda have the tools to check and fix whatever engine problems are plaguing your vehicle.

While the “check engine” light is the most concerning dashboard warning light, it’s not the only one you may see illuminated on your car. Some other common symbols include

• Tire pressure warning: Its technical name is the TPMS symbol and it resembles an exclamation point in a flat-bottom bowl. This will illuminate when a tire’s air pressure falls below a certain level.
• Engine temperature warning: A thermometer floating in wavy lines is a sign that your car’s engine is overheating. You can also check this against the temperature gauge near the speedometer on the dashboard that reports how hot the coolant is.
• Oil warning: This symbol looks like a magic lamp with a drip. It alerts you when the pressure of the oil pumping through your engine’s motor isn’t fluid enough to lubricate the mechanical system properly

In addition to motor oil and gasoline, your car relies on many other fluids to operate properly, including radiator fluid, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Each of these liquids serve a special purpose, so here’s a look at why each of these are important for your Honda.

• Radiator fluid: This brightly colored liquid is also known as coolant or antifreeze. You pour it into the reservoir of your car’s radiator, which is a cooling system for your car’s engine to keep it from overheating. The radiator uses this ethylene glycol solution to absorb warmth from the engine to keep it from overheating. Without sufficient radiator fluid, your car’s motor will quickly overheat — especially in the summer.
• Transmission fluid: Fundamentally, transmission fluid is a lot like engine oil, as both liquids serve to lubricate the moving mechanical components of their respective system. Transmission fluid is especially important for automatic, dual-clutch, and continuously variable transmissions. Additionally, this fluid provides hydraulic pressure in the gearbox to properly operate. Transmission fluid should be flushed and changed every 3-5 years.
• Brake fluid: Your car’s brake system consists of hydraulic components that cause the brake pads to apply pressure to the brake rotors, which causes the wheel to gradually stop spinning. The fluid running through the brake system is what causes the simple pressure of your foot on the brake pedal to slow your car down. Without enough brake fluid — or if it’s too dirty — your car’s brake system won’t function properly, which can be dangerous.
• Windshield washer fluid: Whenever you activate your Honda vehicle’s windshield wipers and see clear cleaning fluid spray across the glass, you’re seeing the windshield washer fluid. It’s a specially blended solution that helps clean off grime and gunk from the windshield so you can see better. Without it, the dry rubber wiper blades will just be smearing the dirt even worse.

Make sure your Honda always has these important fluids topped off to avoid problems when driving.

There are two primary systems in your vehicle that intake outside air and use it internally: the air conditioning system and the engine. Both of these systems use filters to keep out contaminants from the air flowing into the ducts, which means they become dirty with use. The air conditioning filter is typically stored behind the glove compartment of your Honda model, but you may also find it under the dashboard or even under the hood on some older models. It traps microscopic allergens from being pumped into the cabin through the climate control system — whether you’re using it to cool off your car or heat it up. This sieve will become clogged over time and need to be replaced with a clean, fresh filter. Changing the air filter in your car’s climate control system is one important way of properly maintaining it. Other important service tasks for your Honda vehicle’s air conditioning system include cleaning the vents, running it at least once a week, and refilling the refrigerant when it’s low — which is called recharging the system. The engine air filter works similarly in that it also traps contaminants and can become clogged over time. It’s connected to the engine’s air intake system, as fresh oxygen is necessary for the combustion process. However, having harmful contaminants floating about in the engine can be dangerous and wreak havoc on the motor, so a filter keeps the air debris-free. If the engine air filter is too clogged, it can block air from reaching the motor. We recommend changing your Honda vehicle’s air filters one every year to ensure your car always breathes clean air.