Santa Rosa Mercedes-Benz Auto Repair

We appreciate our loyal customers and know that their referrals and testimonials speak louder than any advertising we can buy. See some of our favorites below and come in to CK Automotive where we treat our customers and their Mercedes to the best service in Northern California! LISA L. – SANTA ROSA, CA “I purchased a Mercedes approximately 5 years ago and was referred to Paul at CK Auto Exclusive by two friends. What a great referral. My granddaughter is now taking her car to CK Auto as well. When you call you always hear a friendly voice and his service is quick, efficient and above all honest. If you are looking for a great Mercedes mechanic, CK Auto Exclusive is it. To see how our work stands out, take a look at some of our other customer testimonials. People from all around Sonoma County say that Paul and the team are knowledgeable, friendly and honest. We don't want our customers to have to worry about whether ... read more

Is oil really the lifeblood of an engine? That's a long-popular analogy, but it's really not an accurate description. Blood carries nutrients to cells, but it's air that carries fuel—the “nutrition”—for an engine. However, without oil to lubricate and cool moving parts, keep them clean and help to seal the pistons in the cylinders, the engine would run for only a matter of seconds, then sieze. So, yes, oil is important. What about synthetic oil? Is it better than traditional oil and should I use synthetic oil in my Mercedes? The answers to these questions is Yes and Yes. Full synthetic oils are made for high – tech engines such as the engine in your Mercedes. These oils pass stringent special tests which means they have superior, longer-lasting performance in all the critical areas, from viscosity index to protection against deposits. They flow better at low temperatures and maintain peak lubricity at high temperatures. All Mercede ... read more

Required maintenance is the routine service necessary to keep your vehicle in peak operating condition, and to help avoid damage to your vehicle. As of model year 2009, Mercedes-Benz vehicles follow a maintenance schedule of 10,000-mile or 12-month intervals, whichever occurs first.For all other model years, refer to your maintenance manual for specific maintenance schedule information. Your Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Booklet specifies exactly what services your Mercedes-Benz certified technician will perform at each routine service visit. The required maintenance intervals have been determined based on normal operating conditions. Any severe operating conditions may call for more frequent replacement of items such as interior filters, spark plugs, coolant, tires, etc. Checking these items regularly and bringing your vehicle in for service appointments or earlier than required will help keep your Merc ... read more

It is a good idea to take a quick check under the hood and note the fluids in your Mercedes at least once a month. Quick checks should include oil, engine coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid. IMPORTANT FLUIDS TO CHECK IN YOUR MERCEDES Check oil when the engine is cold or wait until it has cooled down (about five minutes) and the oil has drained into the oil pan. For a brief period from 2000 to 2010, Mercedes-Benz eliminated the manual oil dipstick. If you can't locate a dipstick, check the owner's manual. You may find that oil is checked from the instrument panel. The engine coolant in the radiator is checked by looking into the radiator on older cars or on newer cars by checking the level through the translucent sides in the remote plastic coolant reservoir. Checking coolant is best done when the engine is cold. Avoid opening the radiator or coolant reservoir when the engine is hot but if you must, check the owner's manual about how to do this without ... read more

How often you change your tires depends on a number of factors including the type of Mercedes you own, where and how you drive it and how well you care for your tires. Responsible drivers should be aware of the basics about tire wear, how to test for wear and know how to decide when they should change their tires. Tires are constructed with a pattern of grooves and ridges on their surfaces, which is referred to as tread. Tread increases a car's traction on the road and diverts water from beneath the tire in wet conditions. Although tires are designed to provide reasonably consistent performance throughout their lifetimes, tread does wear down over time and gradually becomes less effective. Most tires are considered to have a life of between 25,000 and 50,000 miles before they need to be replaced. HOW TO TEST IF YOUR TIRES NEED TO BE CHANGED A test known as the penny or quarter test, involves inserting a penny or quarter into the center of the tread between two ridges with the image of ... read more