We offer a range of maintenance services that can be tailored to your company needs. Our basic oil change service includes oil change, as well as visual inspection of vehicle and topping off fluids as needed. Preventive maintenance is very important for your vehicle. The old saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is the basis of preventive maintenance. A small investment in upkeep now will save you hundreds later when systems fail “suddenly”.

Maintenance schedule
We offer tailor-made maintenance schedules and record keeping to fit your specific fleet needs. This helps ensure your vehicles are always up to date on oil changes, state inspections, and basic maintenance.

Electrical and wiring systems are often viewed as simple. But long gone are the days of a “simple” light bulb change. Lighting and wiring in vehicles have become more complex, requiring more time and knowledge to keep your electrical system working properly. Lights and signals that are working correctly are imperative to your safety and those traveling around you, from headlights to turn signals, and reverse lights and all the wiring in between that makes it all work.

Vehicles require a power source to start, beginning with the battery and transferring to the alternator. One or the other can be a drain on your system and need replaced. Xcel can test the battery and outputs to determine what the vehicle may need. Battery terminals and cables can also cause issues with corrosion or broken wires. Xcel can track down the problem, and make repairs as needed.

Today’s vehicles are smart, with warning and indicator lights to let you know there is an issue somewhere in your vehicle. Once that light comes on, the detective work begins, figuring out what is causing the issue. We can use our computer diagnostics to check codes that can help point us in the right direction. Troubleshooting involves tracking down the culprit causing the issues. Both take time and require expensive software and computers. If you are having issues, we recommend you schedule an appointment to troubleshoot and diagnose your vehicle, saving you in the long run from simply replacing parts until you ‘fix the problem’.

WV State inspections are required for all WV licensed vehicles. State Inspections are now due every 2 years, to ensure vehicles remain safe to drive. Annual Federal Inspections are required by the DOT (Department of Transportation) for all commercially used vehicles over 10,000 lbs. The purpose of a DOT inspection is to ensure vehicles are in good condition and all parts and accessories are safe and working properly. Any vehicle that is DOT used still requires an annual WV State and Federal inspection.

Lift gates and in-bed mounted air compressors and generators are considered accessory equipment for vehicles. Special needs may arise creating a need for this equipment to perform a job safer and faster. Routine maintenance is paramount to keeping the equipment functioning safely and efficiently which adds another layer in protecting the cost of this investment. We can install and service this equipment for light to medium duty trucks.

Xcel has partnered with Mi-T-M to become a Mi-T-M dealer to provide options for air compressor/generators, pressure washers, welders, and more. Mi-T-M products are American made located in The Heartland. Mi-T-M builds quality products which are backed 100%. Contact us for more details for Mi-T-M products.

Xcel has also partnered with Putco Lighting. Putco lights offer accessory lighting to enhance brake/reverse lights on your pickup trucks, or provide wig wag lighting for the construction type industries as well as police and rescue vehicles.

Tires make the vehicle go round, (sorry pun intended). Seriously, tires are very important for your vehicle. Our slogan is ‘you get what you pay for’ with tires. There are thousands of options out there to choose from, so how do you know what is best for your vehicle? - We suggest ask the professionals. Before ordering tires, here are some things you need to consider:
- Tire size
- Tire type - is this for passenger vehicle or truck?
- Tire ply-thickness of tire. Standard load for passenger vehicles is 4-ply, light truck tires are 10-ply. 10 ply tires ride a little stiffer, and do not pick up nails or puncture as easily. 10-ply tires are recommended if you tow or haul trailers or heavy items.
- Tread pattern - Do you want a winter tire, stud-able tire, all season, or highway tire? All have their place, depending on the individuals need.
- Tire warranty - which means the estimated mileage, used under normal conditions, before they need replaced.
- Things that wear tires faster are misalignment, over or under inflation, and lack of tire rotation.
Xcel recommends rotating tires with each oil change to maintain a more even wear and prolong the life of your tires.

WV state inspection requires any tire under 2/32 tread depth should be replaced.

Tip: Because tires are a costly investment all at once, we recommend keeping a “Tire Fund”. Put aside a little money with each paycheck to be ready when your tires need replaced.

Steering and Suspension are two separate components of your vehicle that work together to keep your vehicle under control. These components are responsible for stable road control, drivability, and handling. Over time, these parts may have what we call “wear”, which means what it sounds like, parts wear out. Many parts in steering and suspension must move, similar to elbow joints in your body. If the joints are dried out, you may hear creaking and popping. Wear can also cause “slop” in your steering. Steering and suspension part failures are serious and can lead to other issues, like wearing tires unevenly or worse, causing loss of control of the vehicle. Front end inspections can pinpoint any current or upcoming issues as part of a preventive maintenance plan.

Everyone knows brakes provide stopping ability for your vehicle. But few take time to inspect their brakes to make sure the vehicle can stop on a dime when something unexpected happens. Brake pads and rotors work together applying friction in order to stop your vehicle. Due to the constant friction, brake pads wear down. If pads wear too far, the pads will begin to cut grooves in the rotor. When this occurs, both pads and rotors will have to be replaced. This creates a more expensive repair than if the brake pad wear was caught early-hence preventive maintenance (brake inspections). Another part of the braking system are E-brakes or Emergency brakes. Xcel recommends you either consistently use your E-brake or you don’t use it at all (automatics only). E-brakes can rust and seize up if they are not used often.

Brake lines also play an important role in the braking process. The brake lines run between front and rear and side to side, allowing brake fluid to flow to each caliper, which in turn squeezes the brake pad in, causing the friction on the brake rotor causing you to stop. Because brake lines run under your vehicle, they are exposed to road grim and metals enemy-salt. Over time, brake lines can rust out which can create a hole. Holes in brake lines allow the fluid to run onto the ground instead of to the caliper, hindering the stopping process. Xcel recommends keeping the underside of your vehicle washed out to decrease road grim to slow down rust and corrosion that wreaks havoc on your vehicles undercarriage.

Exhaust is your vehicle’s waste removal system. The exhaust system is meant to be a closed system. Leaks can occur if there are any holes rusted through the muffler or exhaust piping, or if gaskets or studs are loose or broken at your exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold is the connection between your engine and exhaust system. Exhaust leaks can often be heard. Besides sounding loud and obnoxious, they can also be dangerous. Exhaust leaks under the vehicle will cause carbon monoxide to migrate up into the cab with the driver and passengers. Carbon monoxide is dangerous and poisonous, especially to young children and pregnant mothers. As with every part of your vehicle, the exhaust system should be inspected routinely and repaired quickly if any issues arise.

Sometimes things break. When metal breaks or comes apart, it has to be welded back. At Xcel, we can handle small to medium welding jobs. Sometimes things do not fit properly, which requires fabrication. Xcel can handle fabrication jobs as well. Whether it is building a custom headache rack or creating an accessory equipment install modification, we can assess your fabrication needs and determine if we are the right fit.

The vehicle A/C (air conditioning) and heating systems provide cooling and heating functions to keep vehicle occupants comfortable. A/C units cool from a gas called Freon, which operates through the A/C system. The A/C system includes compressor, condenser, and expansion valve or orifice tube. A/C system failures usually occur due to a leak, clog, or improper freon amount. Freon is weighed and referred to as “Charging” the A/C system. Each vehicle has a set requirement of pounds or ounces the A/C system requires. If the A/C system is over or under charged it will not work. Xcel has a special piece of equipment, simply called the A/C machine, that can vacuum out the freon, weigh it, and replace the specified amount back into the vehicle for all vehicles with R134 Freon. This process is time consuming, taking anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. If a leak is found, parts are replaced after the system is vac’ed down, then the system is recharged and tested. (Vehicles newer than 2019 may have the new freon 1234yf. This system is very different than the traditional R134 or the old R12 freon. Xcel is unable to work on vehicles with the 1234yf freon at this time)

Heating systems in vehicles use the vehicle’s engine cooling system. The heat from the engine goes through the radiator, which then goes through a heat exchanger, known as the heater core. The blower motor and thermostat control how much heat blows from the heater core through the vent to keep you warm. Heater issues could stem from a much bigger problem in the cooling system (radiator and antifreeze). Inspections and proper maintenance help to ensure all your systems are working properly, so you can be cool as a cucumber during summer or snug as a bug in a rug during winter.

Trailers are handy to haul or tow items too big to fit in a truck. But just like vehicles, trailers need routine maintenance as well. The #1 issue with trailers is lights and wiring. Due to tight spaces or uneven terrain, the tail end of trailers takes a beating-- knocking off lights and pulling wiring loose. Wiring generally ends up a mess, with wrong connections, broken pieces, or splices that are not watertight and weatherproof. Though the process can be tedious, Xcel can repair and rewire trailers and replace lighting.

Sometimes accidents happen and trailer connections drag the ground or get pulled loose. Xcel can replace those connections as well, including trailer brake break-aways. Contact us for further details for your trailer questions or repairs.