Vehicle Maintenance
My Car Has A Bad Odor…
My car has a bad odor when I run the heater or air conditioner. My friend said I might need a new cabin air filter – what’s that? A cabin air filter is a special filter that cleans the air that comes into the auto owners’ passenger compartments – or cabin – of their vehicles. Most new…
Read MoreWhat is a Ceramic Brake Pad?
There has been a lot of talk, news and claims surrounding Ceramic brake pads in recent years. We would like to shed some light on the term and its proper meaning. The term “ceramic” refers to a very broad class of materials. Technically, these are inorganic, non-metallic materials that are formed due to the action…
Read MoreMaking Your Vehicle Last With Regular Service
A lot of people in Illinois have older vehicles. They’re good commuters, grocery-getters or toy-haulers. They enjoy that fact that they’re paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their vehicles for 200,000 miles or more – as long as it’s economical to do so. There are plenty of people whose…
Read MoreTire Replacement Can Be Overwhelming
New tire choices can be overwhelming. Suppose you have an SUV and are trying to decide between all-season tires or some that are also rated for off-highway. How much do you drive off-road? How important are looks? Let’s suppose you have a sporty car. You may like to run a high-performance summer tire when the weather’s good.…
Read MoreThe ABCs of Car Care for New Drivers
It’s never too early to learn the ABCs of car care. A – Always follow a preventative vehicle maintenance plan. B – Be sure to have your car inspected when you suspect there is a problem. C – Correct the problem to help avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down away from…
Read MoreAll About Brakes
When you press the brake pedal, fluid is forced through lines that run to each wheel, causing pads to squeeze against rotors or shoes to push against drums to cause friction that slows the wheels. That’s a simplified description, but here’s what you need to know about brake maintenance and why it’s important. Why do…
Read MoreHeadlamp Replacement and Restoration
Way too many accidents happen at night. There are a lot of factors, but a big one is simply visibility; if you can’t see something, it’s hard to avoid hitting it. There are some things you can do to make sure you see as much as possible when driving in the dark. First of all, keep your windshield clean.…
Read MoreDid You Know About Timing Belt?
They say timing is everything. That’s doubly true when it comes to your timing belt. First, your timing belt keeps your valves operating in time with your engine so that it runs properly. Second, if you replace your timing belt on schedule, you’ll likely avoid the downtime and expense that can result from a broken…
Read MoreA Change for the Better? Just Ask Your Brakes.
Changing the many fluids in a vehicle is always a change for the better. Dirty engine oil, transmission fluid or anti-freeze are bad news for a car. But what about brake fluid? Many motorists know that this fluid should be topped off, but changed? Brake fluid in the typical vehicle can become contaminated in two…
Read MoreDrivetrain Quiz
Your car’s drivetrain is a vital power-transmitting component and key to dependability. It’s responsible for transmitting the flow of power from the engine to the wheels. The components include the clutch, torque converter, transmission, driveshafts (or axle shafts in front wheel drive), U-joints, CV joints, differential and axles. Most motorists take these components for granted until something goes wrong.…
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