We all know that certain someone who is nearly impossible to shop for during the holiday season. To be a little more creative (and practical) this year, how about gifting your friend or family member an auto service certificate. The local team at Honest Wrenches has some recommendations that we can offer your loved ones this time of year. New Tires If you've ever bought brand new tires before, you know they're a major investment. Nevertheless, they are integral to your vehicle's safety, handling, braking, and fuel economy. If your parents, spouse, or child is due for a new set of wheels, this will be the perfect gift for them! They'll thank you for this gift that will last them years and years.  Oil Change An oil change is one of the most often-needed car maintenance services, and it poses a major inconvenience for most people. By gifting someone an oil change, you save them from the hassle. Best of all, we offer a free shuttle service and free pickup and deliv ... read more

As the cold weather approaches in Des Moines, IA, car owners should start to think about their car batteries. Similar to the summer heat, the freezing temperatures can be your car battery's worst enemy. While we cannot escape the cold winter, we can slow down its effects on our batteries.  So why is the cold so damaging to your battery? Well, cold temperatures can slow the chemical reactions inside a lead-acid battery, making it harder to run. Additionally, when your engine is cold, your car battery is put under strain to warm it up. If you want to keep your battery running throughout the holidays and protect it from frigid temperatures, you may want to try the following tips!   Tip #1 - Be on the lookout for the signs of a bad battery. They are: Dimming lights, both interior, and exterior A less energetic car horn An odd smell in your car  The battery dashboard warning light comes on These are just a few of the signs that you may need to replace your car batt ... read more

Most drivers are aware and keep up with their miles for oil changes fairly well. However, most individuals aren't entirely sure when they should replace the power steering fluid. In fact, the power steering fluid is sometimes ignored completely, even though it's such a vital feature of a strong steering wheel.  The power steering fluid is a hydraulic fluid that essentially powers the steering system. However, it doesn't combust as motor oil does; instead, it gets dirty and contaminated over time. Polluted power steering fluid can heavily strain the power steering pump, causing the system to overwork itself until it stops working completely. Below are three symptoms to tell if it's time to change out the power steering fluid: DARK FLUID After leaving your vehicle on for a couple of minutes, open the hood and draw out the dipstick. Most of the time, the power steering fluid should be red and clean. If the fluid looks dark, dingy, or has a charred smell, it usually ... read more

Most of the time, automotive terminology gets jumbled up for the average person. For instance, people sometimes confuse tire alignment and tire balance considering both services provide a smoother and seamless drive. While your auto repair technician may also examine the balance of your wheels during a wheel alignment service, the two services are completely different. Here's what you need to know about their differences and similarities.   Wheel Alignment A wheel alignment is a service that involves adjusting your vehicle wheels' angles to make sure they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.   Wheel Balancing Wheel balancing, on the other hand, ensures that all your tires spin without creating vibrations. The vibrations can be caused by as much as an oz. of imbalance. A certified technician will use a balancing device to measure the amount of variation on the tires. Then they will use lead balancing weights to compensate for weight differ ... read more

Whether you're a mother, father, or student who will be driving yourself or others to school, you should know that the beginning of the back-to-school season is always chaotic. Operating a vehicle in the madness of it all can be stressful, so it is imperative to prepare yourself as much as possible for the traffic. From adjusting to a new schedule and withdrawing from our summer routines, car problems should be the least of your concerns. We've made a list of things to pack in your vehicle to (hopefully) make things a little easier throughout the semester:    Jumper Cables - These colorful cables are a necessity for all drivers of every age. Jumper cables will undoubtedly be beneficial if you find yourself with a dead battery at school or any other place away from home. Emergency Contact Numbers - It is vital to have designated phone numbers such as towing services, auto repair shops, etc., to call in case of an emergency, breakdown, or accident. You can save the n ... read more

Staying on top of your vehicle maintenance should always be a top priority for drivers in Des Moines. Even though life may get too busy, try not to miss an important service appointment. The majority of all vehicles need their oil changed around every 5,000 miles. However, it also depends on the type of oil. Clean oil is necessary to lubricate the engine to ensure you with a safe drive. If you don't recall the last time you were in the auto shop for an oil change, it may have you questioning what can happen if you skip one.   What Happens If I Skip An Oil Change? Engine Damage If you elongate the period between oil changes, the oil deficiency will cause the engine to shut down completely. A significant engine shut down may require a replacement, leading to thousands of dollars in service and repairs.   Knocking Engine If the motor oil hasn't been swapped out in a while, the oil may become thick and sludgy. Engine oil should be fluid and free of contaminants to ... read more

  When purchasing a used car, it is important to keep in mind that not every car is equal. Aside from the obvious, even the same make and model of a vehicle can have drastic differences in technology, reliability, and safety ratings between different years of production. Even some typically reliable makes and models have specific years that auto technicians would advise against because they have a history of expensive breakdowns.   So what can you do to protect yourself from accidentally buying an unreliable vehicle? Do prior research! There are many websites dedicated to educating potential buyers on specific cars. The year, model, and features of any particular vehicle can drastically affect the long-term price. Talk to reputable sources. You can hop online and find forums for the most significant cars. Yes - that can simply mean joining a Facebook or Reddit group. You can talk to many other used car owners, and they can offer advice and tips. Our cert ... read more

You might not give it much thought, but the fuel filter is a critically important component in your vehicle. It is continually working to keep certain pollutants away from your engine. If it fails to perform this function, then your car's performance will begin to suffer. This could equal hefty repair bills if you do not quickly take care of the situation. What is the Function of a Fuel Filter? You might wonder what a fuel filter does in the first place. If you haven't noticed lately, you encounter a lot of dirt as you are driving. The filter is your first line of defense against that dirt making its way into your engine. The fuel injectors in your car can easily become clogged if you are not careful. This is what a fuel filter works to avoid. It will ensure that there is no harmful buildup of pollutants to worry about. Four Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Filter Since it is not something that you typically look at every day, it is helpful to know what to look for that would indicat ... read more

You get into your vehicle after a long day, put the key into the ignition, and then nothing. Your vehicle didn't start! While there could be several different causes, an aging timing belt could be the issue. The timing belt lets the crankshaft and camshaft work together to allow your vehicle's engine valves and engine pistons to work in sync. If your timing belt has aged too much, it can even cause engine failure in your vehicle. Because a timing belt is such a critical component to your engine, you may be wondering how to tell if your timing belt is aging. Here are 5 warning signs of an aging timing belt: Engine Not Starting Unfortunately, one of the signs that you timing belt has aged is if your engine does not start. If your timing belt is in bad enough shape, it will not allow the engine to fire. Ticking Noise Another common sign of an aging timing belt is a ticking noise from underneath the hood. When the timing belt begins to fail, the engine system falls out of sy ... read more

Brakes are essential parts of your car. They should always be in optimal working condition so that you are safe when on the road. Your brakes wear out with time or are damaged by poor driving habits. They need servicing as soon as you notice the following signs. Screeching Sound If you hear a high-pitched screeching sound when you apply brakes, it means that you are getting low on the brake pads and you need to replace them soon. There is a metal built into the braking system that warns you of thin pads. At times, after replacing the brake pads, there is loud screeching (usually not high-pitched). In that case, it means that the rotors have become glazed, a condition caused by excessive heating and burning from poor braking behavior. They need to be checked. Slow Response to Braking If you ever tried to stop but find that brakes take too long to respond or are not responsive as they should, it could be an indication of leakage in the braking syste ... read more