With cars being a part of our daily life, one of the worst things that can happen is a weird and unfamiliar noise. We all hate when that happens, but it can help us prevent further damage. Here are some sounds you should be on the lookout for: Rattling sound at low speeds While driving at a low speed you might hear a rattling noise, that sounds like there is something inside your wheel or under the hood. At high speeds, it magically disappears and comes right back when you slow down. The cause of this can be a loose lug nut that was forgotten in one of your vehicle's hub caps. A wheel without a few nuts doesn't sound very safe, so we advise you to safely go to the nearest repair shop. Dull metallic clicking sound If you are experiencing a dull clicking sound coming from your engine bay, it’s likely that a piece has come undone. This can be caused by a loose screw or bolt in the engine that has been forgotten by previous maintenance work. The damage that this can infli ... read more

Last week, we went over some automotive issues you might come across in the colder months like dead batteries, failed spark plugs, or cars not starting. This week, we’ll touch on some simpler, but equally important routine maintenance. If you miss some of these crucial winter practices, it can lead to frustrating issues. Check out these winter automotive reminders!    Windshield Wipers Freezing     Your wipers are essential for braving the winter weather, and keeping your visibility clear in rain, sleet, and snow. However, they become more vulnerable in freezing weather. They can freeze to your windshield, which could cause them to tear if you tried to turn them on–which is definitely not something you want to happen in the middle of a storm.       To keep your wipers safe in cold temperatures, you’ll want to add checking on them to your routine. If you know cold weather is coming and you can’t get your car under ... read more

There are different automotive issues that come with the changes of seasons–you might worry more about your car overheating over the summer. Each season comes with its own unique challenges, so here are some things to look out for this winter and some tips on how to deal with them.    Car Not Starting     This is true in any season–sometimes your car just won’t start. However, in the winter,  this could be a sign of a bigger issue; like failing batteries or spark plugs. Fortunately, it’s not always a huge red flag, as it could also simply be a smaller issue like thickened engine oil, frozen gas in the line, or a bad starter or alternator. For those smaller issues, the best thing you can do is to try and keep your vehicles warm overnight or when the temperature drops to its lowest. Keeping your car parked in a garage or using an engine block heater to keep the engine warm are both good options. Don’t worry, we’ve got t ... read more

  Last week, we started our deep dive into extended warranties and their pros and cons. The main takeaway being that often, most extended warranty companies are benefiting more from your purchase of a warranty than you are. The chances that your warranty will be able to cover what you need to be covered in the time span of the warranty are fairly low, meaning that your money has gone straight into that company’s pocket without it being used on your vehicle.    If you do happen to be covered under warranty and the extended warranty company accepts fault, we have seen many companies fight and argue with us over the quality of the parts we are allowed to use, even seeing requests to install used parts. We would never want to install a used part into your vehicle, and we know that as our clients, you expect the best from us. As your trusted auto shop, we’ll represent you in these circumstances to try to ensure that we get you a quality part that matches the qu ... read more

We know that there are a lot of decisions to make regarding your car. At Honest Wrenches, we want to make sure we provide you with as much information as possible so you can make the best choices for you; at no extra charge. Today we’re breaking down extended warranties–are they worth the investment? Or should you pass on them? We tend to not be on the side of extended warranties, but we also want to acknowledge that while we have had negative experiences with some companies, there may be some extended warranty companies that will benefit you. Regardless of where you fall, there are pros and cons to each side. To understand more about extended warranties, let's take a deep dive into some of the different types of extended warranties.   1. The basic extended warranty  Sometimes called the bronze package, this will be an extremely basic warranty. It will only have coverage up to a certain amount of money per hour paid out, as well as generally only covering h ... read more