With the weather in Midwestern winters, sometimes it’s worse before it gets better. With the chilly temps and the snow we’ve gotten in these past few weeks, it can be good to take precautions to make sure your vehicle makes it through the last bits of winter and is ready for the spring!    Start System       Have your battery/starting/charging system checked. Your battery provides electrical power to start the engine, stabilizes voltage for the charging system, and supplies additional current to the charging system. It’s always good to catch a weak battery before you get on the highway, rather than having it fail while you’re on your trip.   Emergency Kit       If our tips missed something in your vehicle, or something unforeseen happens and you find yourself in a sticky situation, having a kit with all the necessities will hold you over until help arrives. In this kit, you’ll at least want to ... read more

Having your vehicle properly aligned can save you thousands of dollars in the life of the vehicle. Tires, Suspension Components, Steering Components, and more can be stressed and prematurely fair when the vehicle's alignment is out of spec. When it's out of spec the vehicle has to work extra hard to keep it going in the direction that the driver is trying to get it to go.   So how often should you get an alignment? The easy answer is whenever your car is not going straight down the road. That certainly has some validity to it, but the way many roads are made today that can be tricky to just blame the alignment when the road is pitched for a water run off which will naturally cause your vehicle to veer.    It's important that anytime you have steering or suspension work performed that you have an alignment performed to ensure that everything is re-aligned. Also anytime you get your tires replaced get an alignment. Tires are a big investment, let's not ... 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

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

Even with our winter weather being slightly strange these past few years, snow and ice can still pose a threat to your safety on the road when you least expect it. If you find yourself in a sticky or snowy situation, here are some tips that will help you out.   Pack a winter safety kit     We recommend always having a safety kit in your car year-round including essentials like first aid, a flashlight, food, water, and traffic reflectors, at the very least. However, as seasons change, the risks of the road change too, and so do the items you should keep in your car in case of an emergency. For the winter, you may want to add your trusty ice scraper, extra antifreeze, a snow shovel and/or a bag of sand, a spare car charger for your phone, and extra warm clothes like extra socks, jackets, hats, or gloves. You might never need to use the extra items in your safety kit, but you never know when you might need them.  Remember what to do in a winter road emerge ... read more

The holiday season is practically here! If you’re getting ready to visit home, visit loved ones, or simply find your way to a delicious seasonal feast, here’s how to make sure your vehicle is ready to get you to your destination.   Start System       Have your battery/starting/charging system checked. Your battery provides electrical power to start the engine, stabilizes voltage for the charging system, and supplies additional current to the charging system. It’s always good to catch a weak battery before you get on the highway, rather than having it fail while you’re on your trip.   Emergency Kit       If our tips missed something in your vehicle, or something unforeseen happens and you find yourself in a sticky situation, having a kit with all the necessities will hold you over until help arrives. In this kit, you’ll at least want to pack some blankets, drinking water, snacks, first aid, and refl ... read more

    It’s that time of year again. The leaves have fallen, the air’s getting chillier, and we’re all ready to get into the holiday spirit! We are excited to gather around the table with family and friends–some that we haven't seen for quite some time. For some, we’ll soon be hitting the road with hopes to see some family. All this sounds great, and it sure seems like you are ready, but is your car? With any road trip, it is extremely important to get your vehicle into your team here at Honest Wrenches to ensure that it is ready for the trip you are getting ready to take. Here’s how we can help you prepare for your holiday travels.   Tires   The only thing between you and the road is your tires. It’s crucial to ensure that your tread is wearing evenly, there’s plenty of the tread remaining, that no road hazards have damaged your tires, and they are filled to the proper pressure. And don’t forget the spare ... read more

The way our roads are treated in Iowa in the winter certainly helps keep the roads safe, but it can sure cause damage to our vehicles. Components such as our car’s suspension, underbody, and the overall body of the vehicle are vulnerable to sediment and debris on our roads. During the winter months, it is extremely important to keep your vehicle washed at least once per week, possibly even more if the roads you drive on are consistently treated with brine. When brine or salt mix with melted ice and snow and get left on your vehicle for a period of time, they become corrosive and that is when the rust really starts to take action.    Why wash your car when it’s going to get dirty again? It’s an understandable question for sure, it might seem pointless. But, the more we can keep our vehicles clean, the better we’re able to protect from rust. When you choose a carwash, make sure that you select one that does an underbody spray. That is extremely crucial ... read more

  How often do you need to change my battery?   It’s a great question that we get asked quite often here in the shop. A lot of conditions really determine how long a car battery will last such as driving habits, distance driven, the environment that the battery is in and yes, the quality of the battery. The extreme temperature changes that we experience here in the Midwest certainly wreak havoc on our battery life expectancy. If you don’t do a lot of driving or the driving that you do consists of short trips, the battery really doesn't get an opportunity to get fully charged by the alternator. That will also decrease the life expectancy.    Generally, the life of a battery is anywhere from 3 - 5 years depending on the quality of the battery you purchase. Yes, it’s true with batteries as it is for many other things: you get what you pay for. More important than haggling over battery prices is what the actual difference is between types of ... read more