Knowing when it's time to get an oil change can help you avoid costly engine repairs and keep your car running smoothly. Keep an eye out for these signs that it's time for a fresh batch of oil:   Low oil level: Check your dipstick regularly to make sure you've got enough oil. If it's low, it's time to head to the shop.   Dirty oil: If your oil looks dark and sludgy or has debris in it, it's time for a change. Dirty oil can't do its job of lubricating and cleaning the engine.   Engine noise: If your car is sounding extra noisy, your engine may be crying out for fresh oil. Give it what it wants!   Warning light: This is one of the most obvious signs, and is easy to look out for. Most cars have a warning light that tells you when it's time for an oil change. But don’t ignore it! It’s important to get in and get your oil changed ASAP.   Mileage: Most cars need an oil change every ... read more

  If you want your ride to last and perform at its best, you gotta get regular oil changes. It’s an important part of your routine maintenance to make sure your vehicle runs well and runs for as long as possible. Here's why:   Lubrication: Your car's engine has lots of moving parts that need lubrication to work properly. Fresh oil keeps them from rubbing together with too much friction and causing damage.   Cooling: Engines can get super hot, but the oil helps keep them from overheating. It absorbs heat and transfers it away from the combustion chamber.   Cleansing: Oil picks up dirt and debris as it flows through the engine, keeping it clean and preventing buildup that can cause problems later. Efficiency: Fresh oil means less friction, which means your engine runs more efficiently and uses less gas.   Longevity: Regular oil changes can keep your engine running smoothly for longer, preventing damage and saving you money on expensive rep ... read more

Hello March!   Spring Break is almost here, and we know that many of you are planning trips or staycations. Whether you're hitting the road or staying home, it's important to ensure that your vehicle is in top shape before you embark on your Spring Break adventures. This week, we’ll give some tips to our vacationers–when you’re hitting the road for a trip, we want to make sure that your vehicle is ready to handle the journey.    At our auto shop, we offer a wide range of services to help you prepare your vehicle for Spring Break. If you're planning to hit the road, we recommend scheduling a pre-trip service and inspection to ensure that your vehicle is safe and reliable for your journey. Our expert technicians will perform a thorough inspection of your vehicle, checking everything from your brakes and tires to your fluid levels and battery. We'll identify any issues that need to be addressed and provide you with a comprehensive repo ... 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

As we come to the end of the worst of winter, and things start to thaw out, we come into pothole season–so it’s the perfect time to start thinking about Vehicle Alignments. The alignment of your vehicle is an important aspect of maintenance, so we’re going to make sure to go over what an alignment is, why it’s important, and how often to get it done. Normal wear and tear will cause your vehicle to get out of alignment, so this is an important aspect of the upkeep of your vehicle. Although, it can also get banged out of whack by hitting potholes, bumping curbs, or even minor fender benders.    An alignment is a process where a technician sets your vehicle onto a lift, installs targets onto your wheels, and takes measurements such as toe, camber, caster, thrust angle, etc. Once they get the before measurements of your vehicle’s current alignment angles, the technician can then determine what adjustments will need to be made. They will then make ... 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

Our winters have been odd in the past few years, which has meant a rollercoaster of ice and snow and random bouts of warmer, thawing weather. That much back and forth leaves an opportunity for black ice and other dangerous weather conditions. Whether you get stranded in a blizzard or spin out on hidden ice, it’s important to know how to prepare for, stay safe in, and act in the event of a winter road emergency. This week, we’ll go over how best to stay prepared for the winter conditions ahead.    Get a winter tune-up     As the seasons change and the year goes by, it’s important to get regular tune-ups on your vehicle. When you’re getting your car checked for the winter, you’ll want to make sure that you check on your battery, brakes, heating and cooling systems, components like belts, hoses, spark plugs, and other wires and cables, and all your fluids; oil, antifreeze, wiper fluid, etc. Check that everything is in working order ... 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