With the largest dump of snow we’ve seen in a while, these February winter storms might have your car a little worse for wear! If something feels a little off on your ventures out into this winter wonderland, double-check that these harsh icy, slushy, and salty conditions haven’t affected any of these vehicle elements:   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! You never know when a flat tire could create a detour in your route.   Fluids     Fluids are the lifeblood of your vehicle. Your car has many different fluids ranging from engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, differential fluid, and of course, your fuel system…just to name a few! It&rsq ... 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

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 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

Your summer road trip is almost here! If you’ve followed our first three tips for road trip prep last Thursday, here’s three more to make sure you’re ready to hit the road.   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 reflective triangles. The food and water will keep you nourished and hydrated, a first aid kit ... read more

Summer is here and so are your summer road trips! Before you hit the road, it’s important to ensure that your car is ready for the journey ahead. Regardless of your destination, taking the extra steps to prepare your car and have your mechanic check it out to get it road-trip-ready will keep you from being stranded on the side of the road on your vacation.     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! You never know when a flat tire could create a detour in your route.   Fluids   Fluids are the lifeblood of your vehicle. Your car has many different fluids ranging from engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, differential fluid, and of course, your fuel sys ... read more