The Truth about Tire Pressure (Tire Inflation)

November 27, 2022

Most light vehicles (under 10,000 pounds/4,500 kg) in North America sold from 2008 model year on have a feature that many people are confused about. It's the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). You may have some experience with it yourself if you own a newer vehicle. Vehicles with TPMS hav... More

To Fix or Not To Fix (Tire Repair)

November 20, 2022

You know that sinking feeling when you realize one of your tires has a problem. It may be making an odd noise or behaving oddly when you're driving. You may hit a pothole or curb and one suddenly goes flat. Or you may head back to your vehicle and discover it has one tire deflated without a cl... More

Odometer Rollback on Your Joliet, Illinois Vehicle

November 13, 2022

How do Joliet drivers know if an odometer is telling the truth?Well, back in '86, Congress passed the Truth-in-Mileage Act to protect Illinois consumers against mileage fraud. It says a Illinois seller must certify the mileage reported is the actual mileage.To have your odometer checked in Joli... More

Introduction to Diesels for Joliet, Illinois

November 6, 2022

Something you're going to be hearing a lot about around Joliet, Illinois, is diesel engines. We're not talking about semi-trucks and buses; we're talking about diesel engine cars, pick-ups and SUVs.Most people in Illinois are surprised to learn that around half the cars on the road in Europe have... More

Passing the Test (How to Prevent Emissions Test Failure)

October 30, 2022

Vehicle emission testing has become ubiquitous in North America and for a good reason. Clean air quality is important for the environment and all of us. Since vehicle emissions are among the main causes of air pollution, emission testing can alert you to problems in your vehicle than can be fix... More

Don't Do It Yourself (Perils of DIY Vehicle Repair)

October 23, 2022

Your vehicle is a complicated machine, and yes, it would be nice if you could take care of all of its problems yourself. There was a time when vehicles were simpler and it wasn't too hard for a weekend mechanic to replace brakes, adjust a carburetor or perform a tune-up. But vehicles are far mo... More

Something to Latch On To (Hood Latch Safety)

October 16, 2022

The other day, a driver was trying to open his vehicle's hood so he could add some windshield washer fluid. But when he pulled the hood release inside the car, nothing happened. Usually, opening any hood is a 2-step process. You pull the hood release (which is usually a handle under the dashbo... More

Full of Hot Air (Air Conditioning)

October 9, 2022

In warm weather, you want to be in a cool vehicle. When we're talking cool, we don't mean stylish or trendy, but cool as in not sweltering inside. And if your vehicle's air conditioner stops working correctly, it seems to always break at the worst timeduring a heat wave. Automotive air conditio... More

Road Ready (Trip Inspection)

October 2, 2022

Maybe you've been cooped up for a while and are yearning for a change of scenery. Or maybe you need to visit a relative who lives far away. You choose not to fork out the big bucks for airline tickets, so it's time for a road trip. Make sure you're road ready by having your vehicle professiona... More

More than Pads and Rotors (Brake Caliper Replacement)

September 25, 2022

You might be familiar with brake pads and rotors, two components of your vehicle's brakes that have to be regularly serviced. Here's another important component of your brakes: the calipers. Calipers are used in disc brakes, the type of brakes now found in most recently manufactured vehicles. A... More