Not-So-Common Sense (Sensor Failures)

July 31, 2022

So your vehicle won't start. What's the first thing that comes to mind? Battery dead? Starter motor worn out? Out of gas? Well, those are all reasons that make sense. But your vehicle may be refusing to start because one of its computers is being warned that to do so might damage it. Here's ... More

Fuel Injector Cleaning at Tuffy Joliet (South Plainfield)

July 31, 2022

In very simple terms, a fuel injector is a valve that squirts fuel into your vehicle engine. Your engine control computer tells the fuel injector how much fuel to deliver as well as the precise time it should be delivered. Of course this happens thousands of times a minute in every single fuel-i... More

Power Steering Service at Tuffy Joliet (South Plainfield) in Joliet

July 30, 2022

Many Joliet drivers have been hearing about technological advances in power steering, specifically electric power steering. Some very high-end cars have been featuring electric power steering. Power steering fluid has the necessary hydraulic properties and the ability to lubricate the internal p... More

Protecting Your Vehicle from Theft in Joliet, Illinois

July 29, 2022

Every car in Joliet, Illinois, is at risk for theft. So it's up to us to make our cars a less appealing target and more of a challenge hopefully sending potential thieves to look elsewhere.The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles: Common sense Vis... More

Tire Tread Depth for Joliet, Illinois Drivers

July 28, 2022

Driving on bald tires is like playing roulette. Though you may be fine today, eventually your luck is going to run out.The Feds don't have any laws for tread depth, but 42 of the states, and all of Canada, do have regulations. They consider 2/32 of an inch to be the minimum legal tread depth. Tw... More

Hitting The Brakes In Joliet

July 27, 2022

Hello Joliet, let's talk about brakes. But the mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There's also the power brake pump and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.Let's step back. A new vehicle or truck rolls of... More

Wiper Blades in Illinois

July 26, 2022

If you're gonna drive around the Joliet area, you've got to be able to see! So having a good set of windshield wipers is extremely important. We've all experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm or when our windshield is just dirty.It seems like your wip... More

Fuel Saving Tip: Tire Pressure Saves Fuel in Joliet

July 25, 2022

Underinflated tires waste gas for lots of folks in the Joliet area. Think how hard it is to walk in sand you just have to work harder because of the resistance. When your tires don't have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased and it simply takes more gas to get f... More

Fall and Spring Checkup in Joliet

July 24, 2022

When I was a kid, my dad always made sure he took the cars in for Spring and Fall checkups. I was telling a friend that it's about time to get into Tuffy Joliet (South Plainfield) for a checkup and he said that he read on the internet that modern cars don't need seasonal service.My friend is (tec... More

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Joliet (South Plainfield): Serpentine Belt Tensioner

July 24, 2022

The serpentine belt tensioner applies pressure to the serpentine belt, maintaining optimal tension to drive the accessories like the alternator and A/C compressor. At Tuffy Joliet (South Plainfield) we know that the service life of the belt tensioner is the same as the belt itself, so they should... More