“12:00 … 12:00 … 12:00.” If you were around in the days of VCRs, you probably remember the repetitive flashing of that number. Back when VCRs were state of the art, most of the video machines included a clock with a digital display on the front. For those who were not entirely technically savvy, programming the clock was a nuisance they often skipped.

As a result, instead of the time changing every sixty seconds, “12:00” flashed endlessly on the front of the machine. People got used to it. They learned to ignore it, mostly.

Today, many drivers have learned to ignore another indicator light. This one, instead of telling the time, and located in their vehicle rather than in the house, is the “Check Engine” light that one day appeared in their dashboard. As with the flashing “12:00” they got used to it until, virtually, they just didn’t see it anymore.

“Unfortunately, though drivers can sometimes get away without doing anything about the ‘Check Engine’ light for a while, other times, they can’t,” said Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, one of the area’s leading auto repair shops.

Engines are comprised of hundreds of parts choreographed to operate in unison. That partnership creates energy that is transferred through the transmission to the wheels providing propulsion. Just as the human body can sometimes operate for years with a increasing heart disease or problems with other internal organs, an engine can sometimes do the same. And, sometimes it can’t.

The “Check Engine” light comes on when the On-Board Diagnostic System (OBD) recognizes a problem with the engine and power-train control system. The problem can be trivial or major; the light doesn’t shine any brighter either way though, in some cases, it may flash in a particular sequence to indicate a particular problem.

The sequence of a flashing “Check Engine” light doesn’t mean much to someone who doesn’t know what the sequence indicates. However, checking with a trusted auto repair technician will usually bring a quick answer.

There are two primary problems with ignoring the “Check Engine” light. One is that, whatever the problem, even if not a major problem initially, it can develop into something more significant and more costly.

“The other problem is that, once the light is on, it’s on,” Norton said. “If you have another problem one day, the light’s already on and you have no warning of another problem.”

Another issue with a “Check Engine” light is that, when it’s on, a car cannot pass an emissions test. If you bring the car in to a testing center with the light on, the car will automatically fail the test and you’ll have to bring it somewhere to have the issue addressed. But, passing an emissions test is the least imperative reason to have things checked out when the light comes on.

“A qualified auto repair technician will quickly get to the bottom of the problem,” Norton said. “If it’s something major, they may save you a lot of money and hassle in the long run. And, if it’s something minor, they can fix that, too, while giving you peace of mind.”

In the darkness of the late night drive, reflective mile markers flashed by with a monotonous rhythm.  Bob pushed the accelerator down just a touch hoping to eke out a bit more speed and, thereby, shorten the duration of his trip. But the slippery roads rebelled and he felt a looseness in the steering as Mother Nature challenged for control of the car anywhere past 45 mph.

He imagined his family at home, seated by the tree as it blazed in a festive mix of seasonal colors, the fireplace casting dancing shadows about the room as they sipped cocoa while watching White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life or, even, A Christmas Carol. Oh, but he wished he was there with them now – at least before the children headed to bed. But, the snow continued to fall, as did the temperature outside, creating a nasty mix of hazardous driving conditions that would warm the heart of no one but Ebenezer Scrooge on a Christmas Eve night like this.

Bob thought about that for a moment, as he reduced his speed enough to regain control from the conditions on the road. “Scrooge,” he thought, “yes, this weather is Scrooge-like in its determination to spoil the spirit of the holiday.”

Bob glanced at the trip meter; another 100 miles or so to go. Outside the car, he could see the wind swirling the snow a breath above the surface of the icy pavement.  Bob sighed deeply. “There’s nothing to be done but continue on.”

He did some calculations in his mind and concluded that he had more than two hours to go at this speed, assuming all went well.

Up ahead, he made out a hulking shadow on the side of the road. As he drew closer, he could see the unmistakable shape of an old classic car. He slowed for a closer look as he passed and shook his head side to side, “Unless I’m mistaken, that’s a 1929 Ford Sedan, and in pristine condition. What the heck is it doing on the side of the road on a day like today?”

As he drove on, it occurred to Bob that the car had a 1932 license plate. “I wonder if the car is even licensed for the road?” he pondered. “Well, that was strange.”

Bob had hardly turned his thoughts back to his battle with the weather when he began to make out another shadow further up the road. He recognized the shape of a man trudging down the side of the road. As he drew closer, Bob began to apply the brake. The road was otherwise deserted and there was no conscionable way he could leave this man to face the storm alone, certainly not on the night of December 24.

Bob could see the man had the collars of his long, heavy gray coat pulled tightly around his neck. A slightly battered fedora was pulled down tight and tipped forward and to one side to block the wind from beating against the man’s face.

Bob came to a stop beside him and motioned to hop in. But, instead, the man stood on the road surveying Bob’s car from side to side as if he was trying to decide if it was animal, vegetable or mineral. Finally, Bob reached over and opened the door.

“Do you want to get in?” he asked impatiently.

Slowly at first, as though not quite convinced, the man nodded and, at last, accepted the offer to slide into the passenger seat.

Once inside, the man switched from surveying the car side to side to cautiously surveying Bob up and down. He seemed to find Bob’s attire peculiar. Finally, he looked Bob in the face and said, “I thank you for the ride, sir.”

“Well, I couldn’t very well leave you out there, now could I?” Bob asked.

The two drove in silence for a moment before Bob asked, “Is that your Ford I saw back down the road?”

“It is,” the man replied.

“Beautiful car,” Bob said. “What were you doing out on the road with it on a night like this?”

“Just trying to get home to the family for Christmas,” he said. “My ‘beautiful car,’ as you put it, ran a bit short on gasoline.”

In an instant, Bob realized he would probably have to drive this man back to his car, extending the duration of his trip even further. He glanced at the clock in the dashboard and tried to recalculate his ETA in consideration of this new wrinkle.

“I sure appreciate you coming along,” the man said.

Remembering the spirit of the season, Bob softened his heart a bit. “It’s my pleasure,” he said, even managing a slight smile.

After they’d drove a bit further, the man asked, “What kind of car is this?”

“It’s an Impala,” he said.

“Impala?” the man asked.

“Yeah, you know, a Chevy,” Bob said.

“Chevrolet? I didn’t know they made a car like this,” he said as surveyed the lighted digitized dashboard with an apparent level of amazement.

Up ahead, Bob could see a large, illuminated Shell sign high on a post off the highway. Soon they were at the station where the man discovered he would have to purchase a plastic-red gas can to carry the petrol. The convenience station, the gas can and, no less, the computer at the front counter, all seemed to leave the mean in a state of awe.

When the man came up short on the cost of the gas and gas can, equally amazed that “gasoline in these parts costs more than $3,” Bob pulled out his debit card and made the payment on the man’s behalf.

“It’s OK. I’ve got it,” Bob said.

The man watched a moment and then, as though he suddenly realized that, by swiping the card through the slot on the blue box on the counter, Bob had paid for the gas and container, the man offered a sheepish, “Thank you, again, sir.”

Soon, they were back at the man’s car. Bob got out and admired the vehicle for a bit, in spite of the blowing snow and cold, while the man carefully funneled the gasoline into the car’s tank.

Then, the man opened the hood and, after removing the air filter, poured a few drops into the carburetor. He handed the gas can to Bob and said, “This is yours,” before he hoped behind the wheel. In a moment the car was running with that rather quaint rumble of the old in-line 4-cylinder engines.

The “Bonnet,” as the man referred to the hood, all buttoned up again, Bob nodded and said, “Merry Christmas,” before heading back to his car and putting the gas can in the trunk next to some brightly wrapped presents.

“And to you, sir,” the man said. “And thank you again.”

Eager to make up for lost time, Bob was quickly moving down the road ahead of the man. “Kind of a strange guy,” Bob thought to himself, as he glanced at the man’s headlights reflecting in the rearview mirror. Bob shrugged and glanced again, but they were gone. “Oh, my God, he must have gone into the ditch,” Bob said outloud.

Startled, Bob hit the brakes a bit too hard and almost wound up in the ditch himself. Quickly, he spun the wheel around and headed back to help the man, the whole time thinking, what a shame if he banged up a classic car like that, not to mention banging himself up a bit, too.

As he drove back, Bob could see no sign of the man off the road or among the trees. He went back to where the man had been stranded and turned the Impala around again. As he headed back up the highway, Bob noticed something strange. He could see his own tire tracks in the snow but he couldn’t see any tracks for the 1929 Ford. Bob came to a stop and looked.

“Yes, this is where we were,” Bob thought. “The Ford was parked right there.”

But, there wasn’t a trace of tire tracks from the narrow tires on the old car. It was as if the car had completely vanished. Bob continued on another few miles and, coming around a bend in the road, suddenly recognized his exit.

“How can this be?” he thought. Deeply puzzled but equally pleased, Bob took the turn and was soon pulling into his driveway. He sat in the car a moment trying to make sense of what had happened. Then, he got out and popped the trunk open. As he gathered up the presents, he glanced where he had set the gas can. It wasn’t there.

Shaking his head, he went inside where he was greeted by his wife, Julie, and children at the door with hugs and kisses all around. The children were thrilled to see him but Julie seemed as perplexed as Bob.

“How did you get home so quick?” she asked. “You called from Minneapolis only two hours ago.”

Then, as though she suddenly suspected he had been ribbing her all along, she smiled in appreciation of his ‘little prank.’

Bob smiled back. But, as he hugged his wife again, he looked out into the swirling snow outside and wondered about the mysteries of Christmas.

Here at Performance Unlimited, 5415 Austin Court, Ringwood, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

From 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17, the MC3 business networking group, part of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, will throw one heck of a shindig at McHenry VFW east of the bridge on Route 120. Denny Norton, of Performance Unlimited, 5415 Austin Court, Ringwood, is a member of MC3 and the “Shop With A Cop” party is one of his favorite events of the year.

“This is a great party and a great cause,” said Norton. “Last year, the event raised $11,000 so that area police officers could take underprivileged children out holiday shopping at Walmart. This year, we hope to raise even more.”

Norton has donated items for the silent auction at the event. H has also arranged to have racecars out front to draw attention to the festivities. However, his contributions also have a musical quality.

Norton has donated a cash prize for the sing off between the McHenry and Johnsburg High School choirs. The choirs will perform for the listening pleasure of the audience, which will then vote by applause for the winner.

“It’s kind of an American-Idol type thing,” Norton said. “Only, in this case, we already know they have talent. You have to hear these young men and women sing to believe it.”

For more information about the “Shop With A Cop” event, visit: http://www.mc3online.com/Events.aspx.

For more information about Performance Unlimited, McHenry County’s premier auto repair location, visit: www.4performanceunlimited.com or call 815-728-0343.

You probably heard about the 27-inches of snow that fell on the east coast recently. Even if you didn’t hear about that, you’ve almost certainly noticed that Halloween has come and gone and the weather outside is decidedly chillier. What does this mean to you? If you live in these parts, you know that it means you’ll need to start bundling up when you go outside. It also has distinct implications for your vehicle.

Cold weather tends to test a car’s reliability. Will it start? Once running, will the engine continue to run and will the car come to a stop when you apply the brake while driving on a thin layer of ice? While driving in your car, will the windows fog and will the heater provide heat? These questions and more are addressed in Performance Unlimited’s Winter Driving Tips – http://www.4performanceunlimited.com/index.php?pr=Driving_Tips.

Winter is a trying time for a car or truck. With a little preparation and armed with some useful knowledge, it doesn’t have to try your patience or tax your budget.

“Benjamin Franklin used to say that ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’” said Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited. “That’s never truer than when you’re dealing with your car in the winter. It’s almost Murphy’s Law – if you wait until it’s 20-below zero to see if your battery can handle the cold, it won’t. I don’t just recommend that my clients winterize their vehicles, I winterize my own car.”

To learn more about Performance Unlimited, or to schedule to have your car winterized, visit www.4performanceunlimited.comor call 815-728-0343. Performance Unlimited is a full-service auto repair shop with a reputation built on a commitment to customer service.

It’s a good idea to keep your eyes open on the road ahead while driving. Actually, it’s just as critical to keep tabs on what is coming up behind you.

Most cars today have a rearview mirror and an outside mirror on either side of the car. Properly used, they can give a driver an effective view of what is approaching from behind. Proper usage, however, goes beyond regularly checking the mirrors; proper usage starts with proper adjustment. Properly adjusted, the three mirrors will provide as complete a view of what is behind your car as possible. In the process, they’ll reduce the areas commonly known as blind spots.

A blind spot is that region behind your car that you can’t see in your mirrors. But, if you adjust your mirrors correctly, you can almost eliminate blind spots. When you eliminate blind spots you eliminate the possibility that you’ll have an accident because you didn’t see what was in your blind spot. You could still have an accident because you didn’t look but if you take the time to adjust your mirrors properly, you’re probably the kind of driver who will take the time to look before you move.

So, how do you properly adjust your mirrors? First, consider that you most likely have three mirrors on your car; it’s not real effective if they all show the same area behind your car. In other words, for your mirrors to provide the best possible view behind your car it’s a good idea to avoid duplicity. Also, keep in mind that the view provided by the mirrors is based on the angle in which the driver looks at the mirror. Mirrors should be adjusted for each individual driver.

To adjust the rearview mirror, while seated in the driver’s seat, move the mirror until its view is centered out the back window and you can just see the trunk lid. Then move the mirror so the view is slightly higher.

To adjust the side mirrors, the key here is that you’re not adjusting the mirrors so you can look at your own car. You may love the shiny finish on your car, and we hope that you do. But, wait until you park somewhere and then get out if you want to admire the paint job.

For your mirror’s sake, adjustment means moving it out to the point where you can’t see your car. If you do this on both sides, when a car moves out from your view in the rearview mirror it will move into the drivers or passengers side mirrors.

For more information about Performance Unlimited, visit www.4performanceunlimited.comor call 815-728-0343.

OK, so the paint is nice and shiny, the interior smells like pine, the tires are clean and glistening and engine doesn’t knock or wheeze but what’s the real cost of that used car you’re looking at? The real cost of a used car isn’t just the cash you fork over to the seller. It’s more than the additional cost of taxes and licensing. The true cost of a used car includes all the repairs you’ll do in the months and, hopefully, years ahead, as well as the level of frustration you may experience in the process.

Denny Norton, at Performance Unlimited, 5415 Austin Court, Ringwood, understands the potential pratfalls of purchasing a used car. That’s why, along with providing superior auto repair and maintenance services, he also offers a used-car checkup to help used-car buyers to know what they’re getting into beyond the Simonized finish of the vehicle.

“While there are some folks out there selling used cars who will try to hide issues that will cause trouble later, even with a reputable seller, it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you buy,” Norton said. “While we don’t have a crystal ball to see into the car’s future, we can provide buyers with a solid understanding of a vehicle’s current condition.”

Norton said Performance Unlimited will provide a bumper-to-bumper, inside-and-out checkup of a used vehicle for only $43. The potential buyer will receive a full report on everything from suspension and steering to engine and transmission. Amor All on the tires will make them shine but will not add tread life to a tire that only has another three-of-four-thousand miles left in it.

“We take a lot of the guesswork out of buying a used car,” Norton said. “We also let you know if the car was well maintained. I guess you could say we know the difference between a peach and a lemon.”

For more information about Performance Unlimited’s Used Car Checkup, or any of its other auto repair and maintenance services, visit www.4performanceunlimited.comor call 815-728-0343.