And if no one has jumper cables? Might be a good idea to have your battery checked now
%17-%10-%2012, %Rauto repair Illinois, auto repair McHenry, auto repair Ringwood, battery, battery check, check your batteryPermalinkDinner was great as you and your wife gazed into each other’s eyes across a candlelit table while the blowing snow whirled and howled outside creating a spinning backdrop of white on black in the window. Now, as they lock the door behind you, it’s time to go home. At the car, you open and hold the door for her while you wonder how you were ever so fortunate. Then, you slide behind the wheel feeling as though you heart could burst with joy. You turn the key and … nothing happens?
That is definitely not the way this story should go. It’s not the way to cap off the perfect romantic evening. But, this coming winter, if your battery isn’t up to snuff, that, or a story much like it, could be waiting for you.
Winter tends to test batteries. The oil in the car gets thicker making the starter work harder to turn over a cold engine. And, if the starter works harder, it needs more energy, more amps, to get the job done. That power comes from the battery, or maybe it doesn’t.
In spite of the effects of a harsh winter day on your car’s charging and staring system, in the scenario above, the problem may have started several months earlier.
“Winter can be hard on a car’s battery,” said Denny Norton of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited. “However, a really hot summer is even harder on a battery. The battery might die in the winter, but it’s possible it’s died because of what the heat did to it in July and August.”
As Norton pointed out, a really cold night could be the straw that breaks the back of a battery that was cooked in 100-plus-degree heat, as well as higher temperatures when the car was operating.
“It’s really a good idea to have your battery checked this time of year so you don’t run into trouble when you really need it,” Norton said.
While batteries that fail in the summer are inconvenient, they’re usually not as potentially dangerous as a battery that fails in the depths of winter. Stranded with sub-zero temperatures and hazardous wind-chill factors does not paint a pretty picture.
Norton said it only takes a qualified auto repair shop about five minutes to check a battery. It’s not a bad idea to have the rest of the charging system checked while you’re at it. In fact, checking or changing the oil and otherwise winterizing your car this time of year is the mark of a wise vehicle operator.
As for the battery, the cost of a new one is inexpensive insurance against the scene at the top of the story. In the case of a battery that is five or more years old, Norton said it’s a good idea to just go ahead and replace it.
For more information about Performance Unlimited, call 815-728-0343 or check them out on the Internet at www.4performanceunlimited.com.
Comments (1)
Changed the filter in your car lately? The cabin filter?
%10-%10-%2012, %Rauto repair Illinois, automotive repair, cabin filterPermalink
“Sure, I have them change the oil filter every time I have an oil change.”
Well, that’s a good idea, but that’s not the filter I was asking about. Actually, I was talking about …
“You were talking about the air filter. Absolutely: I change that probably about once a year.”
That’s also a good idea but …
“OK, OK, you’re trying to trick me here but it won’t work. You’re talking about the fuel filter, aren’t you?”
Well, no. Actually, there’s another filter in most cars these days.
“Don’t tell me. Just give me a minute … I’m drawing a blank.”
That’s OK. A lot of people don’t know about the cabin filter in their car.
“The cabin filter?”
Yes, it’s a filter that cleans the air coming into the car’s cabin, you know, where people ride. When you turn on the heat or the air conditioning, or even if you simply open the vent for ‘fresh’ air, the cabin filter cleans the air before it reaches you.
“What does it filter?”
Oh, just about anything you wouldn’t want to breathe if you can avoid it – dust, exhaust fumes, pollen, bacteria. The cabin filter is also known as the micron filter. It’s great for people who have allergies or for cars driven by smokers, since it also cleans the air you re-circulate in the car. It even improves the way your car smells inside.
“Wow, I had no idea. You know, I’ll get busy and change my cabin filter this coming weekend.
You can do that. However, depending on your vehicle, it can be a little tricky. In some cases, you might even have to disassemble panels from the dashboard. You might want to let your mechanic handle that for you.
“I do have an oil change coming up pretty soon. Maybe, I’ll have it done then.”
Good thinking. By the way, if you’re looking for a great place to have your oil changed and to have your cabin filter replaced, as well as any other auto repairs you might need, I know a great spot to bring your car.
“Where is that?”
Performance Unlimited in Ringwood. They have a great reputation for doing the job right the first time.
“What’s they’re number?”
You can call them at 815-728-0343 or, if you want, you can check them out on the Internet at www.4performanceunlimited.com.
“Hey, thanks for the help.”
My pleasure.
Auto repair shop hosts breakfast and business discussion for chamber connection group
%26-%09-%2012, %Rauto maintenance, auto maintenance northern Illinois, auto repair shop, business networkingPermalink
The auto repair shop at Performance Unlimited in Ringwood is usually full of cars, SUVs and pickup trucks as they receive the skilled attention of the auto repair technicians who make Performance Unlimited one of the premier auto repair shops in the region. Wednesday morning, Sept. 26, however, in the center of the shop were tables, chairs, breakfast and coffee.
By 7:30 a.m., the chairs were full of business owners who belong to MC3, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business connection group. Denny Norton, owner of Performance Unlimited, is the president of the connection group.
“We usually have the meetings at Green Street Café,” Norton said. “Once in a while, though, we hold the meeting at a member’s place of business. Today, it was my turn.”
Norton said that holding the meeting at Performance Unlimited was a great way to really showcase his business for other members of the group.
“You can tell them about the auto repair services you offer, and your commitment to quality, but it helps when you actually show them,” he said.
Performance Unlimited was started more than three decades ago. Now, it has a well-deserved reputation for quality and an honest concern for the welfare of the customers they serve.
Along with a couple of guests visiting the group for the first time, other members of the MC3 group in attendance included:
Dick Jess, 3D Painting
Michael Goodman, A-PC computers
Janet Domrase, Aldens Kennels
Michelle Myatt, Total-U-Fitnessand totally Fit Radio
John Matthesius, McHenry Water Well & Pump
Greg Mayer, Country Financial
Bill Zeng, Freedom Mortgage
Fran Lambert, Impressive Images
Bill Thomas, Northern Illinois Windows Service
Michael Kutnick, Prudential First Realty
Richard Rostron, Rich Publicity and OnTarget Resumes
Barbara Bishop, SendOutCards
Wayne Seely, Visual Horizons
Kathy Sierminski, Picker and Associates, CPAs
Each business owner/operator at the meeting shared 30 seconds of information about their business. Norton, as the host, spoke for 10 minutes. The focus of his presentation was on proper vehicle maintenance.
As Norton put it, “There are a lot of qualified auto repair shops in the area and most of them do a very good job. However, if you’re feeling uncomfortable with what your mechanic is telling you, trust your instincts and get another opinion.”
Most of the members of the group, however, do bring their vehicles to Performance Unlimited. As Seely put it, “We consider ourselves very fortunate to have someone of Denny’s caliber in our group – both in terms of the expertise he offers and in his strong business ethics.”
For more information about Performance Unlimited, call 815-728-8343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com.
Leaves slippery when wet – good reminder to check your brakes
%20-%09-%2012, %Rauto maintenance northern Illinois, safe driving, slick conditions, slippery roadsPermalink
This time each year, we welcome the return of that seasonal panorama of multi-hued reds, yellows, oranges, browns and greens as the leaves begin to change color. First on the trees, then descending to the ground, it’s a visual gift that softens the blow of an impending winter to follow.
While it’s hard to compete with the natural aesthetic value of the changing autumn leaves, a mat of wet leaves on the pavement can pose a hazard to drivers and those in their vicinity. Almost as though a layer of silicone was laid between two surfaces, tires can have difficulty grabbing the road at critical moments.
While this probably isn’t the greatest road hazard you’ll face throughout the year, it is worth noting. It’s also a useful reminder to check your brakes. After all, if your car will slip on wet leaves, imagine what it will do on a patch of ice in a few months.
It only takes a few minutes for a qualified mechanic to check your brakes. Most auto repair shops, such as Ringwood based Performance Unlimited, are more than happy to check your brakes at no additional charge while changing your oil or performing other maintenance or repairs.
Safety is the best reason to make sure your brakes are ready whenever you need them. However, Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, said there is at least one other good reason to check your brakes on a relatively regular basis.
“Once your brakes wear down to the point where you’re riding metal on metal, you risk ruining your rotors or drums,” he said. “If you stay on top of your brakes you can usually replace the pads or shoes before you do additional damage.”
With modern brake systems, there are other concerns, such as the ABS anti-lock brake system. This is the system that rapidly pulsates the brakes when you stop hard so that the car doesn’t skid uncontrollably. However, the ABS system doesn’t require maintenance with the regularity of your brake pads and shoes.
For more information, call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit their Web site at www.4performanceunlimited.com.
Automotive child safety isn’t what it used to be … thank goodness
%13-%09-%2012, %Rauto safety, child restraint, child seats, properly used safety seatPermalink
I remember when I was young. Our family car was a station wagon. As far as my brother, sister and I were concerned, that was just great. We were free to roam throughout the back of the car at our leisure. We’d climb over the seat and back again playing games of tag and who knows what else. No seatbelts – nothing.
Today, that’s not allowed. By law, all children in Illinois must be securely belted into their seats or, if younger, strapped into an approved child-safety seat.
My dad told me about the child seat they used when I was young.
“It was just some fabric strung between a frame made of conduit,” he said. “The conduit had hooks on the end that hung over the back of the front seat so you sat between your mother and me.”
By description, it sounds like we were loaded for launching in case of an accident: hardly the ideal way to ensure safety.
Using proper safety equipment in a vehicle is an idea Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood based auto repair shop Performance Unlimited, heartily agrees with. Norton has driven in stockcar races and other automotive competitions. He swears by using the best available safety equipment.
“If you have a wreck and you’re not prepared, you could be seriously injured or worse,” he said. “You have a roll cage so you won’t be crushed if the car rolls. You wear a fire-retardant suit in case you have a fire. All the safety equipment in a car has a specific purpose. It’s all designed to keep you safer and it’s often the difference between walking away from a wreck or being carried away.”
In terms of children in passenger vehicles, Norton said he can’t imagine why any parent would want to shortchange safety.
“Years ago, we didn’t know any better,” Norton said. “Seat belts weren’t even standard equipment on most cars. If you wanted seatbelts, you had to special order them with your new car.”
Today, all cars come with seatbelts. Cars also come with 2-Stage air bags to cushion the blow in an accident. And yet, “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 2 to 14 years old (2001 figures),” according to a 2003 National Highway Traffic Safety Association report. Take away the safety features and the number is likely to go much higher.
According to the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act, revised January 1, 2004, parents are “responsible for providing for the protection of such child by properly securing him or her in an appropriate child restraint system.”
The point is that, with proper care, and use of approved child-safety restraints, children stand a much better chance of surviving an accident without significant injury. Driving with appropriate caution further improves each child’s chances but even that isn’t an iron-clad guarantee.
Can your engine oil handle 33 revolutions per second or more?
%04-%09-%2012, %Rauto maintenance, auto maintenance northern Illinois, engine oil, oil viscosity, rpmPermalink
Drivers with tachometers in their cars know that, give or take a little, their car’s engines spend a lot of their time running at about 2,000 rpm. That’s 2,000 revolutions per minute. That’s a lot of revolutions.
To better understand that number, let’s break it down to revolutions per second. That works out to more than 33 revolutions per second. Count one-one-thousand and, by the time the last syllable is out of your mouth, the crankshaft in that engine has revolved 33 times. Now that’s moving.
If you consider that red line for most engines, the maximum rpm the engine is recommended to safely handle without breaking, is generally 5,000 to 6,000 rpm, that 33 revolutions per second increases to as much as 99 revolutions per second. That’s faster than a hummingbird flapping its wings. And a hummingbird merely has to move its wings up and then back down.
With a 4-stroke combustion engine, every revolution of the crankshaft translates to, not just the crankshaft turning, but the bearings at the connecting rods absorbing that revolution. And, each time the crankshaft makes a revolution, each piston has made a complete pass, from the top of its stroke to the bottom, in each of the cylinders.
Consider the kind of heat that generates in an engine. Clearly, if the engine oil isn’t up to speed, the engine will quickly experience some level of damage.
“There’s nothing you can do to maintain your car that’s more important than changing the oil on a timely basis,” said Denny Norton of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited. “Oil is the lifeblood of your engine.”
To prove the point, consider the effect of all that metal-on-metal friction without the benefit of oil. Without oil, we can most likely measure the amount of time an engine will run before a catastrophic breakdown in minutes. That’s why you’re father probably always told you, “If the oil light comes on, pull over right away.”
He knew that an engine light was a potential indicator of a problem in the heart of the engine – the oil.
Norton said that owners should change the oil in their vehicles within factory specifications in the owner’s manual.
Of course, drivers don’t have to change their oil that often but, considering the benefit-to-cost ratio of timely oil changes, it’s hard to imagine why they wouldn’t.
“Most auto repair shops are pretty economical in terms of what they charge for an oil change,” Norton said. “For instance, we only charge about $25 for a basic oil change. You can consider that low-cost engine insurance.”
For more information or to setup an appointment at Performance Unlimited, call 815-728-0343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com.
Properly used technology means texting when you’re not driving
%29-%08-%2012, %Rsafe driving, safe driving in construction zone, safe driving in school zone, texting, texting and driving, texting in a school zonePermalink
Technology is a wonderful thing or, at least, it can be wonderful. The key to technology is to use it the right way – to use it safely.
The microwave is quite a convenience when we want to heat a meal quickly. We all know, however, that it tends to backfire if we try to cook that meal in a metal pan. The same principle holds true with cellular phones.
Auto manufacturers have spent untold hours and dollars looking for ways to knock even a fraction of a second off of the braking time of the vehicles they manufacture. The point is that, in an emergency situation, fractions of a second count. It’s also true of emergency driving situations that we usually don’t have a lot of warning.
If we knew a truck would blow a stop sign and cross our path at 65 mph, we’d reduce our speed long before there was a potential collision. But, in an emergency, we don’t know the truck driver isn’t paying attention to the stop sign. These critical fractions of a second can mean the difference between a relatively uneventful drive and a trip to the hospital or morgue.
If our attention is also diverted, we lose those critical instances of hope. If we’re not paying close enough attention, we’re not always ready to react and avoid an accident.
Using a cell phone, especially texting on a cell phone, dramatically increases the likelihood that we’ll lose critical seconds in an emergency while driving. Just as we wouldn’t drive our car without properly operating brakes, Denny Norton, of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited, said it’s a form of Russian roulette to operate a car without focusing on the job at hand – driving.
“I’ve driven in stockcar races,” Norton said. “I can tell you that, even with professional drivers, most accidents happen when someone doesn’t react quickly enough to an emergency. That’s especially true on the public roadways where everyone isn’t going in the same direction and where our paths cross.”
Mechanic saves vacation for couple that took their car out west
%22-%08-%2012, %Rauto maintenance, auto repair, auto technician, breakdown, road tripPermalink
Mike is mechanically inclined. He’s worked in the trades for years. You could say he has turned a wrench or two in his time. So, when his car began acting up while he was on vacation in the rolling hills and mountains out West last week, Mike was fairly confident he had correctly identified the root of the problem.
Considering all the steep inclines he and his wife had traveled on their trip, Mike was convinced the problem was in the transmission. The car’s transmission seemed to slip, particularly when climbing hills.
So, Mike and his wife stopped at a library in one of the small towns they passed through. On the Internet, Mike described the symptoms to an auto repair tips Web site. He was more than mildly surprised when the response came back: “Your spark plugs are bad.”
“That can’t be,” Mike said to his wife and they drove on. But, the problem persisted and seemed as though it was getting worse. At last, he was compelled by the severity of the issue, as well as by his wife’s subtle comments, to pull into a small gas station with an auto repair shop.
Mike described the problem to the mechanic on duty. Then, while the mechanic looked the car over, he and his wife went for lunch. When they came back from lunch, Mike was amazed to hear the mechanic say, “It looks like your (spark)plugs have been fouled.”
The mechanic did not have time to change the plugs right away – an exhaustive procedure with a car of the type that Mike drives that can require the removal of one of the intakes. But, the mechanic did offer another possible remedy, albeit of the temporary nature.
“I think you’ve got yourself some bad gas,” the mechanic said. “You can pour this additive into the tank and see if that helps.”
Lacking any viable alternative, Mike followed the mechanic’s advice. To Mike and his wife’s amazement, the problem quickly cleared up. They completed the vacation without another hitch. In fact, once they arrived back at home, Mike decided the car was running so well that he wouldn’t change the plugs for a while yet.
The moral of the story is that it’s difficult for someone who isn’t a certified auto repair technician, even if the owner of a car is otherwise mechanically inclined, to always recognize what’s wrong with a car. The Internet can help, but there’s nothing more important to the welfare of your vehicle than to have a quality trusted auto repair shop where you can bring you car.
The next time you’re on vacation in the Dakotas, or even in Carolinas, you may be fortunate enough to stop at a repair shop where the mechanic knows the business of auto repair inside and out and matches that knowledge with honesty and integrity. Keeping an eye out for the Bumper To Bumper Certified Service Centers logo will help.
The best way to improve your odds while on the road, however, is to make sure your vehicle is in top running condition before you go. That starts with using a qualified and trusted auto repair shop back at home.
The folks at Ringwood based Performance Unlimited, which everyone a safe and enjoyable summer on the road or around home. Whether you live in the area, or you’re just passing through, Performance Unlimited is here to help.
For more information, call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit: www.4performanceunlimited.com.
Rain requires driving adjustment and proper maintenance
%13-%08-%2012, %Rauto maintenance northern Illinois, slick conditions, wet roads, wiper bladesPermalink
At long last, the rain has come to the Midwest again. While it may be too late for the corn crop, most, if not all, of us in these parts welcome the rain with open arms. It’s been a long, hot, dry summer.
With the return of the rain, it’s also time to adjust our driving a bit. It’s not just that the rain offers less friction on the pavement for braking and control, it’s also the oil that rises to the top of the rain-slicked road.
The rains help to wash away the oils that drip onto the road from passing vehicles. However, with as little rain as we’ve seen this summer, those oils have built up more than usual; the rain will have to work a little harder to wash the oils away. In the meantime, when it does rain, the roads are a little slicker than usual.
With good tires and a little caution, most of us will be fine. In fact, there’s no need to overreact. It’s not as though we speaking of an ice-covered road in midwinter. Inevitably, however, more accidents will occur under rainy conditions than dry. That category on an insurance actuaries chart will see an uptick.
To avoid finding ourselves in that undesirable category, it’s also important that your car’s brakes operate correctly, that your steering and suspension are in good shape and it won’t hurt if all your lights and your wipers are up to speed. These are factors that will help to prepare you when winter does arrive, too.
The law of averages follows us onto the road every time we drive. Fortunately, the odds are low enough that we’re not involved in accidents every other day. Still, with a little caution driving, and proper maintenance of our vehicles, we can reduce the odds even further.
At Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, we wish all of you a safe and happy driving experience. For more information, call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit: www.4performanceunlimited.com.
Checking your bulbs could avoid tickets and accidents
%06-%08-%2012, %Rauto lights, auto maintenance northern Illinois, auto safety check, check bulbPermalink
How often do you conduct a safety walk around on your vehicle? You may recall that, when you studied The Rules of the Road in preparation for that first driver’s license exam, in days gone by, you were told to check your lights and turn signals every time you went for a drive. Today, the booklet merely states that each car must have this equipment and that it must work properly.
Let’s see a show of hands: How many of you actually give your vehicle a safety check before you drive? How many of you have ever given your car a safety check?
That’s what I thought. The truth is that we get in and go, don’t we? Somewhere, in the back of our minds, we’re thinking, “What are the odds one of our lights or a turn signal is out?”
Well, the odds aren’t as long as you might think. Eventually, all bulbs burn out. It’s just a matter of time. Of course, we know that and we further adjust the odds by adding the squad-car-factor, which goes something like this: “What are the odds that one of our lights or turn signals will burn out today and, furthermore, what are the odds a police officer will notice before we do?”
As Obi Wan Kenobi would say of the force, we all hope the odds are with us. But that’s the thing about odds. Eventually, the law of averages catch up and the odds are against us. We might just get that ticket, assuming the officer isn’t nice enough to point out the burned out bulb and admonish us to repair the situation post-haste. Unfortunately, there is more to it than that.
Headlights are the only external bulbs on our vehicle that directly assist us while we drive. They improve our vision up ahead. Of course, they also alert other drivers to our presence. And that’s the primary role of most of the bulbs and turn signals on the outside of our vehicles.
The taillights let other drivers know we’re up ahead or, possibly, crossing in front of them. The turn signals and brake lights, however, go a step further; they help to communicate our intentions and actions. They let other drivers know we’re stopping and/or planning to turn. Our emergency flashers let drivers know that we’ve got a problem; they should slow down and pass with caution.
There is only one light bulb on your vehicle that does not have a direct influence on safety but can still result in a ticket if it’s burned out. Can you guess which bulb that is (read to the end for the answer)?
In other words, while burned out bulbs could result in traffic citations, they can also result in accidents. The odds are that a burned out taillight will not land you or a loved one in a hospital or morgue. And yet, you’re still playing with the law of averages. Someone, somewhere has died because a turn signal bulb was burned out and another driver didn’t know they were turning. Someone is in the hospital today because their taillights malfunctioned.
You probably don’t need to give your vehicle a walk around every time you drive, though it wouldn’t hurt. But, it’s still a very good idea to stay on top of your vehicle’s safety equipment, such as the lights and turn signals.
At a quality auto repair shop, such as Performance Unlimited, 5415 Austin Court, Ringwood, they’ll give your vehicle a safety check any time it comes in for repairs or maintenance. Oh, and which bulb has little or nothing to do with safety but can still result in a ticket if it burns out? That would be the license plate bulb.
For more information, call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit: www.4performanceunlimited.com.
