Ask your mechanic – the Check Engine light is nothing to sneeze about
%19-%12-%2012, %Rauto repair, auto repair mchenry county, auto repair shop, check engine light, engine lightPermalink
You’re driving down the road somewhere in Illinois, maybe
even Ringwood, Illinois, and you suddenly notice an amber light in the
dashboard is burning brightly. Upon closer examination, you notice that it
reads: Check Engine. No, you don’t have to panic. Depending on how your vehicle
is otherwise operating, you may not even have to pull to the side of the road
and call a tow truck to bring your car to a mechanic. But, a Check Engine
warning light is something you don’t want to ignore.
When your car tells you to Check Engine, it’s a good idea to
listen; it’s a good time idea to bring your car to a mechanic soon. A mechanic
will diagnose the problem in fairly short order. A mechanic is trained to know
what to do when the Check engine light comes on.
The Check engine light, which may appear as a small outline
of an engine or with the actual words – “Check Engine” – comes on as an
indication of a potential problem. It’s triggered by the onboard diagnostics
system, or as your mechanic might put it, the OBD system. The OBD system
regulates numerous aspects of your cars performance, including fuel mixture,
timing, RPM and other factors that, when out of whack, will turn on your check
engine light while also, possibly, affecting the way your car drives.
Of course, when your car tells you to Check Engine, you
might also want to pay attention to anything else out of the ordinary – things
you can tell your mechanic to give him or her an idea of where the problem
lies. Has the car started to run sluggishly? Does it seem like the motor is
running roughly? It’s possible the Check engine light will indicate something
more serious that would require the immediate attention a mechanic. Then again,
in some cars, a loose gas cap will trigger the Check engine light.
There are scan tools available to the general public that
will diagnose the problem when the Check engine light comes on. However, a
skilled mechanic is still a safe bet when dealing with such instances.
Another note about Check engine lights; if you live in an
area that requires Vehicle Emission Testing, a Check engine light will indicate
a condition that would cause your vehicle to fail – another good reason to
bring your car to a mechanic ASAP. At Performance Unlimited, 5415 Austin Court,
Ringwood, the mechanics will have you safely back on the road in no time.
For more information, visit www.4performanceunlimited.com
or call 815-728-0343.
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Stay safe with safe driving alerts delivered to your e-mail or mobile device
%19-%12-%2012, %Rauto maintenance, driving alerts, emergency traffic, emergency traffic and weather, nixlePermalinkOne of the keys to safe winter driving is knowing when to stay home or when to avoid a particular route. A weather service, online or otherwise, is helpful in this regard. However, an excellent way to stay on top of conditions is to sign up at www.nixle.com. Nixle will provide up to the date emergency traffic and weather related information. If you have a child in school, it will provide school closing information. And the best part: you can setup Nixle to deliver this information to your e-mail address and/or your mobile device.
To register:
Go to www.nixle.com
Click “Register Now”
Here, you will be asked to create a user name and password
Enter the e-mail account and/or cell phone number where you would like to receive messages
Enter your location by address or street intersection
Click “Sign Me Up”
It’s that easy.
You can then customize your Nixle account by clicking “Add New” to enter additional addresses/locations. Simply choose “Settings” and follow the directions.
Here at Performance Unlimited, we wish you a safe and happy winter.
Winter is coming – is your car prepared?
%19-%12-%2012, %Rauto repair, winter driving, winterize your carPermalinkThe leaves are about to change into a kaleidoscope of autumn colors. Gentle breezes will bath the countryside in moderate and pleasant temperatures. But don’t kid yourself. It’s not going to last. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself transported, as though plucked from the comfort of your home and deposited on a distant planet where the landscape is so barren, windswept and frigid it barely supports life.
That’s really not an exaggeration when winter sets in for the Midwest. The season is so harsh that it annually claims the lives of infirm and those who are imprudent. The latter group can include those who don’t take the risks seriously enough and those who don’t prepare.
Just as winter’s bite can test an individual’s metal, it will also test the metal, fluids and electrical systems of your four-wheeled transportation. And if your car fails that test, it can leave you stranded at home or, worse yet, stranded on a long stretch of road somewhere without another car in sight.
The solution is to prepare for the worst. Not only will this reduce the chances that you’ll wind up stranded somewhere but it will also relieve a lot of the stress you may unwarily carry along with you as you consider going out in the cold.
Preparing your car is called winterizing. Like many auto repair shops, here at Performance Unlimited, north of McHenry off of Route 31, www.4performanceunlimited.com, we can help get your car in shape for the cold and snow ahead. However, there are things you can do yourself, some of which you should do, to ensure you have a safe and, reasonably, comfortable winter.
Over the course of the next several days, we will be posting tips you can use to prepare your vehicle for the onslaught of winter. Many of these procedures you can take yourself. If not, you should find a reputable automotive shop to help out.
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Is your car up to the test of winter? Might want to bring it in to a trusted auto repair shop first
%10-%12-%2012, %Rauto repair shop, auto repair technician, winterize, winterize your car, winterizingPermalink
Are you ready for the snow, the ice and the cold? After all, this is not Palm Beach. Yes, we’ve seen some moderate weather for this late in the year. Maybe it will stay that way. Maybe the lowest temperature we’ll see all winter will dip no lower than 30⁰ Fahrenheit (we’ve actually had night-time temperatures below that already).
Even as you read this, the upper Midwest is in the crosshairs of a major blizzard. In some areas of central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin, the snow is exceeding 12 inches. Sacred Heart, Minn., had 17.3 inches of snow as of 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. Temperatures could even drop below zero in the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota.
The storm front driving across the upper Midwest, along with all the other storm fronts this winter, may stay to the north. For that matter, the Cubs might really win the World Series next year. Neither is a real good bet, though.
We’re bound to have some cold and snow this winter. We could even have a colder winter, with or without heavy snow. In that case, it’s not just a good idea that you’re prepared – it’s imperative.
Preparing for winter starts with making sure your vehicle is up to the task. This includes a thorough inspection of your antifreeze, charging and starting systems, your brakes and tires, suspension and steering. It’s not a bad idea to make sure the car is well tuned, also.
“When the temperature drops low enough, almost any car can have trouble starting,” said Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, the Ringwood based auto repair shop. “If the car isn’t tuned properly, as it gets colder, that’s when you’ll see the difference. The cold has a way of testing our vehicles.”
Norton recommends bringing your car in to a trusted auto repair shop. He said that an experienced auto repair technician, with the proper equipment, can test your car’s systems before the weather does.
“If you car won’t start in the cold of winter that’s potentially more than an inconvenience,” he said. “That can be downright dangerous, depending on the circumstances.”
For more information, feel free to give Denny a call at Performance Unlimited: 815-728-0343.
Auto repair shop offers tips on holiday shopping mall parking lot safety
%05-%12-%2012, %Rauto maintenance northern Illinois, holiday shopping safety, holidays, parking lot safety, shopping mall safetyPermalink
This time of year, there’s a good chance you’re planning to head out to the mall. After all, you may very well have gifts to buy for loved ones naughty or nice.
As the season is often hectic, there’s a tendency among shoppers to think about their shopping before they enter the stores. In fact, the closer we get to the store, the more likely we are to feel distracted from our driving while contemplating just the right present for Aunt Susie or whether there’s something better than a necktie we can pickup for dad.
For some drivers, once they enter the mall’s parking lot, their driving is virtually on autopilot. In reality, the parking lot is a place where we’re best to heighten our senses. Pedestrians are often as distracted as drivers. That means, as we move through the aisles looking for a place close to the door, we need to keep an eye out for the person who walks into our path without looking, not to mention the driver who backs out of a spot unexpectedly.
Once we park, we join the ranks of the pedestrians. Now it’s our turn to watch out for distracted drivers.
“Even before you park, it’s a good idea to give some thought to where you’re parking,” said Denny Norton, owner of the Ringwood based Performance Unlimited auto repair shop. “Make sure you park somewhere you feel safe. It’s a good idea to make sure the area is well lighted. After all, moving vehicles aren’t the only potential threats in a parking lot.”
As if to accentuate that risk, recent reports tell of a new scam by carjackers. They’re purported to put a sheet of paper in the back window of a car. Drivers get in, start the car and then notice the paper. Leaving the car running, and the door open, they step out to remove the paper from the window. While out of the car, the carjacker, hidden nearby, jumps out of hiding and into the car.
Norton offered a few parking lot safety tips:
· Write down or otherwise note where you’ve parked so you don’t spend unnecessary time walking through the lot looking for your car.
· Stride confidently and purposefully to your vehicle.
· Don’t look other pedestrians directly in the eye but don’t nervously look away, either. Those up to no good can often smell fear.
· Have your keys in your hand ready to open the door when you arrive back at your car but don’t open the door with the key fob so soon that someone can jump in when you’re not looking.
· Keep your eyes open and aware of anyone acting suspiciously.
You may even want to invest in some pepper spray or a self-defense course. The point is that, with proper precautions, you can have a safe and happy shopping experience.
Performance Unlimited’s Norton winds up tenure as networking group’s president with another Shop With A Cop success
%21-%11-%2012, %Rauto repair, auto repair Illinois, children's charity, christmas charity, McHenry County Police Charities, police charities, Shop With A CopPermalink
Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, the premier auto repair shop at 5415 Austin Court, Ringwood, is coming to the end of a two-year term as president of the MC3 McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group. He was vice president for the two years prior to that and is stepping down from the prior position next month.
During his tenure, the group has twice hosted Shop With A Cop benefit parties to support the program sponsored by McHenry County Police Charities.
The second of the annual installments of the party was held just last week. The group is reported to have raised close to $14,000 which will be used so that area police officers can take children, from families having a hard time with the economy, Christmas shopping. Each child receives a winter coat, hat, gloves and boots, as well as $150 to spend as they please at Walmart on Route 31 in Johnsburg.
“This is a really great event,” Norton said. “Not only does it benefit a great cause, it’s also a great time.”
The party included food, drinks, music and games. There was even a singing competition between the Johnsburg High School and McHenry High School chorus groups. The groups both showed up wearing Victorian Era outfits.
“The outfits were awesome,” said Norton. “But, the singing was just incredible. Personally, I don’t know how anyone could have chosen one group of singers over the other. They were both superb.”
As the party, the food and the entertainment were all free, the funds raised for the event had to come from somewhere. In fact, some of the funds were raised in advance. For instance, Wendy’s restaurant on Route 31 and Burger King on Route 120, in McHenry, both held Shop With A Cop benefit nights to raise funds for the charity by contributing a portion of the proceeds from dinners.
Otherwise, most of the funds were raised through the silent and live auctions and the raffles. A wide array of gifts was available in the raffles. Participants purchased raffle tickets and dropped a ticket here, a ticket there, in the buckets for the items they hoped to win. The gifts were all donated by various individuals and businesses.
Here is a complete list of the contributors:
| · 18th ANNUAL JOE L. NORTON GOLF OUTING - KATHIE LYND |
| · 31 North - |
| · AAA CHICAGO MOTOR CLUB - JEFF SIMS |
| · ADVENTURE GAMES plus HOBBIES and TOYS |
| · AJI CUSTOM CABINETS - JASON RODRIGUE |
| · AL ’N ANN’S COLLECTIBLES |
| · ALDEN’S KENNELS – JANET DOMRASE |
| · AMY NELSON |
| · ANNE ECKARDT |
| · A-PC COMPUTERS - MICHAEL GOODMAN |
| · ARBONNE - JILL MAY |
| · ARBONNE INTERNATIONAL - SUSAN McGLADE |
| · B&B AUTOMOTIVE |
| · BARZSO PLAYSETS – RON & MARYANN BARZSO |
| · BEV KUTNICK |
| · BIKE HAVEN |
| · BILL MURPHY |
| · BIRDS OF PARADISE – LAURIE RICHTER |
| · BJORKMAN’S ACE HARDWARE |
| · BLACK ORCHID BOUTIQUE |
| · BMC TOYS – BILL McMASTERS |
| · BRANDYWINE TOY SOLDIERS – ALLAN FORD |
| · BRUNCH CAFÉ |
| · BUDDYZ RESTAURANT |
| · BULL VALLEY GOLF CLUB – MIKE PICCIANO |
| · BURGER KING McHenry Rt 120 |
| · CALVIN PLOWMAN |
| · CAMP BOW WOW |
| · CARRIE KUTNICK |
| · CELBRATING HOME - LYNN ELLIOTT |
| · CHAMBERS HEATING & AIR – STEVE CHAMBERS |
| · CHAPEL HILL FLORIST |
| · CHARTER FITNESS |
| · CHICAGO BEARS HAT - AMY NELSON |
| · CLAWS and PAWS |
| · CLINT EASTWOOD |
| · CMP FOUNDATIONS – CATHI PONDEL |
| · COSTCO - PHIL VITELLARO |
| · CRAIG REMINGTON |
| · CROSS COUNTRY MORTGAGE - BILL ZENG |
| · DAVE PITTMAN |
| · DEB BENNETT |
| · DEB McCLAUGHRY |
| · DEBBIE McNICHOLS |
| · DICK'S SPORTING GOODS - McHENRY |
| · DONNA WOLFF |
| · Dr. GREGORY V. SIERMINSKI |
| · DUNKIN' DONUTS in McHENRY |
| · ECKEL'S McHENRY FLEA MARKET |
| · ED BORRIS |
| · ELLEN M. MENAS |
| · ENVIOUS TANNING & SPA |
| · FAMILY TAILOR SHOP – TONY AND LAURIE WIRTZ |
| · FAMILY VIDEO |
| · FANTASY FACTORY |
| · FARMERS GIFT |
| · FATHER & SONS TOYS – LEN HARDT |
| · FIREWOOD GRILL |
| · FLOORING AMERICA - MIKE LEVIN |
| · FORESTER ENTERPRISES – WILLIE FORESTER |
| · FOREVER ETCHED – KATHY McCAIN |
| · GARY BEADEL |
| · GARY CLINTON |
| · GARY LINDEN |
| · GREAT LAKES FIRE AND SAFETY |
| · GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS, INC. |
| · GREG MAYER |
| · GYPSY GLENN |
| · HAMPTON INN |
| · HAPPY TAILS |
| · HARRIS BANK – GIUSEPPE VENEZIANO |
| · HOBBY BUNKER – MATT MURPHY |
| · IMPRESSIVE IMAGES EMBROIDERY – FRAN LAMBERT |
| · JACK FRANKS |
| · JAN SALTZGAVER |
| · JAYNE BOCKMAN |
| · JESS ENTERTAINMENT – DICK JESS |
| · JETT’S HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING - WAYNE JETT |
| · JIM CLOUSE |
| · JOE SAINE |
| · JOHN MOLINI |
| · JOHN STENGEL |
| · JOSEPH SAINE |
| · JULIA KUTNICK |
| · JUNE MAHONY |
| · KAREN LAVIN ATTORNEY AT LAW |
| · KELLY BRANDT |
| · KENNY'S FLOOR COVERING |
| · KIDDY KORNER |
| · KIERA CONFECTIONS – KIM LOEWE |
| · KING’S X – MARTIN VASQUEZ |
| · KOHL’S - McHENRY |
| · KUKLA PHOTOGRAPHY – KRISTIN KUKLA |
| · LEE AUTOMOTIVE |
| · LEGAL SHIELD - FRANK HOSTICKA |
| · LIGHTNING ELECTRICAL – MIKE STARZYK |
| · LINDA KOCH |
| · LOCKER'S FLOWERS |
| · LUCKY-E KENNEL |
| · MARGARET FENELON |
| · MARJ SCHUPNER |
| · MARK ROBB |
| · MARK S. YOUNG |
| · MARY KAY – BROOKE JURIS |
| · MARY KAY - CASSANRDA YATES |
| · MARY’S FLOWERS & GIFTS |
| · MARZANO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT |
| · MASTER TECH |
| · MATSOCK INSURANCE – JOHN NELSON |
| · MAUREEN MIKA |
| · McHENRY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
| · McHENRY CULVERS |
| · McHENRY HARLEY DAVIDSON |
| · McHENRY HEATING |
| · McHENRY LIMOUSINE SERVICE – MARTY ROBB |
| · McHENRY MAACO COLLISION REPAIR and AUTO PAINTING |
| · McHENRY RECREATION BOWLING CENTER |
| · McHENRY SAVINGS BANK |
| · McHENRY VFW |
| · McHENRY WATER WELL & PUMP - JOHN MATTHESIUS |
| · McHenry Wellness |
| · MEADOWSWEET RANCH |
| · MEALS LIKE MOM'S - CHEF DEBI STUCKWISCH |
| · MEDIEVAL TIMES |
| · MEGA EVENT – BRIAN PALMER |
| · MEIJER'S |
| · MIKE and BEV KUTNICK |
| · MIKE HANDLEY |
| · MIKE KUTNICK |
| · MIKE MULLINS |
| · MILWAUKEE MILITARY MINIATURE MODELERS - NICK ALBANESE |
| · MR. ROOTER - JEFF FENDT |
| · NAPA AUTO |
| · NATIONAL PASTIME SPORTS CARDS |
| · NATIONAL PASTIME SPORTS CARDS |
| · NATURAL THERAPY WELLNESS CENTER |
| · NATURE'S FEED |
| · NORTHERN ILLINOIS WINDOWS – BILL THOMAS |
| · NOSTALGIA TOY BOX – PHIL ROSNER |
| · NOW HAIR THIS - DEBBIE SCHMITT |
| · P & P PRODUCTS – LARRY PATTERSON |
| · PAM ALTHOFF |
| · PAYROLL SOLUTIONS, INC. - WADE MEYER |
| · PERFORMANCE UNLIMITED – DENNY NORTON |
| · PLAYSET MAGAZINE - RUSTY & KATHY KERN |
| · PLUM TREE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB |
| · POLISH LEGION of AMERICAN VETERANS |
| · POPCORN FACTORY |
| · PRAIRIE ISLE GOLF CLUB |
| · PRO CIRCLE GOLF CENTER |
| · PRUDENTIAL FIRST REALTY - DAWN FOLLIARD |
| · PRUDENTIAL FIRST REALTY – IVER & JAYNE BOCKMAN |
| · PRUDENTIAL FIRST REALTY – LINDA ROBERTS |
| · PRUDENTIAL FIRST REALTY – MIKE KUTNICK |
| · PRUDENTIAL FIRST REALTY – SHELIA THOMAS |
| · RAYMOND BOWL in JOHNSBURG |
| · RICH PUBLICITY – RICHARD ROSTRON |
| · RICH SCHUPNER |
| · RICHARD EGAN |
| · RICHMOND CITIZENS POLICE ALUMNI |
| · RICK EBER |
| · RICK KELLER |
| · RICK LIPP |
| · RIVERSIDE CHOCOLATE FACTORY |
| · ROBIN SWANSON |
| · ROGER ROSS |
| · RON LIZORTY |
| · ROTARY DOWN BREAKERS GROUP |
| · SANDY HOLLAND |
| · SEND OUT CARDS – BARBARA BISHOP |
| · SENSIBILITY HOME STAGING |
| · SHAMROCK SUBS & SMOOTHIES |
| · SHELIA THOMAS |
| · SILENT OAK SALON - BONNIE HUFF |
| · STADE'S FARM MARKET |
| · STEVE AND NANCY CONNELL |
| · TANNERS |
| · TANNIS CENTROGOLO |
| · TASTEFULLY SIMPLE – MARY LAATZ |
| · THE ADAMS FAMILY |
| · THE GRAPHICS CO. - CAMERON OLSON |
| · THE MARX MUSEUM - FRANCIS TURNER |
| · THE NUT AND CANDY HOUSE |
| · THE POPCORN FACTORY - LAKE FOREST |
| · THOMAS SEBASTIAN COMPANIES – PETE SECKER |
| · TOTAL-U-FITNESS – MICHELLE AND TONY MYATT |
| · TOY SOLDIER HQ – KENT SPRECHER |
| · TOY SOLDIERS OF SAN DIEGO – NICK & DEANNA VERSTEEG |
| · TROPIC TAN STOP |
| · VERLO MATTRESS |
| · VINDICI RECIPES - TIM VINCI |
| · VISUAL HORIZONS INC. – WAYNE SEELY |
| · WAUCONDA FRUIT & NUT COMPANY |
| · WAUCONDA NUT HOUSE |
| · WENDY'S - McHENRY |
| · WESTON TOYS - STEVE and LINDA WESTON |
Pull on in and make sure you can stop at McHenry VFW for Shop With A Cop Thursday at McHenry VFW
%14-%11-%2012, %Rauto repair, auto repair Illinois, charity, children's charity, christmas charityPermalink
It’s Thursday evening and you’re driving westbound on Route 120 just a little east of the bridge going into McHenry. There you notice the sign for McHenry VFW and you suddenly remember, “Tonight is the night for the Shop With A Cop party.”
You see that no one is behind you and you hit the brakes hard trying to make the turn into the VFW’s driveway. Problem is the brakes don’t react quite as quickly as you did. Well, now that’s a problem.
The good news is you don’t have to turn around. If you continue west to the first street and turn right, there is another entrance off of Charles Street. You can enjoy the party, bid on some of the live or silent auction items, have some food, something to drink, play some games and listen to some music.
The whole time you’re at the party having a great evening, you’re also contributing so that a police officer with McHenry County Police Charities can take a child from a financially challenged home out for some holiday shopping. Each child accepted into the program receives $150 for shopping along with a winter coat, hat, gloves and boots.
“This is the sixth year we’ve done this and everyone has always had a great time,” said Denny Norton, owner of Performance Unlimited and president of MC3, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group that hosts the party.
Norton is also someone you can trust to take a look at your brakes, not that he’d want to do so during the party.
“You should have them checked every 30,000 miles,” Norton said. “Especially after a hot summer like the one that just passed.”
Norton said the heat creates more friction that can wear the brakes faster. The heat also draws moisture. As a result, you may need to have air bled out of your brakes. If you have 100,000 miles on the brakes, you might as well setup an appointment to have new pads installed and the rotors and/or drums cut.
Don’t worry about that right now though, assuming your brakes are still functioning. Come on in and join the party. But, don’t wait too long to have the brakes looked at.
For more information, call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit: www.4performanceunlimited.com.
Tires with traction take some of the stress out of winter driving
%09-%11-%2012, %Rauto repair shop, safe driving, slick conditions, slippery roads, tires, traction, winter drivingPermalinkThere’s just something about that first snow, a blanket of white covering roads and landscape and sparkling under street lights at night. It brings out that youthful sense of wonder in even the most ardent individual who has sworn to have shoveled their last driveway. Of course, the wonderful world of snow leaves something to be desired when someone climbs behind the wheel and tries to drive on the stuff.
Slllliiippppperrrryyyy – that’s the word that comes to mind. But, not to worry, after all, you’ve got a good set of meats on the corners, right?
Meats? You know, tires, el grabo de roados. You do have a good set of tires on the car, don’t you? A set of tires that can ‘grab’ the road through a layer of snow help to prolong the pleasure of admiring a winter wonderland. But, if the treads are worn, that sense of wonder can turn to anguish in a heartbeat.
Tires are where your car meets the road quite literally. The key is traction.
“If you’ve got tires that provide good traction, you’ll pull away from stops easier and you pull to a stop safer,” said Dennis Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, 5415 Austin Court, Ringwood. “It’s a good idea, this time of year, to make sure your tires are in shape for the winter ahead.”
With a bald or balding set of tires, a car will have a rough time on slippery roads. It’s also unwise to drive with tires that aren’t evenly worn. You don’t want to have traction on three corners and no traction on the fourth. A situation such as that is an invitation to a spinout when the snow flies.
How do you know if your tires have enough tread left? If you have 2/32nds of an inch or less tread, it’s time for new tires. If you don’t have a tread-depth gauge, you can actually use a penny (and they told you pennies were useless anymore). Looking at the Lincoln side of the penny, turn the 16th president on his head and insert the coin into the tire tread. If Lincoln’s hair doesn’t nestle down into the tread, you need new tires.
If you turn the coin around with the Lincoln Memorial facing you, but still upside down, if the roof is completely hidden, you still have 3/32nds of an inch of tread. You probably don’t want to let those tires go much longer.
It’s a good idea to keep your tires properly inflated. A tire that is almost flat will affect your steering and your traction. Likewise, a tire that is over inflated will cause troubles, too.
It’s a good idea to have your tires rotated and balanced on schedule (see your owner’s manual, as you would to check on proper inflation).
If you really want good traction in the winter, you can even purchase winter or snow tires. An auto repair shop, such as Performance Unlimited, can mount your winter tires when the season approaches and put your summer tires on the car when winter is over. All-season tires are another option, and are really the bare minimum when winter calls.
Maybe you won’t come to love the snow. But, if you have good tires on the car, you won’t dread the season as much either.
For information about mounting winter tires, balancing or rotating your tires, or to purchase a new set of tires for the winter, call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit: www.4performanceunlimited.com.
Performance Unlimited Stockcar marks the spot for Shop With A Cop party
%31-%10-%2012, %Rauto maintenance northern Illinois, auto repair shop, charity, children's charity, Shop With A CopPermalink
MC3, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group, is holding its annual Shop With A Cop fundraiser Thursday, Nov. 15, to benefit the McHenry County Police Charities effort for children of families struggling economically. Denny Norton, the president of MC3 and the owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited, described the MC3 event as a party that benefits a good cause.
To be sure, the event, held at McHenry VFW on Route 120 east of the Fox River, will include live and silent auctions. However, it will also include games, food and drinks and live entertainment. So, if you boil it all down, it really is a party.
“And a darn good party, too,” said Norton. “We figure it’s the perfect mix when you can have a great time while benefiting a great cause.”
Last year, MC3 raised more than $18,000 for Shop With A Cop. As with this year, the fundraising also included donations from area businesses, such as Burger King and Wendy’s. The two restaurants have held Dine and Donate nights at their establishments on Route 120 and Route 31, respectively. On given nights, 15 percent of proceeds from sales between certain hours is contributed to the event.
Wendy’s is holding another Dine and Donate night from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 7.
The way Shop With A Cop works is that Police Charities partners one police officer with a child or, possibly, siblings. Then they go to Walmart, on Rout3 31, Johnsburg, to do some Christmas Shopping. Each child is given $150 to spend. Each child also receives a coat, hat, gloves and boots so they can stay warm through the winter.
“It’s really incredible to see the smiles on these children as they interact with the police officers,” Norton said. “The officers bring the kids to Walmart one morning before it officially opens and then the officers take the kids up and down the aisles shopping. Mostly, they buy things for people in their families. In fact, the police officers often have to remind the kids to buy something for themselves.”
Norton said that another great thing about the program is the way it pulls individuals and businesses together for a great cause. That’s very evident on the night of the fundraising party when tables are filled with donations for the auctions.
This year’s contributors include:
· Jayne Bockman
· Gary Clinton
· Shelia Thomas
· B.M.C. Toys
· Costco
· Alan Ford
· Jim Clouse
· Roger Ross
· Craig Remington. Wendy’s in McHenry
· Burger King in McHenry
· Forester Enterprises
· Gary Beadel
· Carrie Kutnick
· Rich Egan
· Ron Barzso/Playests
· Phil Rosner/ Nostalgia Playsets
· Clint Eastwood
· Ron Lizorty
· Mike Mullins
· King’s X
· Rick Eber
· Rick Keller
· Rick Lipp
· Ed Borris
· Rusty + Kathy Kern/Playset Magazine
· Francis Turner/ The Marx Museum
· Gary Linden
· Mike Handly
· Dave Pittman
· Steve and Nancy Connell
· Calvin Plowman
· Steve and Linda Weston/Weston Toys
· Jack Franks
· Pam Althoff
· Jill May
In terms of the party, Norton said it includes the live musical notes of the two-man jazz band, “2 Rich.” Musically, the evening also includes a choral competition between the McHenry High School Chorus and Johnsburg High School Chorus.
“Not only do they perform, but they sometimes do so attired in the finest Victorian outfits,” Norton said.
The event at the VFW is open to the public and easy to find. Norton said attendees should just look for the Performance Unlimited stockcar out front. For more information about the event, visit: http://www.mc3online.com.
Are your wipers ready for winter?
%25-%10-%2012, %Rauto repair, auto repair mchenry county, winter driving, winterizing, wiper bladesPermalinkA streaky wiper blade is, at the very least, an annoyance in the summer. In the winter, it’s potentially far more dangerous. And this is the time of year to make sure that you have a set of wipers in your car that will provide a clear view of the road ahead.
“Of all your senses, when you’re driving, none is more important than your vision,” said Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited. “that’s not to say your other senses aren’t critical, as well. But, if you can’t see where you’re going, it doesn’t matter as much if you have a good feel for the road or if you can hear an ambulance coming. If you can’t see, there’s a good chance that ambulance will be coming for you.”
Norton said it’s frustrating when wipers fail to adequately clear the windshield. The problem is compounded in the winter with snow and ice that can freeze onto the windows and wipers. Then, when you add the effects of road salt, you’ve got a real mix for potential disaster.
Snow and ice can build up on the wiper blade until the spring action that allows the blade to contour to the windshield becomes rigid and inflexible. At that point, the wiper has little or no effectiveness in terms of clearing the windshield. But, Norton said there is a solution that goes a long way to preventing that problem.
“They cost a little more, but they make wiper blades that have a rubber shield over the spring assembly,” Norton said. “For a little more manufacturers now offer wiper blades that conform to the window without the traditional spring assembly. In the winter, these blades are well worth the cost.”
Wiper blades, however, are only one part of a critical system designed to work in unison to provide clear vision for drivers. That system includes an assembly to provide a spray of washer solvent onto the windshield on demand. It’s important to use a solvent that won’t freeze at the temperatures experienced in the area.
The washer-solvent sprayer is never more critical than when a fine mist of moisture and road salt begins to dry on the windshield. Even with good wiper blades, efforts to clear the windshield are often futile unless some washer solvent is added to the equation.
Another critical component is the car’s defroster. The fan must have the ability to blow up across the inside of the windshield and access to heat in that process is essential. That means the heater must work as well as the blower.
In many newer cars, they actually combine the air-conditioning system with the defrosters. This way, the defrosters use the A/C to dry the air before it is blown across the windshield.
There are other crucial tools to having clear vision for driving. These include a hand-held ice scrapper and a snow brush. It may take a few minutes to completely clear the snow and/or ice off the windows but the return in positive vision is well worth the effort. In terms of brushing away the snow, it’s best to do a thorough job on the vehicle so snow on the body doesn’t blow up onto the windshield or windows once the car is in operation.
There are solvents made that drivers can apply ahead of time. These are advertised to reduce frost on the windows and to make it easier to scrape frost and ice off.
“There are instances when you’re driving when fractions of a second count,” Norton said. “If your vision is reduced your chances of avoiding an accident are equally reduced.”
Anyone having any problems with the components listed above should bring their car in to a trusted auto repair shop. Norton said that the auto repair technicians at Performance Unlimited are happy to check the wipers, defroster and window solvent levels and can do that while performing other repairs or maintenance, too.
Norton said this is also a good time to make sure your vehicle is otherwise winterized.
For more information about Performance Unlimited, call 815-728-0343 or visit www.4performanceunlimited.com.
