Every day driving or performance driving – Ringwood’s Performance Unlimited has the answers
%20-%12-%2012, %Rauto maintenance, auto maintenance Illinois, auto maintenance northern Illinois, safe drivingPermalink
Performance Unlimited is well known as the place to go for
superior auto repair services. However, as their name implies, Performance
Unlimited is also the top performer in McHenry County for folks who want their
rides to go a bit faster, a bit quicker and with a bit more torque.
A walk through the shop at Performance Unlimited reveals
some of the evidence that the mechanics in here know their way around a family
car engine as well as a high performance power plant. Sometimes the classic
Chevy Corvette over there, or the ’57 Chevy Nomad here, the 1970 Plymouth
Roadrunner on the lift: these all stand as testimony to the superior knowledge
and skill the mechanics at Performance Unlimited bring to the table.
But performance isn’t merely limited to the horses under the
hood; performance starts where the rubber meets the asphalt. Classic car
collectors frequently turn to Performance Unlimited for complete restorations
because they know that, when Performance Unlimited is done with the project,
the car will roll out of the show as pristine as the day it rolled off the
assembly line.
Last year, Performance Unlimited offered a suspension and
steering tech workshop for area racers and enthusiasts. As owner Denny Norton
said at the time, “Your suspension and steering are at least as important as
what you have under the hood. True racers consider all aspects of their
racecars and look for every trick that can give them an edge.”
Of course, for those who only want their vehicles to bring
them safely to and from work, the grocery store, picking up children from
school and other travels of life, Performance Unlimited is equally adept at
providing peak performance, from optimal gas mileage, to reliability and the
long life of their cars, for every day drivers.
So, whether you’re looking to cut your lap time at the track
or you just want to make sure the car is ready for taking the family on
vacation this summer, Performance Unlimited is the answer.
To learn more about Performance Unlimited, call
815-728-0343 or visit: http://www.4performanceunlimited.com.
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Illumination makes your winter driving prospects brighter
%20-%12-%2012, %Rauto maintenance, auto repair, hazardous driving, headlight, headlights, winter drivingPermalink
Officially, winter is not over yet. Unofficially, though
we’ve had a relatively mild version so far this season, in Northern Illinois
and McHenry County, there is no guarantee we won’t feel winter’s full wrath
before long.
With the short days and gloomy skies, our head lights are
used with greater frequency this time of year. As the fine mist of dirt and
road salt covers our vehicles in a gray haze that blends into the color of the
asphalt we drive on, even our taillights and other illuminated signals have
increased importance. Night or day, it’s good to be seen.
Most vehicles are equipped with subtle hints to let you know
if one of your signal lights isn’t working; your flashers may stop flashing,
for instance. Usually, we’ll notice if one of the headlights is no longer
illuminating the road ahead. Still, “I didn’t notice the bulb had burned out,”
is not an excuse that carries much weight with many of the law-enforcement
persuasion.
A regular check of your signals and lights is a good idea.
And, don’t be afraid to ask your mechanic to check them out for you when you
have the oil changed or otherwise bring your car in for maintenance or repairs.
A quick check of the lights and signals is something your mechanic should do as
a matter of course when your car comes in to the shop.
In terms of your headlights, that they’re working is only
part of the equation. It’s also important that they’re properly adjusted. A
headlight that veers into oncoming traffic could bring a blinded driver into
your path of travel. It will also fall short of providing the visual assistance
you’re looking for while driving on a darkened road.
At Performance
Unlimited, we’ll make sure that you’re seen and that you can see under
almost any driving conditions. And, when the conditions surpass your ability to
see and be seen, we recommend that you pull over for a cup of Joe somewhere
until the weather clears.
If the hyperlinks in the text above are not working in your
version of this document, you can cut and past the following URL: Performance
Unlimited – http://www.4performanceunlimited.com.
To contact Performance Unlimited by phone, call (815) 728-0343.
An automotive tune up more than pays for itself in mileage and repairs
%20-%12-%2012, %Rauto maintenance, auto repair, auto tuneup, engine tuneupPermalink
Cars now days don’t require a tune-up as often as their
ancestors did. Each vehicle is different. Check with your owner’s manual or
mechanic to see what’s specific to your car. Of course, if the car isn’t
running smoothly, gas mileage has dropped or you notice any other abnormalities
in the way it drives, it’s time to bring the car in to a trusted auto-repair
shop.
Spark plugs are now designed to last up to 100,000 miles.
That doesn’t guarantee, however, that they’ll operate at peak performance for
the duration of that period. In fact, if the car wasn’t properly tuned earlier,
or is otherwise out of adjustment, the wear and tear on spark plugs can
increase dramatically.
Other aspects of a tune up include checking and/or replacing
the ignition wires, the fuel filter, the pvc filter, adjusting the fuel injectors
or carburetor and the timing. A good mechanic will also take a look at your
belts, hoses, vacuum lines and other engine parts to ensure you won’t find
yourself on the side of the road looking for a tow a few miles later.
A car that is properly tuned will get better gas mileage,
run more reliably and will last longer than a car that is out of adjustment.
All of these factors can save the consciences driver more money in gasoline,
repairs, early replacement of the vehicle and the cost of towing and taxicabs.
When bringing your car in for a tune up, make sure you use a
qualified mechanic. Denny Norton, at Performance Unlimited, 5415
Austin Court, Ringwood, said it’s best to use a certified mechanic.
“Our mechanics are ASE certified and consistently take
courses to stay on top of the latest changes in automotive technology,” he said.
“That’s a commitment we feel our customers deserve. If your auto-repair shop
hasn’t made that same commitment, I’d recommend that you look for a qualified
mechanic to keep you on the road.”
For more information about Performance Unlimited, visit www.4performanceunlimited.com
or call 815-728-0343.
Performance Unlimited builds friendship and trust with quality auto repair services
%20-%12-%2012, %Rauto mechanic, auto repair, auto repair Illinois, auto repair northern Illinois, trusted auto repair shopPermalink
The auto repair technicians at Performance Unlimited, 5415
Austin Court, Ringwood, don’t know the meaning of down time. It seems they’re
always busy. Of course, that’s the nature of the business for an auto repair
shop with a long-standing reputation for superior workmanship and customer
service.
The other day, a customer came in the door at Performance
Unlimited and, as he handed his keys to owner Denny Norton, continued to the
cozy waiting area beyond the front counter. Addressing the customer by his
first name, Norton said, “Hello” and then apologized that there were a few cars
ahead of him.
“That’s OK,” the customer said as he took a seat. “I’ll
wait.”
Some things are worth waiting for and that includes quality
auto repair services. Of course, Norton is always willing to drop off and pick
up clients in the area when more extensive repairs are required. But, watching
the interaction between Norton and his customers, it’s quickly apparent that
his customers are completely at ease putting their vehicles in the skilled
hands at Performance Unlimited.
Anyone who has spent some time at the auto repair shop, and
has watched Norton and his staff interact with their customers, will agree that
the relationships between Norton, his mechanics and his customers are based on
mutual respect.
One can learn a lot about an auto repair shop by observing
the clientele. At Performance Unlimited, the customers are as friendly as the
staff. The customers know that Norton and his highly trained auto technicians
have the customer’s best interest at heart. It’s a great way to do business and
an equally wonderful way to make good friends.
For more information about Performance Unlimited, visit www.4performanceunlimited.com
or call 815-728-0343.
Performance Unlimited offers ‘My Child is a Student Driver’ survival tips
%20-%12-%2012, %Rauto maintenance, new driver, student driverPermalink
At this time of year, in high schools across the country,
young drivers are getting behind the wheels for the first time. It’s very
exciting for them. Not quite so for their parents.
Parents may tend to grit their teeth and hope for the
best as their offspring advance to another stage in development. A feeling of
helplessness is not uncommon. After all, once their child hops behind the wheel
and heads off down the road, what can a mother or father do to ensure that the
child will return safely and without insurance-inflating tickets?
Actually, parents are not quite as impotent at this
juncture as they might think. If they’ve done a reasonable job of raising
responsible children, that will go a long way to increasing the odds in their
child’s driving favor. Of course, that’s largely a matter of hindsight.
There are things parents can do now in the midst of their
angst, for instance, holding their children accountable. Are their chores done?
How about their homework and grades? What about their child’s behavior? Of
course, if drugs or alcohol are part of a child’s life, it’s probably a good
idea to withhold the keys altogether.
Such questions will help instill a sense of responsibility
in a child. There are no laws stating that, when a child reaches driving age a
parent is forced to hand over the keys. At times, the most loving thing a
parent can do is to say, “No.” Better to refuse the keys now than to find a
police officer with bad news standing at the door later.
In other words, parents should not be afraid to set
limits and rules related to driving and driving privileges.
“Son, when you get your grades back up, you can start
using the car again.”
Rules help develop good driving habits for those children
who have good enough grades and behavior to drive regularly. Insist that all
seatbelts are fastened before starting the engine and no cell phones are used –
whether talking or texting – while driving. In fact, it’s a good idea to insist
that no eating, drinking or other unrelated activities are performed while
they’re driving.
It’s always vital that a vehicle is in safe driving
condition and no more so than when a young driver is getting behind the wheel
for the first time. There are questions they should ask before they start
driving: are the tires properly inflated? Have they adjusted the mirrors
properly? Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work correctly? Is
their seat adjusted to fit the driver?
Beyond those things that can be checked in the driveway,
it’s important to know that the car is otherwise in proper operating condition.
Are the brakes functioning as they should? Is the steering and suspension in
optimal condition? Will the engine stall at a critical moment? All of these are
important factors for any driver. For a new driver, their importance is
dramatically increased.
An experienced driver is better prepared to react in an
emergency. New drivers should become more familiar with operating a vehicle
before facing such crisis lest their learn lessons the hard way.
At Performance Unlimited, we can help to ensure the
vehicle you and your child drive is safe and purring like a kitten.
To learn more about Performance Unlimited, visit www.4performanceunlimited.com
or call 815-728-0343.
Tech Presentation at Performance Unlimited to help racers achieve unlimited performance
%20-%12-%2012, %Rauto racing, auto repair, high performance suspension tuning, performance suspension, stock carPermalink
Denny Norton, of Performance Unlimited, 5415 Austin
Court, Ringwood, has done some racing in his time. He’s also worked on the
other side of the pit, with the crews eking out every possible mph in
competitions for the checkered flag.
Performance Unlimited is more widely known in the area
for providing auto repair services to cars that operate on public roads. This
Sunday, March 13, however, Norton and the crew at Performance Unlimited are
holding a Tech Presentation from noon to 4 p.m. to help area racers, as well as
fans of the sport, to learn more about tuning and adjusting steering and suspension
systems for auto racers.
“Your suspension and steering is at least as important as
what you have under the hood,” said Norton. “True racers consider all aspects
of their racecars and look for every trick that can give them an edge.”
Norton said the event will consist of demonstrations at
three stations: a Weight Station, where they will look at proper weight
distribution at each wheel and how it affects the handling of a car; an
Alignment Station, where drivers can further improve their steering for better
handling and safer driving; and the Bump Steer Station, where they’ll take a
close look at toe alignment as it is affected by a car’s front suspension based
on an at-rest 2” compression.
To learn more about Performance Unlimited, visit: http://www.4performanceunlimited.com.
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.
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.
