There’s not much that I like about winter. I don’t snowmobile or ski. If I want to ice skate, I can do that at the Crystal Ice House in Crystal Lake, and they have ice year round. I enjoy driving but even this is less of a pleasure in the winter.

What’s wrong with driving in the winter? How about having to clean snow and ice off your windows before you go anywhere? How about the slush and salt spray that coats your vehicle in a gray haze? Oh, and then you have the other drivers who either panic at the sight of snow and drive 20 mph below what is required by conditions or the 4-wheel driver who thinks his truck is invincible and tries to prove it by tailgating in the most horrendous driving conditions.

For all these reasons, driving in the winter just doesn’t seem to hold the same appeal as driving on a nice, sunny summer day. Once in a while, however, winter throws a curve. Such was the case about a week ago after we had a small winter storm. I was driving down Bull Valley Road between Woodstock and McHenry and came across the most amazing sight.

The winter spectacle that greeted my eyes was incredible. As though Mother Nature had carefully painted each branch of each tree to match a blanket of snow on the ground, the world was transformed into a thing of wonder.

My first thought was, “Boy, I wish I had my camera.” Then it occurred to me, “I do have my camera.”

Reaching to the backseat, I pulled out my Nikon, popped off the cap and snapped some shots without looking through the lens as I drove (I figured I’d better keep my eyes on the road while driving). A couple times, I stopped and snapped a particularly nice shot.

I tried, with limited success, to take pictures without other cars in the frame. I wanted shots focused on nature’s scenery.

If my timing was a little better, I’d have come upon this scene before dozens of cars had transformed the white blanket on the pavement into a dark gray slush. But, the scene was inspiring all the same and I’ve shared one of those photos here for you today.

I believe that driving in the winter is more often a matter of necessity than in the summer. Scenes, such as these, however, remind me that driving in the winter does have potential benefits, too. Of course, I drive in the winter with confidence because I’ve done a good job of maintaining my vehicle. For that, I rely on Performance Unlimited, the auto repair shop in Ringwood, to keep me safely on the road.

In a way, I have the outstanding auto repair technicians at Performance Unlimited to thank for the opportunities to drive through a winter panorama such as the one I saw on Bull Valley Road the other day. And I can also thank them that, when I drive in the winter, I do so with confidence because I know my car is well cared for and ready for the season.

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

With these articles, we try to share a little useful information for people who rely on automotive transportation. That, of course, refers to the vast majority of us. We also, occasionally, share high performance automotive tips, from time to time. Our goal is that these articles are of value to as many drivers as possible.

The other day, we discovered that we may not speak to as many drivers as we had thought. We heard a story about a widow whose husband had always taken care of the care. When he passed, that responsibility fell to her. To say the least, she was somewhat overwhelmed.

Thankfully, she found a qualified and trust-worthy auto repair shop that could help to keep her on the road while ensuring that a less scrupulous sort didn’t take advantage of her. Still, her story has pointed out that, with some people, we might as well write our tips in Greek, assuming the reader doesn’t read Greek.

Some drivers wouldn’t know how to open the hood, no less to check the oil. So, today, we’re going to share a few maintenance tips in a manner that will, hopefully, help those less familiar with things mechanical.

“The first thing to think about is fluids,” said Denny Norton, the owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited. “If a car doesn’t have fuel, it won’t run. If it doesn’t have oil and coolant, it will overheat and you’ll ruin the engine.”

He went on to discuss the importance of transmission fluid and steering fluid, as well as water in the battery. The transmission needs fluid so the gears will slip into place when required. The power steering needs fluid to operate or you’ll need big muscles to turn the car. The battery needs water or, when dry, the battery won’t start the car. And, of course, the tires need air.

The first tool you’ll need to maintain your car is the owner’s manual. Think of it as the cookbook for making a car keep running. Most have diagrams to help you find your way around the car. For instance, it will show you where the dipstick is to check the oil. And it will show you where the hood release is to pop the hood so you can check the oil.

The transmission fluid is generally checked the same way as the oil, with a dipstick – unless you have a standard transmission. The power steering pump, also found with the help of your owner’s manual, has a cap with a short-round-plastic dipstick.

In each case, you’ll find marks on the dipstick, whether checking your oil, transmission fluid or power steering fluid. The mark furthest from the end of the dipstick represents how high the oil of fluid should be when completely full. Below that (closer to the end of the stick), you’ll find a mark representing the point where you should add more oil or fluid.

The only tool you should need to check these fluids is a rag. After you’ve opened the hood (read the owner’s manual carefully for this step as many cars have a release inside the car cabin and another release under the hood), pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean. Now, push it back all the way in and pull it back out. This will show you the actual fluid level (make sure your vehicle is on a level surface when you check this).

If you do need oil or fluid, be careful – oils and fluids are not all the same. Check your owner’s manual to see what is recommended. However, also check with the auto repair shop that performed your last oil change to make sure you add the same kind of oil of fluid.

Some fluids are made for GM models and others for Dodge, Ford and other makes of vehicle. Make sure you use the right kind. Make sure you’re adding the oil or fluid through the correct filler opening, too. You don’t want to pour engine oil into the transmission and vice-versa.

If you check the antifreeze/coolant, be sure not to open the radiator or reservoir tank (also found with the owner’s manual) when the car is hot. Under pressure, the fluid can burst out and cause serious burns.

Many batteries today are low maintenance or no maintenance. Otherwise, you’ll find caps on top of the battery that you can remove to check the water level. Inside each hole in the battery, there is a plastic tube the size of the hole extending down about an inch. Fill the water to the bottom of each tube. Then, carefully replace the caps.

You’ll also want to check your windshield washer solvent reservoir to make sure you have enough (that’s right, check the owner’s manual). The level of this is less important unless you run out on a winter day when salt and snow are coating your windshield as you drive.

To check the air pressure in your tires, you’ll need a tire gauge and, that’s right, the owner’s manual. Unscrew the caps from the valves on each tire and hold the part of the gauge that is about the size of the end of the valve stem to the valve stem. Press and hold it tight so you don’t feel or hear air escaping around it.

This is where you’ll need the owner’s manual. Front tires and rear tires generally require different levels of air pressure. The owner’s manual will tell you what your car requires.

Finally, if you find that you’re adding any of these fluids with regularity, other than the windshield washer solvent, if you’re using a lot of solvent to keep your windows clean, tell your auto repair technician. You can also keep an eye out for puddles under the car. Blackish-brown puddles are usually oil and indicate an oil leak. Reddish puddles are generally transmission fluid.

If you have any questions, a trusted auto repair shop will be glad to help. At Performance Unlimited, we’re glad to give you a short demonstration on checking your fluids … and your air.

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

There are fast lube shops where they do oil changes and a few other mechanical odds and ends. There are also auto repair shops where they can handle tune-ups, the aforementioned oil changes, alignments, and most of the other customary repairs. Where, however, do you go if you want something out of the ordinary for your car?

What if you’re tired of your car doors bumping into other cars in parking lots? What if you simply like the idea that your car doors will open up instead of out? For that kind of work, you need an auto repair shop with capabilities beyond quality auto repair of the first order. You need an auto repair shop where they’re qualified to handle absolutely any project involving your car.

Performance Unlimited is that kind of auto repair shop. Recently, they demonstrated their superior ability to go beyond auto repair and into the realm of automobile modification when they installed Lambo doors on a late model Dodge Challenger.

Modifying the hinges on a door to swing up instead of out requires precise workmanship. When completed, the doors need to close and lock appropriately. The windows need to operate as efficiently as they did before the modification (if they don’t operate smoothly before the modification, a quality auto repair shop can fix that, too.). Additionally, the doors need to seal as they did before.

“Technically, the doors still swing out,” said Denny Norton, owner of Performance Unlimited. “They need to swing out a short distance before they swing up.”

Norton said a project such of this requires removing the vehicle’s front clip – the fenders, hood, and front fascia. Then, the doors come off so they can install the hinges.

“Obviously, with the way the door hinges, you have to change the wiring, too,” he said. “We install a gas charged cylinder, like the one holding up your hood, so that the door opens smoothly and doesn’t simply fall back down.  We can adjust the tension so it doesn’t go up too fast or so that it’s not difficult to bring back down.”

When properly adjusted, the door will lift effortlessly – a one-finger operation – and will come back down just as easily. As Norton put it, the doors almost go up automatically.

Norton said a Lambo door kit doesn’t add any appreciable weight to the car. He said they also make Lambo kits for four door vehicles.

“In some cases, it makes it easier to get in and out, but it’s really the visual impact people are usually after,” he said. “The key with installing Lambo doors is that you really have to be careful about the geometry of how the door works.”

As Norton explained, when someone opens their car door, they’ll notice that the door opens a short distance before it comes to a detent – a pin that the hinge roller goes over. That operation needs to work the same way with or without Lambo doors.

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