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.