An article in The Princeton Review makes a profound statement about what you should expect when bringing your car, truck or SUV into an auto repair technician: “The days of uneducated grease monkeys are over.” As the article explains, extensive vocational training is required if an auto repair technician has any hope of keeping up with constantly advancing technology. You don’t really have to

You smile to yourself when you hear someone talking about how hard the miles are on their car, as though the roads around Richmond are really that bad. In fact, with a flurry of road construction the last few years, the roads around here aren’t bad. But, you have a different perspective. When you talk about a rough ride you’re talking about taking your 4X4 off-road where no one expects smooth coats

The answer to the question, ‘Will your engine keep its cool in the hot days of another McHenry summer?’ the answer is up to you. Oh, sure, something unexpected could happen. But, with a little attention to detail, a little Tender Loving Maintenance, your car, truck or SUV’s engine will take the heat in stride. If you do prepare for summer, we could have a record-setting heatwave and your car,

Summer! Barbeques! Picnics! Sporting Events! Vacations! Outdoor events! It’s all laying out before you with the passing of winter and the advent of wonderfully warm weather. But, while you’re enjoying the hot days ahead, don’t forget what the sun can do to your car’s interior. On hot days, the temperature inside your car can reach 195°. When the internal temperature of a smoked brisket reaches

The temperature is slipping above 80 degrees. How refreshing after the winter that would never end. And, how wonderful that you can slip into your car, flip on the AC and, almost instantly, feel the cool air washing the heat away. On a sunny day, a car parked in the sun can reach 195 degrees inside. At that temperature, foods cook. But, as long as your car has air conditioning, who cares. You’ll

Have your tires inspected with your car’s next oil change They seldom complain. You can just about drive your tires off the rims and they’ll seldom make a peep. You come to count on them and with good reason. For thousands and thousands of miles, tires keep on rolling unhindered by the strain. But, they are not infallible. We know tires can fail because we see cars on the side of the road with

In Illinois, it’s not just a good idea to use a hands-free holder for your phone, it’s the law. Since Wonder Lake is in Illinois, this means you could get a ticket if you’ve only just pulled out of your driveway while talking on the phone without a hands-free phone holder. Since you don’t want a ticket, or to have an accident, finding the best way to hold your phone for hands-free operation

The front-end broke while this car was taking a low-speed turn in Woodstock recently. The driver may feelthat luck was against them. But, compared to what would have happened if they were driving at a higherrate of speed, they were actually very fortunate. This is a case where auto maintenance is critical. When do you know that auto maintenance is worth the effort? When you see someone dealing with

Roger, a long-time McHenry resident, has babied that car for years. Weekends, when it’s warm, it’s not unusual to see him out in the driveway washing and waxing his ‘beauty’ – an older car that looks as good as new. Considering all the care Roger puts into the car, he clearly has a love affair with the car. He doesn’t wait for parts to fail; he monitors the condition of the car on an

You’re used to Wonder Lake winters so, though you thought this one might have ended by now. In any case, since winter won't leave, it's still a good idea to make sure you’ve prepared your car. You’ve had the charging system and battery checked. Your cooling system is in good repair. Your tires have tread enough to make it safely through most snowstorms. But, do you have the essentials you’ll