Well, it’s finally arrived: the heat has come to McHenry – is your car’s air conditioning ready? You may have taken the time to have your car’s air conditioning checked out before the thermometer began climbing. If so, on these warm, muggy days we’ve had recently, you simply rolled up the window and turned on the AC. If you didn’t take the time to check your car’s air conditioning ahead

Remember the commercial: “Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.” The commercial worked because it was a catchy slogan and because the automobile is uniquely American in regard to America’s love affair with the car. Ever since Henry Ford first made cars affordable for average Americans, those Americans have responded with joyful passion. Of course, it’s not just Chevrolet. For the first

Hopefully, your car, truck or SUV’s air conditioning is ready for the dog days of this Johnsburg summer ahead. Don’t be fooled – they are coming. They always do. For now, however, instead of blazing heat, we find ourselves in a Monsoon. Day after day, it’s rain and more rain. Oh, there are nice days in between but they’re far-too infrequent. What does all this rain mean for your Johnsburg

That used car looks all shiny and new. The interior has that new-car smell. It’s the color you wanted. It’s the model you wanted. It’s love at first sight – kismet. In no time at all, you’re pulling out of the dealer’s parking lot in your new-used automobile with a satisfied smile on your face. But will that smile last? Overtime, that used car will require maintenance and repairs. It’s

Sheldon Cooper: Your check engine light is on. Penny: Mm-hmm. Sheldon Cooper: Typically that's an indicator to, you know, check your engine. Penny: It's fine, it's been on for, like, a month. Sheldon Cooper: Well, actually, that would be all the more reason to, you know, check your engine. Penny: Sheldon, it's fine. Sheldon Cooper: If it were fine, the light wouldn't be on. That's why the manufacturer

Years ago, Richard took his car into a dealership because of a problem with the engine. The dealership hooked the car up to its diagnostic equipment and the computer produced a number that, when cross-referenced in an accompanying diagnostic book, told them what the problem was. This number was not good. They told Richard that the number indicated an incurable problem with the engine. Richard paid

But Memorial Day is to honor those who rode in those vehicles and marched beside them Today, many McHenry residents will light up the barby, throw various types of meat on the grill, and commiserate with friends and family while taking the day off from work for Memorial Day. But the day is not about barbequing; it’s about taking a moment to reflect on the commitments of those who serve today, and

You glance at the clock in the dashboard and realize that, if the McHenry traffic doesn’t start moving, you’ll be late for that important meeting. To make matters worse, for some reason, the car’s air conditioning isn’t quite doing its job today. You feel a bead of sweat rolling down your cheek and it prompts you to glance down at your pits. Sure enough, they’re soaked. This is not good. It’s

The headlines say it all: “Senate bill would double Illinois state gas tax” and “Proposal (from Illinois Senate) bill would double Illinois state gas tax.” These are ominous indications of what you may be paying at the pump in McHenry in the near future. And there isn’t much you can do about it. Well … there is one thing you can do. The more you pay at the pump the more imperative it is

Where should you bring your vehicle for auto repair services? If you want the greatest satisfaction, bring it to an independent auto repair shop. This is the finding of a Consumer Reports Member Survey (based on non-warranty repairs and service). Some would find it surprising to discover that, according to the survey, bringing a vehicle to an auto dealership for repairs and service is the least likely