Last winter here in Wonder Lake, the temperature fell to close to 30-below zero. That’s cold. That’s really, really cold. That’s the kind of cold where you don’t want to go outside longer than you have to. But, unless you have a heated garage, it’s also the kind of cold your car, truck or SUV is stuck in. It can make it difficult to start your vehicle. The cold has a peculiar effect on liquids.

Truck drivers, the drivers of those 18-wheel monstrosities we see on the roads around McHenry, are required by law to conduct a Pre-Trip Inspection each day before they drive. It makes a lot of sense considering how much damage a 40-ton tractor-trailer can do if something goes wrong. Performing an inspection before you drive makes sense for those of us operating 4-wheel, 1-1/2-ton little monsters,

Here at Performance Unlimited, we treasure those moments when we’re able to alleviate the fears of a car owner who may have thought the problem with their car was a painful interruption to their budget or even beyond financial viability. When, after checking their car out, we return to the waiting room, or call them on the phone, we enjoy telling them that the problem isn’t all they dreaded it

In summer, when you want to go somewhere, you jump in the car and go. But, in winter in McHenry, it’s not that easy. You may have snow that requires the application of a snow shovel or snowblower. There’s a good chance you’ll have to clean snow from the car and/or scrape ice and frost from the windows. Keeping this in mind, it’s crucial that you have the proper tools on hand. This means a

When America entered WWII much of her arsenal was outdated and outmoded. Advancements were needed: better ships, better tanks, better planes. But one stalwart stood ready from the start: the Jeep. As today is Veterans Day, the 101st Celebration of the end of WWI, it’s appropriate to pause for a moment to consider the contribution of the Jeep to America’s fight to defend liberty. The Jeep

As we discovered last week, snow can fall even when we don’t expect it. Few would have guessed that the first snowfall – not just a few flakes but snow that would accumulate on the ground and the roads, would arrive the last day of October. It just seems a tad early. But whenever snow falls, it forces adjustments on the wiser drivers in the Richmond area. Not everyone makes these adjustments. Some

They're creepy and they're kooky Mysterious and spooky They're all together ooky … And they’ll be on the streets of Wonder Lake today ready to scare the pants off you … while filling their bags with those oh-so-sweet tributes. That’s right; today is Halloween: Trick or Treat, the annual festival celebrating the carving of pumpkins, the wearing of scary costumes, consumption of large sums

Winter in McHenry is rough on your car’s engine, charging system and battery, tires, shocks, suspension, steering and brakes. It’s tough on every aspect of your car, truck or SUV, including one aspect not listed above: a McHenry winter is tough on your car, truck or SUV’s finish, too. You have all that snow and ice falling and spreading on your car, truck or SUV. Then it lays there on that

One way to ensure your car, truck or SUV will start this winter is to keep it in your McHenry garage. But, inevitably, you’ll have to go somewhere this winter. You’ll drive your vehicle to the store, to the office, to school, to your friend’s house, to a party. And your car, truck or SUV will wind up sitting out in the cold until you’re ready to return home. Starting your car in winter will

Snow tires are a great idea, too When you want to go, you press the gas pedal and you go. When you want to stop, you press the brake and stop. At least, that’s the plan. Give the gas pedal too much sudden pressure and instead of ‘going’ your tires will spin and you won’t go much at all until you let off the gas. If you’re going too fast when you hit the brake, you may find that stopping