When you bring your vehicle to an auto repair shop, you want to know that the auto repair technicians are qualified. Have they had sufficient training – the latest training? Do they have experience? Years ago, there was a television commercial where a dopey looking guy in dirty coveralls says something to the effect of “Gee boss, I never did fix an automatic transmission before.” When you

It’s a good idea to keep your hands on the steering wheel when driving. An auto repair technician, however, may violate that reasonable premise. An auto repair technician may take a car for a test ride. Finding a straight, flat road, they’ll wait until there isn’t any traffic to contend with and, then, they’ll take their hands off the steering wheel. When letting go of the steering wheel,

There are some in the auto repair industry who are cut from an older bolt of cloth. They’re gruff and short on patience. Their customer service skills are almost nonexistent. It often seems they’re a little annoyed when asked to explain the technical problems with a customer’s car in layman terms.Today, there’s no good reason that someone would have to put up with that kind of treatment. Most

It’s an easily recognizable chain and the word “Tires” is in its name. So, of course, that’s where you go for tires, fully expecting that tires are their expertise. But, when you walk in the door, some pimple-faced kid starts explaining tires, in a monologue clearly rehearsed, as though you didn’t know tires are actually round. The truth is, “Tire” stores are often the automotive equivalent

Are you ready for the snow, the ice and the cold? After all, this is not Palm Beach. Yes, we’ve seen some moderate weather for this late in the year. Maybe it will stay that way. Maybe the lowest temperature we’ll see all winter will dip no lower than 30⁰ Fahrenheit (we’ve actually had night-time temperatures below that already). Even as you read this, the upper Midwest is in the crosshairs

Potluck is usually a term reserved for a dietary smorgasbord where everyone contributes. Pot luck, on the other hand, in terms of winter driving in these parts, refers to how well your suspension avoided the harsh pratfalls of potholes in the recently past winter. In fact, many of those dastardly road sores are still out there waiting for road crews to apply a little mix of asphalt road cure. The

Joe Fischer, a fabricator working with chassis for Performance Unlimited, (address), Ringwood, laughed, “Once you get me talking about cars it’s hard to get me to stop.”It wasn’t just the incredible depth of knowledge Fischer brought to Performance Unlimited’s Tech Presentation Sunday where racers and fans of the sport learned the fine art of fine tuning suspensions and steering for maximum

Remember last spring when you started wondering if the A/C was working up to par with the summer ahead? It’s time to start thinking in terms of your car’s heater and its ability to keep you warm.Your car’s heater is important for more than mere comfort, however. It’s also important for clearing frost and fog off the inside of your windows. In this case, an issue of comfort gives way to an

“I can’t see. I can’t see.” “Why not?”“My eyes are closed.”I can almost hear that exchange between Curly and Moe. Anytime you’re driving, it’s a good time to keep your eyes open. In the winter, however, sometimes, keeping your eyes open isn’t enough. Windshields become frosted, covered with salt, snow and road spray. Not only is driving without a sufficient view dangerous and