The truck was sitting on the side of the road. No one was around; whoever owned the truck had left some time ago – possibly days ago. The problem was obvious. It dangled there underneath the truck – a shaft of steel with one end resting on the ground. The driveshaft had fallen out of the back of the transmission. But why? Looking a little closer, you notice that this isn’t an everyday pickup

There are a number of parts to your car that you depend on to help you go. The primary part you depend on to stop is your brakes. How do you know that you’re ready for a brake job? After all, it’s at least as important that you can stop your car as it is that you can get it to go. Our brakes work so well that we often take them for granted. The worked every other time; why wouldn’t they work

If your car could talk, after this recent McHenry winter, this is what it might say: “Oh, my aching shocks and struts. You try running through pothole after pothole and see how it feels.” Of course, in a way, your car may be speaking to you anyhow. Only, instead of “Oh, my aching shocks and struts,” it may something that sounds more like “Squeak, squeak” as it goes down the road. At the

Another summer of Green Street Cruise Nights is about to begin in downtown McHenry. Check out the calendar of events below and come join the fun on Monday nights. Classic cars, pony cars, hotrods new and old: they’re coming to McHenry Monday nights, just as they do each year, with the advent of Green Street Cruise Night. That time is almost upon us again – Cruise Night starts in McHenry at

Linda got in the car with her friend and started the engine. Immediately, she turned the car’s AC onto ‘MAX’ and then started driving. She and Melissa both commented on “what a nice, sunny day it is.” “It has to be in the upper 70s already,” said Melissa. “I think you’re right,” said Donna with a frown on her face. “What’s wrong?” asked Melissa. Donna held her hand in

That’s an excellent question. “How often should I change my car’s oil?” is probably the most important question you’ll ask about your car. There is nothing you can do to maintain your vehicle that will have more importance than changing the oil on schedule. So, what is the answer to the question “How often should I change my car’s oil?” The answer used to be every 3,000 miles, or

Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, gets ready for a Big 8 class stock car race in Rockford Sunday.  Though he didn't finish first, he did win the title for moving up from 23rd place, at the start of the race, to 8th place at the finish. Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, didn’t win the 39th Annual Spring Classic race but, after a long hiatus

It may hit 70 degrees out on Sunday if the predictions of the weather stations bear out. If not this weekend, however, it is coming. Temperatures are going to progressively rise until 70 degrees is a cooler day amid days in the 80s, 90s and, hopefully not too many, in the 100s. When temperatures hit the 70s, you can generally roll the windows down and the fresh air is temperate enough to keep you

Computers are everywhere. That smartphone you use is actually a small computer. The cable television box is a small computer. Then you have your desktop, laptop and tablets – all computers. Take a look out the window at those cars driving by, as well as the one in your driveway, and you’ll find – that’s right – more computers (some older cars – going back to the ‘70s and earlier – may

Spring has sprung and with it we can expect the usual – warmer weather, the arrival of migrating birds returning from their Southern winter refuge and, of course, allergies. If you suffer from allergies, this is a particularly frustrating time of year. You want to escape the cabin fever that winter imposed but, to do so, you have to directly expose yourself to the pollen that is the primary assailant