You weren’t always one of those conscientious auto owners. It was the luck of the draw that you would remember to bring the car in for an oil change within the recommended number of miles or time. And you never bothered to check the oil. But, the last time you had the car in for some work they told you that it was down more than two quarts of oil. The auto repair technician gently, but emphatically,

You turn onto Crystal Lake Road on the way to First Midwest Bank in McHenry when you notice that the car doesn’t seem to have the same pep when you step on the gas pedal. You’re headed South on Green Street on your way to jh Events and Flowers on Municipal Drive when the engine coolant sensor comes on in your dashboard. You’re driving east on Route 120 bringing your pet to Riverside Animal

As with many technical advancements, they’re a blessing and a curse. Key fobs are a wonder when your arms are full and you need to open the car doors, trunk or rear hatch. It’s also nice, on a stormy day when you forgot to lock the car doors that you can lock them while looking out at the car from the warmth and comfort of your home or office. But, they’re a frustration when you find yourself

What if a little reminder in the car could save your child’s life? So far this year, there have been 18 cases in the U.S. where a child died of heatstroke after a parent left their child in the car. It’s June and that’s right on pace for the figures provided by the National Safety Council. The NSC’s figures show that, on average, 37 children die of heatstroke when left in a car each year. It’s

Better shops offer pick-up and drop-off service “I know I have to bring the car into the shop but how am I going to get home when I drop it off?” “If I drop the car off in the morning, how will I get to work?” “I can drop the kids off at school before I take the car in for an oil change, but I don’t have time to wait while they do the work. How will I get back to the office?” These

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