It’s a good idea to have your car’s air conditioner serviced by an auto repair shop once per year. This ensures that you catch any problems before they become more expensive to repair. Otherwise, you could end up sitting in traffic on a hot day without any cold air. Here’s how to ensure that you get the most out of your vehicle’s air conditioner this summer:

• Thorough Unit Cleaning

During a routine inspection, an auto service shop will clean the vents, fans, drive belt, hoses, tubes, and evaporator. This will improve the efficiency of your air conditioner and reduce the level of wear that your air conditioner receives as you drive.

• Refrigerant Refill

Your car’s air conditioner uses Freon, a refrigerant that allows your air conditioner to generate cold air. An auto service technician can check the Freon level of your car’s air conditioner and refill it if necessary.

• Check for Wear and Damage

You also need to know if any of your air conditioner’s parts need to be replaced. An auto mechanic will check for leaks as well as ensure that the drive belt, compressor, condenser, and fans are working properly and are adjusted optimally.

When you get into your hot car this summer, roll the windows down for a few minutes before turning the A/C on. This is a more efficient way to cool your car, and it prevents unnecessary wear to your air conditioner. Also, be sure that you stay alert to symptoms of air conditioner problems. These include wet carpet under your dashboard; unusual noises, smells, or vibrations when the fan turns on; and a reduced amount of air coming from your air conditioner.

For affordable, high-quality service for your vehicle’s air conditioner in the Chicago area, come to Bucaro Brothers Auto Care. If you have any questions, contact us at (773) 570-4541, or visit our website to learn more about the services we have to offer you.

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It’s expensive and burdensome to the environment to get your oil changed every 3,000 miles. Instead, you should change your car’s oil according to the owner’s manual recommendations. Furthermore, check your auto’s tires at least once per month to ensure they are properly inflated according to the recommended PSI in the owner’s manual. Balance, align, and rotate them regularly to extend the life of your tires.

For high-quality auto service in the Chicago area that will extend the life of your car, come to Bucaro Brothers Auto Care. For more information, give us a call at (773) 570-4541.

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A little routine maintenance will extend the life of your car and save you money in the long run. One of the most important routine auto services for cars that have more than 50,000 miles is a timing belt or chain replacement. Here’s why:

What Timing Belts and Chains Do

Your car’s timing belt or chain is responsible for keeping your vehicle’s camshaft and crankshaft in sync. This essential component of your car instructs the camshaft to turn at half the speed of the crankshaft. Without the timing belt or chain, your car’s camshaft would not know when to open and close the engine’s valves to allow air and gas to go in and out of the engine. Additionally, your car’s crankshaft would not be able to convert the energy from your engine’s pistons into energy that’s required to turn your car’s wheels.

How Often Timing Belts and Chains Need Replacement

Timing chains, unlike timing belts, do not have a routine replacement interval. Sometimes, a car’s chain will be able to last as long as the car’s engine. Other times, especially if a car has been leaking any type of fluid, a timing chain will show signs of premature wear and require replacement. A timing belt, however, needs to be replaced every 50,000 to 90,000 miles in almost any vehicle. Check your car’s owner’s manual to find the exact recommendation for your vehicle.

Consequences of Neglecting Replacement

Failure to replace the timing belt or chain according to your car manufacturer’s recommendations can cause a range of expensive problems. If your timing belt or chain isn’t working, your car’s pistons and valves could collide, causing catastrophic engine damage. Though a timing belt or chain replacement is a moderate expense, it is far less than paying for damages caused by not performing routine maintenance.

For high-quality timing belt or chain replacement in the Chicago area, come to Bucaro Brothers Auto Care. If you have any questions, visit our website or call us at (773) 570-4541 for more information.

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Many car repairs can be avoided with simple auto maintenance. Keep reading to find out what kinds of issues car repair shops often find in a car that is improperly maintained.

In many cases, drivers who do not take their cars in for auto service after the check engine light has turned on end up paying a lot of money in engine repair, which can cost a lot of money to replace. If your transmission fluid is leaking, get it fixed as soon as possible, and don’t add more fluid—a transmission rebuild could run you thousands. Be sure that you change your oil on a regular basis to save your car’s powertrain from destruction. Watch the video for more tips.

For high-quality auto repair, come to Bucaro Brothers Auto Care of Chicago. Call us at (773) 570-4541 if you have any questions, or visit our website if you would like to learn more about the affordable, top-notch auto services we have to offer you.

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Saving money on car costs is actually quite simple. All you have to do is remember to maintain your car on a regular basis and start driving more efficiently. This will increase your fuel economy and decrease the chances that you will face an expensive repair bill. Visit the following webpages to learn more about good maintenance and driving habits.

• Diagnose the noises coming from your car by reading through the list of car noises on Popular Mechanics’ website.

• The worst automotive sounds are outlined on BankRate.com. If you hear any of them, visit an auto repair shop to get it fixed as soon as possible.

• Be sure that you stay on top of the basic car maintenance outlined by Consumer Reports. You’ll spend less money in the long run and get better fuel economy.

• Driving efficiently is a good habit to get into. Visit FuelEconomy.gov to learn what driving styles are the most conducive to good fuel economy.

• Follow the simple fuel economy tips listed on FTC.gov to find out how you can get the most money out of your visit to the gas station.

For more information, contact Bucaro Brothers Auto Care at (773) 570-4541.

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Believe it or not, improving the fuel efficiency of your car is easy. With just a few adjustments in driving and auto maintenance habits, you will be able to experience better fuel economy in no time. Follow these tips to start saving money by enhancing your car’s fuel economy.

Routine Maintenance

Replacing the air filter, fuel filter, and spark plugs on a regular basis is an inexpensive way to ensure that your engine operates at optimum efficiency. Engine oil changes and fluid flushes are also essential to keeping your engine strong, at the proper temperature, and well lubricated.

Tire Pressure

Keep an eye on your car’s tire pressure and be sure that it matches the factory-recommended PSI found in your car’s owner’s manual. You can either buy a digital tire gauge and a power tire pump and take care of this yourself, or stop by an auto shop. Either way, you should check the tire pressure of your car’s tires on a monthly basis.

Get Rid of Unnecessary Weight

If you keep anything inside of your car that you don’t use on a regular basis—with the exception of a car emergency kit—you’re probably better off taking it out of the car for the sake of fuel mileage. If you’re lugging around textbooks, golf clubs, clothes, or anything else that you could just as easily put inside of your house or apartment, it’s a good idea to take them out of your car so that you can improve the efficiency of your car’s engine.

Drive Efficiently

Avoid excessive accelerating and braking and you will enjoy better fuel economy. If you have a tendency to speed, try using your car’s cruise control. It’s also important to avoid idling. Keeping your car’s engine running when you’re stopped burns a lot more fuel than just turning your engine off and restarting it later.

For the best auto repair and maintenance in Chicago, come to Bucaro Brothers Auto Care. Visit our website to see what services we have to offer, and don’t hesitate to call us at (773) 570-4541 for more information.

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If you start to hear an unusual noise coming from your car, that’s a good indication that you should get it checked out by a professional auto mechanic. Watch out for the following three common noises.

Noises During Braking

There are a variety of noises that you might hear when you apply your car’s brakes, each one of them indicating a need for you to visit a car repair shop. A squealing noise indicates that your brake pads are rubbing against the discs. If you let the problem go for too long, it can damage the discs, which is more expensive than simply replacing the pads. If you hear a sound that’s more like scraping or grinding, the discs are making direct contact with the rotors. Take it to a car repair shop to get it fixed before serious damages to your braking system are caused.

Grinding During Manual Transmission Gear Shifting

Manual transmissions, fortunately, don’t need as much maintenance as automatic transmissions. If you ever hear a grinding noise when you’re shifting gears in your manual transmission car, it’s likely that your clutch needs adjusting or replacing. It could also be a number of other transmission problems, so be sure that you visit an auto repair shop as soon as possible.

Engine Noises

If your engine is sizzling, tapping, popping, clicking, or knocking, you might have a problem. Hissing or sizzling can mean that something is leaking, which is a problem that must be addressed right away. Knocking, tapping, or clicking can mean that the engine is being improperly maintained—in this case, you need to get your car serviced at a professional shop to make sure that your vehicle is getting what it needs.

For high-quality auto service in the Chicago area, come to Bucaro Brothers Auto Care of Chicago. Find out more about the maintenance and repair services we offer by visiting our website or calling us at (773) 570-4541.

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In this case, the customer of this car let his brakes grind too long and the caliper piston seal collapsed causing brake fluid to leak out!

Make sure this doesn't happen to you by always calling the experts at Bucaro Brothers Auto Care. 

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Check out the difference between the new fuel filler neck and the one with the leak!

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