Our Auto Repair Service Blog

The only honest synthetic oil job I could find in the Lincoln Park area. They even threw in a tire rotation with my oil change (they normally include it in the conventional job, and were happy to include it in the synthetic job) All other places charge an "idiot tax" for a synthetic oil job (i.e. they charge $20 for a conventional oil change and $90 for a synthetic oil change.  The difference in cost between conventional oil and synthetic oil is at most $30 total and the LABOR IS...

When buying a new car, one big decision you will generally make is whether to choose the manual or automatic version of the vehicle. There are benefits and disadvantages to each choice, and it comes down to deciding which one is the best fit for you. The differences between automatic and manual transmissions range from price to performance. Here is a brief comparison of transmission styles: Purchase Price Manual transmissions are slightly less complicated than automatic gearboxes and are therefore less expensive to manufacture. This means that cars with automatic...

Your tires are perhaps your car’s most important feature. With the proper maintenance, your tires can provide you with improved handling, safety, and fuel efficiency. One of the most important features of a tire is its tread. This video demonstrates how to check your tire for abnormal tread wear. The presenter explains how poor alignment and rotation can cause uneven tire tread wear, compromising the effectiveness of your tires in all situations. The video also explains a basic brake inspection. http://www.youtube.com/v/ej0HzkqISSg?hl=en&fs=1 If you need your tires inspected, rotated, or replaced,...

The clutch is a vital component of a vehicle with a manual transmission, and is therefore an important part of the car’s maintenance schedule. The clutch is what allows you to manually control your transmission to engage the gears. Proper care will ensure a long-lasting clutch and transmission, but there are many problems that can occur due to misuse. What is a Clutch? The clutch, most simply, is what allows the smooth operation of two spinning parts that must cooperate without always spinning together. It is a system that both...

Regular maintenance is key, as we know, so I brought my 3000 Toyota Camry (99,000 miles) is for its regular oil change. I was chatting with the serviceman as he wrote up my ticket, and asked him when I should get a 'regular check-up', like I did every 15,000 miles when the car was new, and less often later at a dealership. He assured me that wasn't really necessary,. I asked casually about the brakes, which I thought were OK but maybe they could look at, and he immediately called...

Your transmission controls your gearbox, regulating the gear differential in your engine. If your transmission has a problem, your car will be unable to operate efficiently. You'll have increased gas costs, and you'll probably have to visit the mechanics at your local auto repair shop more often. To find out if you're having a transmission problem, watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/v/Slw3zyuCVog?hl=en&fs=1 J.B. Hebert explains that automatic and manual transmissions have many unique problems, but that some problems are common to both. Grinding during gear changes, gear noises, and burning smells from...