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Our Auto Repair Service Blog – Bucaro Brothers Auto Care

Tips on Car Spring Cleaning

04.07.2023 12:21 pm | Okan Sengullu

From Bucaro Brothers – Ways to Spring Clean Your Car and Prep for Summer As winter gradually starts to loosen its grip, many of us start looking forward to the pleasures of summer, including, possibly, summer road trips. Before summer arrives and we start making those trips, it’s a good idea to clean off and clean out all the gunk and junk that’s accumulated on and in your car during winter. Tips for Spring To keep your car problems to a minimum during the coming months, here are some of our best spring cleaning tips. 1. Get rid of the salt and synthetic deicer. In areas like Illinois, as we all know, these things are used extensively to keep our roads open and passable. But left on the undercarriage of your car, they can do a lot of damage. The easiest way to clean it all away is to take your vehicle to a professional car wash and pay for a package that includes an undercarriage wash. If you’re a dedicated DIY kind of person, you can prepare a 50-50 mix of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and crawl under your vehicle to clean off the accumulated gunk…. Read more

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Tips on Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance

02.15.2023 5:38 pm | Okan Sengullu

From Bucaro Brothers Auto Care – Taking Care of Your Hybrid or Electric Vehicle (EV) Let’s come right to the point: Hybrid and electric vehicles are here to stay, in large part because of rising federal MPG fuel standards. In 2016 the standard was about 35 MPG, but by 2025 it will rise to slightly over 54 MPG. Given the necessity of meeting those standards, the only choice vehicle manufacturers have is to turn out an ever increasing number of hybrid and electric vehicles. Basic Maintenance Tips for Hybrids and EVs So, as we said, electric vehicles in one form or another are here to stay, and the following tips are offered by your friends at Bucaro Brothers to help keep your electrified vehicle in good running condition for years to come. Watch the Fluids Since hybrids are propelled by both electricity and an internal combustion engine (ICE), that means they have the usual assortment of under-the-hood fluids. These need to be checked regularly and include radiator coolant, brake fluid, and oil. In addition, most hybrids have transmission fluid that needs to be checked underneath the vehicle. If you don’t feel comfortable making this check, take your hybrid to your… Read more

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Winter Windshield Care for Chicago Motorists

01.31.2023 2:46 pm | Okan Sengullu

4 Tips for Windshield Care in Winter It should be obvious to every motorist that keeping a clear windshield in winter is absolutely essential for safe driving. In addition to providing you with a view of the road ahead, your windshield also provides about 30 percent of your vehicle’s structural support, helping protect you and your passengers in case of an accident. Given the importance of your windshield, we wanted to pass on some important tips for protecting your windshield from damage during those months when Mother Nature is serving up her worst for area motorists. Repair All Damage Immediately Sooner or later, we’re all going to experience cracks and chips in our windshield caused by flying rocks or other debris. All too often, the temptation is to ignore the damage for a while, perhaps until better weather returns. That’s a mistake, and you should not do it. The damage is not going away, it’s only going to get worse over time. So do yourself and your budget a favor and get those chips and cracks repaired before they spread, forcing you to replace your windshield instead of repairing it. Clean Ice Off Your Windshield Carefully Ideally, it’s best to… Read more

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How Do I Know If My Transmission is Bad?

11.15.2022 2:33 pm | Okan Sengullu

Let’s cut right to the chase: If the transmission in your vehicle goes out on you, you’re not going anywhere. The best way to avoid being stranded with a dead transmission is to pay close attention to signs that you’re on the verge of having a serious problem. Key Warnings Signs of a Bad Transmission Here are 6 signs indicating your transmission is in bad shape and you’d better get to your favorite automotive service center as soon as possible to avoid being stranded with a vehicle that’s going nowhere. 1) Poor Response, failure to change gears If your vehicle struggles to change gears, that’s usually a sign of transmission trouble. The source of the problem could be low transmission fluid or having the wrong fluid, but it could also be something more serious causing the problem, and it could be an electrical, hydraulic, or mechanical issue, or some combination of these. In the worst case scenario, your vehicle may not go into gear at all, leaving you, for example, completely stranded at an intersection, with a long line of frustrated motorists behind you who’re having to swivel around your stalled vehicle. 2) A burning smell Any time you detect… Read more

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Tips to Avoid or Deter Catalytic Converter Theft in Chicago

10.16.2022 8:51 am | Okan Sengullu

One of the most important and expensive parts of your vehicle is the catalytic converter. This device, which is part of the exhaust system, is found underneath every gas-powered vehicle. The metals in it convert engine exhaust into nitrogen, oxygen, and other less harmful gases. Catalytic converters are stolen at an exorbitant rate throughout major cities in the US. According to the Chicago Police Department’s most recent statistics, 3,924 catalytic converter thefts were stolen between January and July of 2022. What makes these devices attractive to thieves is what they contain, namely precious metals more valuable than gold. One of those metals is rhodium, which is 2021 sold for $27,900 an ounce. Catalytic converters also contain platinum, selling for $1,277 an ounce, and palladium, with a going rate of $2,896 an ounce. Unfortunately, catalytic converters are fairly accessible, especially on trucks and SUVs because of their higher ground clearance, and easily removed by thieves with a few simple tools and/or a saw. Typically, a metal recycler will pay anywhere from $50 to $250 for a catalytic converter off a standard vehicle, while those stolen from a hybrid vehicle might bring thieves something in the neighborhood of $800. If yours is… Read more

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