Auto Repair in Bellwood

Maintenance! Sometimes, it's a dreaded word.... But, it has to be done, right?! Vehicle maintenance shouldn't be different than all of the other maintenance items in our lives, which is a hefty list when you think about it. Dental cleanings, annual physicals, furnace and A/C inspections, changing your furnace filter, weekly laundry, mowing the lawn, paying the bills, the list could go on and on! When you miss intervals for some of these things, it's very obvious. If you don't do the laundry, you won't have clean clothes to wear. If you don't mow the lawn, your grass will be over grown. Some items are less obvious. If you don't get regular dental cleanings, you may end up with a cavity. If you don't have an annual physical, you may miss an illness of some sort. Then there are the ones that are the least obvious, like vehicle maintenance or furnace and A/C inspections. With these, regular maintenance keeps things running better in the lon ... read more

We have had A LOT of rain these last few days. We needed it but do you know what all that rain comes with (besides this icky humidity)? Rain-filled potholes… either you didn’t see the pothole at all because it was full of rain OR the rain made it seem like it wasn’t too bad or just a puddle, until you hit it. So, you hit the big pothole, now what? Potholes can end up causing no damage or they can cause more damage than you think! The most obvious issue would be tire damage. It could be as obvious as causing a flat tire right away or it could be less obvious damage, putting you more at risk for blowout or flat tire some days later. Either way, it may be worth getting checked out, and definitely keep an eye on your tire pressure. Check your steering wheel to ensure it is still centered and ensure that your vehicle isn’t pulling to one side. If the steering wheel is not centered or you feel a pull, the pothole impact could have affected the vehicle’s align ... read more

It was a hot one out there this weekend, definitely not our typical June weather! And now there is rain and​ humidity in the forecast! Hot weather, hot roads and humidity can be a tough combination for our vehicles. As always, regular maintenance is the best medicine for getting your car through summer. Since the engine runs hotter in the summer plus the weather is warmer, the engine needs to stay lubricated – oil changes are key. Also remember that if you are taking summer road trips, you may need an oil change at a shorter interval than usual. Other fluids – coolant, transmission fluid and power steering fluid – plus the hoses they run through also need to be checked to ensure all the systems are working properly. Another thing to keep an eye on is tire pressure – hot pavement, hot weather and temperature changes can affect the pressure. Tires should always be inflated according to manufacturer recommendation, to avoid excessive wear and prevent da ... read more

Have you ever thought about all the little things we do to keep our lives running smoothly? Sometimes these things are totally second nature but we don't always extend those habits to our vehicles, which need regular maintenance. We may not notice a difference in the feel or appearance of the vehicle, but regular maintenance carries the hidden reward of prolonging the vehicle’s life and can also be noticeable at gas pump. When it comes to reduced fuel economy, increased friction is often the culprit. That means that anything drivers can do to decrease friction and increase the efficiency of their engines will translate to savings on fuel. Friction increases the amount of energy it takes to move something, so if we can reduce friction, we can decrease the amount of fuel it takes to run our vehicles. Engine oil is usually at the heart of friction problems in an engine. Too little oil means parts are not getting lubricated, which increases friction and dirty oil doesn ... read more