News
10/12/09
Ok, Ok, we need the rain....... Have you checked your wipers and tires? See below if you have not!
Coming up is battery season. Be aware of how your car reacts at start up. If something seems a little slow, make a mental note and monitor if it repeats or becomes worse. If your starting is definitively sluggish, come see us. As you know, your battery will pick the most miserable conditions to actually die. Probably as you are late for something important,,,,like that whole work thing.
One note on battery issues. If you go to start your car and the battery is low, be careful if you decide to "jump" it. As always, positive (red) to positive on both batteries, negative (black) to black on your battery, negative (black) to a metal ground on the jumper vehicle. If in doubt....DON'T. It's just not worth a new control module, or whatever else you burn up trying. Call Rochas, or us, if in doubt, they will tow you in to the shop. One biggy for late model Mercedes.... just tow it in. The smallest mistake or electrical surge can cause major damage! It's just not worth it. In our opinion, the only way to get a late model battery up and running is to remove it and trickle charge it. (If you don't know what that means, please don't even try!). Of course then you will have to know how to reset your radio, windows and sunroof. See.....it's not worth it. The last thing we want to see is you and/or your car smoldering in our shop. Be careful out there, let us do our thing when you need us! One last thing, on those late model Mercedes, we wouldn't recoimmend being the jumper vehicle either. Electricity can travel in both directions. As much as you want to be that good samaritan, find them an old Ford truck to use for the jumper vehicle. Please.
Now is the time to blast some heat. Just to make sure it will blast when its's cold. OF course, give your engine time to get up to operating temperature, then blast away. Is it blowing hard out the vents? If not, we need to check it out. Is it blowing hot like a beautiful July afternoon? Again, let us check it out if it isn't. No need to rush down, just add it to your list next time you are in. Can't seem to get the temperature past look warm? Well, you might want to come see us at your convenience for that. Like your battery, your heat will pick the most miserable of conditions to malfunction.
9/01/09
WHEW! We made it! Looks like the brutal summer has an edge off....finally. Word is that we can expect a wet winter. Let's start getting ready for some rain. Run your wiper washer and check your wiper blade wipe pattern. Good? You are set. Not so good? Call us and set up a time to drop by and we'll put some new inserts in your blades. It should only take a few minutes. Don't forget to top off your washer reservoir...water is just fine.
Now, let's check those tires. First, turn your front tires all the way left or right to expose the tread. Let's begin by checking the air pressure in both front tires (We just know that you have a gauge in your car...right?). It will say on the tire what the manufacturer thinks is the best psi for your tire, usually around 32-34 psi. The tire may mention a max psi....don't do it. If you can't find the recommended psi, a little internet searching should answer your question. Correct the pressure up or down as needed. This is where a $20 air pump comes in handy. I have one in my truck that you set the psi at what you want, power it on and it cuts off by itself when full! Even has a light and connections for other blow up stuff. Seriously, I think it was $20 at Wally World. Yes, we know the air pump down at the gas station is a pain.....and expensive, so, if you are in the neighborhood, pop in and we'll fix you up.
How is the wear? It should be even across the tread. Especially look for wear on the outside edges. If the tread is worn unevenly, we need to see you. It may just need an alignment, but we need to check your suspension bushings and steering components. With the average set of tires running well over $500, we need to identify the cause of uneven wear before you wear out those tires! Let's check the tread next. You'll need a penny. With honest Abe upside down, stick the penny in your tread. You should be into his hair to be OK. If there is a gap between his hair and the deepest part of your tread, it's time for tires. Let's check the wear bar to see how quickly you need tires. We're going to get a little dirty now! Run your index finger in the depth of the tread. You shouldn't have to go more than about a foot before you feel a bump. The closer your tread is to the bump, the sooner you need tires. Now that you're dirty, walk around back and check your rear tires. Yes, this will probably take some kneeling and, for some, crawling. Run the same tests on the rear. Don't forget to check the pressure.
Any doubts or questions about your tires, call us. If your eyes are rolling into the back of your head and you don't even own a tire gauge, come on by and we'll check them for you....but we want cookies or something.
06/10/09
We have our new site up and running! Finally!
06/1/09
Told you so! Summer is kicking in, delayed repairs are rearing their ugly head and we are busy! It is still our goal to get you in the next day from when you call or when your schedule permits.
Looks like a hot summer coming, keep an eye on that temperature gauge. 87 degrees is normal, 80 is usually marked on your gauge. The line above that is 100 degrees. With hot weather, your cooling system will fluctuate between 87 and 100. At 100, all fans should be rolling and all is well. If you see your gauge getting above that 100 degree mark, we need to see you. If you get up in the red zone on your gauge:
STOP!
Seriously, pull over at the first safe place. Do not try to make it home. Do not try to make it to the office. Just one more mile can damage your engine. Stop and call us. If it is after hours, call our tow company, Rochas (Print this link and keep it in your vehicle.). Continuing to drive can ruin your engine! It's just not worth trying to avoid a $75 tow. We would much rather repair your cooling system issue than rebuild your engine and then fix your cooling system $$$$! So......keep an eye on that gauge, call us with any questions.
4/20/09
"How is business"? Our concerned customers ask us all the time. With the current worries about our national economy, we all are keeping a watch on the people and businesses we care about. Fortunately, our answer is "Good to great!". Our business continues to be solid and consistent. We appreciate your support and concern.
We have seen some changes. These changes seem to reflect two types of our customers. One type is deciding to keep their vehicle and are paying close attention to maintenance and repairs. They have decided to delay a newer vehicle in the foreseeable future. On average, they are spending a little more money on their vehicles to keep them confident as their daily drivers. The other type of customer has put a stop to as much spending as possible. They are prolonging service intervals and procrastinating on needed repairs. When push comes to shove, they come see us. But when they do... it usually results in a more-than-average repair bill.
In the end, we are currently seeing a few less vehicles than normal, but most are spending a little more than normal. In short..it's all good! As for the folks who are delaying....we are expecting a very busy summer!
We appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you soon.
Events
Check back, nothing on the horizon right now