Category: Certified Mechanic

There’s no way around it. Chicago summers can be brutally hot and humid, which takes a real toll on your vehicle. When temps hit the upper 90s and above, you may think that humans and wildlife are the ones who suffer the most, but have you ever considered what these temps do to your car? […]

Nearly everyone is feeling the pain of higher gas prices at the pump. Unless you own an electric vehicle, you know how painful these gas prices can be to your wallet and there is no sign of them ending anytime soon.  Perhaps you had considered a road trip this summer but wonder if high gas […]

It’s been a long and harsh winter, hasn’t it? Maybe not one for the record books, but those long months of blizzards, below freezing temps, salt, and ice storms have probably taken their toll on your car. While most people are anxiously awaiting a weekend where they can wash, wax, and detail the interior of […]

When it comes time for your vehicle to have its oil and filter changed, you might think that this ordinary task is exactly that- ordinary. The truth, however, is that there are multiple aspects and questions about changing the oil on your ride than meet the eye. Perhaps the biggest three questions that the mechanics […]

While the local groundhog says that spring is just around the corner, Chicagoans know that there is still a whole lot of snow and ice going on- at least for a few more weeks.  If your vehicle is looking a little worse for the wear, that’s pretty common. Cold temperatures, ice, snow, and the ever-present […]

At one time, all vehicles came with a standard 3-speed manual transmission. This quickly changed, however, and before long it was not uncommon to see 4 speed and 5-speed manual transmissions.  In the 1940s, automatic transmissions were released, and the public really liked them. Today, it is very difficult to find vehicles with manual transmissions.  […]

It’s November folks and you know what that means. If it hasn’t snowed yet or gone below freezing, it’s just a matter of time before it will. There is no maybe about tough winters in Chicago and the suburbs, which means that November is the perfect time to prep your car for the upcoming winter. […]

When making out a monthly budget, do you tend to just skip over car maintenance? Lots of people do, no judgment here, but why are most people afraid of maintenance? Is it the time involved? The cost? The inconvenience? Or is it one of those “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” deals?  Perhaps people […]

Has this happened to you? You’re minding your own business, driving down the road when a funny-looking symbol lights up on the dashboard of your car.  What the heck does that little light mean?  Even if it’s obvious (The dreaded Check Engine Light, for example) does the light mean that it is something simple (You […]

The past year or so has been an incredible journey, hasn’t it? Covid has interrupted our lives in so many ways, and now, it is interrupting common businesses, such as new and used cars. Chances are that you haven’t driven your current car very much in the past year but now that things are slowly […]