Back to School = Back to Routine: Is Your Vehicle Ready for the Commute?

School is almost back in session. Between supply lists, carpool planning, and getting everyone out the door on time, it’s easy to forget one critical part of the routine: your vehicle. Whether you're sending your teen off to high school, commuting to work, or heading back to campus yourself, vehicle safety is essential. After a long, hot summer, even a well-running car can develop small issues that turn into big problems. Overheating engines, weak batteries, and low fluids are some…

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The Unsung Hero Under Your Car: More Than Just a Muffler

Let’s be honest. Most people don’t think much about their exhaust system. You turn the key, the engine starts (maybe with a growl or a quiet purr), and off you go. But underneath your vehicle is a part that quietly puts in the work every time you drive: the catalytic converter. It doesn’t ask for attention, but when it’s gone or stops working, you’ll feel it fast. So What Exactly Does a Catalytic Converter Do? Picture it as a high-tech…

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Keep It in Gear: What Drivers Should Know About Transmissions

Not sponsored by your transmission, but it probably wishes it was. Let’s talk about a part of your car that doesn’t get much love until it stops working: the transmission. It’s not glamorous. It doesn’t get cool chrome upgrades or Instagram shoutouts. But your transmission is a big deal. It handles all the heavy lifting when it comes to moving your vehicle through gears, and through life. So here’s a crash course (not literally, hopefully) on what it does, what…

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The Best Automotive Service You Probably Never Heard Of: Pre-Owned Vehicle Inspections

Let’s play a quick game: What does dating, buying a house, and buying a used car all have in common? Answer: If you skip the background check, you’re asking for heartbreak. Yet every single day, people buy pre-owned vehicles with no inspection, no second opinion, no mechanic’s eye, no idea what's really going on under the hood. It's the automotive equivalent of marrying someone after the third date just because they seemed “nice.” This is where Pre-Owned Vehicle Inspections come…

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You Wanna Know if It’s Still Worth Fixing? I’ll Give It to You Straight

Look, we fix cars for a living. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to tell you to throw money at something that isn’t worth it. In fact, there are plenty of times we tell folks not to fix their vehicle, and we do it with confidence. Sometimes the best way to take care of your ride… is to let it go. This comes up more often than you might think. A customer comes in with a big repair estimate and…

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Radiator Trouble in the Summer Heat? Here’s What Every Driver Should Know

If your car has ever started steaming in traffic, you know how fast a normal drive can turn stressful. In DeKalb County, summer heat doesn’t mess around, and neither should your cooling system. We see overheating issues all the time at both of our Bockman’s locations. Most of the time, they trace back to something small that could’ve been caught early. So let’s run through the basics: why it happens, what to watch for, and what you can do to…

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Why Isn’t My A/C Cold?

Understanding Your Car’s Air Conditioning (Without the Fluff) It’s 90 degrees out. You jump in the car, crank the A/C, and get hit with… warm air. Maybe it’s just slow to start. Maybe it’s just being moody. But after a few minutes of sweating in traffic, reality sets in: your air conditioning is failing you. Again. This is one of the most common complaints we see every spring and summer at Bockman’s. It always shows up right when you need…

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Pothole Season Is Here. Is Your Car’s Front End Ready?

Spring in Illinois is a mixed bag. The snow melts, temps climb, and the sun makes a comeback. But while we’re all celebrating the change of seasons, your car’s front end might be dreading it. Welcome to pothole season, when the roads look like they’ve taken a beating from a jackhammer, and your steering wheel suddenly has a mind of its own. Around this time every year, we see a noticeable increase in steering and suspension issues, and it’s no…

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Who Should You Trust With Your Car?

  5 Smart Questions to Ask Before You Decide Car trouble never shows up at a good time. Maybe your brakes feel off, the check engine  light is glowing again, or your car’s making a new sound that absolutely wasn’t there  yesterday. So now what?  You’ve got options: dealerships, national chains, or the local shop down the road. But  before you hand over the keys and hope for the best, it pays to ask a few key questions. Not  every…

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