Scheduled Maintenance

Let's be honest. When most people think about their car's exhaust system, they think about one thing: that pipe sticking out the back. Maybe two pipes if they're feeling really fancy. That's it. That's the whole mental picture. But there's a whole lot more going on under your car than just a glorified smokestack, and understanding it could save you money, keep your family safe, and help your car live a long, healthy, non-dramatic life. Unlike that check engine light,…

You know that friend who only goes to the doctor when something is already seriously wrong? Their arm is turning purple, they’re coughing up something green, and there’s a weird noise coming from somewhere that definitely shouldn’t be making noise. A lot of people treat their tires the same way. They ignore them until something is obviously, dramatically wrong. And by then, they’re looking at a repair bill that hurts a lot more than it needed to. Here’s the thing,…

Let's talk about your car. Specifically, let's talk about that noise your car has been making. You know the one. The squeak, the clunk, the mysterious grinding sound that you've been turning the radio up to drown out for the last three months. You've named it, haven't you? Named the whole car. "Oh, that's just my car Gerald." Gerald is not fine. Gerald is trying to tell you something. Here's the thing about car noises: they don't go away on…

Let me ask you something. When was the last time you thought about your car's suspension? If your answer is "when something started clunking," you're in good company. Most people don't think about it at all, which is perfectly fine, right up until it isn't. The suspension is one of those things that works so quietly when it's healthy that you forget it exists. Then one day you hit a pothole on Route 23 and the whole front end sounds…

Let me set the scene. You drop your car off at a shop, the service advisor hands you a piece of paper with a number on it that looks like the asking price for a modest lake house, and you smile and nod like you totally understand what you just agreed to. Then you drive home in the loaner car, sit down with a cup of coffee, and think... what exactly did I just sign? You are not alone. Car…