With temperatures now at the highest point they’ll be all year, your vehicle’s engine will be feeling the heat the next little while. Luckily, there are ways to combat the sun’s effect on your vehicle to make sure you don’t have an overheating engine to deal with.

Keep an extra bottle of coolant in your car in addition to a water jug. Low coolant levels …… ( more )

A gasoline-powered vehicle requires an ignition system to ignite fuel and turn the motor. When the ignition system is not functioning properly, your vehicle may run rough and may not pass emissions tests.

Most ignition systems consist of spark plugs, spark plug wires, a distributor and some supporting equipment.

Spark plugs are usually the first item that needs to be replaced. As spark plugs age, …… ( more )

We are all familiar with cruise control, that setting on your steering wheel or dashboard that makes it easy to just set the speed you want to drive at and just monitor speed instead of actively using the pedal to adjust your speed.

But how does Cruise Control actually help you?..

First, by setting the speed for it (for example while driving on the highway) at the …… ( more )

Your vehicle’s transmission is an incredibly complex and sophisticated component that performs the vital task of powering your wheels vis-à-vis sophisticated gear-shifting mechanisms, making forward progress possible. Given its vital role in your engine’s functionality, transmission maintenance is extremely important to your vehicle’s overall health.

The majority of transmission issues arise from overheating, which can stem from a variety of factors including weather/temperature, workload …… ( more )

Winter weather is hard on vehicles. Between ice, road salt, changing weather and unpredictable drivers, there are plenty of risks on winter roads. But now that it’s springtime, how do you know if your vehicle is in the clear?

The answer: you don’t. But you CAN check for common winter damage and get it fixed now before it causes even bigger problems this spring/summer.

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Roads in Western Michigan can be extremely volatile during the winter months, with snow and ice taking turns making life difficult for drivers. The most dreaded element of all, black ice, is also a constant danger here as temperatures fluctuate and moisture hardens quickly. As such, the chances of your vehicle experiencing a collision at this time of year are higher than normal.

When icy …… ( more )

Old Man Winter has definitely arrived in The Tulip City. The days are short, the temperatures are low and the snow banks are high.

With treacherous road conditions now a daily threat, here are a few things you should have in your vehicle at all times during the winter months here in Western Michigan:

Windshield Scraper. Removing a layer of ice from your windshield can …… ( more )

Your vehicle’s transmission is responsible for adapting speed and torque, deftly shifting gears to ensure that the right amount of power is going to the right place and your wheels can rotate properly to make forward propulsion possible. Since it’s such a vital component and is used with great regularity, your vehicle’s transmission can sometimes encounter issues arising from problems in other areas. One …… ( more )

Does it sometimes feel like it’s next to impossible to keep your car clean during a Michigan winter? The constant precipitation and fluctuating temperatures means that puddles, mud, etc. are tough to avoid.

Even though it’s a challenge, there’s a major reason that you should make a concerted effort to keep your vehicle as clean as possible during the winter months: ROAD …… ( more )

Most drivers in Michigan can probably relate to the following scenario: hop into the car, start it, and instantly notice a warning light flashing angrily at you. That wasn’t on the last time you drove the car… or was it?

Don’t panic. Think. What does this flashing light represent? Consult your manual if you’re unsure, then follow these tips for things you can do to …… ( more )