Auto Repair In Crown Point

A vehicle's engine needs gas, air, and spark to operate. Therefore if a car's spark plug is broken or not put in correctly, the car might not work at all or just stop running. Spark plugs must be maintained and replaced on a regular basis, although there is no actual timetable. So it falls to you as the owner, to examine the plugs on a regular basis and replace any that are broken. What Is A Spark Plug? A spark plug is a device that plugs into the engine's cylinder and generates a spark for combustion through a conduit from the battery. A four-cylinder engine has four spark plugs, but a V8 has eight. Copper, nickel, iridium, and platinum are used in the formation of spark plugs and they are protected and insulated by ceramic. Functions of a Spark Plug A spark plug generates high-voltage electricity between a center and a ground electrode. The air-fuel mixture is ignited by the cylinder spark. This explosion causes the piston to fire. Symptoms Of Bad Spark Plugs The ... read more

As a driver, you are responsible for checking your car tire pressure on a regular basis. Driving with the wrong pressure on your vehicle's tires could lead to negative consequences, including the cost of having to replace them a lot sooner. To monitor and adjust your tire pressure, you'll need a tire pressure gauge and air compressor. What is a tire pressure gauge? A tire pressure gauge is a specific tool that can give you the exact psi of each tire. They are cheap and easy to obtain. There are some variations between gauges, including digital tire gauges. They are more advanced and easier to read. Other pressure gauges are analog and digital. These are connected to an air compressor hose, which will allow you to inflate your tires. What is an air compressor? As mentioned before, air compressors are devices that help you inflate your tires. They can be found at gas stations. Additionally, you can also buy a portable one. They help your tires reach their recommended psi. Ho ... read more

As a vehicle owner, there are various car care tasks that you need to do to keep your car healthy. Cooling system maintenance is especially important because it deals with your engine. You need a clean flow of coolant to draw the heat away from your hot engine. It also prevents the metal parts from rusting.    Unfortunately, your coolant can collect contaminants over time, which makes it less effective. If you want to avoid overheating or rust problems, a coolant flush reis the answer to your issue.  Below are the three benefits of coolant flushes: Removes Contaminants As mentioned earlier, deposits can build up throughout the cooling system and cause rust and other damages. During a coolant flush, a technician rinses the system and gets rid of all harmful deposits.  Protects the Water Pump A coolant flush involves removing all the old coolant in the system before adding fresh new fluid. The new coolant will help restore the water pump and protect it from bre ... read more

Even if you are a prudent driver and car owner who regularly takes your car for maintenance, emergencies are aspects of the road that you neither predict nor prevent. However, you can equip your vehicle with the necessary items to help you if you are stranded in the middle of the road or helping a fellow motorist. Below are the top ten emergency kit items you should have in your vehicle and constantly replace. First Aid Kit A first aid kit is essential to possess in your car to help save a life. It should have everything from antibiotic ointment, non-latex gloves, band-aid sizes, tweezers, pain relief tablets, blood stopper compress, adhesive tape, etc. These items are crucial to have in the event of serious injury and can also be termed a "life-saving kit". Fire Extinguisher No matter how small it is, a fire's occurrence can accelerate to a full-blown catastrophe. Therefore it's essential to have a way to put the fire out as soon as it starts. It would help if yo ... read more

Your vehicle battery contains all the electrical power your car needs to run its engine and other electronic accessories. Over many years of usage, your battery will inevitably weaken and die. So when it starts declining, you may notice a few signs. Here's what they are: Dim Lights When your car battery can hold a sufficient charge, your headlights provide more than enough light to light up the road ahead of you. But with a weakened battery, your headlights will malfunction by being dimmer or flickering. Battery Corrosion Your battery may show physical signs of stress, such as corrosion. It often shows up around the battery terminals as a white, blue, or green residue.  Engine Backfires If your engine backfires, it could be due to a weakened battery and insufficient spark. If you experience this type of problem, it's best to leave it to the professionals to diagnose and fix it. Difficult or Failure to Start Engine An aging battery ... read more

Winter can be a difficult time to drive around Crown Point, Indiana. Not only is the weather unbearably cold and uncomfortable, but it can present innumerable challenges for your car. You may experience dead car batteries, frosted windshields, wipers, poor tire traction, or worse, a breakdown. For the safety of Crown Point drivers, we suggest following these few maintenance items to protect yourself from those inconveniences: Tires Your tires should be your number one priority this winter, as the roads can become slippery quickly. Please ensure you have enough tire tread to provide you with proper traction. Furthermore, you can expect your tire pressure to drop due to the cold, so remember to fill up with the right amount of air.  Fluids We recommend topping off any fluids that may need it, including coolant, windshield washer fluid, and brake fluid. It also doesn't hurt to get an oil change, as it can thicken up and lose its viscosity this time of year. Brakes Winter ca ... read more

If you just bought a new car recently, you are probably not thinking about the future. You don't expect to have to buy another one any time soon. Every new vehicle owner wants their car to last them as long as 200,000 miles (or more). But to ensure you hit that milestone without complications, there are specific steps you have to take to get there. Here are some tips for preserving the integrity of your new vehicle.  Step 1 - Keep Up With Oil Changes Oil changes are single-handedly the most important maintenance service that you need for your car. It's the engine lifeblood, and if you want your vehicle to continue running, you will need to feed it clean and fresh oil. Typically, vehicles need oil changes every 5,000 miles or so. The gaps between each service can be longer depending on the type of oil that is used. It's best to go by your owner's manual for the mileage intervals. Step 2 - Regular Tune-Ups There are many other working elements in your vehicle, an ... read more

Will It Damage My Engine If I Continue to Drive My Car with the Check Engine Light On?   It can be an unnerving experience to be driving in your car and the check engine light suddenly pops up. If this has happened to you, you're not alone.   In this post, we talk about a few reasons your check engine light may be on and what to do about it. Vehicle manufacturers connect the check engine light to your vehicle emissions system. Any issues detected by this built-in system system can cause the yellow light to flicker to life.   When your check engine light comes on, this is the first sign that there is an issue under the hood. Following are five common Issues that trigger the check engine light: Oxygen sensor Gas Cap Failing catalytic converter Mass Airflow sensor Spark plugs What to Do When Your Check Engine Light Comes On The first thing to do when your check engine light comes on is to remain calm. Listen for unusual sounds under the hood like grinding. I ... read more

Did you know that Indiana’s deer population is more than 1 million - oh deer. Most car-deer accidents occur in the fall, particularly in the month of November. While you may not see their antlers in the city, you might find them in the rural areas of Indiana. Here are some tips for driving in deer-centric areas during this time of year! Areas with high deer populations are usually marked with a bright yellow warning sign. Deer also like to graze in wooded areas or open fields. So when you approach these types of places, make sure you slow down. These animals are most active during sunrise and sunset. Make sure to be extra attentive and strap on your seat belts. Use high beams at night when the road is free of traffic. You will have a clearer view ahead of you. Deer travel in groups or packs. So if you see one in your path, proceed with care in case there are more along with it. Deer can become attached to steady, bright lights, so they may stop in their tracks when they see ... read more

The holidays are approaching as we are rounding off the year for 2021. One of those important holidays is next month: Thanksgiving. We're all familiar that it is reserved as a day to spend with loved ones and give thanks to friends and family. With that being said, many people are going to be on the road traveling beforehand. To keep you and your passengers safe, please follow our brief list of tips! Practice Safe Driving Manners Carelessness is the number one cause of the bulk of car accidents in the US. Please remember to do the basic safe driving steps like buckling up and asking your passengers to put on their seat belts before moving. Furthermore, keep your hands on the steering wheel and keep your eyes peeled to the road as long as possible.  Do NOT Try to Pass Large Trucks Trucks are heavier and have a longer stopping distance, so it is not safe to cut in front of them abruptly. It can lead to a major accident, so it's best to be patient. Avoid Distractions On ... read more