What Customers Should Know

  • The Edible Engine
    You may have had a friend whose vehicle was the victim of hungry rodents.  After all, mice, rats and squirrels—even rabbits—have been known to gnaw on wires in engine compartments, ca...
    Published on: Apr 08, 2018
  • Tacky or Techie? The Tachometer.
    There's a gauge that many vehicles have that says RPM on it.  And there are a lot of people who either don't pay any attention to it or don't even know what it is. Here's why it's a good gauge to...
    Published on: May 19, 2019
  • Make your Service Visit at American Tire and Service a Good One
    Most people don't love going to get their vehicle serviced, but it's one of those things you just have to do. So you might as well get the most of out of it. There are some steps you can take that wil...
    Published on: May 26, 2019
  • When "Shady" is a Good Thing
    Just like your skin can burn from too much sun, so can the paint on your vehicle.  It can turn dull, oxidize and fade the more ultraviolet rays beat down on it. One solution is to park in a shady...
    Published on: Jun 23, 2019
  • Cruisin' on Down Main Street
    When automakers first came out with cruise control, it was a real luxury item.  The older cruise controls used a mechanical vacuum system but it worked.  Well, some of the time.  Now d...
    Published on: Jun 30, 2019
  • Wash Me, Wash Me Right (How to Wash a Vehicle)
    Most would agree they'd rather drive around in a clean, shiny vehicle than one coated with a layer of dirt.  When warmer weather comes around, some of us are bound and determined to wash our own ...
    Published on: Oct 27, 2019
  • DOG FOOD IN YOUR ENGINE (Keeping Rodents out of your Engine)
    A technician was telling us the other day that he was servicing an engine and spotted something he'd never seen before: A collection of dry dog food siting on a horizontal metal ledge near the base of...
    Published on: Nov 03, 2019
  • No Yolk! Rotten Egg Smell (Sulfur Smell Causes)
    The pungent smell of rotten eggs can send people running for the hills.  So when that odor is inside your vehicle, yikes!  Yolks!  The good news is that a trained service technician can...
    Published on: Dec 08, 2019
  • "Current" Affairs (Blown Fuses)
    You may be driving along and find that suddenly your radio stops working.  There are no numbers on the display.  Then when you get home, you notice the garage door opener doesn't do a thing ...
    Published on: Jan 12, 2020
  • No Fueling! (Fuel Filler Location)
    If you've ever gotten in an unfamiliar vehicle, maybe a rental car, you may have pulled up to the gas pump and wondered, "Which side is the fuel filler on?" Here's a tip for you.  There is usuall...
    Published on: Feb 02, 2020
  • Chilly Warning (Diagnosing a Noise in Cold Vehicle)
    When the weather gets colder, sometimes the noises your vehicle makes will change.  For example, you may notice a whining sound when you get going in the morning.  It may go away when the ve...
    Published on: Feb 09, 2020
  • THE IMPORTANCE OF VISIBILITY (Cleaning Vehicle Glass)
    We've all been through it. The vehicle ahead of us kicks up mud, slush, snow or salt on our windshield and we can't see a thing.  And not being able to see a thing when we're driving?  Not a...
    Published on: Feb 23, 2020
  • Visibility Disaster! (Windshield Washer Pump Replacement)
    Let's say you live in a cold climate where the snowy, icy weather challenges you to clear the salt and debris tossed up on your windshield.  You push your windshield washer switch expecting a goo...
    Published on: Mar 01, 2020
  • NOT JUST ANOTHER CUSTOMER (Finding the Right Service Facility)
    You might remember a hit TV sitcom that was set in a bar, a place where "everybody knows your name."  The idea, of course, is people feel more comfortable where they aren't just another customer ...
    Published on: Mar 29, 2020
  • When "Oh, no!" Turns Into, "All right!"
    Things we don't expect happen to our vehicles. And let's face, no one really wants to spend money on an unexpected repair. But if you are putting off going to your vehicle repair facility because you'...
    Published on: Apr 05, 2020
  • The Byte Stuff (Your Vehicle's Computers)
    Nobody has to tell you that computers are a part of so many things in our lives.  Smartphones, kitchen appliances, vacuum cleaners, televisions.  You name it—it has a computer in it.&n...
    Published on: May 03, 2020
  • Not-So-Common Sense (Sensor Failures)
    So your vehicle won't start.  What's the first thing that comes to mind?  Battery dead? Starter motor worn out? Out of gas?  Well, those are all reasons that make sense.  But your ...
    Published on: May 24, 2020
  • A Squirrely Problem (Animals Nesting in Engine)
    If you park your vehicle outside, you are exposing it to all sorts of critters that would love to use it for nesting, food storage and shelter.  There are plenty of pictures online of people who'...
    Published on: Jul 12, 2020
  • Move it or Lose It (Dormant Vehicles)
    When it comes to your vehicle, driving it too much can cause some issues.  But what about not driving a vehicle enough? That has consequences as well. Here are a few things that can happen if a ...
    Published on: Aug 02, 2020
  • Power Failure (Broken Power Seat)
    Know anyone who doesn't love a power seat in an SUV, a car, truck or van? They're convenient and precise in their adjustments.  But when they break, oh, what a pain.  Not only is it inconven...
    Published on: Aug 09, 2020