Crosse Auto Repair

Chattering noise of old wipers…Eeeeek! That’s one annoying sound! It’s time to get those wipers replaced. Not only do worn out wipers chatter, it won’t be long before they will interfere with your ability to see clearly. Wipers are constantly exposed to the extremes in weather temperatures. It’s no wonder, they get dry, brittle and torn. How many times have you been caught off-guard by the first winter storm of the season, only to have a streaky windshield that you can barely see out of? To avoid those nasty surprises, wiper blades should generally be changed every 6 months. It’s also a good idea to keep your vehicle’s windshield washer fluid topped off as well. Have a safe upcoming winter on the road

When you hear a person speak of the non-repair zone of a tire, they are speaking of a part of the tire that has been punctured. Most often it is likely by a screw or nail. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of having all tire repairs be completed by a trained mechanic to do a complete and proper repair. Having good tires is so important for your safety. You want to make sure any tire repair is done correctly. The picture below shows you the repair area (grey) and the non-repair zone (red) on a tire. If a puncture occurs in the repair zone then your technician will do an inspection of the interior of the tire. Afterwards the mechanic will decide if a repair can be completed. He/ she will look at the size and spacing of the damages to determine if the tire can be fixed or will need to be scrapped. For more information on tire repair and our Tire Warranty, click on the link below. Then click on Tires and Tire Inspection and then Tire Warranty

Good question! You already know that your exhaust system is composed of more that one part (for example the exhaust). That’s why they call it an exhaust system! There is also more than one function of the exhaust system (like: keep your car quiet). COMPONENTS OF AN EXHAUST SYSTEM The basic components of an exhaust system are: O2 sensors, catalytic converter(s), exhaust pipe, muffler and tail pipe. The basic functions of the exhaust system are: to safely get the hot exhaust from the engine out the tail pipe, remove harmful pollutants and muffle the engine noise to acceptable levels. We all have heard a loud exhaust… quite harmful to the ears! HOW THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WORKS First, the catalytic converter “scrubs” the harmful pollutants and particles from the exhaust gas that is created when the engine is running. Next, the exhaust gas runs through the exhaust pipe, then the muffler and out the tail pipe. You will notice that the exhaust pipe is curved. This is so that t ... read more

How much do you know about car batteries? Very little? … me too! Our NAPA buddies have given us some basic information about car batteries to get us up to speed. When looking to replace a battery, you want to consider two things: 1) the cold cranking amps (CCA) and 2) the reserve capacity. Cold Cranking Amps CCA are generally listed on the battery and are like the power output used to start a cold vehicle engine. Being in Wisconsin, you need a battery with more cold cranking amps than you do where the weather is milder. In colder weather, it takes more power to turn your vehicle’s engine over to get it started. The engine has to deal with your car’s cold, sluggish oil. Also, the chemical reaction, that creates electrical energy, is less efficient in the cold weather. You should get a battery that has at least or more cold cranking amps than the manufacturer recommends. Reserve Capacity Reserve capacity, is the number of minutes, of reserve power, the battery has at any ... read more

I absolutely LOVE Fall! The weather is great and the tree colors are vibrant and beautiful. The Fall season also means less daylight hours. The Car Care Council would like us to be aware that with less daylight means we will be using our vehicle’s lights more. We know this of course, but may not think of it in regards to safety. If you haven’t already, check all your lights to make sure they are working correctly. This includes headlights, tail lights, brake lights (all three), turn signals, fog lights, and your interior dome lights. Pay particular attention to your headlights and tail lights. It is crucial for your safety and the safety of others that these lights work, are aimed correctly and the covers are clean for best visibility. If your car sits outside a lot, the headlights will start to look fogged over. At any local parts store, you will find a special cleaner that is available to clean them so they shine like new! Not to mention being safe and visible