Crosse Auto Repair

You may have heard the terms conventional, semi-synthetic and synthetic oil. Conventional oil comes from refined crude oil. So what type of oil should you use? First, check your owner’s manual. If you are thinking about using a synthetic oil, ask us about the advantages and price comparison. Synthetic oil is made (link to see how oil is made) from a variety of raw materials. Semi-synthetic oil is mineral oil, which has been mixed with synthetic oils. So why is there different options? The engine oils have changed, all to get the best performance for your vehicles as well as better protection for all moving parts. Newer vehicles use synthetic oil. If your vehicle calls for conventional or semi-synthetic oil you can still use synthetic oil. The cost is more, but your vehicle will be better protected

Driving on a flat tire is never a good idea! It’s totally understandable how much of a hassle it can be; not to mention the tow bill. For safety reasons, stop driving and have the tire repaired or replaced During an inspection of the tire, you will know why the tire went flat, if it can be fixed or if the tire will need to be replaced. What we know for sure is, if you drive on a flat tire, you WILL be buying a new tire. For safety reasons it’s best to buy tires in pairs. So you will probably end up buying 2 new tires instead of just one

A battery that drains quickly can really put you in a pickle! Other than human error (like leaving an overhead light on), there are 4 main reasons that your battery could be draining quickly. The first thing to consider is age. Your vehicle’s battery should be replaced about every 4-5 years. The next thing to consider is the alternator. The purpose of the alternator is to keep the battery charged. Obviously if this is bad your battery will drain quickly. A third reason for your battery to be draining quickly could be a poor or intermittent ground connection (see picture below). This can cause charging problems including not charging at all. If you continue to have a battery issue there is most likely something within the vehicle that is continuing to run after the key is turned off. Even though your vehicle may be turned off, the battery power is still being used for your cell phones, tablets, your car’s security system or remote ... read more

When your Check Engine light comes on, do you react with utter panic or do you just want to ignore it and hope it goes away? Maybe you react both ways. That same Check Engine light could come on for anything from a serious engine or transmission problem all the way down to a loose gas cap. So how do you determine if it’s an emergency or not? If the light is flashing or red you will need to get your vehicle to a repair shop ASAP to prevent catalytic converter or other damage! If the light is not flashing, you will still want to get your vehicle in to a repair shop to determine why the light is on, but you can still drive until your appointment. The mechanic will connect a “scan tool” to your vehicle’s on board diagnostic system. The scan will tell the technician the cause of your problem or it may require further testing to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem. Once the problem is determined, the repairs are made and the Check Engine light is reset. Problem solved ... read more

As in many situations, your truck could be losing power and running rough for different reasons. I would first look at the spark plugs and maybe spark plug wires as possible issues. The purpose of a spark plug is to produce the “spark” necessary to ignite the gas and air in your truck’s engine. When this happens a combustion reaction takes place that provides energy to your truck. Each spark plug, in your vehicle, sits in its own cylinder. So if your vehicle has 4, 6 or 8 cylinders it also has the same number of spark plugs. Each spark plug has a wire as well. The spark plug wires generally get replaced at the same time as the spark plugs. They become brittle and then need replacement. To watch a short video on spark plugs; click on the link below