Crosse Auto Repair

Today is the longest day of the year! And the official start of SUMMER!! People of all ages are lovin' these warm days.... even our dogs! Enjoy this marvelous 1st day of summer!  

With summer weather here, many of us are busy on our days off traveling to meet up with family or friends for some fun. But what do you do when your vehicle's tire goes flat? If the damage is within the repair area... great. What options do you have when the damage it outside of the repair area? That depends on the type of vehicle you have. If you have a rear-wheel or front-wheel drive vehicle, you will be able to just replace 2 tires. If you have a four-wheeled vehicle then all four tires will need to be replaced at once. The reason for replacing all four tires is that the computer and the differential work together to send the right amount of torque to your wheels to maximize control. When one tire is a different size (includes tire wear) the car will work too hard. Drive this way too long and the drivetrain will wear out. A very costly situation! Don't forget that when replacing tires, on any vehicle, an alignment is crucial to helping the tires, that you just invested in ... read more

How's the Cooling System in your vehicle performing this year? What? How would I know this? As you know the coolant in your vehicle keeps the engine cool. Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is formulated to keep the engine at safe temperatures during all driving temperatures. Without coolant, or very low coolant, the engine could get too hot and seize up. This would be the worst-case scenario. And a very expensive one! Not only do you want to monitor the coolant level periodically, you also will need to do a coolant exchange about every 80,000 miles. Check your owner's manual for your manufacturer's recommendation. The exchange is important because the additives in the coolant can become depleted with all the hard work they have to do. A simple PH test will detect the coolants acidity level. If the additives are depleted coolant will be added or an exchange will be done. It's all about keeping that engine happy and running well! Any questions about the coolant in y ... read more

The article below discusses axles on a vehicle. What they are, how they work and how to know if you need to replace them. It is a longer article but one I found very interesting to read. Hope you learn something new about axles on your vehicle! https://bobsautoservice.napawebtools.com/.../2881501/821  

Do you have your summer vacation all planned out? What about your car, van or truck that is staying at home while you are gone? You might be tempted to unhook the battery but don't do it. Keep the battery hooked up as usual. Your battery will be just fine. Unhooking it could cause problems. It just isn't worth it. It is possible for the brakes to seize and brake pads could become rusty. To avoid a bigger problem, do not engage the parking brake. Be sure to wash and if possible, wax the outside of your vehicle. This is important when the vehicle is not going to be driven for an extended period of time. Tree sap, dirt and bird droppings can cause paint damage if left on for extended periods of time. Let's talk about those critters that seem to be attractive to vehicles that do not move often. You don't want to come back from a very nice vacation to issues with rodents. Trust me on this one! To help deter them, place peppermint oil on cotton balls and place them in the gl ... read more