Crosse Auto Repair

What is a serpentine belt? How do I know if it needs to be replaced? A serpentine belt is a very important part of the engine. This belt's primary job is to transfer power to parts like the power steering pump, the alternator or air conditioning compressor. Without the serpentine belt all these parts would stop working. And you would be totally stranded wherever you are! How do you know if your serpentine belt needs to be replaced? These belts typically need to be replaced around 100,000 miles. Older serpentine belts, made of regular rubber, will start to crack over time. Newer belts, made of neoprene-- a specialized type of rubber, will not crack but will show signs of wear. It's common for the serpentine belt to start squealing or start making a chirping sound as they start to wear out. Your engine's serpentine belt is most definitely something you need to keep on top of. Here at Bob's Auto, we inspect your vehicle's serpentine belt at each oil change.  

It's that time of year when we finish up gathering all the papers and forms needed for filing our taxes for 2023. If you are expecting a refund and the state and/or federal level(s); how do you plan on spending that refund? Tax refunds are really nice to use to purchase something that you have been wanting or needing for a while. It's almost like a bonus birthday present! I'm going to plant the seed to perhaps put some of that tax refund towards some maintenance needs for your vehicle(s). What?? That's right, give your vehicle some "maintenance love"! As this video explains some preventive maintenance may just be what your vehicle needs to keep you on the road and possibly save you money in the long run. Take a look ... read more

Are you a New Year Resolution type of person? How about making ONE resolution for your vehicle? You read that right... a resolution for your vehicle (times the # of vehicles you own). I have an idea that is really simple and easy to do. Follow these 4 steps for each of your vehicles on a WEEKLY basis. That's it... just once a week! 1. Check the tire pressure--- In winter months they are going to read lower than recommended so be sure to check them after the car has been driven a few miles. After you get home from work or running errands, would be a great time. 2. Check your hoses for cracks, dry or brittle material. 3, Top off your coolant and washer fluid 4. Check your oil. Running extremely low or out of oil is setting your vehicle's engine up for failure. At the very least check the Bob's Auto Service oil change sticker in the upper left corner of your windshield. This will tell you about when your next oil change is due. Now this is a super easy and quick way to keep ... read more

What are the key components in your vehicle's steering and suspension? *Hint: there are 6. How many can you name before looking below at the answer? Share how many you got correct. A. B C. D. E. F. *********************************************************************** A. Shocks & Struts B. Steering Knuckle C. Ball Joints D. Steering Rack/Box E. Bearings, seals and hub units F. Tie Rod Ends       See insights and ads ... read more

These pictures show us another example of why car maintenance is so important. We all have the habit of putting off maintenance services because everything else is more important or we are afraid of the potential cost involved. The first picture is of a differential that has moisture in the gear oil. The second picture compares fresh clean gear oil (on the left) and contaminated oil (on the right--from a different vehicle). It is easy to see what happens to gear oil over time. When moisture is added in, you get that muddy color as well. With a little extra time, we can clean it all up and get the vehicle back in service. When was the last time your differential, transmission, and transfer case fluids were serviced? Maintenance really is the key to keeping your vehicle on the road for a long time!