Crosse Auto Repair

WARNING! reading this article may make you feel uncomfortable BUT could also strike a sense of calm for many of you. We are talking today about the CEL; also known as the Check Engine Light First, let's take a look at the "don't ignore me" CEL. This CEL is flashing yellow, or it could be red. If you see this light on the dash; you need to call us right away! The light is warning you of possible severe damage to the catalytic converter or other components. You should not drive at highway speeds, tow or haul heavy loads. Drive with care to our shop. Second, if the CEL light is glowing steadily, you should keep an eye on it for a day or two. If the light doesn’t go off, schedule an appointment with us to get it checked out. Thirdly, take a few deep breaths! Try not to stress too much over the CEL light. Give us a call at 608-782-1375 and we will get to the cause of the CEL so you can rest easier.  

How good of shape is your daily-driver in? Have you been thinking about getting a different vehicle before winter gets here? At Bob's Auto we offer Pre-Purchase Inspections. We will do a complete inspection of the vehicle you are considering buying. Just like all our inspections, it will be sent to your email with pictures of anything we are concerned about. THIS IS A GREAT VALUE FOR ONLY $58!  

My speedometer broke yesterday! Now what do I do? Even though this is an uncommon repair; it does happen. First of all, yes, you can still drive your car but be aware of your speed. Are you keeping up with the vehicles around you? Are you passing more people than usual? Are more people passing you than usual? Secondly, check the fuse that controls the speedometer, the instrument cluster fuse. If this is ok, then your best bet is to call us at Bob's Auto to have one of our skilled techs take a look. We will check things like the instrument cluster, wheel speed sensor, wiring (rodents are horribly cruel to auto wiring) or a faulty ECU (electrical control unit). Stay safe out there!  

Cruise control... almost hard to remember a car that didn't have this feature. This feature has been a staple in vehicles since the early 1950s. Ralph Teetor invented the cruise control as a blind young adult. Ralph was an auto enthusiast by the young age of five. It was at this age that his sight was taken during a shop accident, but he would go on to earn a degree as a Mechanical Engineer. Ralph would use this degree to develop several auto related parts at his family's business. The inspiration for the cruise control came after Ralph's experience being a passenger in his lawyer's car. His lawyer would speed up too fast and then would need to apply the brakes often. This bad habit drove Ralph crazy, so he came up with the cruise control as a solution to his problem. Ingenuus! Thank you, Ralph! The link below has more details about Ralph Teetor and his invention of the cruise control ... read more

Have you ever wondered why some cars have their spare tire mounted on the back, while others hide it under the trunk? It's all about space-saving and weight distribution! Mounting it on the back can free up precious cargo space. But for many smaller cars, it's hidden away to maintain a sleek profile