How to Avoid Unexpected Problems With Your Car

Most people rely on their car to get them to and from work, run errands and participate in family activities. The best way to keep your car in good running condition and avoid any potential issues is to take preventative measures by means of an auto repair shop near me or perhaps by taking this task into your own hands and getting a little dirty yourself.

Regardless of the path you choose, some routine maintenance and a keen eye can help you save money and time by preventing breakdowns and unexpected repairs. Consider taking these actions to catch developing issues or notice potential problems before they even arise.

Regular Oil Changes

Getting regular oil changes is one of the best ways to prevent those unexpected problems. Your car requires clean oil to help prevent overheating and keep parts moving correctly. You should get an oil change every 5,000 miles or when your auto manufacturer suggests them. Be sure to set reminders or have your dealership send a message or email when it’s nearly them to get these services. If you keep up with all of your oil changes, you’ll extend the life of your engine and prevent various issues from developing.

Are you overdue for an oil change near me, in Plainfield, IL? It isn’t going to change itself, the longer you wait the more potential damage can be done and the more a repair may cost you in the long run. Why wait any longer? Getting your oil changed as recommended by the manufacture is hands down one of if not the most important maintenance items there is.

Change Brake Pads Every Few Years

Usually, brake pads need to be replaced every two to three years, depending on your local terrain and the amount of driving you do annually. Most dealerships and auto mechanic shops will inspect your brakes for free. Don’t wait until you notice vibrations when you brake or wait until they fail. You may need new rotors and other parts if you overlook regular brake pad replacements.

Need a brake pad replacement near me or a complete brake service? Either way, our local brake shop aka the brake experts over at Last Chance Auto Repair have all your brake service needs covered.

Analyze Codes and Data

Trying to save some money and diagnose your car problems yourself? You can monitor your car’s codes and any potential issues daily if you invest in one of the best OBD2 scanners. A handheld scanner allows you to retrieve computer codes or alerts directly from your car, yourself. You don’t necessarily have to go to a mechanic’s shop or an auto parts store to have this information available to you. Check out the link above for various scanner options and choose the one that best suits your budget and needs.

Keeping up on maintenance and check engine lights is the best way to catch developing issues or discover the source of a problem so you can get repairs done quickly and affordably in the long run. Not everyone wants to invest in a diagnostic scanner or has the time to get down and dirty. Sometimes vehicle diagnostics are best left to the professionals, like the team at Last Chance Auto Repair.

Test Your Heater and A/C Seasonally

One of the most common issues for car owners is their heater and A/C reliability. Before the weather changes from season to season, you should test them at home. This is a great way to prevent unexpected issues during the height of the season. Your heater and A/C work hard when the weather is extreme. Ensure it’s functioning correctly and have them serviced if there seems to be a problem. If your A/C isn’t blowing cold air, you may need coolant. If you have water on your floorboard, it may mean you have a heater core issue. Don’t ignore this essential maintenance. You’ll have a more comfortable ride year-round and prevent discomfort from sudden breakdowns.

Check Your Battery

You must check your battery seasonally to ensure it will crank your car when you turn the key. Some batteries require you to aid purified water. If your battery needs water added occasionally, be sure to check it monthly. Sometimes it can use too much water rapidly, and you don’t want the level to drop too low. If your battery doesn’t require water, you can take it to have it tested at your local auto parts store or battery specialty store for free. If there is a short or charge issue, they can tell you what it is. They can also recommend products and may even install a new battery for you.

Check Your Radiator

It’s a good idea to check the water level in your radiator frequently. Sometimes issues develop, and the water level or the contents of the water can be a tell-tale sign. You might have a small hole in the radiator from rust or some other similar issues that may make your car overheat. There may also be problems with the internal seals that let other fluids leak into the radiator. Prevention is the key to keeping your vehicle running cool and catching any developing issues. Looking for a radiator shop near me?

Summary

It’s essential to perform a regular maintenance check on all major car or truck components. These basic checks and routine services are essential for keeping your vehicle up and running without having unexpected breakdowns. Some good old fashioned preventative maintenance is an investment in your car that can and will ensure your vehicle is ready for you to get you where you need to go without breakdowns or safety concerns while you are traveling doing your thing.

If you don’t have a dealership or auto repair shop that performs routine services, that will check for issues during regular oil changes and during services such as brake pad replacements or other necessary services as your car or truck accumulates miles, you’ll need to find one. Last Chance Auto Repair has all your vehicle preventative maintenance, repair and service needs covered, domestic & foreign A-Z. Call 815-577-0327 now to schedule an appointment or click contact us to reach out through email.

Basic Car Maintenance FAQS: Engine Air, Cabin Air & Fuel Filters

Car Maintenance FAQS: Engine Air, Cabin Air & Fuel Filters

Which cabin air filter above would you rather clean the air that you and your family will be breathing? Engine air, cabin air and fuel filters are crucial to the performance of your vehicle. But unfortunately these parts are one of the most neglected when it comes to regular car maintenance aka preventative maintenance. Over time filters clog, wear, and need to be replaced period. Are you overdue?

To keep it short and sweet filters, filter, stuff. Over time this stuff builds up and then diminishes the filtering function of the filter. The filtered particles when left un-filtered due to the filter is maxed out is where performance issues may start to act a fool.

How often should I replace my engine air, cabin air and fuel filter? What do these filters do? What signs should I look for showing me that these filters need to be replaced? You have questions about your fuel and air filters, we have answers. Need some filters replaced? We have you covered!

What Does My Engine Air Filter, Cabin Air Filter & Fuel Filter Do?

Do you or your engine want to breath air that was filtered through these filters? NO WAY, should be your answer and is most definitely a big NO, according to your vehicle!

Your vehicles filters are designed to catch all different types of debris, containments, harmful elements, before it makes any problems. These areas of importance include: engine combustion chamber, fuel system, fuel injectors, cabin air supply, and etc. Once a filter is no longer working properly, it needs to be changed ASAP. Not staying on top of your vehicle’s car maintenance will lead to decreased engine performance and contaminated air blowing directly in your face.

Are you over due car maintenance? Over due car maintenance left to age like a bottle of wine, can eventually damage critical components. Damaging these critical components can turn into big unexpected bills, that when you find out could have been prevented with some preventative maintenance, can be rather heartbreaking when you see the price tag. No worries, Last Chance is here to help!

What Is The Purpose Of My Engine Air Filter?

Your engine air filter’s job is to prevent unwanted performance killing contaminants from ever getting inside your engine. By doing it’s job this will ensure that only fresh, clean and containment free air reaches your cars engine. Keeping up on your engine air filter maintenance will pay for itself in the long run. Not changing your engine air filter is not the wisest of moves. Problems will develop overtime and if left to grow will snowball into bigger issues later down the road. Is your engine due for an air filter?

What Is My Cabin Air Filter All About?

Do you have breathing problems? Do you prefer fresh clean air or dirty air? A vehicle’s cabin air filter helps prevent dirt, dust, pollen, pollutants and other potential health hazards from entering the vehicle’s cabin through your air conditioning and heat air vents. If you suffer from allergies or any respiratory problems, staying on top of the cabin air filter car maintenance is essential to your health.

If you have no idea what your cabin air filter is and you’ve owned a car for years, there is a good chance that you are way overdue for a cabin air filter replacement. Call now to schedule an appointment.

Whats Up With My Fuel Filter?

Fuel when it leaves the refinery aka place of birth is typically clean, but when it’s transferred to a truck, sits in a tank at a gas station, debris & contamination can come into play.

If this debris & contamination is there and it gets transferred into your fuel tank (then to the fuel system and then to the engine) when you fill up your vehicle it could be a problem in some cases. But in most cases these contaminants are filtered by your fuel filter which will ensure the flowing of clean fuel through your injectors, fuel system, to maintain fuel economy and peak engine performance.

Overtime just like most other filters, if they are working properly, they eventually will become full and clog. This is the reason that replacing fuel filters is part of a preventative maintenance schedule. Maintain your fuel economy and engine performance by staying on top of this maintenance service. A clogged fuel filter will cause a multitude of problems for more than just your fuel system.

Worse case scenario: when it gets real cold out, gas won’t freeze but the debris & contamination in your overdue to be changed fuel filter, will freeze. When this happens your engine won’t be receiving the necessary fuel needed to run properly if run at all. This problem will also make your fuel pump work harder than it needs to which will make it run hotter and will make the probability of you needing to replace your fuel pump prematurely aka sooner than later much greater in the long run. Need some car maintenance hence your fuel filter replaced? Call now to make an appointment.

How Often Should My Engine Air, Cabin Air, Fuel Filter Be Replaced?

Car maintenance is key to making your investment last. How many times a year do you replace your home furnace / air conditioning system filter. Filters are filters and need to be replaced and the filters in your car are no different. To make sure they work optimal, it’s typically recommended according to the vehicle manufacture that you get your filters replaced roughly every 12 months / 12,000 miles or so depending on the application. Is your filter due to be replaced?

Are you due for an engine air, cabin air, or fuel filter? Check your owners manual and look at the car maintenance schedule and or give our Last Chance Auto Repair in Plainfield, IL, a call and we will look it up for you. Did you know that when you get an oil change at our automotive repair shop our expert car mechanics check your engine air & cabin air filters for free during the service?

Old Engine Air, Cabin Air, Fuel Filters Say What?

If you understand or speak car maintenance you’d know that periodically your filters are say change me. If you don’t speak car maintenance rest assured that we are some of the best translators around. Regardless, any filter – home, work, auto, etc, has to be eventually changed. They are designed to capture things, simply said. There is only so much room to hold what is captured. For maximum protection filters need to be changed religiously as part of any car maintenance routine. If any 1 aspect of car maintenance is the most critical/important, staying on top of your filters along with oil changes would be it.

Clogged air filter says what? As an engine air filter ages it gradually fills up soon there after it will clog and start to restrict the airflow. Which can lead to air fuel mixtures not being mixed properly, that will effect the engines combustion. After awhile it will snowball into reduced engine power, poor fuel economy and at some point BOOM, a big expensive car repair bill.

Don’t forget about the engine air filter’s cousin the cabin air filter. When clogged can also lead to problems such as: poor performing HVAC system, weak airflow, smelly air, unfiltered contaminated blowing directly into your face air. Not to mention the stress it will put onto your blower motor and other components due to they’ll have to work harder to do their jobs properly because of the restricted filter.

Clogged fuel filter says what? Your vehicles fuel filter acts as an impurity barricade that cleans the fuel of impurities, sediment, rust plus any other contaminants before they get the chance to get to the fuel injection system and sooner or later but hopefully never to the inside your vehicles engine.

Do you want degraded engine performance, improper fuel pressure, poor acceleration when you hit the gas pedal, horrible fuel economy and or do you want to take the chance of being left stranded on the side of the road? Are you due for a fuel filter replacement hence car maintenance service?

Signs That It Is Time To Change Your Engine Air Filter

Are you noticing “Poor Engine Performance”? It can be that time to change your engine’s air filter. Is your engine misfiring, idling rough and or starting hard? All that and then some can all be thanked to a clogged engine air filter. The dirtier the air filter, the more the fuel will be restricted, the more the air fuel mixture will be thrown off when received by the engine. When this happens the improperly mixed air fuel mixture tends to form a soot residue that accumulates on the spark plugs, valves, piston rings, etc.

Does your engine air filter looks dirty?
Are you having problems accelerating?
Is your engine having difficulties idling?
Does the exhaust smoke look black and sooty?
Is your check engine light on?

If you are due for an engine air filter replacement we have you covered, if you are not sure if you are due for an engine air filter replacement we have you covered, regardless we have you covered, car maintenance, vehicle service A-Z. Call 815-577-0327 now to schedule your next car maintenance service.

I Think Its Time To Change My Cabin Air Filter

This is an easy one hence you may not think about it right away but when its time the symptoms are clear. The cabin air filter helps clean the air that blows directly in your face, so you’ll likely notice when something doesn’t seem kosher. Signs that your cabin air filter is due for replacement may include:

Does the airflow from the vents seem week?
Do you notice a strange odor blowing in your face?
Does the quality of air in the cabin seem off?
Are you noticing an odd noise or whistling coming from the vents?
Is your HVAC system not working as well as it used to?

When should I change my cabin air filter? If you can’t remember when the last time you changed it was, good chance that it is well overdue to be replaced. Are you still thinking? Give us a call, schedule an appointment and we will get to the bottom of it. But otherwise cabin air filters should be changed roughly every 30,000 miles or so. Regardless, it’s always best practice to consult your vehicle’s owner manual for the more precise recommended interval. Look it up in the car maintenance section.

I Think I Need A Fuel Filter Replacement Service

Are you wondering why when you hit the gas pedal you just don’t go like you used to? If your vehicle’s fuel filter is clogging or clogged, it will reflect in your your car’s engine performance. When you are due or if you notice any of the following symptoms, get it looked at and replaced ASAP. An overdue to be replaced fuel filter will lead to lower than normal fuel pressure that can and will over time cause your engine to simply not run. It may be time to replace your fuel filter if you notice any of the following:

Does it feel like your engine performance has disappeared?
Is it taking longer for your car to start if it even starts at all?
Does your engine stall periodically and its getting more persistent?
Has your fuel economy plummeted?
Does it feel like your engine is shaking aka misfiring?
Is your check engine light on?

Staying on top of your car maintenance is key to making sure that your investment hence vehicle lasts. This page consists of different car maintenance related items that can all be serviced by a local mechanic shop and or dealership. If you are looking for a car mechanic shop that offers car maintenance services that you can count on, trust & afford, team Last Chance Auto Repair is the shop for you.

Engine Air, Cabin Air, Fuel Filter Replacement Near Me

Car Maintenance, Air Filter Replacement, Cabin Air Filter Replacement, Fuel Filter Replacement

Last Chance Auto Repair has all your car maintenance needs covered including: engine air, cabin air and fuel filter replacement near me. Serving car maintenance to Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Chicagoland plus beyond since 1978. Call the local car maintenance expert in Plainfield, IL, now to make an appointment. How may we help you? Regardless, we have you covered!

Car Maintenance Resources: Car Maintenance | Car Maintenance Shop In Plainfield, IL

Last Chance Has Been Helping Vehicles Last Longer Since 1978

• Do you want your investment to last?
• How long do you want to keep your car?
• How many miles does your vehicle have?
• Have you been maintaining your car properly?
• Last Chance has been making cars last since 1978.

Making Your Vehicle Last Is All About Regular Inspections

Are you wondering how to make your vehicle (investment) last? Last Chance Auto Repair knows how to make a vehicle last. Any questions? Maybe the following will help out and answer your questions where you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your home. Otherwise give us a call were here for you day & night, rain or shine, sleet & snow, 24-7.

• Don’t Drive – As in the less you drive the longer your car (investment) will last. Silly but true. For one it will be better for the environment, two your wallet, three your health (hence walking, biking, etc) four your car will last longer. Plus can’t forget all the gas money you’ll be saving.

• Your Vehicle Doesn’t Like Short Trips – A short trips of 10 minutes or less can be extra hard on a vehicle, resulting in more wear and tear. During a short trip, your car’s engine never has a chance to reach its full operating temperature. Hence an importance of making sure your vehicle warms up before you getty up and go so to say. When cold, oil flow is insufficient to properly lubricate your engine because the oil is too thick and will not flow the same as when warm. Short trips will also not allow sufficient time for condensation in the oil system to burn off. Which hence may cause oxidation to build up inside your engine.

• Don’t Drive It Like You Stole It – Why drive it like you stole it? Are you a race car driver practicing for a race? Are you late for work? Is your wife about to pop? These are reasons to drive maybe 5 over the speed limit, safely of course. But typically you don’t have to peel out. You shouldn’t give your passengers whip lash as you drive. Are tickets worth getting and paying for in the long run one way or another? I don’t think so. Not driving your vehicle the way it was designed to be driven, only equals your vehicle not lasting as long as it could have lasted.

• Is Your Check Engine Light On – Typically your check engine lights don’t come on for no reason. If your engine oil light is on don’t drive it. You can blow your engine, hence your costly engine. If the engine temperature gauge and the brake lights are on you better figure out why with the quickness. If your brake light is on you might end up or even wake up in a corn field wondering how you got there. Temperature gauge lite up may mean your about to cook your engine and or transmission to the point of being well done. Regardless, not good.

• Extra Weight Equals Extra Wear & Tear – Are you driving around with stuff in your vehicle that you just don’t need? Extra weight adds stress to critical components and causes premature wear and tear that could of been prevented. It will also save you money on your gas bills in the long run.

• Keep Up On Your Maintenance – They don’t call it preventive maintenance for nothing.

• Change Your Oil & Other Fluids – Changing your fluids like the manufacturer recommends if not earlier is the way to go hands down. Not changing engine oil is the number one killer of engines these days period. Who is in second place you wonder? Broken timing belt. How do we know? Bills don’t lie. However that is pretty much covered under the maintenance section as changing your fluids are considered basic maintenance also it is so important we thought we’d list it under it’s own section. Better safe than sorry, keep up on your maintenance, plain and simple.

• Get Your Issues Fixed Sooner Than Later – You don’t want your vehicle’s problems to suffer from a snowball effect. Vehicle problems don’t typically fix themselves. However some problems are intermittent but don’t let it fool you the problem may come and go but in the long run it’s only going to get worse. If you think you have an issue with such things as your brakes, brake lines, ball joints, tie rods, airbags, seat belts or even the structural integrity of your vehicle, get it checked out ASAP. For one it’s not going to fix itself. Two if you don’t take care of it you may be putting people’s health at risk. Where in the long run is not worth it.

• Find A Mechanic You Can Trust Plus Afford – Finding a local auto mechanic you can trust is key to making sure your car plus wallet will feel better in the long run. Maintaining your car should be looked at as a partnership between you and your mechanic. When a problem occurs you should both be there for each other. Last Chance is here for you 24-7.