Hanover Park Auto Repair

Buying a car is fun, exciting, and a big responsibility, all in one. With cars come much freedom and independence as well as a healthy dose of hassle. You must carry liability insurance coverage, keep up with tags and registration, and the high cost of gas. Plus, you are expected to have routine maintenance performed at regular intervals, along with factory-recommended maintenance. Every factory has a list of specific guidelines for recommended maintenance and when it should be performed. Oil changes are recommended every 3,000 miles, or once every three months, along with having your filter replaced. At 30,000 miles, it is highly suggested that you go for an engine air filter change, along with getting your tires rotated to prevent too much wear and tear on their tread. There are three good reasons to keep up with factory-recommended maintenance. One is that it can help improve your mileage. This is especially true for oil changes and tire rotations, as both are equally helpful in m ... read more

The throttle body forms part of the system that controls air intake. Air is necessary for fuel combustion, but it should be allowed in the right proportion. The amount of air that comes in is controlled by the accelerator. The harder you press it, the larger the amount of air allowed. This means, if your throttle body fails, you'll have problems accelerating. The signs that the throttle body has failed or is failing include: 1. Grime Buildup Grime and dirt will build up in the throttle body's casing (this is referred to as coking) and interrupt the fuel-air flow. Air and fuel should mix in the right proportion and smoothly without interruption. Apart from grime and dirt, carbon particles can also build upon the casing's surface, and they'll have a similar effect as dirt and grime. 2. Electrical Problems Electrical components connected to the throttle body can get damaged. This will interrupt the transmission of information to the vehicle's computer. With poor ... read more

One of the most important things you can do to prepare for winter driving is to "winterize" your vehicle. This means getting your car ready for braving the elements that can include freezing temperatures, blizzards, sleet, and snow. In this article, we provide a few tips and tricks on winterizing your vehicle and preparing your car to stay safe on the roads this winter. Tip #1. Make sure your heating and defrosting systems are ready to take on colder temperatures. Check the levels for critical fluids like transmission fluid, radiator fluid, antifreeze, to keep your heating system running throughout the winter season. Tip #2. Keep at least a half tank of gas during the winter months. Car repair experts recommend keeping at least a half tank of gas in your car to prevent gas tank-related issues. Tip #3. Reduce your speed limit while driving in the winter months to allow additional stopping time on icy or snow ... read more

With the onset of snow, ice and sleet that comes as the winter months set in, driving becomes a lot more hazardous. The temperature drops, it might be harder to see and the roads may be slippier than usual so all of a sudden, the chances of being involved in an accident or getting stranded are much higher. You need to be prepared. This guide can be used as a checklist for things to include in your winter emergency car kit to keep you and any passengers safe in these colder months. Prevent Emergency Windshield scraper and de-icer: It's common for ice and snow to accumulate on your car and this can seriously affect your vision. A scraper and de-icer solution will make sure you can always see the road clearly.  Jump cables: Car batteries don't like cold. In fact, they lose around 60% of their strength when the temperature drops to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunglasses: While this may seem a strange thing to inc ... read more

When the check engine light comes on it’s easy to assume the worst. You know something may be wrong under the hood and this can leave you paranoid and anxious. There can be several reasons the check engine light is on. And while it’s tempting to neglect it, it can cause costly repairs in the long run. Identifying the issue is crucial to the health of your vehicle. Below are three common reasons why the check engine light may have come on. Spark Plugs The spark plugs supply the spark that ignites a mini-explosion in the combustion chamber. The spark plugs should be replaced once a year or at least every 10,000 miles. Spark plugs that are worn or damaged will not be able to properly ignite the air/fuel mixture in the cylinders. Neglecting your spark plugs can only snowball into larger problems. Faulty spark plugs can cause a major decrease in performance, poor fuel economy, and even an engine misfire. If the check engine light comes on, try checki ... read more

Your vehicle has a filter to keep dust and debris from entering your engine. When the filter is clean, the engine gets an efficient amount of air needed to operate. A dirty filter can cause a decrease in performance. You may notice your vehicle has less power and struggles to accelerate. Engine filters typically need to be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or about once a month. Some drivers may need to replace their engine filters sooner if they're in dusty rural areas. Below are three telltale signs that the engine filter is clogged.                                      The filter is dirty.  If you don't have time to have a professional check the filter, check your vehicle's owner's manual for your specific engine filter's exact location. Give the engine filter a visual inspection. A clean filter should be white and free of pollutants. Ov ... read more

Aside from being the proverbial life blood of your engine, there is more to an oil change than just oil. Oil changes done by certified automotive technicians are accompanied by a vehicle inspection. Periodic vehicle inspections keep minor problems from becoming major disasters.  When you go to the gas station, how many people do you see with the hood up? Back in the day, people pulling up to a service station to get fuel would be bombarded with a small army of attendants checking oil, transmission fluid, air pressure in tire, coolant level etc. In todays instant gratification powered world, no one is taking the time to look at any of the critical components that need to be checked on a regular basis. Fast is not always the right answer.  I am not trying to pick on quickie oil change places, but how much really gets checked in ten minutes? A good oil change should take about 45 minutes. All the systems of the car should be looked over and all fluids should be ... read more

While some people have been out about or have continued to work during the stay-at-home order, many people have been stuck at home. That means cars have been stuck at home as well. Like humans, cars (and trucks) do not sit well. Vehicles are designed to be moving, having fluid moving through their systems to keep everything lubricated and in good condition. Charge for battery and the various computers can also be an issue with long term sitting. In some vehicles, even one week can be a problem. If you are able to get your car out and drive it around the block once a week, it is certainly better than no movement at all. It would be even better if you are able to take a short drive somewhere, while still keeping within the health constraints of you and your family. If you encounter any issues when you go out to start your vehicle, feel free to give us a call. We can absolutely help you out, even if all you need is a quick, no-contact-jumpstart. Remember, you aren’t ... read more

Hey Kamphaus Community! We've been racking our brains trying to figure out how to keep things moving a long and how we can help our great community. We got to thinking. Everyone needs to eat! Our local restaurants are struggling. So we came up with a plan! We'll buy breakfast, lunch or dinner for any customer who has a labor bill of $250 or more! We are working with Briana's Pancake House in Hanover Park and Italian Pizza Kitchen in Roselle to bring you $20 gift certificates towards a meal at either place. Check out their amazing food over at  https://www.instagram.com/italianpizzakitchen/ and https://www.instagram.com/brianaspancakehousehp/ !  We do have a little fine print. The offer can't be combined with any other discounts, and we can only offer this until we run out of gift certificates. We'll keep the ... read more

One thing all Hanover Park drivers can do to extend the life of their battery is to keep it clean. A greasy, dirty battery holds in damaging heat. Same goes for removing corrosion from the terminals. Kamphaus AutoCare and Emission can help maintain your battery. Allowing your battery to be deeply depleted – like from using your headlights when the engine is off – is very dangerous to your battery. Most automotive batteries can only take that about 10 times before they are ruined. Also, making sure you have a full charge every month or so extends battery life. Either an extended drive at freeway speeds or using a battery charger will preserve your battery’s ability to hold a full charge. Give us a call Kamphaus AutoCare and Emission 1005 Irving Park Rd Hanover Park, IL 60133