Hanover Park Auto Repair

Modern cars and trucks in and around Hanover Park run on 12 volt electrical systems. 12 volts is enough to get the job done for Hanover Park car owners without having so much power that there is danger of electrocution. But today's vehicles have more electrical components and do-dads than ever before. This really strains your electrical system, making it hard for the battery to keep up. Think about it: electric seats, seat heaters, power locks, windows and sun roofs. And then us IL motorists have all the power outlets for our cell phones, computers, and DVD players. We also have navigation systems and powerful stereos. Plus there are all the engine and transmission computers, traction control, stability control, anti-lock brakes, sensors and on and on. Even the security system is running off the battery while the car is turned off. Fortunately, battery technology has given Hanover Park car owners resilient batteries that are able to meet these strenuous requirements. But th ... read more

Let's talk about transmission service. It can be easy for Hanover Park drivers to forget about getting their transmission serviced because it doesn't need it very often. It's easier for IL car owners to remember to change the engine oil - you know, every 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers. But proper transmission servicing keeps your pickup running smoothly and helps us motorists avoid costly repairs down the road. The transmission undergoes a lot of stress. The grit Hanover Park car owners see in used transmission fluid is actually bits of metal that wear off the gears in the transmission. In addition to that, the transmission operates at very high temperatures. Usually it's 100 to 150 degrees higher than engine temperatures. Those high temperatures eventually cause the transmission fluid to start to break down and lose efficiency. As the fluid gets older, it gets gritty and doesn't lubricate and cool the pickup transmission as well - leading to even more wear. The fluid can ... read more

With the recent focus in Bartlett on improving fuel efficiency, we've been told how important it is to maintain our tire pressure. Hanover Park auto owners know that tires wear out, but we want to make them last as long as possible because they're not cheap to replace. In addition to saving gas, properly inflated tires last longer. Under-inflated tires will wear out more quickly. Some Bartlett auto owners wonder if they should add a few extra pounds of pressure when they fill up their tires. Bad idea. In fact, there are very good reasons not to over-inflate your tires. For one, the middle of the tread will wear unevenly because the full tread is not contacting the road properly. That also adversely affects your handling. Stop by Kamphaus AutoCare and Emission to see about tire maintenance for your Hanover Park, IL vehicle. Kamphaus AutoCare and Emission1005 Irving Park RdHanover Park, IL 60133 Every vehicle in the Bartlett area ... read more

A while back, the Cash for Clunkers program was all over the IL news. Hanover Park people could trade in their old vehicle for a new one that got better fuel economy and receive a government rebate. A lot of Hanover Park motorists had so-called clunkers that they wanted to keep. They're good commuters, Hanover Park grocery getters or toy haulers. They enjoy that fact that they're paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their pickups for 200,000 miles or more - as long as it's economical to do so. There are plenty of Hanover Park drivers whose vehicles are running after 150,000or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they're doing to keep our own pickups on the road in IL. The astute Hanover Park auto owners of high-mileage cars often report a common denominator of never skipping an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it's really not. First ... read more

A recent report stated that over 80 percent of the vehicles on our Hanover Park IL roads have one or more service or repair that's needed, but hasn't been taken care of. Now that's a lot of undone service. That translates into something over 160 million vehicles in the U.S. alone. Some of the neglected items are minor. Others are serious safety concerns. There are several reasons why we hesitate to take care of recommended services; especially services that our Hanover Park IL automotive advisor recommends when we're in for something else, like anoil change. The first issue boils down to comfort with car care. We don't always feel we know enough to make good decisions. Some of that can be attributed to the fact that vehicles are so reliable these days. They almost become an appliance. Of course you love your pickup, but if you don't have to worry about it breaking down all the time, you're not forced to think as much about preventiv ... read more

The price of gas and the uncertain economy are both causing IL residents to review their finances. More and more Hanover Park motorists are opting to keep their vehicles longer and put off purchasing a newer car. It is estimated that two-thirds of the vehicles on the roads of North America today have over 75,000 miles on them. And the average age of vehicles is now over eleven years. That translates to some car care issues that many Hanover Park men and women haven't dealt with in the past. Older vehicles simply have different maintenance requirements than newer ones. Learning those requirements presents a challenge for Hanover Park motorists because many owner's manuals only publish maintenance schedules up to 60,000 or 90,000 miles. Vehicle owners have to keep good records and be more involved in planning preventive maintenance if they want to keep their pickups on the road. First of all, any service in your owner's manual that comes with a recommended mileage i ... read more

If you're reading this article in Hanover Park, IL, then you probably care about your car and how it runs. Even though you care, there is still that moment of dread when your understanding Kamphaus AutoCare and Emission technician tells you the manufacturer recommends some additional service. Your heart beats a little faster, your blood pressure rises. You worry about spending more money than you had planned. And you worry that if you say “no”, you might be harming your pickup or risking your family's safety. At the risk of sounding like your dad, you really should have done your homework. Service recommendations are in your owner's manual. But it is not like you want to keep your pickup auto maintenance schedule on your nightstand for bedtime reading. Cars are complicated machines and it takes some effort for Hanover Park motorists to keep them running well. That is why car makers have maintenance schedules that explain how to keep your pickup ... read more

Make an appointment with Kamphaus AutoCare and Emission to have your on board diagnostics analyzed.1005 Irving Park Rd Hanover Park, IL 60133 Today we're going to talk about on-board diagnostics and the questions we hear from folks around Hanover Park IL who need answers about diagnostic services. They want to know what diagnostics are, what's involved and what the benefits are. They really want to understand the value of diagnostic scans by a trained technician in Hanover Park IL. These are valid concerns. If you don't understand something it's really hard to know its value. Let's start with some history. Since 1996, all cars and light trucks in Hanover Park IL have been required to use a standardized diagnostic system to help repair technicians determine what's wrong with your vehicle. The diagnostic system works with the vehicle's Engine Control Module - the computer that controls many engine functions. The computer monit ... read more

So you have some exciting plans for the IL weekend. You're going to take some of your Hanover Park, IL friends out on the boat for some water skiing. Of course, you've gotten the boat all ready. And you haven't forgotten about your tow vehicle. You've gassed it up and even vacuumed it out. However, there is something even more important than the cleanliness of the interior: you want to make sure that your pickup maintenance is up to date. Think about it - heavy highway traffic on the way out of Hanover Park. There's hilly terrain as you get to the lake. Some dirt roads - and it's going to be pretty hot in Hanover Park this weekend. And all the time you'll be towing around several thousand extra pounds. That all adds up a lot of severe strain on your engine, brakes and transmission. Let's just consider the transmission. It's going to be working overtime, spending more time in lower gears. The internal transmission temperature is going to be much higher than normal. A fun lit ... read more

Today we're going to be talking about serpentine belts for our Hanover Park, IL customers. Let's start by talking about the accessories that are driven by the serpentine belt. First is the alternator. That's the essential device that makes electricity to power the pickup and recharge the battery. Then there's the air conditioning compressor that makes cool air for you while you're driving around IL in the summer. The power steering and power brake pumps are driven by the serpentine belt in most Hanover Park motorists' vehicles. Those pumps provide important pressure that assists your steering and braking. In many pickups, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt. The water pump is what circulates the coolant that protects your engine. In some cars around Hanover Park, IL, the water pump is driven by the timing belt. The radiator cooling fans on some pickups are also driven by the serpentine belt. Some have separate electric motors. That's really ... read more