Hanover Park Auto Repair

  It is a familiar acronym on every vehicle gauge--RPM. Yet, do we really understand what these three letters really mean when breaking it down? Let's break it down word by word. RPM is the acronym for "revolutions per minute". It's the way we measure at what speed our vehicle's motor is turning. The more RPMs the motor has, translates into increased power. How Do I Mnow My Motor's RPM is Running at the Average? When driving a passenger car at cruising speed 62 mph on a highway, the RPMs should be 1500rpm to 2000rpm. If you have a diesel motor, it should be idling around 750 rpm. Yet, when in 6th gear at 68 miles per hour, the rpm's should be around 2000. Typical petrol using vehicles on the road today get to 6000 rpm when revving out. A Formula One V6 motor revs to 15,000rpm, with high speeds getting up to 217 mph and 1000 horsepower! How RPM Affects Fuel Cost With gas prices at the highest ever, every driver wants to do their part to save fuel c ... read more

Any dashboard warning light can cause the average driver to panic or stress. One light that is quite concerning is the ABS light, which is a symbol intended to warn you of one or more problems with your braking system or anti-lock braking system (ABS). Fortunately, you can count on the automotive experts at Kamphaus Auto Care for all your brake system needs.    Every car on the road nowadays has a traction control system or ABS. It consists of a series of sensors that communicate with your vehicle’s computer. The sensors read your wheel’s speeds and send the speed and other information. When your vehicle is unstable in slippery conditions, like rain or snow, it will trigger the warning light to come on. Typically, the ABS signal is easiest to read and displays the letters ABS in some way.   While the above scenario is the most common, the ABS light can come on for other reasons. Your ABS light may be an indication that your vehicle is low on brake fluid ... read more

The sound of a struggling engine starting, or sometimes referred to as engine cranking, can be dramatic and stressful to hear. In most cases, it means you have a dead battery. If your motor vehicle can’t start up, the first place people often check is their batter. Car batteries in gas-powered vehicles aren’t made to last forever. More inconveniently, they tend to die from the heat of summer. So if you want to prevent yours from giving out this season, make sure you follow these helpful tips below: Park your vehicle in parking garages and/or in the shade. Heat is your car battery’s #1 enemy. It accelerates corrosion and makes your battery work harder than necessary. If you want to protect your battery, please prevent your car from sitting in direct sunlight for too long. Regularly test your battery. This is especially vital if you have a long drive or road to take. If it has been a minute since your last professional battery service or inspection, we welcome you to ... read more

Owning a car requires some background knowledge on how your machine functions. If your vehicle starts malfunctioning or giving you trouble, it is easier when you have a rough idea of what the problem might be. If you are suspecting that your spark plug is not working as it should, here are some signs to look out for on your way to the garage. Symptoms of a failing spark plug Spark plugs are one of the most import parts of a car since they are used to light up the combustion chamber. Here, the fuel mixes with air to facilitate locomotion. If it does not work, here is what to expect; Difficulty in starting the car Your sparks may be worn out if igniting your vehicle has become problematic. It becomes challenging to start your car when your plugs aren't generating a sustained spark to initiate the complete combustion. At the first hint of issues with starting your car, it is a smart idea to have a specialist inspect it. Unstable idling Your engine will sound steady and smooth if ... read more

Windshield wiper blades tend to be overlooked. When you can’t see properly through a dirty windshield, a rainstorm, or a snowstorm, you automatically think to switch these on. When your wipers don’t do their job effectively, it can actually make matters worse. To ensure your visibility isn’t impaired, it is best to replace them on time.   Certain conditions can make your windshield wipers wear down, like exposure to harmful UV rays, excess moisture, and other general wear and tear. When your windshield wiper blades are old, they can become brittle or crack. The rubber part of them can fray or come off. To ensure you get the most wear out of your windshield wiper blades, follow these tips below! Clean your windshield - This will prevent dirt, debris, and other pollutants from clinging onto your wipers.Wipe the wipers down - It is natural for foreign things to cling onto your wipers. It is a good habit to clean off the rubber part. Tha ... read more

The color of your exhaust smoke can be really telling of what’s going on in your car. Some can be indicative of major problems, while some are harmless. Next time you catch gasses spewing out of your exhaust pipe, please make note of its color. Here are some of the colors and what they could mean.   Blue smoke – Blue exhaust means your engine is burning motor oil, and this is very bad for your motor. In severe cases, you may need a new car altogether. Please bring your car to our auto repair shop ASAP for diagnosis and repairs.   Black smoke – Instead of oil, black smoke means your car, truck, or SUV is burning too much gas. A vehicle should never burn fuel in excess because it could catch on fire. You should pull over and call for roadside assistance to be safe.   White smoke – White smoke can be just as bad as the others before. If you see some white fumes on a winter morning, it may just be condensation. However, white opaque smoke means ... read more

The winter elements are harsh on cars, so after being coated in salt, slush, and sand, the car exterior needs attention, and many other parts and systems could use some TLC. Listed below are some things to keep an eye out for to introduce your vehicle to spring: Replace Your Winter Tires Tires designed for summer and all-season use are stiffer and designed to perform better on well-lit roads with little snow or ice. Some regions mandate tire replacement when the temperature reaches 7 degrees Celsius. When the weather warms up, the flexible tread rubber in winter tires that provides traction on ice and snow will be less effective and deteriorate more quickly. Clean Road Salt From Your Car Winter driving can cause your car to become coated with salt. Salt can cause rusting and other problems on the auto's body and undercarriage. Getting rid of salt entirely occurs when you wash the car underneath. Car washes use spray machines to remove salt effectively. The paint and body of you ... read more

A wheel alignment readjusts the angles of your vehicle's wheels to meet the manufacturer's specifications. Over time, your car's wheels will fall out of alignment. If you're experiencing any of the several symptoms listed below, it's time to come by Kamphaus Auto Care and Emissions for a proper wheel alignment. Crooked Steering Wheel  When making turns, your steering wheel should automatically start recentering upon completing the turn. If the steering wheel seems to be "stuck" in one place or doesn't recenter, it's time to get a wheel alignment. Worn Down Tires Dramatic tire wear often points to a need for a wheel alignment. If your tires have bald spots, please take your car to Kamphaus Auto Care for tire services soon. Car Pulling to One Side Does your car have trouble driving in a straight line? If your vehicle keeps veering left and right, it can put you in significant danger. Please make sure to have your alignment checked before y ... read more

All vehicles need to be serviced on a regular basis; whether you drive an electric, hybrid, or fuel-powered motor vehicle, they need proper care. However, some of these vehicles may vary in their needs. Some people have a misconception that hybrid cars need more maintenance than their counterparts and at a higher cost. That belief is not always the case. Let's go over the differences (if any) between services for a hybrid and traditional fueled car. What Kind of Maintenance Does a Hybrid Vehicle Need? The maintenance demands of a hybrid automobile are not very much different from those of a traditional gasoline engine. Hybrids have an engine that also runs on gasoline, so they will need the same maintenance items as a conventional car with the same intervals.  Hybrid cars still need the following services: Oil change Fluid top-offs Belt replacements Wheel alignment and tire rotations and more. Considering hybrid vehicles rely more heavily on their battery, they might n ... read more

We've all been a victim of another driver cutting us off before. Some of us might even be the culprit that does it. As a result, you might get a middle finger or a displeased look. Of course, you shouldn't take any of that emotion to heart. Some newer drivers have a huge ego, forgetting to share the road with others and be kind to each other. Below are some tips that we consider polite driving etiquette: Be alert and pay attention - While this sounds like a no-brainer, it's very important that you pay attention to what's happening around your vehicle. For instance, you don't want to be that driver that sits at a green light due to a distraction.  Plan to merge and signal in advance - There's nothing more frustrating than having someone cut into your lane unexpectedly. This is also a common cause of accidents and traffic jams.  Park inside the lines - You practiced parking in driver's ed for a reason. Try practicing at an empty parking lot if you ... read more