Grand Rapids Auto Repair

Spring break Preparation Most people are dreaming of Spring Break as we deal with the grayness of Michigan winter. It’s fun to plan the trip to the beach for a week of sun, sand and surf. What isn’t as fun to think about is the road trip. Will we drive straight through or stop? Can we entertain the kids that long? Can we listen to “Are we there yet?” on repeat for hours? The big question should be, is my vehicle prepared for a long trip?  All the planning, reservation making and Google searches for ‘the best beach in_________? can be waylaid by an unexpected car repair on the way to our destination. Living in Grand Rapids means that you have some great family-owned repair shops that are available to inspect your vehicle and make recommendations to help you have a safe, reliable vehicle for your trip. From BMW to Land Rover, Honda to Ford, no matter or make of vehicle, having a pre-trip check over is a smart decision. We know the stress an unexpect ... read more

I found it on the internet! The internet is an amazing place filled with an answer to every question, right at your fingertips. Baking and need a substitute for the egg you thought you had?https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/egg-substitutes. Planning a trip and need car games for kids? Here you go! https://www.familyvacationcritic.com/best-road-trip-games-for-families/art/ These are both examples of websites that are easily proven to be quality information. One thing the internet is not good at is deciding what is accurate information and what is not. Many people are ‘experts’, but are they? I made an avocado hummus recipe that was ‘amazing’ and ‘5-stars’. It was on a blogger’s website with rave reviews. You know what it did not have? Flavor. I followed the recipe to the letter, and ... read more

As I’m writing this, the sun is shining. Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, has also predicted another six weeks of winter. Many of us are thinking about Spring Break 2021. What does it even look like this year? Hopefully you’ll be able to enjoy this long awaited annual pilgrimage to the south. If you are headed south, now is the time to think about vehicle maintenance. It’s not the fun part of planning for your vacation but it’s necessary. Why? Lessening the possibility of a break down on your trip. It is worth a little bit of investment before you leave. Performing the necessary maintenance and repairs before you hit the road alleviates some of the stress. I recommend scheduling your appointment soon as I have learned after 20+ years in automotive, trying to get an appointment the week you are to leave may cause its own stress. You do not need that.  Plan and call today to be prepared to hit the road. Head for the sand and sunshine with confidence! Also ... read more

We are in the process of putting winter tires on our family cars. I am not a fan of winter so to me this is the harbinger of what is to come. I’m probably a 5th generation Michigander so you would think that my DNA would include a snow and cold loving gene. People suggest that finding a winter sport is the key to loving Michigan winters. The problem with that is that I’d have to be outside. Making sure that my car has heat, good tires and the coolant is working correctly helps me get through the winter. Coolant/antifreeze is more interesting than one would imagine. Seriously, I always thought it just kept the engine cool but it does more than that. Worn out coolant is more electrically conductive than fresh coolant. Electrolysis (and not the hair removing kind) in the coolant causes it to become corrosive and can damage the engine and components. So it’s important that your coolant/antifreeze be tested to make sure that it is still doing all the things it is required to do ... read more