Auto Repair Chicago | Auto Repair Evanston

Air Conditioning Check Up – Get Your Volvo Ready For The Heat

hubbardwoods — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:27:05 +0000

Hard to believe but soon another school year will be over marking the traditional start of the summer months. Summer of course brings with it sweltering heat and humidity, enough to make you think about making that run to the grocery store after the sun has set! While many prepare their Volvos for summer road trips, an often overlooked component is the one used most often during this time of year, the air conditioning.

To Bake Or Not To Bake

No one needs a reminder on how important the air conditioning unit is during the summer months. If you do not keep it in trip top shape, then there could be issues. It is no fun discovering that the air conditioning in your Volvo has stopped working, while you and your family are in it. Cruising down the road without air conditioning may feel similar to sitting in an oven. If you happen to park your Volvo under the sun and discover your air conditioning has stopped working but drive anyway you risk heat stroke or worse. Staying cool in during the summer months also means staying healthy!

Signs Of Trouble?

Like most systems in your Volvo, there are many clues that could tell you if your air conditioning system is ready to fail. Low air flow, even at the highest fan setting is an early warning sign that is easy to pick up on. Another common, but overlooked issue, involves the carpet in your Volvo. If you notice that it becomes damp during your trip that could indicate a plugged drain. Strange noises are, of course, a good sign that something is not quite right with the air conditioning in your Volvo.

Specialized Care For Your Volvo

If you notice any of the above signs you should have your Volvo looked at as soon as possible. Even if you are not experiencing any of these signs currently, it is always wise to have your Volvo’s air conditioning systems checked before the heat wave begins. Doing so will ensure that your Volvo’s air conditioning will keep you cool when you need it most. So whether you need your Volvo’s air conditioning repaired or serviced, the dedicated Volvo experts at Hubbard Woods Motors are ready to assist you! Contact us today to schedule your appointment. (847) 446-0711

Our Specialized Volvo Repair Services Include:

Engine Performance: Diagnosis and Repair
Computer Diagnostics and Electronics
Brake System Repair
Suspension and Steering Repair
Tune-Ups and Oil Changes
Heating and Air Conditioning
Exhaust System and Mufflers
Cooling System Service and Repair
Factory Recommended Maintenance
Clutches and Transmissions
Engine Repair and Replacement
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Safety Inspections and Trip Checks

Check The Tread Of Your Volvo Tires For Safety

hubbardwoods — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:28:42 +0000

Stick an American quarter between the treads of the tires on your Volvo in several places. If part of Washington’s head is always covered, you have enough tread to drive in the rain. If you drive in snow, you’ll need at least 3/16-inch (5 mm) of tread to get adequate traction. Stick an American penny between the treads. If the top of the Lincoln Memorial is always covered, you’re ready to drive your Volvo in the winter driving.

How To Tell It’s Time To Replace Your MINI Cooper’s Brakes

hubbardwoods — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:37:59 +0000

The brakes on your MINI Cooper are probably the most important piece of safety equipment to care for. Most people probably would not argue with that statement. This is not to take away from the importance of your MINI Cooper’s various safety features, but every driver knows that maintaining properly functioning brakes is a matter of life and death. Fortunately, keeping a handle the condition of your MINI’s brakes is easy if you know a few simple tips.

Tell-tale Signs Service Is Needed

1) The most obvious sign of a problem is if your MINI Cooper’s brakes emit a high pitched squeal whenever you press the brake pedal. This sound occurs when brake pads are dangerously worn out. If you hear this sound please contact Hubbard Woods today!

2) If your steering wheel shudders in your hands as you come to a complete stop this may indicate a problem with the brake rotors on your MINI Cooper.

3) If it takes a long time to stop after applying the brakes. This is a clue that the brakes on your MINI Cooper are in need of immediate repair. It is dangerous to continue driving on severely worn brakes! Contact Hubbard Woods today!

4) Smoke! If you see smoke coming from your wheels when applying the brakes it is obviously time to bring your MINI Cooper in to Hubbard Woods for the quality care that it needs.

Don’t Tinker With Your Brakes

Your MINI Cooper has a highly complex braking system. You should never try to repair or tinker with them yourself. You should always leave this vital service to a properly qualified mechanic such as the trusted MINI Cooper mechanics at Hubbard Woods.

Trust Only The Best

The brakes on your MINI Cooper obviously play a vital role in your day to day driving. Your safety as well as the safety of others on the road is at stake when you drive. Thus, you don’t have a second chance when it comes to your MINI’s braking system. Pay attention to any sign that the brakes on your MINI Cooper need service and act on it promptly. Ready to schedule your service today? Contact your local MINI Cooper experts at Hubbard Woods. (847) 446-0711

Our Specialized Mini Cooper Services Include:

Engine Performance: Diagnosis and Repair
Computer Diagnostics and Electronics
Brake System Repair
Suspension and Steering Repair
Tune-Ups and Oil Changes
Heating and Air Conditioning
Exhaust System and Mufflers
Cooling System Service and Repair
Factory Recommended Maintenance
Clutches and Transmissions
Engine Repair and Replacement
Pre-Purchase Inspections

What Your MINI Cooper Tires Can Tell You

hubbardwoods — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:09:11 +0000

Check the tires of your MINI Cooper for uneven wear. If you’ve maintained tire inflation properly, uneven wear may indicate that your MINI Cooper needs a wheel realignment. It can also mean improperly operating brakes or shocks, a bent wheel, internal tire damage, or worn bushings.

Car Maintenance – Better Than Car Repair

hubbardwoods — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:32:35 +0000

There is a saying – precaution is better than a good cure. The meaning is simple. Why wait till something goes wrong and scramble to fix it when you can simply avoid something going wrong to being with? This is a line of reasoning that is generally applied to your health. However, this same reasoning can be applied to the care and maintenance of your Volvo as well.

Regularly Scheduled Service & Maintenance

We all go to the doctor every so often for our regular checkup. We do this to make sure that nothing major is going wrong. Perhaps something we cannot see “under the hood”. The same holds true with your Volvo. Regularly scheduled general maintenance of your Volvo is a crucial part of making sure your Volvo has a long happy life. General maintenance will help identify potential problems such as faulty wires or parts that are starting to go bad. This ensures that what would have been a minor repair does not become a major headache at the most inopportune time. Regularly scheduled checkups and service will also ensure that your Volvo is operating and peak efficiency and performance.

Oil Change

Most Volvo owners understand that regularly scheduled oil changes should be a part of the maintenance routine for their Volvo. However an oil change also provides the technician an opportunity to peer into the inner workings deep within the engine. Much like a blood test can reveal what is happening within your body. The color, consistency or presence of foreign objects (like metal shavings) in your engines oil can speak volumes about the overall health of your Volvo.

Summer Driving Season

You bought a Volvo for its comfort and reliability. As the summer driving season approaches the road may be calling you. Many Volvo owners take road trips during the summer months. Long journeys during the hot summer months can break down a car that is not properly maintained. Having your Volvo serviced by the Volvo experts at Hubbard Woods Motors will ensure that your Volvo will not only be healthy today, but will also provide many more seasons of enjoyment for you and your family.

Our Specialized Volvo Repair Services Include:

Engine Performance: Diagnosis and Repair
Computer Diagnostics and Electronics
Brake System Repair
Suspension and Steering Repair
Tune-Ups and Oil Changes
Heating and Air Conditioning
Exhaust System and Mufflers
Cooling System Service and Repair
Factory Recommended Maintenance
Clutches and Transmissions
Engine Repair and Replacement
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Safety Inspections and Trip Checks

Make The Tires On Your MINI Cooper Last

hubbardwoods — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:42:40 +0000

Maintain proper inflation of the tires on your MINI Cooper. Under-inflated MINI Cooper tires create excessive heat and stress that can lead to tire failure. If you want to get every last mile out of your tires, get yourself a tire pressure gauge and use it at least once a month (more in hot weather) to keep your tires inflated to the recommendation in the MINI Cooper owner’s manual. Check tires when they are cold (driven for less than one mile) for an accurate reading.

When Does Your MINI Cooper Need A “Tune-Up”?

hubbardwoods — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:43:07 +0000

A little history about the term “tune-up”. The term actually applies only to older cars without electronic ignition, generally speaking those that are made before the 1980s. On these vehicles a tune-up would generally be required every 15,000 miles or so and consisted of replacing the spark plugs, ignition contact points, rotor and distributor cap and adjusting the ignition timing as well as the carburetor.

Modern vehicles, such as your MINI Cooper are equipped with electronic ignition, fuel injection and computer controls so the ‘tune-up” of today looks much different than in the past. A “tune-up” for newer vehicles including your MINI Cooper is the process of inspection, computer diagnosis, testing and adjusting to make sure your MINI is running at peak engine performance, maximum fuel efficiency and low exhaust emissions. During this process, spark plugs, plug wires, sensors, and modules may be replaced. MINI Coopers do not follow a set service schedule. The frequency at which your MINI Cooper needs a tune-up is dependent more upon how often and how far you travel as well as driving conditions, more than mileage. Keep an eye on your MINIs service indicator as this can inform you when your next service is due. When your MINI Cooper indicates that it is time for service, you should schedule it promptly to keep it running safely and smoothly.

Your MINI Cooper is a unique vehicle and it deserves the specialized attention and care that only factory trained technicians can provide. Here at Hubbard Woods Motors we have committed ourselves to providing you and your MINI Cooper with a level of service that is second to none! When your MINI Cooper tells you it’s time for service, call the experts at Hubbard Woods Motors! (847) 446-0711

Our Specialized Mini Cooper Services Include:

Engine Performance: Diagnosis and Repair
Computer Diagnostics and Electronics
Brake System Repair
Suspension and Steering Repair
Tune-Ups and Oil Changes
Heating and Air Conditioning
Exhaust System and Mufflers
Cooling System Service and Repair
Factory Recommended Maintenance
Clutches and Transmissions
Engine Repair and Replacement
Pre-Purchase Inspections

Keep Your Volvo Cool This Summer

hubbardwoods — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:34:17 +0000

Park your Volvo in the shade. Minimize interior damage from UV sunlight and heat by always trying to park your Volvo in the shade. If no shade is available or if you find parking under a tree results in bird droppings, use a car shade to minimize the sun’s impact. As a bonus, your Volvo will be a cooler car to step into on hot sunny days. Car shades come in two basic types: those that you unfold and place on the front windshield and rear window, or pleated types that attach to the windshield posts (with adhesive), window frames (with Velcro), or the windows themselves (with suction cups).

Windshield Wipers – Just When Should You Change Them?

hubbardwoods — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:28:15 +0000

There is nothing quite like a leisurely spring drive out on the open road, just you in your MINI Cooper! Whether you have a Countryman or a Cooper S, driving can be just plain fun! However spring and the start of thunderstorm season is upon us. If you have ever been caught in a flash storm and turned on your wipers only to realize that they are not moving the water off your windshield like they should, you know it is not a good feeling! Most people realize that they need to change their wipers blades after a dangerous incident like that. So that you literally don’t get caught out in the rain, here are a few tips on when to change the windshield wipers of your MINI Cooper.

Most manufacturers recommend changing your wiper blades once or twice a year. If your gravitating towards the once a year frequency understand that the extreme weather here in Illinois (snow storms to thunderstorms) really necessitate a more frequent changing. It is a great practice to inspect your blades at every oil change (something our MINI Cooper technicians do as part of our routine safety inspection with every oil change). Another opportune time to check your windshield wipers is after a severe storm such as snow accumulation of over six inches, ice or an unusually heavy rain storm. This type of weather can quickly wear down the wipers of your MINI Cooper. If the blades have a dry appearance then a change is in their near future. If they are cracked, then it is a good idea to change them immediately!

At Hubbard Woods Motors we want you to enjoy your MINI Cooper the way it should be enjoyed – on the road. Part of that is making sure your MINI Cooper is safe and reliable. We are experts in the service and repair of MINI’s. Your unique vehicle needs specialized MINI Cooper service and we can deliver it. Our spotless facility can service your MINI and have you back on the road for more fun in no time.

We provide the professional repairs and service you expect, and add personalized care and attention you and your MINI deserve.

Our Specialized MINI Cooper Services Include:

Engine Performance: Diagnosis and Repair
Computer Diagnostics and Electronics
Brake System Repair
Suspension and Steering Repair
Tune-Ups and Oil Changes
Heating and Air Conditioning
Exhaust System and Mufflers
Cooling System Service and Repair
Factory Recommended Maintenance
Clutches and Transmissions
Engine Repair and Replacement
Pre-Purchase Inspections
Safety Inspections and Trip Checks

Stay up to date with your MINI Cooper care

hubbardwoods — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:31:44 +0000

Keep an auto log for your Mini Cooper. Keep a pad and pencil in the glove compartment and use them to record your gas fill-ups and mileage. If you notice that your gas mileage worsens, mention it to your service man. It may be an early warning sign that something is wrong with your MINI Cooper.