Allegan, Holland, & Zeeland Auto Repair

A long road trip with family and friends is something that many people value the most. It means freedom from the boring stays at home or work routines. However, you do not want those beautiful moments to be ruined by malfunctioning parts of your car. Therefore, it is paramount that you have your vehicle checked before hitting the road. The following are the things that your mechanic should check before you embark on long trips: Fluid Levels. For the efficiency and safety of your car, the mechanic should check the level of your car's engine oil, brake and transmission fluid, coolant and windshield washer. It will ensure you avoid issues like overheating your engine due to an improper cooling system. Long road trips mean that you are far away from your regular mechanic, and finding one you can trust in a new place might be a hassle. Car Battery One of the scariest issues in a car is having a flat battery, especially in the wild where there is no mechanic to help you out. Therefor ... read more

Brake rotors are an essential component of your vehicle's braking system, and over time, they can become warped or damaged. While brake rotors can be repaired in some cases, it is often necessary to replace them. What are brake rotors? Brake rotors are the large metal discs that your vehicle's brake pads clamp down on to stop the wheels from turning. Over time, the constant friction from the brake pads can cause the rotors to warp or become damaged. What causes brake rotors to warp? There are several factors that can contribute to warped brake rotors, including: 1. Excessive heat: When brakes are used excessively or for too long, they can get extremely hot. This can cause the brake rotors to warp. 2. Incorrect installation: If brake rotors are not installed correctly, they can become warped. 3. Improper maintenance: Brake rotors need to be cleaned and inspected regularly to prevent warping. How can I tell if my brake rotors are warped? There are several signs that you ... read more

If you asked Michigan drivers, "what is a driveline", they'll probably tell you they don't know what it is. It's understandable that the average person might've never heard of this term before. Fortunately, we're here to break down everything you need to know about the vehicle's driveline.   The driveline is the part of your car that carries the engine power to your move wheels. It comprises the axles, driveshaft, wheels, joints, and differentials. However, the parts can vary slightly depending on whether the vehicle is a front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive. It handles the full power of your vehicle, and without it, you can't go anywhere!   When it comes to services, drivers may typically need front and rear differential flushes and transfer case flushes. Over extended periods of time, the fluids that flow throughout these components can deteriorate. They may become cont ... read more

Why is changing your motor oil so important? And does it matter when and how often you do it? Yes, read on to find out!  All car owners have the ultimate responsibility to change their oil on time to keep their car and its engine running properly. Although it is a frequent maintenance service, an oil change service opens the opportunity to have other important vehicle systems checked. Some of these parts may include your belts, hoses, filters, tire pressure, fluid levels, and more. So whether you're driving a brand new vehicle or a vintage one, you can never doubt the power of regular oil changes. 5 Benefits of Regular Oil Changes Keeps Your Engine Clean - Changing your motor oil and replacing your filters per your manufacturer's recommendations will eliminate any contaminants from your engine before they can harm its components. Extend Engine Life - Oil lubricates and protects your engine from wear and tear. So if you continue to run with dirty oil, it can cause exces ... read more

Vehicle batteries may seem like they last a lifetime, but just like any other batteries, they grow weaker and lose their charge quicker over time. Most mechanics suggest that you should replace your car battery every few years (5 years max.) so that you can continue to obtain reliability and peak performance out of it. Besides time, you can also look at the signs that may warrant a need for a new battery.  Signs That You Need A Car Battery Replacement If you're not experienced with automobiles, you probably can't pinpoint exactly when your battery may need to be replaced. Weak batteries rarely show signs of issues early on. However, your battery will need to be replaced if it demonstrates the following symptoms: Car Takes Longer to Start This is almost always a telling sign that the battery needs to be replaced soon. Sometimes, extremely cold weather (or hot) can make it more difficult to start your car. However, if the battery is nearly drained, you will have to face ... read more

      Have you heard about the wonderful non-profit Hand2Hand? In 2008 founder Cheri Honderd recognized a community injustice: elementary school children were at risk of going hungry over the weekends. She started Hand2Hand who delivers nutritious food to students over the weekends and on extended school breaks by mobilizing churches, schools and businesses to join together, providing hope and an opportunity to thrive. Currently, Hand2Hand serves over 8,000 children that attend over 200 school in midwestern Michigan. According to Feeding America, there are over 345,000 children in Michigan that are struggling with hunger, so this is just the tip of the iceberg and we want to help…and you can too! During December, the month of giving, we are collecting items on Hand2Hand’s wishlist. Anyone who donates a food item on the wishlist will get a free tire rotation added to thei ... read more

    To our loyal customers, we wanted to update you about our efforts during this uneasy time. We are open for business and operating normal business hours during the concern of the Coronavirus. We have been monitoring the Coronavirus updates from WHO and the CDC and are doing our best to adhere to their suggestions at slowing the spreading of this virus. We are doing all in our power to keep our facility open so that we can keep your car on the road. The health and well-being of our customers, employees and surrounding communities are our utmost concern. If you have vehicle concerns or need maintenance and are concerned about the virus we have: A drop off box and after hours secure key pick up box available for your needs. We have call to pay options so you can pay from the comfort of your own home. If you have any concerns about leaving your home, we would be happy to pick up your vehicle from your house, and return it to you when the maintenance or repairs are com ... read more

While many of us think of the first vehicles being the model T, many years before that, in approximately 1830, the first buggy with an electric motor traveled a short distance in Scotland. The battery had galvanized cells and was not rechargeable, limiting the ability of travel – however, progress was made. Here in the US the first electric car was introduced in the year 1890 in Des Moines Iowa by a chemist named William Morrison. His six-passenger vehicle sped down the road at 14 miles per hour, but William showed that it was possible to power a vehicle with electricity. In 1900, one third of the vehicles on the road were electric. They had a lot of momentum in sales in the early 1900’s. At that time there were really three ways to power a vehicle, Steam, Electric, and internal combustion engine. (Gasoline and diesel) The Steam engine was a lot of work to get going and took a lot of time to warm up. The gasoline motor was hard to start, and was not easy to shift either ... read more

The vehicles on the road today, for the most part, are driven by the internal combustion engine. While many of us think this is the way it’s always been, the electric vehicle has been in existence since approximately 1830, when an inventor from Scotland was able to move his buggy with an electric motor and galvanic cells. The batteries were not rechargeable, but he was able to move a short distance. At the turn of the century, electric cars were being produced but were not as popular due to price, electrical availability, and range. It was easier for a driver to take extra gasoline along than to charge his batteries. Especially when most of the population lived out of the cities at that time. Currently, electric vehicles come in the form of cars, trucks, trains, boats and submarines. While powering many different vehicles, we’re going to concentrate on cars and light trucks. I’ve heard a businessman say, that to disrupt an industry, the product has to be “bette ... read more