WEST PALM BEACH AUTO REPAIR

Isn’t November and Thanksgiving a wonderful time of year? We love the giving and gratitude that takes place in November every year--and wish it extended to the rest of the year, too. For some reason, people are thinking about all the things they’re grateful for, and that creates a spiraling effect, where everyone is on a similar wavelength. Here are some ideas for expressing gratitude in your car and for your car.  The Wave or the Peace Sign When someone lets you in during rush hour traffic, that certainly merits a thank you. So giving drivers a quick wave is considerate when they’ve gone out of their way for you. We sometimes see motorcycles giving a nod or a wave, too, when we share the road by moving out of their way. Another popular signal is the peace sign or tipping the hat as a gesture of thanks.  Thanking People for Good Driving or Parking In some areas of the country, there are programs where police department g ... read more

Isn’t Halloween one of the most fun events of the entire year? We think so! Here are some hauntingly good things you can do in October!  Dress up Your Car Trunk We don’t know when this became a thing, but people have been dressing up their trunks. Some common themes are Finding Nemo, Wizard of Oz, and Alice in Wonderland. All you need are an active imagination and a local dollar store, where you can use balloons, cardboard, paint, and glitter! Don’t forget a bucket of candy for the kids! Trunk or Treat! While we’re on the topic of dressing up your trunk, trunk or treat is something that lots of schools now sponsor. Kids can go someplace safe and go from trunk to trunk in their costumes getting candy from each trunk. These events are held not only at schools, but at community centers and churches--anywhere safe for the kids.  Outfit Your Car Now, of course, anything you can do to your trunk can al ... read more

September 8 -- Family Saturdays: Graffiti, Pop and Lock - Community Mural How about a fun event for the kiddos and the whole family? This free event takes place at 10:00 a.m. at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. The event will include dancing (with a DJ), and plenty of opportunities for picture-taking for those who don’t want to get covered with paint!   September 9 -- Grandparents Day Want to teach the grandkids about your family history? At this event, there will be chances for the grandkids to interview their grandparents, and to participate in learning about family genealogy. This event is free with admission to the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. 3:00 at the Museum in Palm Beach.   September 16 -- Sunday on the Waterfront This free, fun, family-friendly event will feature Journey tribute band Chain Reaction. Sing along to the classics of rock to tunes like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and many other songs you’ve been singing ... read more

While a lot of people look at a map and think that a road trip to Miami is a great idea, there are many shorter trips right around West Palm Beach. Also, since August tends to be rainy, traveling very far in the rain might not be so pleasant. Here, then, are some ideas for road trips closer to West Palm Beach.  Jonathan Dickinson State Park This state park is north of West Palm Beach, and a short drive up Highway 1. Note that the park is open Thursday through Monday, so it’s a great getaway for a weekend. There are a nature center and plenty of wildlife. You can take a boat or a charter out to Trapper John’s campsite. You might want to skip the swimming since there are gators! You can picnic, use the bike trails, or visit the highest point in South Florida--Hobe Mountain. And lots of people recommend camping there, too, if you like to camp! Lion Country Safari Another excellent and fun road trip is Lion Country Safari, only about ... read more

There are pluses and minuses to hurricane season, which hits us every year and lasts from June through the end of September. On the plus side, we can see them coming so we have time to prepare. On the minus side, hurricane season lasts a very long time--six months! So it’s a good idea to prepare ahead of time, as much as possible. Make Sure Your Car is Hurricane-Ready What that means is bring your car in and have all the fluids checked and replaced, if necessary. Have the right amount of air in your tires. Ask us to check your A/C and all the belts in the car. Make sure you have a spare tire and that it’s adequately inflated. Get the windshield wipers replaced, too. Keep the gas tank full in case you need to leave in a hurry. Most importantly, do this at the beginning of hurricane season, not when you get a hurricane warning!   Have An Emergency Kit A big box or backpack full of supplies is a necessity for any time you need to evacuate. Jumper cables, flares, fl ... read more

  Have you ever been in a situation when your leased car was up for service and you were confused as if to bring it to the dealer or an independent? Imagine this- You buy or lease your new car from a dealership, and they tell you, "Make sure you bring it back here for regular maintenance so you do not void your warranty." Of course, you start to wonder whether getting you vehicle services at an independent repair shop will actually void your factory warranty and cause further problems down the road. It's a valid question to ask yourself, and unfortunately not many know how to answer. Did you know that there is a law from 1975 that protected this exact confusion? The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits dealers from refusing to honor your warranty if someone else performs the repairs. It was created to stop manufacturers, such as dealerships, from confusing consumers with misleading disclaimers and information ... read more

Though we are known as the Sunshine State, Florida gets more than its fair share of rain. Lately, we’ve had torrential rains across the state. We have been receiving calls from our clients, telling us about the mysterious water leaks in their trunk and on the floor mats. Leaving your windows and sunroof open during a thunderstorm is an apparent cause for a wet car interior. However, what about when the windows are all closed? How can your car get wet on the inside when the trunk is closed, the windows are up, and the doors are locked? It may be due to the car’s drainage system getting filled with debris; resulting in water leaks. Like a gutter on your roof that’s backed up with leaves, water may seep into ordinarily waterproof areas if the drainage system is blocked. All vehicles have a drainage system, and some vehicle brands consistently exhibit drainage design issues. The water leaks could be the result of a faulty sunroof drainage system. Alternatively, the are ... read more

  Car maintenance is a task that all drivers encounter throughout each year. Whether you’re getting your oil changed, having your tires serviced, or simply dropping by for a routine tune-up, ongoing auto care is simply part of owning or driving a car. If you own a luxury vehicle, such as a Porsche, Jaguar, Bentley, or Rolls Royce, maintenance is especially of the utmost importance. Furthermore, if you own a luxury vehicle and don’t drive it year-round, there are specific maintenance procedures that should be performed before you store your vehicle for the season.   In Florida, it is a tradition for “winter birds” to travel to the sunny, warm area for a break from cold winter weather. Unfortunately, when they return to their respective home states with their luxury  vehicles they aren’t always stored properly, leaving them sus ... read more

The importance of battery maintenance often goes overlooked by many drivers, and we can’t blame them. Like many other vehicle components, a car’s battery is something most of us don’t think about until it isn’t working properly. For those of us who have experienced a battery die on us, it can be a downright inconvenience. Other times, a battery dying can be dangerous and unpredictable. To get a handle on your battery, it is best to have a routine for how to care for it. Since much of the gadgets and technology we use in our cars these days relies heavily on a power source, it is important to maintain your battery to avoid getting stuck on the roadside somewhere. Battery care doesn’t have to be a hassle; in fact, there are several easy ways you can keep an eye on your battery without breaking a sweat or feeling totally inconvenienced. Furthermore, ongoing battery care can greatly impact the length of time b ... read more

Purchasing a shiny, new car is a great feeling; it gives us something to look forward to each time we leave our home and speed off to a new destination. But that feeling can diminish quickly when you realize that your perfect new-car paint job is dulling or deteriorating in the least. Internal vehicular care is important, but many underestimate the importance of the exterior of your car. This is especially true for high-end vehicles like Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche whose value decreases significantly with a less-than-impressive paint job. It’s true: the value of your car is somewhat dependent upon the exterior paint job alone—after all, it IS the first thing the eye is drawn to. Looks aren’t everything, but it’s important to do what’s necessary to maintain your car’s paint job for years to come. Here are a few tips on ... read more