Category: Batteries
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Give Your Car a Rest: Addressing the Toll of Summer Driving
Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial transition from sun-soaked road trips to structured autumn routines. While you may be using the long weekend to relax and recharge, your vehicle likely hasn’t had a single day off all season. From humid afternoon traffic jams along the Edens Expressway to weekend getaways across the Midwest, summer demands… Read more
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School Supplies, Packed Lunches, and Safe Brakes: A Wilmette Parent’s Guide to the Back-to-School Rush
As a local mechanic who’s been keeping Wilmette families safely on the road for decades, I know the exact moment summer ends. It isn’t when the calendar hits September—it’s when the traffic on Green Bay Road doubles overnight, Sheridan Road turns into a slow crawl, and the morning dash to drop-off begins. Whether you’re loading… Read more
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The Declaration of Maintenance Independence: Keeping Your Summer Road Trips Worry-Free
July on the North Shore is spectacular. Between the Wilmette Independence Day star-spangled celebration, beach days at Gillson Park, and loading up the car for a classic family road trip, July is all about freedom. As our nation marks its historic Semiquincentennial 250th Anniversary, we are celebrating freedom, exploration, and the great American pastime of… Read more
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Will Your Car Start This Winter? The Cold Truth About Your Battery
There is no worse sound on a dark, 10-degree morning than the dreaded “click-click-click” of a dead car battery. We see it every year at Hong Kong Auto Service. The first deep freeze of the season arrives in Wilmette, and our phones ring off the hook with drivers who are stranded in their own driveways.… Read more
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Don’t Let the Chicago Heat Cook Your Ride!
Hong Kong Auto Service’s Guide to Summer Car Care Alright, folks, it’s that time of year again! The lakefront breezes are nice, sure, but once you get away from the water, that Chicago summer heat can be a real beast. And while you’re trying to stay cool, your car is working overtime, taking a serious… Read more
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Auto Maintenance for Batteries, Belts, and Brakes
As the temperature drops and winter approaches, it’s crucial to ensure that your vehicle is in top-notch condition to navigate the challenging weather conditions that lie ahead. Among the most critical aspects of winter auto maintenance are your vehicle’s batteries, belts, and brakes. Let’s dive into why these components are essential and what you can… Read more
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Be Aware of Your Car- Check Out This Important Spring Maintenance List
This winter was a harsh one, wasn’t it? Sometimes it feels like they get worse every year. Every Chicagoan is waiting for those beautiful spring and summer months and guess who else is waiting? Your car, truck, or SUV. Old man winter really gives our vehicles a kick in the bumper and it’s not surprising… Read more
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Dashboard Lights: What Do They Mean and Why Should I Care?
Oh, those annoying dash lights. One minute, your car is running fine, the tunes are good, and life is smiling at you and then some symbol pops up on the dash and you don’t know what it means. Is this something serious? Do you need to take the car in right away? Can this be… Read more
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How Winterizing Your Car Now Could Save You from Scary, Pricey Mistakes
It’s October and while most people think of cooler days, pumpkins, and scary ghosts and goblins on Halloween, there is one thing that is truly scary and that is NOT winterizing your vehicle. Let’s face it, Chicagoans are accustomed to winter weather. We take it on like a champ, but your car isn’t quite as… Read more
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9 Simple Maintenance Tips That Can Change Everything
Can you believe that summer, and those blistering temperatures, are almost here? While the year is almost halfway gone, after the last year of quarantine and craziness, most people can only think of one thing: summer vacation. If you are planning on driving to your vacation, summertime maintenance on your vehicle is more important now… Read more
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Top 8 Powerful Winter Car Care Mistakes
If winter weather hasn’t hit Chicago by the time you read this, you can bet that it’s on the way. When the weather is frightful, your morning commute can be slow but uneventful or it can be downright nasty. It’s the little things that count and while winter won’t wait, you may have put off… Read more
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If Your Battery is 3-5 Years Old, It’s Time to Have it Tested or Replaced
Question: I’ve had my car for awhile now, and I’ve never given the battery a second thought. When should I worry about replacing it? Answer: A car battery isn’t very different from a regular battery. If the battery in your cell phone dies, you’re not going to be making any calls. When your car battery is… Read more