Ballston Spa Auto Repair

When looking for great car tips we stumbled upon this article written by Bryan Black for itstactical.com.  We think he has some really great tips that can be helpful to our readers! As I type this, an “arctic air invasion” is pushing its way south to us in Texas, leaving much of the country feeling as cold as a mid-winter’s day. While I’m sitting here thinking of the precautions and preparations I’ll take for the impending cold spell, I wanted to share a list of the most important items I carry with me and how those correspond to preparing for cold weather. During an emergency is a lousy time to think of all the things you should have been carrying. The important thing is not to wait until the last minute to prepare. 1. Keep Your Vehicle Serviced This is a pretty comprehensive step, but extremely important, nonetheless. Keeping your vehicle serviced includes ensuring your fluids are changed at the proper intervals and topped off where applicab ... read more

There's no getting around winter. Instead of dreading it, prepare for it. The changing of the seasons is a great time to check out what your car needs to gear up for cold, wet, winter driving conditions. Do this before the first flake falls because small problems you ignored during warmer months could grow worse, leaving you stranded when the temperature plummets. A few simple tips could keep your car running all winter long. Take your car to a mechanic and check out the following: battery, antifreeze level, thermostat, heater, brakes, and defroster. Check to make sure your tires have adequate tread. If the treads are worn, replace them. Better yet, exchange them for a set of snow tires which have treads that provide better traction and are equipped to handle extreme winter driving conditions. Make a visual inspection of your vehicle's lights. Make sure the front and rear lights are operational, especially the car's flashing hazard lights. Often in the winter, the wind ... read more

This week, we wanted to cover an extremely important topic. Although simple, many people may not know the safest way to change a tire. This information was provided by the DMV, to read their original article please click here.  Sooner or later, it's bound to happen to most everyone. You're driving along with your mind on the important meeting agenda, and suddenly your car pulls to one side and you hear that dreaded flapping sound of a flat tire. Nowadays, many drivers have roadside assistance services that will come fix your flats, but it's always smart to know how to change a flat yourself. Since it's a fairly common occurrence, car manufacturers have tried to make the tire change process one that virtually anyone can do. Before Starting Out It's a good idea to get your car serviced before heading out on a road trip. Part of the checkup should include a look a ... read more

This article was originally posted on RM Auto Buzz, to view the original article click here.  All photos are property of RM Auto Buzz.  1. Porsche Panamera (2010 - Present)   After the superstar success of Porsche's Cayenne SUV, the German sports car brand turned its attention toward another segment: the four-door sedan. Actually a hatchback, the resulting Panamera tried to nail down the DNA that makes the 911 coupe such an icon, but applied to a larger body with a front-engined layout. While the Panamera just may be the most exciting four-door ever, its misshapen styling and particularly its ugly rear haunch makes it also one of the least attractive.   2. Ford Granada (1975 - 1980) The Granada was Ford's attempt to compete with the rising popularity of luxury sedans from Germany with a flashy sedan of its own. With styling cues from a V-shaped front grill ... read more

The following article was written by Micah Wright at Autos Cheat Sheet. To view the Original Article please Click Here.  Michael Trevor is a staple in the Cincinnati automotive scene. He is a man who knows damn near everyone, and has quite the reputation as being one of the area’s most knowledgeable luxury and exotic specialists. So with beautiful driving weather blanketing the American landscape, I opted to reach out to Trevor in the hopes of seeing if he had any tips on how the rest of us might be able to do away with all of the road grime, salt, and scratches that winter leaves in its wake. There are many different ways of cleanin ... read more

Tips To Help You Focus On The Road This article was originally posted by Geico insurance agency, to view the original article please click here. Nearly everyone is guilty of some form of distracted driving. In fact, distracted drivers are almost everywhere you look: the cell phone socialite, the in-car iPod DJ, the high-fashion cosmetician, the 3-course meal king or queen. Here are some good ideas to help you drive more safely Use your cell phone for emergency situations only.  While you're driving, a cell phone should only be used for emergency purposes. Even then, it's best to pull over safely to the right shoulder to make a call. Even hands-free devices can still cause you to miss important visual and audio cues needed to avoid a crash. Social conversations on cell phones should not be carried on while driving. Remember, it ... read more

Now at All Tech Automotive, purchase four select Hankook tires and take up to $100 off via this mail-in rebate. Move quickly, as this is the best rebate deal we've seen on Hankook tires. Choose from Ventus, Kinergy, Optimo, or Dynapro styles. Deal ends September

Are your brakes squealing every time you stop in traffic? Concerned that you may be driving in an unsafe vehicle? What does it mean when a brake pad squeals? and what should you do about it? This week, the staff at AllTech Automotive cites a great article by Rick Popely  of cars.com covering this topic and answering your questions about brake issues. To read Rick's original article please click here.    Why are my brakes Squealing? If you're lucky, the squealing (or squeaking) noise that your brakes make when you first drive your car in the morning, particularly after rain or snow, is just surface rust being scraped off the rotors by the pads the first few times you apply the brake pedal, or the result of moisture and dirt that collects on the rotors, including from condensation caused by high humidity. If it goes away afte ... read more

We have often heard the question from our customers "when should I replace my tires?" To simplify answering this, the team at Alltech Automotive decided to share this great article by Matthew Jancer from Popular Mechanics about Tire Wear. To read his full original article, click here! Your tires are your car's only connection to the road. They're overlooked as safety items, but sometimes they're the first place where a problem will appear. We show you how to read your tires and know what the warning signs mean. Center Wear It Looks Like: Your tire is worn down only in the middle. The Diagnosis: This tire was overinflated, causing the center ring only to contact the road. Consequently, whoever drove this car had ... read more

Many of our customers ask us how regularly they should be checking and changing their car fluids. To help them understand the answer to this question, the staff at Alltech has shared this great article by Thorin Klosowski on Life Hacker. To read his original post click here!  Cars need a ton of maintenance to keep running smoothly. The easiest thing anyone can do is check the fluids to ensure your car stays healthy. With that in mind, here are the five fluids you should check on a regular basis. A large chunk of your car's maintenance is preventative and regardless of your skill level pretty much anyone who can lift a hood can check the fluids. Doing so on a regular basis keeps your car running well and your repair costs down. Knowing the basics also empowers y ... read more