Follow the Bouncing Vehicle (Bad Struts and Shocks)
December 24, 2023
If you hit a bump in the road and your vehicle just keeps bouncing up and down for a lot longer time than it used to, you may have bad struts and shocks. They're the things that help to keep your vehicle's wheels and tires planted to the road surface. But they don't last forever. With care and ... More
The Little Valve that Could (PCV Valve Replacement)
December 17, 2023
It's easy to get letters like PVC and PCV mixed up. PVC is a plastic that's used in a lot of things, especially plumbing pipes. And PCV is a valve that helps your engine burn off excess fumes rather than having them pollute our atmosphere. PCV stands for positive crankcase ventilation. When y... More
Alleviate the Creaks and Squeaks (Chassis Lubrication)
December 10, 2023
If your vehicle creaks and squeaks when you drive down the road, it may mean that some of the metal parts are rubbing against each other and need to be lubricated. Those could be parts of the suspension, steering system and the drivetrain. Years ago, most vehicles had to have their chassis (wha... More
Make Your Vehicle Last
December 3, 2023
We live in such a disposable society. It's amazing all the stuff we throw away. New stuff comes out so fast, we just toss the old and move on. In the old days, Illinois folks were real sticklers about taking care of their things. If something got lost or ruined by neglect, tough - they had to do ... More
Oil Times are a-Changin' (Oil Change Synthetic)
November 26, 2023
When it comes to oil changes, things are really changing. Most newer vehicles require synthetic oil, and while it costs more than conventional oil, it doesn't need to be changed as often. When conventional oil was the only game in town, you changed your oil every 3,000 miles/5,000 km. But as tec... More
Bad Vibes (Disc brake rotor problems)
November 19, 2023
If you were to name the most important safety feature on your vehicle right now, what would your answer be? A lot of driving experts would agree that its your brakes. Most newer vehicles use a well-engineered and efficient style of brakes called disc brakes. The name disc brakes comes from one ... More
Treat Your Vehicle to Good Tires at Tuffy Auto Service Center Elgin
November 12, 2023
When we shop for shoes, most of us know that we can get two pairs of cheap shoes or one good pair for about the same price. And since the two cheap pairs wear out in about the same time as the good pair, there really is no difference in cost. If you like having a closet full of shoes to match yo... More
Alternator Facts (Failing Alternator)
November 5, 2023
If you notice that your headlights are flickering at night, that's something to pay attention to. While there could be many different things that could cause that problem, one possibility is your vehicle's alternator. The alternator takes mechanical energy from the engine and turns it into electr... More
The Power Behind your Engine (Alternator Diagnosis and Repair)
October 29, 2023
There's nothing like that sinking feeling when you turn the key and nothing happens in your vehicle. A lot of us are quick to blame the battery. But it may instead be your alternator that's failing. Your battery supplies power to start your vehicle, but the alternator is what sends power when y... More
Wheel Balancing at Tuffy Auto Service Center Elgin
October 22, 2023
So you love your job, and your family life is great. Congratulations! You have achieved balance. But can you say the same for your wheels? Elgin drivers can tell if their tires are out of balance by vibrations at higher speeds on Illinois roads. If one of the front tires is out, you feel the vib... More