Many motorists frequently just adhere to their owner's handbook up to the time that their dealer warranty expires. Once your warranty has expired, it's simple to forget about things like monthly belt checks and oil changes. Your car's manufacturer has specified their "factor suggested maintenance" in the owner's manual because they are aware that regular maintenance will increase your car's ease of use and life span. What necessary routine maintenance must be performed in order for your warranty to remain valid is also specified in your owner's handbook. Reasons To Regularly Maintain Your Car Improved mileage Long-term improvements in your car's fuel economy can be achieved with routine maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations. Your gas mileage can be improved by constantly keeping your tire pressure at factory recommended levels. By guaranteeing that your engine is in good condition and that your tires are worn evenly, regular maintenan ... read more

Many of us will be hitting the roads in the upcoming weeks for holiday travel, which means driving requires more of your attention than ever. With the weather dropping below freezing in many parts of the country, bad weather, less daylight, and of course the holiday stress, the holidays can be challenging for some of us to navigate. With that in mind, we’d like to share several of these driving tips to keep you and your family safer on the roads: Practice defensive driving - Of course, the best way to maximize safety is to drive defensively. That means be alert and keep your eyes on the road. You should scan your vehicle’s surroundings to catch obstacles early on.  Be well rested - Many adults lack sleep during the busy holiday season, making driving with drowsiness a major problem. If you have a long trip ahead, make sure to get a good night’s rest before. Take breaks and split up driving time with another fellow passenger to stay alert. Check forecasts - Win ... read more

It's every driver's worst nightmare to get into a car accident. But what steps should you take to ensure the safety of yourself and others involved and protect your vehicle from further damage? This blog post will discuss the steps you need to take to handle the aftermath of a car accident. Check for injuries and secure the area. The first and most crucial step is to check for any injuries, both yourself and those involved in the accident. Call 911 immediately if you or anyone is injured. Pull over and turn on your hazard lights if the vehicles are still operational. Call the police Why call the police even if it seems like a minor fender bender? The police are responsible for filling out an official accident report, which will be necessary for insurance purposes and any potential legal issues. Collect information. Once the scene is secure, and the authorities notified, it's essential to gather information from those involved in the accident. This information includ ... read more

The check engine light is a bright light on your dashboard that you can’t miss. Many drivers make the mistake of ignoring or waiting too long to repair this yellow or orange warning signal. The warning symbol can indicate a minor problem, but it can also symbolize grave danger concerning your engine. And we can promise you that engine repairs are costly enough to make your head spin.   It can be difficult to accurately diagnose a check engine light without the right tools and expertise. At our shop, we can pinpoint the problem using the latest scan tools. Our experienced technicians can then use the trouble code to dig deeper into the problem.    Your car motor has many sensors that relay information to the onboard computer. When it detects a missing, damaged, or malfunctioning component, your check engine light will illuminate or flash. It can tell anything from a loose fuel cap to a clogged catalytic converter.     Here are some of the most c ... read more

A clean fuel system goes hand-in-hand with a healthy and good-performing engine. You need fuel to accelerate and run. Therefore, the cleaner your fuel system, the more efficiently your engine will burn fuel. That means more power and higher fuel economy: a win-win for you.   After many years of being on the road, your car will collect some dirt and debris in the fuel tank. Fortunately, this stuff gets sifted out of the fuel before it moves through your engine. But, what happens when the fuel filter is clogged too? The contaminants will get to the fuel injectors and eventually the cylinders.     If your fuel system is dirty, you could experience major problems with the combustion process. So that is why the experts at International Sport Motors recommend regular fuel system cleanings. We recommend referring to your owner’s manual or ask your service advisor to determine when you might need this done.   A professional fuel system cleaning at Internati ... read more

Cars have numerous electric components that make them run efficiently. They are a maze of electrical wires, fuses, and relays that can make vital systems fail to operate. So, if you want to know most of the electric issues your vehicle can have, you are in the right place. Learning the following electrical problems can help you know when to call your trusted mechanic. Electrical System Issues Dead Battery One of the most recurring electric problems that most mechanics deal with is dead batteries. It might seem like a simple issue, but it is not. It might leave you stranded by the roadside and make you late for important meetings or appointments because the engine won't start. It is an issue that requires a jump start by an experienced mechanic. The professional can check your batteries using the illumination the headlights generate. If the mechanical expert troubleshoots the batteries and the vehicle fails to start, the issue might be a worn-out battery that cannot hold the c ... read more

It may be difficult to handle your car if it is out of alignment. Your safety, as well as the safety of your passengers, may be at risk. Your vehicle may become misaligned as a result of hitting a pothole, curb, or even a hard bump. Alignment problems can also be caused by high mileage, getting into accidents, or not maintaining your tires balanced correctly. Here are 5 signs that it is time for a wheel alignment. When traveling straight ahead on the road, you detect your vehicle pulling to the left or right. If you're having trouble maintaining your car between both the lines of your driving lane because it's tugging to the left or right, it could be due to a problem with your car's alignment. You could feel everything from a little tug to a strong jerk. Tires that are under-inflated or the improper size are occasionally the source of the problem. It's possible that you've noticed that your tires are wearing unevenly. They can also wear out fast ... read more

There are many possible reasons that a car's engine may overheat which may occur at any time. It is important to recognize the signs of overheating and know what to ahead of time in case it catches you by surprise. One of the classic signs of an overheated engine is smoke or steam seeping out from under the hood of the car. Another clear sign is if the engine's temperature gauge on the car's dashboard is indicating that the car's temperature is higher than it should be. One of the easiest things you can do immediately is turn your car's heater on and air conditioning off. This will attract the heat in the engine away into the area of the car the heater is warming, thus cooling the engine. It is also important to pull over your car and stop the engine as soon as is safely possible. This will give the engine time to cool down on its own. This is a great time to call a friend, family member, or roadside assistance for help if you wish while you let the engine rest for ... read more

Any mechanic will tell you that there is no set mileage that will determine how often you need to replace your brake pads but generally they are changed after around 50,000 miles. A mechanic can check the lining for thickness for a clearer picture of the health of your brake pads. Pads, when new, are 12 mm so when they are in the 3 mm to 4 mm range, they are due a change. Signs Your Brake Pads Need To Be Replaced Unless you bring your car to an auto repair shop, you may not be able to tell when your brake pads need replacing. However, there are some signs that will point to your brake pads being in bad repair. A scraping or squealing noise on braking The car jittering or shuddering when you press on the brakes Sparks coming from your brakes All the above signs are a cause for immediate concern as it means that the grippy material of the pad has, or is about to, run out. This puts you in a very dangerous position should you need to brake suddenly or at a higher speed. What Can Cau ... read more

It is unfortunate that even the safest and most cautious drivers can end up in a car collision. When this incident happens, it is important that you are well-prepared and know what to do afterward to save you time, money, and stress. Here are the top 5 things you should do after being in a vehicle accident: 1) Inspect for injuries and damages If anyone is hurt in the accident, the top priority should be to get help immediately. Please remember to turn on your hazards. You should stay at the scene of the accident and remain there until the police get there. If the accident occurred in an unsafe area or with high traffic, it would be best to move to a safer location. 2) Call the police and file an accident report Having an officer at the scene to gather unbiased information from all parties is the best way to go about the situation. They can help collect information from all parties. 3) Gather information Exchanging contact information with the other drivers is the most important s ... read more