Monroe Auto Repair

Buying a used car can be a great experience or a complete nightmare, depending on what you know when you sign on the bottom line or hand over your hard-earned cash to the seller.  While most used car establishments are reputable, there are still some that will be happy to sell you a little less car than you bargain for.  As a matter of fact, some dealers and individual sellers simply don't know the history or the problems with a car when they offer it to you. Check these ten important things before you agree to buy a used car. 1. The Oil Dipstick - You can tell a lot about an engine and a car owner from the dipstick.  Pull it out, wipe it off and put it back, then carefully pull it again.  Note the oil level.  If it is overfull there may be gas in the oil which is a bad sign.  Low, but not below the bottom line on the stick is actually OK.  Lower than that is a problem.  White foam on the dipstick is a sign of water or coolant in the oil ... read more

Summer is a great time to head to the movies and what could be more American than heading to the local drive-in to take in a movie while enjoying a piece of classic Americana?  But don't head to the drive-in unprepared.  Follow these quick tips to make the most of your viewing experience. 1. Check Your Battery - Drive-in theaters these days pipe the audio through your car stereo and you won't be able to leave your engine running for a two hour plus cinematic experience.  Your battery will be doing the heavy lifting during the show, so make sure it is in good shape and holds a full charge so you won't miss any of the film or fail to start when the show is over.  Throw a good set of jumper cables in the trunk just in case. 2. Stereo Upgrade - Every new movie features big sound and you want your stereo system to be up to the task.  An upgrade in your stereo head unit (the part in your dash) or a set of higher grade speakers can really amp up the volu ... read more

Yes, there are plenty of traffic laws in certain areas that don’t make much sense. Here, though, we present a collection of traffic laws from other parts of the world that are just bizarre:--In Thailand, the law states that no driver, male or female, shall ever drive without a shirt.--In South Africa, “the driver of a vehicle on a public road shall stop such vehicle at the request or on the signal of a person leading or driving any bovine animal, horse, ass, mule, sheep, goat, pig, or ostrich on such road.” Or face a $500 fine.--Splashing a pedestrian with water is illegal in Japan.--In Montana, you can forget about driving with a sheep in the truck unless the sheep has a chaperone... and the state of Alabama had the presence of mind to make it illegal to drive while blindfolded.--On the island of Cyprus, it’s illegal to raise a hand from the steering wheel. No waving at anyone, no eating or drinking anything while you drive.--Danish drivers are required to chec ... read more