Monroe Auto Repair

In many parts of the US and Canada, it is common to have two sets of wheels and tires to tackle seasonal differences in driving conditions. You know what to do with them while they are on your car, but what is the proper way to store the ones you put up for the season? Here are some tips to ensure your seasonal tires are ready to go when it is time to swap them out. 1.  Clean Your Wheels - Contaminants and road grime can degrade the finish on your wheels while they are in storage. Before you put them away, clean your wheels with some mild detergent. Rinse them off and make sure they are completely dry before you put them away for the season. 2.  Clean and Treat Your Tires - Tires are made of natural and synthetic rubbers and can dry out while in storage, causing dry rot and cracking which will have you looking for new tires too soon. Before putting them away, clean your tires with a liquid or foaming tire cleaner and wipe off any residue. Then apply a silicon-based spray, c ... read more

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

The automotive aftermarket offers thousands of cool gadgets and gizmos to make your summer driving experience safer, more comfortable and way more entertaining. Here are the top ten coolest of the cool gadgets for 2017: 1. Dash-cam - It seems like there are cameras everywhere today, and there is no better place to put one than on your dash. If something exciting or dangerous happens while you are driving, the dash cam will catch all the action. You can use this as evidence in case of a crash, traffic stop or a crime, or simply catch an unexpected bit of crazy video and become a social media sensation.  Dash cam kits are generally easy to install, with suction cups that simply mount on the windshield and a USB or 12v power port plug for power.    2. Electronic Parking Guide - Wire up the Precision Parking Park-Zone system and get audible warnings before you hit an obstacle or another car. Great for parallel parking on jammed up streets. 3.  Smartphone Scan and Tel ... 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

It can be a lot of work and attention to detail to get your car really clean…especially if it’s pretty dirty to start with…but here are some ideas for truly thorough cleaning that you may not have thought of!--A cheap foam paintbrush can get into crevices (like A/C vents) that might be impossible otherwise. As you loosen up dust from these spots, keep a vacuum cleaner nozzle at work in your other hand to suck up the dust and prevent it from settling other places.--A soft-bristled brush is perfect for cleaning around radio knobs and other buttons.--While you’re cleaning, don’t forget to locate your cabin air filter and replace it. A dirty cabin air filter can lead to a lot of odd smells and stinks. Check your owner’s manual; cabin air filter locations can vary a lot from one make/model to another.--Get all the junk out. That means checking under the seats and far up in the front foot wells, even under the dash.--A Magic Eraser, with some light rubbing ... read more