County Line Auto Repair

If you’re transporting a large number of items, fitting it all in your trunk may feel like a game of Tetris. It’s even more aggravating when you open your trunk only to find that items have completely spilled over and scattered across in an array. Below are a few tips for organizing your trunk to create more space and less spillage: Collapsible Storage Bins  Collapsible storage bins are great because you can keep them collapsed in the trunk. When you need an organized storage space, they easily fold open. If you’re worried about these bins sliding around your trunk, you can use a ... read more

A major benefit to your vehicle’s health and longevity is regular tire rotations and maintenance. During a rotation, your tires are moved from one position on the car to another. The process involves moving the front tires to the rear, and the rear tires to the front. It’s usually done in a cross-diagonal direction, so they’ll also change sides. A tire rotation prevents uneven wear and helps prolong their lifespan.   It’s best practice to have your tires rotated during your oil change service. If you need suggestions on the best oil change schedule, check your owner’s manual or give us a call. Our technicians would be happy to check your oil and suggest the best time for your next service.   Your tires serve an essential purpose because they’re the only aspect of your vehicle that makes direct contact with the road. Well maintained tires are a must since they influence how your vehicle brakes and handles. A scheduled tire rotati ... read more

Summer is officially here, and spring is well past us. Outside temperatures are rising and filling the air with uncomfortable heat. Some days you’ll need to get into your car and start driving right away bearing heat levels that can fry an egg. Listed below are a few essential tips on how to keep cool during the blazing summer: Find a place to park in a shaded area. Parking in the shade will keep the interior of your vehicle cooler. While this may seem like a basic tip, parking in direct sunlight can bring the inside of your car cabin to over 115°. If you can’t find an area with shade, try covering your interior with a light-colored cotton bed sheet or sunshade. Some automotive shops may sell dashboard covers as well.   Be strategic in how you use your air conditioner. For the first five to ten minutes, use the fresh air mode to cool the inside of your car. Afterward, use the recirculation to enhance the cold air and maintain the cool breeze.     ... read more

In its simplest explanation - your vehicle’s brakes are what allow you to slow down and stop. Brake pad maintenance is essential for your safety as a driver or as a passenger. Brake pads are an integral part of our vehicles’ health but are often overlooked. Whether you are taking a summer road trip or a trip to the store, you use your car’s brakes. With every trip, your vehicle slightly wears away the brake pad material. Wear and tear add up, and when your brake pads reach certain thinness, it is vital to notice the symptoms of when it’s time to have them replaced.    Before you get up close and personal with your brake pads, here are some signs to look for if you are still driving:   Check for any warning lights. If your brake warning light comes on in your car dashboard, your vehicle may be low on brake fluid. Observe your brake pedal and steering wheel. If your brake pedal or the steering wheel is vibrating, that can sign ... read more

Most of us use our cars daily, and after we are comfortable driving, we tend to begin bad habits that can cause a risk to the safety of our driving. If you drive daily, try to remember to practice safe driving and to always keep your concentration on the road.  We often don’t realize the bad habits that we do because we aren’t aware of their occurrence. However, realizing our bad habits and working towards correcting them, especially when it comes to driving, can drastically reduce the chance of an accident on the road.  Here are some bad habits that should be avoided while driving:  Talking excessively to passengers Talking or texting on the phone while driving Eating will behind the wheel One hand driving Not signaling when changing lanes or turning Riding the tail of other vehicles on the road All of the above are bad habits that most vehicle drivers are guilty of at one point or another. Read over this list and try to identify which you are guilty ... read more

Owning a vehicle is a big investment and many drivers forget that cars require regular maintenance and inspections to run reliably throughout the years. Regular vehicle maintenance is typically inexpensive and can go a long way when it comes to your vehicle's overall performance and longevity.  There are definitely ways in which you can stay ahead of major repairs and allow yourself to save money on repairs over time. Here are some of our top maintenance tips to help you better understand the services that should never be ignored and are importance to the overall performance of your vehicle: Oil Changes A key service in car maintenance that should never be ignored is an oil change. The purpose of changing your vehicle’s oil every 3-6 months, depending on the oil your vehicle needs, is to properly lubricate your vehicle’s engine while driving. While driving your vehicle, your engine is working and emitting heat. Clean oil is distributed ... read more

Here at County Line Auto Service, we have been closely monitoring updates surrounding COVID-19 in our area and the CDC's recommendations regarding proper measures to prevent the spread of the virus. We know that these are unprecedented times in which many of us are worried about our jobs, businesses, health, and families. This is why it is so important for our shop to remain open to make sure that your vehicle stays reliable during this important time.  In order to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have made a few adjustments to better serve you and follow recommendations put into place by the CDC.  New measures we have taken include the following: Our shop will be closing at 3 pm for the time being in order to clean and disinfect our lobby, shop floor, and other common spaces.   We will be taking measures to ensure that your car is free from contamination, including the use of gloves and disinfectant wipes.   As the situation ... read more

A sputtering engine is definitely a cause for conern - it means that your engine is barely able to operate as it should. Of course with any engine issue, we always recommend that you have your vehicle inspected at the first sign of an issue here at County Line Auto Service to avoid major engine repairs. If your engine is sputtering, your vehicle needs immediate attention. Lets look at why! An obvious cause of a sputtering engine is no gas. However, if your gas gauge is full, there is a bigger issue at hand. What the sputtering means is that there is an issue with the combustion process. The issue can lie either with the exhaust system or the fuel system. Here are some of the most common causes behind a sputtering engine, either caused by the exhaust system or fuel system: A leak in the exhaust manifold can cause the engine to sputter because gases are leaking. This is dangerous for both your vehicle and you, so this needs to be corrected right away.  A worn seal or gasket in th ... read more

If you've been a vehicle driver for years, you may be familiar with the check engine warning light. This is a dashboard warning light that informs you that your vehicle has detected a problem with an engine component. If you see this light turn on you may wonder, what does it mean and what do I do next?  The check engine light can mean a number of different things. The issue could be small or big, but the only way to truly know the issue at hand is by plugging in a computer diagnostic scan tool. This tool plugs into your computer and will read the fault code that was logged by your vehicle's computer system. This fault code is what caused the check engine light to illuminate and will tell our mechanics where to look to fix the issue.  Don't stress too much when you see the check engine light turn on. Often times, the issue is a small and can addressed and fixed easily. Some common reasons for the check engine warning include worn spark plugs, a loose gas ca ... read more

We know that winter driving can be stressful, especially when you try to stay off the roads in times of winter storms and snow. The best thing you can do to be as prepared as possible when hitting the road in the winter is by ensuring that your vehicle is ready to handle the cold weather.  An inspection at our shop can help guarantee that your vehicle is in the best condition to stay reliable through the winter weather, and if not, we can help make the repairs necessary to get your vehicle where it needs to be.  Here are some of the top causes of winter vehicle breakdowns:  Engine overheating - Motor oil runs thicker in cold temperatures, making it harder for it to circulate and keep your car running smoothly—and prevent it from overheating. A dead battery - It’s harder for car batteries to produce a charge in winter — meaning it might not be able to produce enough energy to start your car when you turn the key. Radiator failure - You left your veh ... read more