Fort Madison Auto Repair

Your vehicle's brakes are essential to your safety whenever you step into the car. Many people will wait until it's too late with their brake issues to have their brakes inspected and replaced. If you think about it, it's a significant risk to take, and we don't want you in that kind of scary situation. The most reliable way to go about brake maintenance is to have your brake system routinely inspected and serviced and understand the bad brakes symptoms.   Brake pads are one of those car parts that will often need to be replaced. They experience a ton of heat daily basis and are the most used component of the entire brake system. Here are five symptoms that indicate your car needs new brake pads: Squealing Brakes - If you catch a squealing noise when braking, it could very likely be the brake pad indicator letting you know that the brake pads are worn down and need to be restored.  ... read more

Your car relies on many different fluids to keep its internal systems properly lubricated and functional. The six essential fluids of every automobile include motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, and windshield wiper fluid. If these solutions run low or the liquid is not in good condition, your vehicle could start to show significant problems. Fluid Maintenance Mechanics stress the importance of routine fluid checks for a good reason. The most critical (and frequent) fluid service of all of them is an oil change. The others don't need to be changed or flushed as often. You may hear several phrases concerning fluid maintenance: fluid change and fluid flush. The average individual is likely to use these two terms mutually, which is fine. But you should know that there's a difference between the two. Fluid Change Versus Fluid Flush A fluid change is exactly what it sounds like. It involves draining some or part of the fluid currently in t ... read more

Griffin Muffler & Brake Center of Fort Madison, IA is spearheading the Annual Diaper Drive for the month of September for the families of Lee County in need of an adequate amount of diapers. According to Community Action of Lee County, there are approximately 1200 children ranging from infants to toddlers in need of diapers. Community Action can only give 6 diapers at a time to families asking for help. There is a huge shortage. Last year Community Action was able to help about 75 families. This year they are requesting bigger size diapers including 3, 4, 5, 6, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, and Pull-Ups. The National Diaper Bank states there should be up to 12 diaper changes a day to keep the child healthy and promote development. That’s over 14,000 diapers a day in Lee County alone at an average cost of $80.00 per month for one child. The number of diapers for one year per child is 2457 according to DiaperPlanner.com. The break down is 0-3 Months up to 10 per day, 3-6 Months up to 7 per ... read more

Throughout October automotive repair shops across the country are looking to end breast cancer with a unique fundraising campaign. During the Month of October, Griffin Muffler & Brake Center in Fort Madison, IA and more than 100 other Independent Auto Repair Shops across the US are raising funds for a breast cancer vaccine as part of the Brakes for Breast fundraiser. As part of the fundraiser, the auto repair facilities are giving away FREE (quality) brake pads or shoes. The customer simply pays the labor and any other ancillary parts necessary to complete the brake job and the shops then donate 10% of the brake job directly to Dr. Vincent Tuohy & the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund. 100% of what we donate goes directly to research! 2019 marks the ninth year for the Brakes For Breasts fundraiser. 2011 Our 1st year – 5 shops in Ohio raised $10,000 2012 Our 2nd year – 27 shops in 17 states raised $32,848 2013 Our 3rd year – 66 indepen ... read more

May your stuffing be tasty, and your turkey be plump. May your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious, and your pies take the prize. AND may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs! Thanksgiving, what is it all about? A day of reflecting on what we are thankful for, family, friends, and good health to name a few. Family traditions of gathering around a huge feast or helping serve a dinner to the less fortunate. Maybe visiting someone alone at home, giving of yourself to others. The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 when the Plymouth colonist and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast. The Wampanoag Indians gave thanks to their creator’s gifts daily but held ceremonies to give thanks for a successful harvest and for the hope of a good growing season in the early spring. The arrival of the Pilgrims brought new traditions to America. Pilgrims gave thanks to God and celebrated His bounty with feasting and sport. It was always a joyous outpouri ... read more

I was hoping to tag a deer first time out this season and patiently waited till late afternoon to get my first buck. Only a 6-point buck, but just the right size and age for tasty tenderloins and jerky. You see, I’m a novice deer hunter. Last year was my very first time. I shot my new gun twice and tagged two deer. They called me one shot, one kill. They were both does but it doesn’t matter, that 12-point buck we see on our trail cam is around for a reason. The first day out this season I only saw the one buck and it took me two shots to tag him. My odds are still pretty good deer hunting, four shots – three deer. But our odds of a deer vs. car collision is even better. Over the years we have been in at least seven deer-related accidents counting two this year with one this June. June is an odd time of year but it doesn’t matter anymore. The deer in our area run all year round any time of the day. Statically, Oct. thru Nov, during rutting season is still the bu ... read more

                                                         HOW HOT ARE YOU?      Have you ever stopped to think, who invented the automobile air conditioning system? Probably not until it doesn’t work and then all you care about is getting it fixed and riding in comfort on these hot summer days.      The automobile air conditioning system has gone thru a lot of changes and had many different inventors in the past 100 years.      In 1902 Willis Carrier, yep that Carrier, invented the first modern electrical air conditioning residential unit. It took more than a decade for the wealthiest Americans to start installing these large, bulky units in their homes.      To get colder air quicker, pressurized refrigerants were necessary. Along came the controve ... read more

                                              Celebrating Our Independence        As I reflect on the 4th of July holiday, we were blessed to spend time with our family. I will forever be grateful to the brave soldiers that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Independence from Britain. July 4th, our Nations Birthday, is a time of celebrating being an American. From all walks of life, this day and every day, we become one, AMERICANS! Let us not take this for granted.      Did you know that three of our Founding Father Presidents died on July 4th? Thomas Jefferson and John Adams passed July 4, 1826, and James Monroe passed July 4, 1831. Alexander Hamilton, founder of the New York Evening Post called this a “coincidence that has no parallel”.      Fun facts about the 4th of July ... read more

  YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN      This is the time of year we celebrate the graduating classes of 2019. College graduates are excited to start their new career or continue to pursue higher education.  Some high school graduates will continue to college, others may be entering the workforce. However, there is a current trend to encourage students to enter the trade school.      Fort Madison is fortunate to have a dedicated building trades teacher, Clint Kobelt. He is teaching his students a valuable skill that can earn them a good living without having a large debt. His dedication shows with the awards received in State competition and SCC’s Skills Throwdown.      The automotive field is looking for those bright minds that find satisfaction in problem-solving and working with their hands. With the technician shortage across the U.S., both independent repair shops and dealerships are having a hard tim ... read more

  HEY MOTHER NATUREWho made you mad?        It’s been a long, cold, and snowy winter one like we haven’t seen in years. I believe the younger generation has never experienced a winter like this one. On the positive side, the days are longer and getting warmer, or so we thought.      A couple of weeks ago, I sat at my desk looking out the window admiring the Mighty Mississippi with the bluffs of Illinois starting to pop with green. The temperature was almost 80 degrees. Days like these get us thinking of outdoor activities and delicious BBQ’s. Then Mother Nature throws us a 1-2 punch. The sky’s turn gray with rain and the wind blows relentlessly. As I was heading for home, I checked the weather on my phone. WHAT?  A feels like temperature of 28 degrees and possible snow on April 27th! A fool I was for not bringing a coat that day. This is just cruel!     ... read more