Fort Madison Auto Repair

Getting the best possible fuel mileage is essential for your wallet and the environment in this day and age. There are several things that can go wrong with your vehicle that can cause the MPG to plummet. Below is a list of potential problems that can hurt your mileage: Exposed Gas Cap - While it may sound silly, ensuring your gas cap is secure and free of any damage is essential in ensuring the gas doesn't leak. Make sure you tightly close the lid every time you fill-up. Under-inflated tires - Driving with too little air in your tires is not only dangerous but also requires power output from your engine. To avoid spending more money on gas, please make sure you monitor your air pressure and adjust to its recommended psi accordingly. Old spark plugs - These little things should always be changed as per recommendation by your automaker. Worn and deteriorated spark plugs will cause misfires, leading to an increase in gas consumption. Dirty engine air filter - The engine air filte ... read more

Your car's brakes are one of the most important safety components, which is why you should have them serviced as soon as you notice unusual signs. Typically, brake pads can last anywhere between 20K - 50K miles, depending on the road conditions, how often you use them, and how easy or rough you are on them. A considerable factor is the last one: driving habits. There are specific precautionary steps you can take to preserve the life of your brakes. Here are some important braking tips to keep in mind when driving: Avoid Hard Acceleration & Braking Speeding never leads to good things, including premature wear on your brakes. Brake pads wear down a lot faster when there is more power to dissipate. If you decelerate smoothly, your brake pads will last longer. Remove Excess Weight Off Your Vehicle Hauling heavy items in your car, SUV, or truck all time can not only put extra strain on your engine, but they can strain your brakes as well. Try to keep your vehicle load at a minim ... read more