Our news
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Driving escapes to lift the winter blues
If the idea of 6 more weeks of winter has you feeling blue, here are 6 of our favorite Midwest driving getaways to help you warm your spirits until spring arrives: Ski and snowshoe on the St. Croix River: Looking for somewhere new to ski or snowshoe? Check out the St. Croix River in Minnesota’s…
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How to save big with a little preventive maintenance
Question: I change the oil in my car every 3,000 – 3,500 miles, and I regularly have the tires rotated. But then I hear auto experts like you talking about “properly maintaining my car.” What kind of car maintenance is required beyond oil changes and tire rotations, and do I really need to spend the…
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Your favorite articles on car care and repair in 2014
Happy New Year! As we kick off 2015, we like to look at what car care information you found to be the most valuable in 2014. In case you missed it during your busy year, here are the top 7 auto service articles from 2014: 7) 4 Reasons to Buy Tires from Hong Kong Auto…
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Get your car winter ready | Wilmette
Before we know it, winter will be here. After last year, we’re dreading another record-setter for snow fall and low temps. Even though we might not be ready to face the cold reality, what about your car? It needs to be ready for the first snowfall or icy blast of arctic air. New tires, testing…
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Top 12 family car games to keep the kids entertained all the way to Grandma's house
If you’re among the 43+ million gearing up for travel this Thanksgiving—90 percent of whom go by car—you’re likely to have oodles of quality family time on the road. And while DVDs are a godsend for many parents, holiday travel is also an ideal time to turn off the electronics and create fond family memories…
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Painfully obvious, 'helpful' tips from today's car owner's manuals
Have you ever joked about some consumer warnings that seem blatantly obvious? We’re thinking of the very cautious, “Don’t use the hairdryer in the bathtub,” or the lesser known, “Do not put any person into this washer.” It seems carmakers have jumped on the bandwagon and are dumbing down their vehicle owner’s manuals. “If the…
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Vehicle making ghoulish noises? Use our checklist to get to bottom of those haunting sounds
Are you one of those adults who loves Halloween? If so, you’re in good company. A recent study shows that 68% of adults celebrate Halloween, and if you’re one of them, you’re probably already pulling together the props and materials for this year’s perfect costume. But as you’re driving from Wilmette to Chicago in search…
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Why do I need new brake rotors?
One of our most popular articles from the past year was one that addressed a common question: Why does it seem like I need new brake rotors with every brake job? Most of us learned to drive when it was the norm to “turn” the rotors, also known as machining the rotors, when we needed…
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Why you should choose Hong Kong Auto Service the next time you need tires
Did you slide through the end of last winter knowing you’d need tires before the snow flies again? Even though that first snowfall is a ways off yet (or so we hope), now is a good time to start gearing up for that pre-winter tire purchase. When you’re ready, Hong Kong Auto Service is here…
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Hybrid auto costs more affordable
We recently wrote about a question we hear regularly from our clients: Should I buy a hybrid? In this case, our Wilmette client was considering buying a hybrid vehicle but was concerned about the cost of replacing the hybrid battery. And we have good news for that client and other consumers who are considering the move…
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Will I save money by buying a hybrid vehicle?
Question: I’m looking to buy a new vehicle, and I’m considering a hybrid. I like the idea of saving money on gas, but I’m concerned about the cost of replacing battery. What do you recommend when other clients ask about buying a hybrid? Answer: A surge in gas prices like we’re seeing now always ignites…
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Flushing brake fluids, is this a legitimate recommendation? Yes, here is why
Q: I recently had my oil changed at a repair shop in Wilmette, and as part of their inspection, they recommended that I flush my brake fluid. I’ve never heard of flushing brake fluid. Was this a legitimate recommendation? A: Yes, flushing brake fluid to remove dirty, contaminated fluid from the system is part of…