Tips on Winterizing Your Car for the Cold Chicago Weather

winterize car at Hong Kong Auto Service for road trips

Winter in the Chicago area can be a brutal experience. If you aren’t prepared for extreme temperatures, bone-chilling winds and levels of frozen precipitation that could drown a bass, then don’t try and reside in Illinois. By the same token, the vehicles of those who live in this geographic torture zones are subject to some…

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What you need to know about your “Low Tire Pressure” warning light

For those of us who dread long, cold and dreary Chicago winters, the mid-February thaw we had was a sunny and joyful reprieve. But sudden and extreme swings in the air temperature can also trigger a dashboard warning light that many of us might not recognize: A glowing orange or red “Low Tire Pressure” indicator.…

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Pothole damage? Shocks, struts and alignment can be affected

shocks, struts

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNG-e_04Q_g?list=PLc3uF1gTNvcI15l9xVXfG0H5K0A7a4s26] You might get a heated argument over whether spring, summer, fall or winter is the best season, but everyone seems to agree on the worst: pothole season. And this year already has produced a bumper crop of impressive pothole specimens. These holes can do a lot of damage to tires, wheel rims, shocks…

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Preventive maintenance is key to saving money on car repairs

Spending several hundred dollars every year on vehicles that seem to be running just fine doesn’t sound like a good idea on the surface, but maintaining your car or truck has a big impact on your bottom line. Not only does regular auto repair prevent bigger, costlier repairs, but it preventive maintenance also helps prolong…

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Tire rotations help your tires last longer, which saves you money!

Question: I get my car’s oil changed regularly, but is it worth the time and money to get my tires rotated? Does it even make any difference? Answer: The short answer to these questions is “yes” and “yes.” Getting your tires rotated is definitely worth the time and money, and it makes a big difference on…

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Get your vehicle in shape for summer road trips!

It’s May, which means Memorial Day is right around the corner. Memorial Day means cookouts and parades, and it also means the beginning of summer road trip season. After a long winter, your vehicle needs some TLC before heading out. Here are some suggestions for getting your car road worthy and ready for a long…

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Hong Kong Auto Service is your place for new tires

Question: When I need tires, shouldn’t I look for a place like Pep Boys, Sears, Sam’s Club that offers me the best deal? After all, tires are tires, aren’t they? Answer: Actually, there’s a lot more to it than mounting any old tire on your car. And we have examples to prove it. But first,…

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Prevent costly issues later by fixing tire leaks now

Driving around this part of Illinois can be hard on our tires. Potholes, road construction, age and mileage can lead to tire damage or slow air leaks. And unfortunately, those leaks can sometimes turn into costly repairs. Here’s a first-hand account of how delaying a $20-30 tire repair led to a repair bill of nearly…

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