How Your Check Engine Light Works
July 30, 2023
Have you ever had an experience like this in Sparta, Illinois? You drive through the one of those automatic car washes. When you get to the end, where the dryer is blowing, your Check Engine light starts flashing!You fear the worst, but within a block or two, the light stops flashing, but stays o... More
Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta Helps You Decipher the Menu Board: Part 2
July 23, 2023
Illinois service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some Sparta drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta fuel system cleaning: Over ti... More
A Hot Mess (AC System-Compresser)
July 16, 2023
Air conditioning used to be a real luxury in a vehicle, but now it's standard in most. Your vehicle's air conditioning system is built to last a pretty long time, but like anything mechanical, sometimes it fails. It helps to know a little about how the A/C works. There's a compressor that press... More
Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta: Knowing When Your Timing Belt Should Be Replaced
July 9, 2023
The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. Sparta drivers need to replace it on a schedule to avoid failure.Timing belts are very difficult to get to, requiring quite a bit of labor to access. Timing belt replacement is one of the more expens... More
Sparta Car Owners Ask: Why Do I Need to Change My Serpentine Belt?
July 2, 2023
Any Sparta driver who understands preventive maintenance knows that if it ain't broke, don't fix it is bad auto advice. Replacing a part before it breaks is much less costly for Sparta residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of this is th... More