Out of Joint (CV Joint and Boot Replacement)
January 19, 2025
If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it has components called CV joints which enable you to turn your wheels smoothly. The CV stands for constant velocity. In essence, its a set of gears that connect a shaft that allows power from the transmission to be sent to the wheels. When you turn the ... More
Not a Good Vibe (Driveshaft Failure)
June 2, 2024
When you feel your vehicle vibrating as you're driving down the road, one cause could be something you may not have ever seen: your driveshaft. It is underneath the vehicle and most drivers don't climb under there to take a look very often. The driveshaft is a cylindrical part that helps conduc... More
Differential Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta
January 1, 2023
Here at AutoNetTV, we have national viewers, like your neighbors in Sparta, who write to us with questions or feedback. One common question we're asked is: "What is a differential and what does it do?" You may have been told by your Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta service advisor that your differenti... More
Lease or Buy?
January 30, 2022
Lease? Or buy? These are the options for Sparta drivers. It's always a tough question for auto owners, but here is some info that'll help you make an informed decision.If you buy, you'll pay the full cost of the vehicle, maybe an initial down payment, monthly payments on the balance that pays dow... More
For 4x4s (Maintenance of 4x4 Vehicles)
May 16, 2021
Some people love 4x4 vehicles, the true 4-wheel drive works of engineering like Jeeps and 4x4 pickups that allow you to seemingly go anywhere on the planet. You can climb up a 40-degree rock trail with some planning and skill (always careful to protect the environment, of course), or you can get ... More
How Far We've Come (Newer Vehicle Technology)
April 25, 2021
Automotive design has come a long way since the days of the Model T, especially when it comes to safety technology. You can thank computers for a lot of the latest innovations. Here are a few that have been making their mark in recent years. Adaptive cruise control. This is cruise control with... More
Drive Train Service in Sparta at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta
December 20, 2020
The drive train in your vehicle includes all the components that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. Those components differ depending on what type of vehicle you drive, namely, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The preventive maintenance y... More
What to Do in Case of an Accident in Sparta
June 14, 2020
Screeching tires, crunching metal it's an accident! If you've ever been in a car accident in Sparta, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It's hard to think straight and know what to do.Let's review what Sparta drivers should do in case of an accident:When an accident occurs, you... More
Protecting Your Vehicle from Theft in Sparta, Illinois
September 29, 2019
Every car in Sparta, Illinois, is at risk for theft. So it's up to us to make our cars a less appealing target and more of a challenge hopefully sending potential thieves to look elsewhere.The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends a layered approach to protecting vehicles: Common sense Vis... More
Time for Differential Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta?
July 21, 2019
Hello Sparta - let's talk differentials. If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, your differential is on the back axle. With front-wheel drive cars, the differential is up front. All-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles have three differentials - front, rear and in the middle. So you see, you'... More