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