"Current" Affairs (Blown Fuses)

March 3, 2024

You may be driving along and find that suddenly your radio stops working. There are no numbers on the display. Then when you get home, you notice the garage door opener doesn't do a thing when you press the button. Hmm, this was working just fine this morning. Are the two problems somehow rela... More

DOG FOOD IN YOUR ENGINE (Keeping Rodents out of your Engine)

December 24, 2023

A technician was telling us the other day that he was servicing an engine and spotted something he'd never seen before: A collection of dry dog food siting on a horizontal metal ledge near the base of the engine. It was neatly stashed and was in a spot where the food pellets couldn't have simply... More

Make your Service Visit at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta a Good One

November 26, 2023

Most people don't love going to get their vehicle serviced, but it's one of those things you just have to do. So you might as well get the most of out of it. There are some steps you can take that will likely help you get the best results possible. For one thing, it's important to describe your p... More

Chilly Warning (Diagnosing a Noise in Cold Vehicle)

November 5, 2023

When the weather gets colder, sometimes the noises your vehicle makes will change. For example, you may notice a whining sound when you get going in the morning. It may go away when the vehicle warms up, but it's best not to ignore that sound because it could be a warning of worse things to com... More

Going (Lug) Nuts (Lug Nut Replacement)

October 22, 2023

Here's a part of your vehicle you probably don't think about much: lug nuts. They're what fasten your wheels onto your axles. Pretty important, right? In order to take the wheels off your vehicle to service the brakes, rotate the tires, etc., the lug nuts have to be in good shape so a wrench wi... More

Prepare Your Windshield for Winter (Wiper Blades and Fluid for Freezing Temperatures)

October 15, 2023

Winter and freezing temperatures present challenges for different parts of your vehicles. For example, winter tires give you better traction on snow. But some parts of your vehicle that may need special attention for winter are your windshield wipers. You may have found yourself in the middle o... More

Slippery When Wet (Driving on Wet Leaves)

October 1, 2023

When the leaves fall, you might take a sightseeing trip to see them at peak color. Or you may simply live in a spot where there are a lot of trees. When those leaves get wet, you'd be surprised to learn just how slippery they can be. We all know ice is slippery to drive on. What causes tires ... More

No Fueling! (Fuel Filler Location)

August 13, 2023

If you've ever gotten in an unfamiliar vehicle, maybe a rental car, you may have pulled up to the gas pump and wondered, "Which side is the fuel filler on?" Here's a tip for you. There is usually a little arrow on the instrument panel near the fuel gauge that points to the side where the fuel fi... More

Wipe Out! New Wiper Blades for Sparta Drivers

August 6, 2023

When people in Sparta talk about vehicle safety, they think of tires and brakes. But do we think about our windshields? Isn't the ability to see a prime safety factor when it comes to driving around Illinois? Yet we often don't even notice our windshields until we can't see through them or our w... More

Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta: When to Replace Your Wiper Blades

June 25, 2023

There are several important factors that go into how often Sparta drivers should replace their wiper blades. Of course, the more you use your wipers, the faster the blades will wear out especially if you use them on an icy windshield. Whether its a lot of bugs and road grime from Illinois freewa... More