Hitting The Brakes In Sparta
April 14, 2024
Hello Sparta, let's talk about brakes. But the mechanical aspects of the brakes themselves are just one issue. There's also the power brake pump and brake fluid. And then there are the tires, which are critical to the effectiveness of the brakes.Let's step back. A new vehicle or truck rolls of... More
Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta: Making Your A/C System Last Longer
April 7, 2024
Sparta drivers know that if their air conditioning system isnt making cool air like it used to, there is a problem. It may be as simple as adding more of the right kind of refrigerant.Your A/C requires special compressor oil, which circulates through the system along with the refrigerant, to lubr... More
Steering You Right (Tie Rod End Replacement)
March 31, 2024
For drivers, S stands for safety. And there are three other words that start with S that are all equally important: starting, stopping and steering. For your vehicle to be at its safest, all three functions must be in top shape. Steering is one of those things we take for granted. After all, y... More
Cool Running (Water Pump)
March 24, 2024
Your vehicle is like you in a way. When it gets hot, it needs to be cooled down. And one of the key parts to keeping it cool is the water pump. Now, that's a bit of a misnomer. It IS a pump, but it's pumping coolant, not pure water. Cooling off your engine is vital since it builds up heat whe... More
Rotation Explanation (Tire Rotation Patterns)
March 17, 2024
You may notice that when you get your vehicle's oil changed, your service adviser may recommend that you have your tires rotated at the same time. The reasons are simple. That will allow your tires to wear more evenly and reduce the noise your tires make as you drive down the road. There are di... More
Go Big or Go Home: Upsize Your Wheels at Charlie's Fast Lube Sparta
March 10, 2024
A lot of us Sparta drivers like our vehicles to reflect our personalities. We're picky about color and body style. We'll customize anything from floor mats to window tints to license plates. One popular way for Illinois motorists to customize a vehicle is to get new wheels.Wheels come in thousan... More
"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
Restore Your Get-Up-and-Go (Fuel and Air Induction Cleaning)
February 25, 2024
You may have heard the old saying, "My get-up-and-go got up and went." If your vehicle's engine's fuel economy is noticeably worse, your engine is idling roughly or stalling or your vehicle's acceleration isn't what it used to be, ask your service advisor if you might need your vehicle's fuel and... More
Fuel Injection Basics for Sparta
February 18, 2024
All modern Sparta vehicles come with fuel injection systems, so it's a topic Sparta drivers need to know something about. The mighty fuel injector is a valve that delivers the gas or diesel fuel to the right place, in the right amount at the right timeto be mixed with air and burned in the engine... More
When Metal Meets Metal (Wheel Bearings)
February 11, 2024
What part of your vehicle has little metal balls inside that are lubricated and allow you to cruise on down the road? They are wheel bearings, and automotive designers might argue they are human beings' second greatest invention of all time (the first is, of course, the wheel!). You have a wheel... More