Springfield Auto Repair

Congratulations on making it to 2021! With the new year here, we thought we should offer some friendly advice on dealing with the unexpected event of snow on your travels, and what to do if you get stuck in the snow, to get out. Snow can surprise you. You go to bed to a perfectly clear sky and wake up buried in fresh powder. And then, driving down a covered road, you might have trouble distinguishing the asphalt from the grass, and find yourself stuck in a snowbank. Or perhaps your wheels have hit a patch of snow where there’s no traction from pavement to move forward. You’re just slipping deeper into the snow as your wheels are trying to find their footing. Here are 4 steps to getting yourself out of the snow: Remember to check your tailpipe before you start. Before you begin a drive, be sure to clear snow and ice from your tailpipe. Exhaust caught in the tailpipe can back up into your car and kill you. When you approach your car to get in with deep snow, don’t fo ... read more

Gift giving in the holiday season can be tricky. So many of us absently buy the things we want online, making it difficult to find the perfect gift for a friend. If you’re still looking for that perfect gift for a car lover in your life, we’ve taken the time to round up seven of our favorite picks for Christmas presents this year!   Socks are a much nicer gift than they get credit for. A good pair of socks is a wonderful thing. These Qrupoad “Gas” and “Clutch” Novelty Socks are a hilarious and fun gift, especially for a driver new to manual transmissions! Many states have made hand-free drivi ... read more

With Thanksgiving on the way, it’s a good time to talk about the importance of gratitude, and including our cars in that. Thanksgiving grew out of the moment 400 years ago when the pilgrims on the Mayflower saw the Cape Cod shore after 65 days of rough sea and damage to their ship. One of the pilgrims led the others in the reading of Psalm 100, and that’s why we have Thanksgiving: the grateful travelers were finally on solid ground again. Practicing gratitude is important in all our relationships. To have respect and show appreciation is an important lesson to teach our kids, of course, but it’s just as important that husbands, wives, and partners remember their grace and not take each other for granted. The things we do for each other to improve our lives and to grow our fortunes should not be overlooked. As we take a day to thank each other, don’t forget that there’s a family member stuck in your garage who could use some attention for the dependabilit ... read more

With fall and winter approaching, it’s time to consider what to do to prepare your car for snow and icy conditions that will come soon to Springfield. Are you prepared for a light snow? Ice on the roads? What will you do if the car stalls in a blizzard?  Here’s some suggestions for getting you and your car winter-ready again: Train yourself to check the MoDOT website before each trip The most important thing to update for cold weather is you, the driver! With as many devices and gadgets as most people own nowadays, it makes great sense to make a check of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)’s Traveler Information website before leaving on a trip. The MoDOT website gives real-time updates on road conditions you can prepare for while still in the safety of your own home. (The best disaster is the one you miss altogether, after all.)  Here’s a tip: add a winter keychain item as a reminder-- something like a winter scene, a polar bear, a S ... read more

You’ll hear it all the time:  Preventive maintenance. But what does that mean, exactly? When we were kids, our parents told us to take care of our toys. We can remember our parents encouraging us to be more “gentle” with our more expensive toys due to fear we would break them. You can relate, right? As adults, we all eventually learn that when you take care of your equipment, your equipment takes care of you. That is why you have to sharpen your knives and scissors every so often. That is why you have to upgrade your smartphone’s software. That is why you need to replace your vacuum cleaner bag when it gets full. That kind of stuff is how we generally take care of our belongings so they will continue to serve us for a long time. The same can be said of your vehicle. When you take good care of your fleet of family or work vehicles, they can better take care of you. Preventive maintenance gives you peace of mind, knowing that you are taking proactive measu ... read more

Summer is flying by -- we can't believe it is August already! For many of us parents, August means back-to-school season, and soon enough, our little ones will be heading back to school in late August. We recognize how busy August can get for parents, which is why the team at Complete Automotive wants to help ease your stress levels. During this busy month, we don't want you to worry about your vehicle's condition. Leave that to our technicians.  When it comes to auto repair, it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you are driving your kiddos around, whether that it is to school or even to the grocery store to grab those last-minute snacks, your precious packages need to be protected while cruising through the streets. To protect you, your children, and your vehicle, preventative maintenance is an absolute must.  Before you are in the midst of school season and just swamped with a never-ending to-do list, stop by Complete Automotive. Our technicians will p ... read more

Can you name off all the fluids in your car?  Most people immediately think of oil, gas, and washer fluid. But there are eight different fluids in most gasoline-powered automobiles. In this month’s blog, we want to talk about these 8 fluids and what you should know about them. Gas Oil Washer Fluid Air Conditioning Coolant Radiator Fluid Transmission Fluid Brake Fluid Power Steering Fluid Gas is the fluid that serves as fuel. It is the most regularly consumed fluid in your car. You can buy diesel fuel plus usually three different grades of gasoline from lower to higher octane. Unless you’re driving an electric vehicle, it’s pretty obvious why your vehicle requires this fluid to operate. Oil is the fluid that keeps your engine running smoothly. Like the blood in your veins, the oil gets pumped throughout the engine to lubricate the many moving parts that create heat and friction. Over time, your oil needs to be changed because it gets used up and dirty ... read more

  If you are starting to get outside and drive more frequently after COVID-19 restrictions, that’s great news. We still encourage you to be safe, wash your hands, and keep social distancing until we truly have the pandemic under control. But one thing we’ve noticed during the COVID-19 is how fast people are driving lately. Why is everyone in such a hurry? We realize that traffic is light and the roads may beckon you to hit the gas pedal a little harder, but our streets were never meant to be the setting for the Fast And The Furious street races! All kidding aside, here are five safe driving tips in case you feel your driving chops have become a bit rusty. Obey street signs. We know this sounds simple, and it really is. Follow the speed limit. Make a complete stop at a stop sign. Park only in places where you are allowed to. When you obey the street signs, your journey will be a lot less stressful with fewer tickets. Look both ways before c ... read more

Excellent customer service makes all the difference when it comes to customer loyalty, which is why we strive to keep our customers smiling throughout the time their car is in our shop for repairs. It is our customers that come into our shop that makes all the difference, and we want to make it a positive experience at Complete Automotive.  Having certified technicians on staff means that they are held to the highest standards of auto repair, not just by their employer by a third party. This means that minimum national standards for auto repair are employed at the shop, which is a 2-year minimum of in-shop training before enrolling in classes to gain certifications. This means that your auto mechanic will have hands-on experience and not experiment with your car, so look for those ASE-Certified certifications when choosing a shop. Customer service on the phone and in-person is a biggie. Staying in communication with you throughout the intake, diagnosis, and repair process means ... read more

Have you ever considered purchasing mechanical insurance for your car? It's National Car Care Month, and we are excited about sharing what we know about mechanical insurance for your vehicle. Many of us have considered the idea, but didnt' know where to turn or what the cost is. Here is a blog for services covered and how it works. BG has two protection plan options for you to consider. There is a Plan 1, which includes 100% of all repairs for the first 50,000 miles on your car, and a Plan 2, which covers 50% of auto repairs. The only caveat is that you need to secure coverage for your car before it reaches 50,000 miles for Plan 1, with Plan 2, you need to sign up before 100,000 miles turn over on your odometer. It is pretty fabulous knowing your power steering, cooling system, transmission, fuel system, and the engine is covered in case something goes awry. When it comes to knowing you will stay within budget, you can rest assured that if your budget is tight, you will be abl ... read more