Springfield Auto Repair

Image by Skica911 from Pixabay  Why We Always Remind Our Customers of Fluid Exchanges  It’s hard to get through a heavy workout without some water or an electrolyte drink (or for my less-active friends, it’s hard to get through a sporting event without something to sip on, right?). Your car also has various fluids that need to be constantly exchanged and replaced for your vehicle to run correctly.    Vehicle fluids prevent overheating, lubricate the parts of your vehicle, and keep your car running. We always remind our customers how important vehicle exchanges are, because they can determine your safety on the road.  What Is A Fluid Exchange? Fluid exchange is pretty straightforward, though the technical term may make it sound complicated. Simply put, an “exchange” will happen between the old used-up fluids and new fluid ... read more

Image by tekhnika from Pixabay  Enjoying Spring in Springfield, MO  Every Midwesterner knows that Spring is a time of great unpredictability. We haven’t quite put away our Winter sweaters (because there could be snow on the horizon). Still, we will begin to pull out our Summer shorts (because it will be between 70-80 every once in a while). We are planning out this year’s garden, prepping this Summer’s vacation plans, and waiting for our cars to thaw out before going to work in the morning.  Things To Check In the Spring  If you think you’re living in limbo, imagine how your car feels. You might be switching between heat and AC weekly, and driving over snow then back-roading with the windows down in the same week. Now is an excellent time to check for damage done by the cold weather and prepare y ... read more

Image by Satya Tiwari from Pixabay    People can be very odd with their car. While a car is an inanimate object with no sense of pride or emotional connection, we put a bit of ourselves into cars the longer we own them: sometimes naming them, sometimes talking to them.    It’s funny and a bit sad, the way we sometimes treat our cars. Often, a person’s relationship with their vehicle reflects the way they date. Neglect and abuse are just as harmful to your car as your partner. But a car can’t give you children and can’t parent the children you have, so there’s less reason to stay ‘married’ to the car you have when a bright, shiny ... read more

Photo by Chris Briggs on Unsplash   With February, we have the romance of St. Valentine’s Day, and of course, the complicated math of tax season has begun! Within a month or two, we’ll be submitting our taxes and hoping for a good return on our taxes this year.    When the refund arrives, different Missourians will spend their refund on different things. Some will spend their refund on a luxury they’ve wanted, like a new computer or a brand new phone. Some will put it towards rent or utilities, or even put it in the bank where it can begin earning interest for them. Some will spend their refund on a much-needed vacation.   If you don’t have your tax return ear-marked for a debt or a crisis, w ... read more

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash As the year ends and we come to the holiday season, many of us will be traveling around or outside of Missouri. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to reunite with loved ones we haven’t seen in some time and share the wonder of a wintery holiday together. Missouri winters are snowy and often icy; that can make for poor driving conditions. When planning travels during the holiday season, here are a few of the things we hope you’ll look out for: Look out for others - Beyond just watching out for bad traffic congestion, Missourians must look out for each other on the road. Extend aid when you can, and help others get where they are going safely. The more people that choose to adopt this a ... read more

Photo by Rondell Melling from Pixabay   Welcome to October! It’s an excellent month for a little spooky fun, with lots to do around Springfield. The number of kids’ events this year is heartwarming! We’ve got many recommendations for things to do as a family to share a little Halloween fun!  But before we get into the best of the spooky events that Springfield has on offer in October, we want to make sure that you remember that October is Brakes For Breasts month at Complete Automotive and Complete Automotive South!    When you come into either location this month for a Brake check, we give you FREE quality brake pads or shoes (with installation). All you wil ... read more

Photo by Jan Baborák on Unsplash September is here again, and that means the latest crop of new drivers is getting learner’s permits and learning how to drive a car safely.  While the theoretical skills and knowledge of Driver Education are available for your student through the Springfield Public School System, there is no practical work, no cars to drive. When it comes time to teach your child the adult responsibility of operating an automobile, you will need a car and a safe space to teach your kid to drive that car.  There are driving schools you can use. We strongly recommend each new driver take a defensive driving course, as it can lower their insurance costs a ... read more

Photo from the Complete Automotive website   Our new location, Complete Automotive South, opens to the public in September! We’re thinking up all sorts of things to say thank you to the community right now, and we hope you’ll join us in the celebrations!   Which reminds us: who do you know that deserves a little bit of help with their car right now? Nominate a friend with car repair needs for an incredible discount. Send us an email with their name, why you feel they deserve a break, and what kind of car they’re driving (as well as your contact information) to [email protected] to enter!   Do you love cars? At Complete Automotive, we’ve got cars in our DNA. Most of us have either an aptitude for repairing cars that surprised us when we discovered it, or a love of cars and their form and function that drew us to pursue a career in automotive repair.   Right now, the automotiv ... read more

Your car's cooling system has an essential job in ensuring that vital components of your car's engine doesn't overheat. As a result, it is imperative to top off your coolant to keep your engine cool. You also need to flush the radiator and fill it up with fresh and new coolant from time to time.    What is Coolant? Coolant is a solution primarily made of antifreeze and water, and this liquid works by absorbing heat from the engine. Some of them also contain chemical properties that inhibit sedimentation and corrosion. However, the preventative properties wear off over time. At some point, you need to remove the coolant entirely as it becomes ineffective.   How Often Should I Flush My Radiator? There is no standard interval for which you should flush your radiator. However, the owner's manual provides more details of when to flush it.  If you do not have the manual, we recommend flushing the radiator every 80,000 miles. Newer vehicles may work ... read more

Photo by Enis Yavuz on Unsplash   Welcome to the June blog! It’s National Tire Week, from June 28th to July 4th. With so many people hitting the road this year to enjoy fun in the sun, this is the time to remind the average driver of the importance of their tires to a safe journey for themselves and everyone else they encounter. If you’ve ever heard the expression “where the rubber meets the road,” you know the importance of tires to your vehicle. The entire scope of movement you’ll make with your tires depends on good tires for safety, comfort, and stability. Here are the three most essential things Complete Automotive does with tires: Rotate -- tire rotation is about prolonging the life of your tires by ... read more