Springfield Auto Repair

With the changing of the seasons comes changes to how you should be maintaining your vehicle. Summer can create some issues for your battery and unfortunately, that toll crops up during the colder months, making our batteries less reliable or prone to failure. When it’s time for you to prepare for the winter months, there’s a lot you can do on your own, but don’t forget that Complete Automotive is here to assist you with all of your auto repair and maintenance needs.  Car batteries are lead-acid batteries, and the way they work depends on chemical reactions. These chemical reactions are affected by environmental temperatures. Hot or cold, it is going to change how efficient your battery is and how long your battery is going to last.  Cold temperatures are going to slow down the chemical reactions, meaning your battery is going to bog down when it gets cold out. This can happen despite how fully charged your battery is. Though, a new battery before an extreme ... read more

One of the best investments you can make for year-around safety is in a great set of tires. Tires are what not only make you move forward, but they also help you stop when you most need to. They can also help improve your fuel efficiency and get the best performance out of your car. When they are good tires in good condition, they hug the ground beneath their tread and keep you right where you should be going around that tight turn. Just don’t speed into it and you’ll be just fine! We live in a part of the world that experiences extreme weather conditions. We don’t have to tell you that, because you already know. If you already know this, then you also know that having really good tires is critical, especially when the weather conditions take a turn toward freezing.  Winter tires aren’t like regular tires. They are geared toward being able to properly function in harsh winter conditions with temperatures below 45 degrees. Winter tires come in all shapes a ... read more

As the return to the school year quickly approaches, it’s a good time to think about back-to-school automotive maintenance. Not only do we not want to see you sitting on the side of the road with a car full of kiddos who are now late for school, but we also want you to be able to keep everyone safe around you. Let’s take a look at what are some great back-to-school auto maintenance items. Brakes: you want to make sure your brakes can stop on a dime. Look out for brakes that are squishy, squeal, or are difficult to push to the floorboard. If there are any indications your brakes aren’t working at their very best, this is the time to have them checked out by professionals.  Tires: look for tread depth, general wear and tear all around, and tire pressure. When any of these are off, it can affect your drivability as well as your ability to stop as quickly as necessary. When your tires are at their optimum, they can also help you get the most out of your gas mileage ... read more

With summer comes a huge change in the weather, it gets sunny and warm and turns your car into an oven. Your car's air conditioning system is your best friend as soon as the weather warms up. When it goes out its a sweaty nightmare. Do you know how your air conditioning system works? If not, you should! Knowing how the system works can help identify the problem if it goes out.  The air conditioning system’s purpose is to blow air to cool down the inside of the car that passengers are riding in, obviously. It also removes any moisture from the car so the air is more comfortable which you’ve seen when your car gets steamy. Your air conditioner automatically turns on when you turn on the defrost setting to pull humidity away from your windshield.  Your air conditioner is made up of five parts that are connected by tubing and hoses. There is a compressor, condenser, evaporator, thermal expansion, and the accumulator which is also known as the receiver drier. The ... read more

Summers are meant for spontaneous adventures, day trips, and traveling as much as you can. As ready as you are for summer traveling your car might not be as ready. Prepping your car for summer is just the start, you’ll need to keep up with maintenance so your car doesn’t overheat, blow a tire, or damage your brakes. Keep these maintenance tips in mind when you’re traveling this summer.  You’ll want to make time to do regular maintenance regardless if you are traveling or not. Get oil changes regularly, you can find the suggested mileage in your owner's manual. Look under the hood every few weeks and make sure your fluid levels are full. These fluids include coolant, oil, transmission, and windshield wiper fluid. If you’re not sure where to look for these stop by your local mechanic who can show you where and what to look for.  While you’re under the hood take a look at your battery. Batteries tend to last 3-5 years depending on the cl ... read more

One of the most critical car maintenance services you need to get often is an oil change. Getting an oil change is something a majority of car owners too often forget to schedule. Most oil changes are nothing fancy, its merely to drain the old, used, oil and put in new clean oil. A majority of car owners are not too sure of the reason why their vehicles need oil changes every three months or so. Oil changes have an impact on your car’s fuel economy, power, and response rate. If you don't change your oil, your car can lose power, have a slower response, inefficient fuel performance, and in extreme cases, it can cause your engine to smoke or die. No one wants that! You might be thinking, is there a way to prevent those issues from arising? The answer is yes! There is the BG Performance Oil Change Service that provides FREE lifetime protection on your cars engine and fuel system. Instead of getting an ordinary oil change, ask for the BG Oil Change. The BG oil change includes ma ... read more

When it comes to the fluids in your car, it’s important that you don’t mix them up or it will be like drinking poison. Not a good thing, just to varying degrees. Like our bodies, our cars require a lot of fluid. Not only is it important to make sure the right fluid goes into the right engine compartment, it makes a difference in the quality of those liquids too. Make sure you have read your owner’s manual and that you have an awesome auto mechanic to partner with so that you understand what is best for your specific vehicle and don’t forget to factor in the area in which you live. Yes, location matters too!   Preventative and regular maintenance is critical to the longevity and performance of your vehicle. Each and every fluid in your car plays a critical role in contributing to both. From keeping things clean to lubed, they matter. And checking these fluids is an easy way you can help care for your car in between visits to your favorite automotive repair s ... read more

While there are plenty of really cool things to do right here in Springfield, sometimes we just wanna get away and explore. There’s nothing better than putting the pedal to the medal and simply going. There might be a little bit of ice and snow this month, but nothing looks bad enough to keep you from enjoying some fun day trips:   Frisco Highline Trail: Lots to see and do along this 36-mile stretch from hiking to biking to dining.Red Oak 2: A canvas doesn’t have to be something you hang on the wall. It can also be a completely recreated town from 1930. Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Head out about a hundred miles from here to find this historic town. Here you’ll find Victorian buildings, shopping, good food, and plenty of outd ... read more

Winter is a great time to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Some of us like to go skiing or snowmobiling, while others like to go ice-fishing or hunting. Whatever your reason to head out for a Winter road trip, you’ll need to take some important things with you. Of course, these road trip items include the basics, like food, water, blankets, gloves, emergency kits, power sources for our mobile devices, and more. But what about your road trip music? Do you have your road trip tunes ready to go? Regardless if you have access to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, or CDs, you could boost your road trip enjoyment if you plan out your favorite traveling songs. Check out these wintertime road trip tune suggestions for your next outing.   Motivational songs Eye of the Tiger by Survivor Rocky Theme Song (“Gonna Fly Now”) by Bill Conti Chariots of Fire Theme Song by Vangelis Upbeat songs Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars September by Earth, Wind, and Fire I Believe I Can Fly by R. K ... read more

  With winter approaching, it's best to prepare your car for the conditions that could cause damage to your vehicle or jeopardize your safety. Below are some tips that can get you ready for the colder season:  1) Check your car's engine antifreeze and coolant levels. These liquids will keep your engine from freezing when there are colder temperatures. Most auto supply stores have kits that will allow you to check coolant levels. Your car's manual will also give you instructions on how to check coolant levels on your own. Adding antifreeze is a relatively simple thing to do. 2) Having a “winter supply” box in your vehicle is an important safety tip should you have some problems due to winter conditions on the road. Some items could include: A flashlight A radio A charged cell phone for 911 calls A first-aid kit Road flares A change of warm clothes for the driver A few extra pairs of gloves A few blankets A bag of sand (for traction) An extra ... read more