Performance Unlimited Blog

New Year’s Eve is approaching – potentially one of the best parties of the year. Lights, party hats, paper-and-colored-foil horns, glittering banners with “2015” splashed across the front, the dancing, the countdown and the kiss at the stroke of midnight: it’s all part of a great, big, wonderful celebration. And what would New Year’s be without a little bubbly? Of course, the fun is dampened a bit if it ends with a breathalyzer, handcuffs or a ambulance gurney. In 2012 (the last year the Secretary of State has records for DUIs available), there were 892 DUI arrests. The penalties related to a suspicion of DUI stop have increased, with additional penalties all but three of the last 30 years. In several years, the state has passed numerous increases in the penalties for a DUI. Driver’s licenses that are suspended or revoked, potential jail time, community service, fines and more fines, bail, higher insurance premiums (when you can drive again), lawyer’s fees – these are all some of the p...

Mother surveyed the boxes of presents on the table, as well as a basket with cookies and pie. Out the window, as the darkness gave way to early morning light, she could see Father leading Sunshine, their Arabian mare, from the stable as the white-and-speckled horse pulled the buggy behind her. Mother worried the buggy was too small for the presents, the food, Father and herself. But, with the snow, Father assured her that, since the buggy is lighter than the wagon, the three-hour trip from McHenry to Crystal Lake would be easier on Sunshine, all the more so if they had more snow. As Mother contemplated the ride to visit her daughter, son-in-law and, above all, their new granddaughter, she sighed and smiled. Usually, Virginia and Bob would come to McHenry for Christmas. But, Mother and Father had insisted they didn’t want their three-week-old granddaughter making that trip in the cold. At that moment, a blast of cold air filled the kitchen as father came in the back door, stomped his fe...

When was the first auto accident? Arguably, the first auto accident was in 1771 when Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot is said to have driven his steam-powered car into a wall. However, others claim it didn't happen. Another accident involving a steam-powered car occurred in Ireland in 1869. Mary Ward was thrown from the vehicle and then run over making her the first fatality from an auto accident. The first auto accident in the U.S. is recorded as having occurred in Ohio in 1891. John William Lambert's single-cylinder car hit a tree root causing him to lose control. He then ran into a hitching post. Bridget Driscoll was the first person recorded to have died in an auto accident involving a gasoline-powered car. The accident occurred in 1896 in the United Kingdom. She was also the first pedestrian killed by an automobile. In 1899, Henry Bliss was the first person killed by an auto accident in America. On a cheerier note, we'll next discuss the history of auto racing. (The resource for ...

An accident, once it happens, is something you can’t take back. You can’t say to yourself, “I should have stopped at the stop sign I missed,” and then roll time backwards until the accident didn’t happen. Once it happens, the damage is done, whether to the vehicles, to passengers or both. There are no Mulligans or Do-Overs. During the holiday season, our normally stressful lives are all the more so. We’re driving to the store for groceries or to the mall for Christmas shopping. Then, of course, there’s all the normal driving we do that continues – to and from work, dropping off the kids for sports and activities, and then picking them up again. In the meantime, coordinating all these activities has our minds within an amp or two of a short circuit. Our minds are full and it’s hard to keep them on the task of driving. This is a challenge on any given day. With the holidays approaching, that challenge is dramatically increased. This is often how accidents happen. Many states, including I...

At Performance Unlimited, we help our customers to stay on top of their auto maintenance. We send out postcard reminders when service is due. These cards are based on auto manufacturer recommendations. One service we’re especially diligent about, when it comes to reminding our customers, is when it’s time to have their brakes checked. As part of that process, we check the brake lines. We also check the emergency brake cables. Many people don’t think much about their emergency brake cables. With an automatic transmission, you don’t usually need to engage the emergency brake to keep it from rolling down a hill. Even with a standard transmission, many drivers merely set the car in reverse and trust the transmission to keep the car from rolling away. For those purposes, some people call it the ‘parking brake.’ Its actual name is the emergency brake. It’s not just there for parking. It’s also there for emergencies. Brakes on cars, if they’re properly maintained, are pretty reliabl...

This is a hectic time of year – shopping, cooking, wrapping presents, spending time with family and friends. The last thing you need to worry about now is maintenance and repairs for your vehicle. If you’ve done a good job of staying up on your car’s maintenance there’s a very good chance you won’t have to worry about repairs now; you won’t have to worry your car won’t start in the parking lot at the mall, a muffler will fall off while driving to the grocery store or your brakes will fail when you’re out buying a Christmas tree. You won’t have to worry about being stuck on the side of the road somewhere. That’s a wonderful thing about automotive maintenance – not only does proper maintenance reduce the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns because of proper upkeep, it also provides your qualified auto repair technician with timely opportunities to look your car over. If there is something wrong, there’s a good chance they’ll see it. If they don’t see the car, there’s no chance. I...

You don’t want to bring your car just anywhere for auto repairs and maintenance. You want an auto repair shop you can trust. And, by trust, that means you can trust that they have the expertise and equipment to do the job right. But, trust also means that you know they’ll be looking out for your best interests, as opposed to ‘how much they can get out of you.’ Your automobile is one of your largest investments. Not as large as your home but it certainly represents a significant purchase. Once you’ve made such an investment, you want to take care of it. That’s why you buy insurance. You want to know, if you do have an accident, that your car will be repaired. Proper automotive maintenance and repairs are a form of insurance, too. They ensure that your car is ready to safely take you and your family where you want and need to go when you want and need to go there. Without proper maintenance, it’s not a question of whether your car will one day fail this test; rather, it’s a questio...

Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to prepare for the cold, well, unless it's 2014 and you live in McHenry County. November in McHenry County this year apparently means arctic cold has suddenly, and unceremoniously, gripped the area in a deep freeze. Preparation for the cold means putting away your summer wardrobe and breaking out your winter wardrobe. More importantly, it means ensuring that your car is ready. Will your car start? Do you have tires and brakes that will grip the road through snow and ice when you want to stop or go? And, when you turn on the heater inside your car will heat come out of the vents? Merely in terms of comfort, you really want your car's heater to work properly in this latitude. But, it's more important than a matter of comfort - much more. How well your heater works says everything about how well your defrosters will clear the ice off of your windshield, and keep it off as you drive. If the car's heater doesn't wo...

Johnsburg and McHenry High School Madrigal Choirs will do a holiday sing off dressed for the Victorian Era. Table after table will provide a plethora of raffle items, silent auction items, live auction items – and then there’s the food and the fun. Anyway you look at it, the 8th Annual Shop With A Cop networking fundraiser is a party you don’t want to miss. “We’ve raised close to $15,000 each year for McHenry County Police Charities Shop With A Cop program,” said Wayne Seely, the president of MC3, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group that sponsors the Thursday, Nov. 20, fundraiser party. “And we have one heck of a good time doing it.” The fun starts at 5 p.m. and lasts until 8 p.m. at the McHenry VFW – on the north side of Route 120 a little east of the Fox River. There is no cost to attend. Funds are raised through contributions and through auction and raffle entries at the party. With the money raised at the event, area police officers will pick dese...

With the unexpectedly early arrival of really cold weather, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your tires. Many cars have aluminum alloy wheels these days. Cold weather can cause leaks when tires are matched with aluminum wheels. On the one hand, cold weather hardens the rubber in tires. Additionally, the pressure inside the tire is reduced by the cold. The result is a potential leak. You may have a perfectly good tire and come out one cold morning to find it flat. The remedy when tires do go flat is, first of all, to keep an eye on tire pressure at all four corners of the car. If a tire does go flat, or loses air, bring it in to a trusted auto repair shop. Their auto repair technician will remove the tire and clean the bead of the tire and the edge of the rim. After putting the tire back on the rim, they’ll check for a leak. Once the tire passes the pressure test, it should be good for the season ahead. Of course, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the tires in the winter month...

Is there any part of your car more essential than the brakes and tires? You, your family and friends depend on those brakes to ensure your safety, whether driving in your McHenry neighborhood or farther afield. This is true on a dry street. When winter comes to McHenry, you’ll frequently find the streets anything but dry. Ice, snow and water mixed with engine and transmission oils that have leaked onto the road – those are the elements you’ll find attacking the vital quality called ‘traction.’ Traction is the difference between a hasty stop and an extended skid. If the brakes don’t work to their best ability, if the tires are slick or balding – trouble on dry pavement turns into disaster on a slippery street. While brakes initiate the stopping process, tires are where traction meets the road. As brake pads wear, and rotors and drums are scored, stopping distances increase. As tire tread runs down, traction is reduced. An inability to stop quickly is often compounded, during a...

For those who punch a time clock at work, when quitting time comes around, they generally put whatever they’re working on down, cleanup, punch the clock and head out. For a dedicated business owner, that isn’t always possible. That’s particularly true at Performance Unlimited in Ringwood where success often leads to long hours. When a business does a good job and treats its customers fairly and with respect, word gets around. The word is out on Performance Unlimited and they are often working long hours to keep up. One day soon, however, they’ll actually close-up shop a little early. That’s because they have somewhere very special to go. On Thursday, Nov. 20, they’re going to a party. But not just any party – this is the Shop With A Cop party, the annual fundraiser to benefit children of families with financial challenges. Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, is a member of MC3, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group that hosts the event. Nort...

Four critical points on a car - where the rubber meets the road. One sure way to tell if you need new tires is to look at the tread wear. After driving 50,000 miles, or so, there’s no surprise if you need new tires. Of course, that also depends on how you drive. A heavy foot, either accelerating or braking can lead to faster tire wear, not to mention higher fuel usage and brake wear. But, there are other reasons you’ll want to pay attention to your tires. One potential problem with tires, particularly with older tires, is when the sidewalls begin to crack. This is more common with older tires. It’s a result of tires enduring the conditions – sun, heat and other weather. The tires are made of rubber and the elements can dry out the rubber in tires. As a result, tires can crack. Seeing a web of cracks in your tires does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. It depends on the depth of the cracks. Some are merely surface blemishes but you’ll really want an expert to take a lo...

For some folks, it’s easy finding an auto repair shop, right? Not for you though. You drive that Volkswagen. Or, maybe, you drive a Subaru or a Daewoo. Whatever your car, it’s not one of those ‘run-of-the-mill’ vehicles that everyone else drives. And that poses a problem when you bring the car to an auto repair shop. You can’t bring that more unique vehicle to just any repair shop. You might wind up hearing your mechanic say something to the boss along the line of, “I never did work on one of these before. This should be fun.” You sure don’t want to hear that. You want someone who is qualified to work on your vehicle. In most cases, you’ll wind up at a shop that specializes in your particular vehicle. That doesn't, however, have to be the case. There are some shops, such as Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, where their ASE Certified auto repair technicians are fully qualified for most makes and models, foreign and domestic. They bring equal knowledge to the process, whether ...

Tires are designed to provide your vehicle with traction so that when you apply the gas, or hit the brakes, the tires grab the road. That’s why they make tires out of rubber. That’s also why design engineers have spent decades developing tread patterns that will channel the water, dig through mud and snow and maintain a degree of grip even on ice. No matter how good the design of your tires’ tread, over time, as the tread wears away, the tires will lose their traction. It’s inevitable. As the tire turns, propelling your car down the road, or when it comes to a halt and drags the car to a stop, bits of rubber are torn away from the surface of the tire. Eventually, the tread has worn away to a point where the tire has lost a significant amount of its grip. When tires have worn sufficiently, they increasingly present a potential safety hazard. They’re not as good when you want to get up and go. They’re also not up to par when you need to come to a quick stop. On wet or icy roads, t...

Wouldn't it be nice if, the next time you went to the butcher shop, they gave you one steak for free – if the next time you went to a show, they didn't charge the last member of your party? Of course, what are the odds that would happen? You’ll turn a nice color of purple holding your breath until it does. Well, take a deep breath because that’s exactly what can happen when you purchase and have four shocks or struts installed on your vehicle at McHenry County’s Performance Unlimited. If you purchase four shocks or struts, you get the fourth shock or strut free. To put it another way, you’ll receive four shocks or struts but only pay for three. Just to be clear, you’ll still get that fourth shock or strut, you just don’t have to pay for it. That’s a crazy way to do business but it’s also a nice way to do business, especially since almost no one ever buys just three shocks or struts. In some cases, they may buy two shocks or struts, putting them either on the front or the ...

It was the second time Jean noticed the little orange warning light flash on in her dashboard beside the speedometer. The first time, she thought it was a fluke. Or, maybe, just hoped it was a fluke. She told herself, “If I see it again, I’ll worry.” But then it flashed again. “It may not have meant anything, or at least not something important,” she thought out loud. But, deep down, she knew there was the potential that it could be something serious – something that requires immediate attention. But the car seemed to run OK and she reassured herself, somewhat, that there was nothing to worry about. So she drove and, like it or not, she worried. Now she began to play the guessing game: “What could it be?” Jean really didn’t know. She recalled watching the television show “Big Bang Theory” where the one girl drove with the “Check Engine” light on. The geeks commented and the girl had a so-what attitude that annoyed the geeks. It was a joke the writers must have put into the script ...

It’s an easily recognizable chain and the word “Tires” is in its name. So, of course, that’s where you go for tires, fully expecting that tires are their expertise. But, when you walk in the door, some pimple-faced kid starts explaining tires, in a monologue clearly rehearsed, as though you didn’t know tires are actually round. The truth is, “Tire” stores are often the automotive equivalent of fast food. Expecting to find true and deep knowledge about tires there is about the same as expecting the young boy or girl flipping burgers at McFast King Burgers to properly prepare a seven-course Surf & Turf dinner. The odds are astronomical. So, if you won’t find true automotive tire expertise at a “Tire” store, where will you find it? The answer is simple – at a qualified auto repair shop. Consider the level of automotive training you’ll typically find at each store.  At the “Tire” store, you’ll most often speak with someone who has observed someone else, who observed someone...

In the rear-view mirror, you see your daughter’s anxious smile from the car seat in back. Dressed in her ballet outfit, you wonder to yourself how anyone could be so incredibly precious. Though your eyes were off the road for just a moment, that’s all it took; In that instance, a car has missed the red light and pulled into your path. Before you’re fully conscious of what has happened, your foot is already moving to the brake pedal. The car screeches to a stop just inches from the offending driver’s vehicle. Your first reaction is to look in the backseat again to ensure that your daughter is OK. A little puzzled by the sudden stop, she’s otherwise unaware of just how close a call you, and she, had. Everything worked together – your reaction time, the traction of your tires and the efficiency of your brakes. But, what if your tires weren’t up to the job or your brakes were seriously worn? The story above might have ended with ambulance rides, hospital stays and, possibly, even worse...

A customer, at Ringwood-based Performance Unlimited, had their car towed in the other day because the engine wouldn’t run. The damage to internal parts of the engine were extensive and, unfortunately for the customer, avoidable. The car’s timing belt broke causing a chain reaction of internal-engine damage. Denny Norton, the owner of Performance Unlimited, feels bad for the customer. More than that, he began warning friends and other customers about the importance of replacing their timing belts before they break. “Generally, you should replace the timing belt after 100,000 miles,” said Norton. “It is expensive. However, if it breaks, there’s a good chance it will do damage inside your engine. It’s not uncommon to have a bill that runs as high as several thousand dollars.” Timing belts are made of a composite material. That the material can last as long as 100,000 miles speaks highly of it’s durability (with some cars, it’s recommended that you replace the belt after 60,000 mil...

There are 10 days left – 10 days to bring your car into a NAPA AutoCare Center, such as Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, for a rebate on electrical components – NAPA battery,, alternator or starter. The offer is extremely timely in a general sense as, with autumn and winter pending, you’ll probably want to have your charging system checked anyhow. Checking your charging system before winter arrives is a great way to avoid those nasty situations where the cold is too much for your car and it won’t start. All three of these components can have that effect on a car. If the battery doesn’t have sufficient juice for the job it won’t turn the starter. If the starter is faulty, it may demand more juice than even a good battery can offer. The alternator is what puts the juice in the battery to begin with. More than that, the alternator also provides the electrical current necessary to keep the car running. Suppose the alternator works but doesn’t quite work hard enough. You’re driving ...

How do avoid these excessive and costly automotive repair bills or breaking down unexpectedly on the side of the road somewhere while traveling miles from McHenry? The answer to both questions is simple – automotive maintenance. If you take care of your car it will take care of you. If you treat it badly and let it lapse into disrepair, don’t be surprised if the additional costs and unreliability your car will generate and exhibit. When it comes to taking care of your car, automotive maintenance is really not that hard to keep with. In fact, if procedures are done in their time, you can rest assured that you won’t have many unexpected costs or breakdowns. Oil changes; checking the antifreeze/coolant, the thermostat and hoses; testing the battery, alternator and starter; checking the belts, brakes, exhaust, steering and suspension – these are all critical matters in their time. So, when is the right time for automotive maintenance? Here is a basic guide though you’ll want to chec...

Have you suddenly noticed that your car is louder than it used to be? When you drive down the street in McHenry, do people cover their ears as you go by? Do you find yourself shouting at the top of your lungs when trying to order drive-through food? These are all ‘subtle’ clues that your exhaust system may require some attention. If it’s bad enough, you may even experience another clue – the kind where a McHenry Police Officer pulls you over and gives you  a ticket for loud exhaust. If the car is loud now, if you don’t do something about it, it will only get louder. As the car grows louder the sound indicates that parts of the exhaust system are broken or deteriorating. Rust is one of the first offenders when it comes to attacking the integrity of your exhaust system. Over time, the rust can work its way through solid metal until pin holes develop. The rust will also weaken the metal to the extent that road bumps can cause exhaust parts to fracture. If you’ve ever seen som...

Well, maybe it will get hot in Spring Grove this summer after all. This week, it actually reached the 90s. Though it promptly cooled off again, don’t forget, August is just around the bend. So far, your car’s air conditioning hasn’t had to work too hard this summer. That’s how it goes when summer temperatures are mild in and around Spring Grove. In fact, a mild summer can allow an automotive air conditioner that isn’t working properly to go unnoticed. It’s not until temperatures spike into the 90s and above that you may notice a problem. Technically, a car’s air conditioner doesn’t blow cold air into the car. Rather, it pulls the heat out of the air. If there isn’t that much heat to remove, any old automotive air conditioner can do the job. When there is a lot of heat in the air, a car’s air conditioning needs to be up to the task. One way to find out if your car’s air conditioner is working properly is to wait until the temperature in Spring Grove gets really hot. Then, if it ...

You’re cruising along on Johnsburg Road thinking about what you’ll buy when you get to the store. You’re thinking about what you’ll fix for dinner tonight or what time you have to pick your daughter up from her horseback riding lesson. You’re thinking how nice it would be to take a little time off, maybe visit an exotic destination in the Caribbean. Whatever you’re thinking about, you hardly notice the car approaching from the side street. Of course, it will stop. Or will it? You’ve had your oil changed on the car. You even had the air conditioning checked and recharged. If the summer ever warms up here in Johnsburg, you might even use the A/C once or twice. Your car’s engine is purring like a kitten and strong as an ox. You are clearly ready for the road. Or are you? It’s one thing to know you can get in the car and go when you want. It’s another thing to also know that you can stop when you need to. So, assuming all those other conditions are taken care of – assuming the belts a...

You find yourself sitting in the car 100 miles or more from Richmond. The car rocks every time another car goes by at, or above, the 65-mph speed limit. It rocks twice as hard when a semi rolls by. Looking out the windshield, you can still see the smoke curling up around the raised hood. If you knew more about cars, maybe you’d have some idea what to do about the problem – why the car started running rough, smoking, coughing and, finally, conking out here on a desolate stretch of highway. Now that the car isn’t running, the AC isn’t working either and, even with the windows down, the temperature inside the car is stifling. The fun has gone out of the experience for your now-bickering children and you’re doing all you can to hold your temper. This was definitely not part of the plan when you contemplated taking this short vacation. Sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck, while telling the kids, for the umpteenth time, “It won’t be long now,” you contemplate your si...

Soap Box racers cross the finish line in McHenry June 21. Side by side, the racers crouch in their sleek charges, nose down on the ramps ready to go. From 3rd Street past Green Street in McHenry, spectators behind bales of hay line Waukegan Road as the tension builds. Then, a lever is thrown releasing the cars. Down the hill they fly, racers casting furtive side-ways glances that tell – it’s a dead heat. Reaching speeds close to 30 mph, the finish line flashes by and a red light announces whether the winner was in Track No. 1 or Track No. 2. The 12th Annual Kiwanis Soap Box Derby, Saturday, June 21, gave racers, ages 8 to 13, a chance at racing glory. For the winner out of a field of 31, victory meant a chance to race in the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship July 20-26. But, win or lose, all the racers had a chance to taste the thrill of competition with the wind in their faces and the support of family and friends at their backs. For Makayla Huff, th...

Street rods, dragsters, foreign sports cars and grand touring classics – you’ll find them all and more tonight in McHenry at Green Street Cruise Night. Mustangs, Camaros and `Cudas – these are just some of the classic automobiles that will rumble into the Public Parking lot southwest of the intersection of Green Street and Route 120. This dazzling display of Detroit Iron, ground-hugging European classics and “Fast and Furious” racers from the Far East will pack the house, so to speak, tonight, June 9, as the flag comes down to start the fifth season of McHenry’s Green Street family friendly event. Cars, food, beverages, music, raffles and more will make this a worthy destination for anyone who shares the American love affair with the automobile. To start the season off in style, Peter Oprisko will perform the classic tunes of Frank Sinatra and others from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Ford is the Feature Car for the event. However, there will still be plenty of other makes on hand. Each w...

Of course, it’s a good idea to prepare your car for winter. The bitter cold, ice and snow in McHenry County will ferret out any weakness and play havoc with a vehicle. Summer, however, will also test a car. That’s why it’s also a good idea to prepare your vehicle for the summer ahead. Consider this your McHenry County Summer Automotive Survival Guide. Paying attention to the tips below will help ensure that you and your car make it through another McHenry County summer none the worse for the wear. • Change that oil. Oil is the lifeblood of a car’s engine. That’s not just a cute way to put it; it’s entirely accurate. As Dracula drinks blood from an unfortunate maiden, she’ll begin to turn pale. Eventually, she’ll die and come back as a vampire, as well. An engine drained of oil will also die. The parts inside will fuse together as the heat rises way beyond tolerances. More than merely having oil in the engine, it’s imperative that the oil is clean and has its full lubricating capa...

Remember Spring and Fall? You know, those where those seasons that used to come between winter and summer here in McHenry. These days, we just, kind of, move from one of the two remaining seasons to the other. A couple weekends ago, we had snow. Today, they’re expected highs in the 80s and it’s still May. If it reaches this kind of temperature now, what can we expect when summer is in full bloom? You can begin to perspire just thinking about it. Of course, if you’re prepared, it won’t be too bad. Prepared? Is the air conditioning in your house up to speed? How about the A/C in your car? The air conditioning in your car can do a lot to enhance your impression of a hot summer. Sure, you’re going to feel the heat from time to time – the sun bearing down on your neck. But, when your air conditioner in your car is working properly, summer doesn’t seem quite as oppressively hot. On those hot days when you’re stuck in traffic, if the air conditioning in your car isn’t working right, y...

Do you dig hotrods, sports cars and other four-wheeled-mechanical wonders? If so, Green Street Cruise Night is the place to be starting June 9. The event runs every Monday through Sept. 29. It will feature vendors with food and beverages, a 50/50 raffle and, of course, a wide range of the shiniest and hottest cars in McHenry County. The vendors include Kona Ice, MJ’s Coffee Bar, Big Daddy Dogs, Gambler Restaurant and Bar, BuddyZ Chicago Style Pizzeria, Green Street Café and Hidden Pearl Café.  DJ Paul Drake will spin tunes each Monday night. “A couple-hundred cars usually show up for Cruise Night,” said Denny Norton, owner of Ringwood-based Performance Unlimited who usually has a booth at the event. Performance Unlimited is renowned in McHenry County for repairs and maintenance they do to family cars – to cars of all makes and models. However, the team at Performance Unlimited also excels at providing high performance mechanical wonders for serious auto enthusiasts and race...