Performance Unlimited Blog

Hopefully, your car, truck or SUV’s air conditioning is ready for the dog days of this Johnsburg summer ahead. Don’t be fooled – they are coming. They always do. For now, however, instead of blazing heat, we find ourselves in a Monsoon. Day after day, it’s rain and more rain. Oh, there are nice days in between but they’re far-too infrequent. What does all this rain mean for your Johnsburg car, truck or SUV? When the sun is beating down on your car, it’s slowly burning the oils out of rubber tires and window gaskets, as well as fading that shiny finish on the vehicle. But the rain poses challenges your car, truck or SUV, too. Rust, corrosion, driving visibility, traction and an adverse effect on the vehicle’s finish are among the problems common in the wet season. What should you do to ensure that your car, truck or SUV is prepared for all this rain? You’re not at the absolute mercy of the elements. Here are some things you should consider: Maintain the exterior finish of the car, ...

That used car looks all shiny and new. The interior has that new-car smell. It’s the color you wanted. It’s the model you wanted. It’s love at first sight – kismet. In no time at all, you’re pulling out of the dealer’s parking lot in your new-used automobile with a satisfied smile on your face. But will that smile last? Overtime, that used car will require maintenance and repairs. It’s inevitable. Driving a car on the roads, particularly on McHenry County roads that endure the annual beating called winter, is abusive to any automobile. How well your new-used car holds up depends greatly on the shape it was in the day you happily drove it off the dealer’s lot. A pre-purchase mechanical inspection is a must for a new-used car  Long before you arrived at the dealer, they bathed and preened that used car to increase its curb appeal. That’s part of their job – to make used cars look as new and desirable as possible. When they’ve done their job well, and they usually do, it’s all t...

Sheldon Cooper: Your check engine light is on. Penny: Mm-hmm. Sheldon Cooper: Typically that's an indicator to, you know, check your engine. Penny: It's fine, it's been on for, like, a month. Sheldon Cooper: Well, actually, that would be all the more reason to, you know, check your engine. Penny: Sheldon, it's fine. Sheldon Cooper: If it were fine, the light wouldn't be on. That's why the manufacturer installed that light, to let you know it's not fine. Penny: Uh, maybe the light's broken. Sheldon Cooper: Is there a "check the check engine light light"? In the television show Big Bang Theory there’s an episode where Penny is driving Sheldon Cooper in her car. With his neurotic nature, Sheldon is deeply disturbed that Penny’s “Check Engine” light is on. Penny reassures him that it’s been on for a long time; it’s nothing to worry about. Is Penny right or does Sheldon, regardless of his obsessive-compulsive behavior,...

Years ago, Richard took his car into a dealership because of a problem with the engine. The dealership hooked the car up to its diagnostic equipment and the computer produced a number that, when cross-referenced in an accompanying diagnostic book, told them what the problem was. This number was not good. They told Richard that the number indicated an incurable problem with the engine. Richard paid to have the engine replaced with a used engine from a boneyard. Several months later, Richard brought the car into a different auto repair shop because the engine just wasn’t quite running right. The repair shop hooked the car up to their diagnostic equipment and, low-and-behold, the computer kicked out the same number as before. “YOU MEAN MY ENGINE IS SHOT?!!! Richard asked with an alarmed sense of deja vu. The new auto repair technician looked at him funny as though he didn’t understand: “Why would you think that?” Richard explained about replacing the engine when that number had co...