Performance Unlimited Blog

Wonder Lake winters put some in the ditch. Too often, those in the ditch have 4-wheel drive. They’re built for driving in this kind of weather common in Wonder Lake during the winter, right? Why then do you see so many 4-wheel-drive vehicles in the ditch? Could there be something wrong with the way they’re designed? Or could the problem be something else. The answer is generally the latter. A car, truck or SUV with 4-wheel drive has a potential advantage when driving on winter roads. The advantage is that all four of the wheels are, or can be set to push the vehicle down the road. The problem is that drive wells have little to do with wheels and tires used to stop a vehicle. And here is where the problem lies – here and behind the wheel. The way a 4-wheel drive vehicle will help a driver get going in snowy conditions can be deceiving. It may give the driver a sense that their vehicle can do anything on a snowy road as though the road is completely dry. That is an erroneous perception. ...

And there could be a problem you need to investigate Winter is here and as we look at the approach of the tail end of February here in McHenry, we may have noticed some changes in the way our car, truck or SUV operates. The shocks may feel stiffer. We may have to wait longer for heat to keep us warm while driving. And it may take longer for the car to start. As this McHenry winter drags on, you may  find that your car, truck or SUV doesn't seem to start as promptly as you're used to. You may want to have this checked out before you find yourself stuck somewhere with a vehicle that doesn't start. For the car, truck or SUV to take longer starting isn’t necessarily, an indication of a problem. Cold days and nights in McHenry tend to thicken the oil and it takes more energy from the battery and starter to turn the engine and initiate the internal combustion cycle. On the other hand, it could prove to be a problem. If there is a problem causing your vehicle to take longer to sta...

It’s Valentine’s Day in Wonder Lake and you want to let your loved ones know that you love them. And, since you love them, you want the best for them. You want them to be happy. Above all, you want them to be safe. You could run to a store in the Wonder Lake area to pick up some candy and some flowers – not a bad idea in any case. But, if you’re looking for something else you can give them for Valentine’s Day, something that will make them happy and keep them safer, you might consider the gift-giving potential of their automobile.  “What gift-giving potential,” you say?  When is the last time their car, truck or SUV had a safety check? Is the suspension and steering in good condition? Will their brakes stop them as needed, especially in an emergency. You love them and you’d like to think that they will. But, with a safety inspection, you’ll have a greater degree of confidence that they will be safe. You’ll have the comfort of knowing that their vehicle can stop safely. What ab...

Some of the roads in Bull Valley are dark at night with all the trees. But, in winter, your headlights can face a real challenge. You’re driving down a darkened Bull Valley Road late at night when you see a solitary headlight coming your way and you think, “This is a heck of a time to ride a motorcycle.” After all, the temperature has dropped to the teens and there are patches of ice on the asphalt road. Then, just before it reaches you, you realize, “That’s not a motorcycle! That’s a car with a headlight out and it’s darn close to the center of the road.” You swerve suddenly and just miss an accident in the hills of Bull Valley. Hopefully, you don’t lose control of the car and wind up in the ditch, too. This is an example of the importance of the lighting on vehicles. Headlights help the driver to see. But they also help a driver to be seen. Running lights do the same thing. From behind, the running lights alert other drivers to your presence. This is all-the-more critical at night wh...