What Customers Should Know

  • The Edible Engine
    You may have had a friend whose vehicle was the victim of hungry rodents.  After all, mice, rats and squirrels—even rabbits—have been known to gnaw on wires in engine compartments, ca...
    Published on: Jul 02, 2018
  • Cruisin' on Down Main Street
    When automakers first came out with cruise control, it was a real luxury item.  The older cruise controls used a mechanical vacuum system but it worked.  Well, some of the time.  Now d...
    Published on: Oct 21, 2018
  • Make your Service Visit at Forest Grove Auto a Good One
    Most people don't love going to get their vehicle serviced, but it's one of those things you just have to do. So you might as well get the most of out of it. There are some steps you can take that wil...
    Published on: Aug 18, 2019
  • No Yolk! Rotten Egg Smell (Sulfur Smell Causes)
    The pungent smell of rotten eggs can send people running for the hills.  So when that odor is inside your vehicle, yikes!  Yolks!  The good news is that a trained service technician can...
    Published on: Sep 22, 2019
  • When "Oh, no!" Turns Into, "All right!"
    Things we don't expect happen to our vehicles. And let's face, no one really wants to spend money on an unexpected repair. But if you are putting off going to your vehicle repair facility because you'...
    Published on: Sep 29, 2019
  • No Fueling! (Fuel Filler Location)
    If you've ever gotten in an unfamiliar vehicle, maybe a rental car, you may have pulled up to the gas pump and wondered, "Which side is the fuel filler on?" Here's a tip for you.  There is usuall...
    Published on: Oct 27, 2019
  • Rear Window—Not the Movie! (Why Some Rear Windows Don't Go All the Way Down)
    Alfred Hitchcock once made a mystery thriller film called "Rear Window." It had nothing to do with the rear window of today's cars, SUVs, CUVs and light trucks.  But there is one thing that some ...
    Published on: Jan 05, 2020
  • Not-So-Common Sense (Sensor Failures)
    So your vehicle won't start.  What's the first thing that comes to mind?  Battery dead? Starter motor worn out? Out of gas?  Well, those are all reasons that make sense.  But your ...
    Published on: Jan 19, 2020
  • A Squirrely Problem (Animals Nesting in Engine)
    If you park your vehicle outside, you are exposing it to all sorts of critters that would love to use it for nesting, food storage and shelter.  There are plenty of pictures online of people who'...
    Published on: Feb 16, 2020
  • In the Hot Seat (Repair and Maintenance of Seat Heaters)
    It's chilly outside. You flip on that switch that looks like a picture of a seat with little heat waves rising from it.  You expect soon you'll feel that warmth but… wait! It's not getting...
    Published on: Mar 15, 2020
  • When "Shady" is a Good Thing
    Just like your skin can burn from too much sun, so can the paint on your vehicle.  It can turn dull, oxidize and fade the more ultraviolet rays beat down on it. One solution is to park in a shady...
    Published on: Mar 22, 2020
  • Tacky or Techie? The Tachometer.
    There's a gauge that many vehicles have that says RPM on it.  And there are a lot of people who either don't pay any attention to it or don't even know what it is. Here's why it's a good gauge to...
    Published on: Apr 19, 2020
  • Low Power Mystery (Ignition Coil Service)
    It's no fun when your vehicle just doesn't run the way it used to.   You may notice (especially in cold weather) the engine won't start easily or when it does start, it doesn't run smoothly....
    Published on: May 31, 2020
  • DOG FOOD IN YOUR ENGINE (Keeping Rodents out of your Engine)
    A technician was telling us the other day that he was servicing an engine and spotted something he'd never seen before: A collection of dry dog food siting on a horizontal metal ledge near the base of...
    Published on: Jul 12, 2020
  • Passing the Test (How to Prevent Emissions Test Failure)
    Vehicle emission testing has become ubiquitous in North America and for a good reason.  Clean air quality is important for the environment and all of us.  Since vehicle emissions are among t...
    Published on: Aug 02, 2020
  • Don't Do It Yourself (Perils of DIY Vehicle Repair)
    Your vehicle is a complicated machine, and yes, it would be nice if you could take care of all of its problems yourself.  There was a time when vehicles were simpler and it wasn't too hard for a ...
    Published on: Aug 16, 2020
  • I NEED All Wheel Drive (Pros and Cons of AWD)
    So winter has arrived and you don't feel confident in how your 2-wheel drive vehicle does in the snow and ice.  You envy all those people with all-wheel-drive (AWD) and 4-wheel-drive (4WD) cars, ...
    Published on: Aug 23, 2020
  • Greeted by a Screech (Loud Noise when Starting Vehicle)
    No one likes to be greeted in the morning by having someone screech at you.  The same goes for a loud, high-pitched noise your vehicle greets you with every time you start the engine.  If yo...
    Published on: Aug 30, 2020
  • No Strain, No Gain (The Basics of Oil Filters)
    Ever wonder what one of the best things is to ever happen to your vehicle's engine?  It's the little thing that usually looks like a can, the oil filter. Just like your kitchen sink strainer fil...
    Published on: Sep 06, 2020
  • Start Me Up (Ignition Systems)
    When you start up your gasoline engine car, you may not know that it's using the same ignition principles as it has for decades.  You have spark plugs that require enough power so a spark can jum...
    Published on: Oct 11, 2020