The Little Valve that Could (PCV Valve Replacement)
March 24, 2024
It's easy to get letters like PVC and PCV mixed up. PVC is a plastic that's used in a lot of things, especially plumbing pipes. And PCV is a valve that helps your engine burn off excess fumes rather than having them pollute our atmosphere. PCV stands for positive crankcase ventilation. When y... More
Losing Your Cool (Why is My Air Conditioning System Not Working?)
March 17, 2024
When you turn on the air conditioning in your vehicle, you expect cool air to come out of the vents. You depend on it, especially in hot weather, but it can also be important in humid weather when you need it to help defrost your windows and windshield. The air conditioning system has a lot of p... More
Don't Blow a Gasket! (Valve Cover Gasket Replacement)
March 10, 2024
When you head out to your vehicle after it's been parked and notice oil leaking underneath it, that's something to have looked at right away. Oil leaks mean your oil level is probably low and running a vehicle in that condition can lead to expensive repairs. While there are many reasons oil leak... More
Sniffing Out a Problem
March 3, 2024
Your parents probably taught you to have common sense. When it comes to your vehicle, common scents can also come in handy. Different smells may tell you about some conditions in your vehicle that need attention. For example, you know what rotten eggs smell like. If you smell them around your ve... More
Fuel Injection Basics for Lake In The Hills
February 25, 2024
All modern Lake In The Hills vehicles come with fuel injection systems, so it's a topic Lake In The Hills drivers need to know something about. The mighty fuel injector is a valve that delivers the gas or diesel fuel to the right place, in the right amount at the right timeto be mixed with air an... More
A Non-Starter (Alternator Problems in Cold Weather)
February 18, 2024
As the temperatures dip, we all know there could be problems starting our vehicles. After all, batteries can grow old and not hold a charge as well as when they were newer. Or starters can go bad. But there's one more component to keep an especially sharp eye on during winter: your alternator. T... More
Bad Vibrations (Brake Rotor Replacement)
February 11, 2024
If youve ever stepped on your brake pedal and felt your vehicle vibrate, thats a signal that you shouldnt ignore. A pulsating brake pedal is a sign that something is wrong. Braking action should be smooth, sure, and quiet, not shaky and noisy. Most newer vehicles have disc brakes, called that b... More
Maintenance for High Mileage Vehicles in Lake In The Hills, Illinois
February 4, 2024
The median age for cars in the Lake In The Hills, Illinois area was over nine years. And two-thirds had over 75,000 miles. At Tuffy Lake In The Hills we hear reports that those numbers continue to rise. If you have a high-mileage vehicle in the Lake In The Hills area, bring it into Tuffy Lake In ... More
Stopping "Brake" Downs (Brake Pad Replacement)
January 28, 2024
If someone tells you to put the brakes on something, you know it means stop. And stopping is one of the most important safety maneuvers you can do in any vehicle. That means your brakes have to work properly. Let's face it. You stop dozens of times every time you drive. And over time, that t... More
Fuel System Cleaning at Tuffy Lake In The Hills in Lake In The Hills for Better Performance
January 21, 2024
A fuel injector is a valve that delivers fuel to a vehicle's engine. It has to deliver the precise amount of fuel to precisely the right place, precisely when the engine needs it. The fuel also has to be mixed with air before it can burn in the engine.Fuel injectors are engineered to spray fuel i... More