O'Fallon Auto Repair

Your exhaust is a vital component of your vehicle. It diverts dangerous exhaust fumes away from the engine (and away from the interior cabin, as well). How does your exhaust system work? In short: The fumes are sent through the catalytic converter, which burns off most of the deadly gasses and is vital for emissions standards. Then, the fumes are pumped through the muffler, which reduces noise output, and finally expelled through the rear pipe(s). If any of these components are not working properly, have any cracks or leaks or are just plain damaged, it can lead to major engine problems. Deadly carbon monoxide can also back up and leak into the vehicle itself, which could make you or your passengers sick and could potentially be lethal. Here are the signs you can look for: Check Engine Light is OnThis can come on for any number of reasons, and your exhaust could be the culprit. If the check engine light is flashing, that’s more serious, you ... read more

How often should my A/C be inspected? What’s the air feeling in your ride? Are you refreshed and cooled with full air flow when your A/C is pumping? Well, if you answered positively, then you’re in luck. For those who didn’t answer in the positive: Don’t sweat, stop in for an A/C Performance Check and we’ll have you back rolling down those hot summer streets cooler than ever. How often do I need my A/C system “recharged”? Only when the cool breeze no longer feels as chilly as you remember. Simple enough. Now, it is true that a well maintained A/C system can go its entire life without needing a recharge. But, that’s if you’re extremely lucky. If you start noticing your A/C isn’t reaching those refreshingly cool temperatures, have your system inspected. How many parts make up a car A/C system? Your A/C system consists of five major parts, all working together to cool you of ... read more

It’s 2020! We have maps, social media, Google, even virtual doctor visits! Everything needed is right in your pocket. So why would you accept a paper inspection from your repair shop? That’s right. You shouldn’t! Every time your vehicle comes into Hillside Auto Repair we will perform a digital inspection. This new system enables you to call, email, or text the shop within the report! The best part? You don’t have to download and software or an app on your smartphone. You just click the link and have all the information at your fingertips. Digital Inspections enable our technicians to take photos and/or video and document any maintenance issues and send them directly to you. The photos and videos of your vehicle taken during the inspection process give you the confidence to approve the necessary repairs. It’s like you are right there, next to us, looking at your vehicle. Except you can do it from work, your comfy couch, or wherever you are! After the inspe ... read more

Because we care about our customers, here are some great tips for winter safety: Stock your car with emergency supplies. You never know when you’ll get stranded on the side of the road. Be prepared by having your car packed with emergency supplies. Check your battery. The chemical reactions required to generate power in a car battery slow down in extremely cold temperatures. At 5 degrees F, a fully charged lead-acid battery has only half its rated amp-hour capacity. On top of that, during cold weather, your engine requires more current from the battery in order to get the engine started. At Hillside Auto Repair, our mechanics can run a battery load test to see if you need to replace the battery. Even if you don’t, we can check for and clean up any corrosion he finds on your posts and connections. Check your anti-freeze mixture. The mixture of anti-freeze and water in your radiator should be about 50:50. Check your b ... read more

Brake rotors — otherwise known as brake discs — provide a friction surface for brake pads to grab onto. Disc brake rotors are metal discs that work together with the brake pads and calipers to slow the vehicle. Brake rotors are bolted directly to the wheel hub, so they spin in direct relation to wheel speed. The rotor is sandwiched between two brake pads. When the brake pedal is depressed, the calipers squeeze the brake pads against the spinning rotors to slow and stop the wheels and the vehicle. Modern cars are equipped with either two-wheel or four-wheel disc brakes. A four-wheel disc brake system has a rotor at each wheel, whereas a two-wheel system has rotors in the front, and drum brakes in the back. Two basic types of rotors are currently in use: solid and vented. Solid rotors are one solid piece, like the name implies. This relatively inexpensive type of rotor is generally used in small cars. Vented rotors are cast with fins between the two disc faces. The fins are d ... read more