O'Fallon Auto Repair

Well, if you’ve ever driven in a car that is extremely out of alignment, it may seem obvious. Having to turn the steering wheel just to keep the vehicle pointed straight is a nuisance at best and a flat-out hazard at worst. But even subtle misalignment issues will cost you over the long run in the form of fuel inefficiency and accelerated wear and tear on your tires. Here’s all you need to know to protect your car’s alignment, recognize when something’s off, and communicate with your auto shop when it’s time to take your car to the professionals. What Causes a Car to Need Alignment Services? Knocking your car out of alignment can happen as suddenly as bouncing over a pothole you didn’t see or sliding into a curb during a snowstorm. But it can happen gradually too as your car’s suspension parts experience unavoidable wear during your day-to-day commutes. This is an extreme example, but we’ve seen it! Is it Bad to Drive a Car that is Out of Alignment? ... read more

The above graphic shows some common parts of the brake. The brake system of your vehicle is by far the most important safety system that it has. Being able to slow down or stop at a moments notice will help to avoid an incident or accident. Improperly working brakes will not do the job they are designed to do and will not be as effective when needed, especially in a panic stop situation. (ask anyone who’s ever encountered a deer late at night!) You need to be able to slow down and stop. According to the Missouri Driver’s Manual: Your stopping distance equals your reaction distance plus your braking distance. If you are driving fast, are very tired, or if your vehicle has bad brakes, you will need more space to stop your vehicle. The following distance equals your reaction distance plus your vehicle’s braking distance at different speeds. The reaction distance is the distance you travel after you see a danger and befor ... read more

Sometimes, here at Hillside Auto Repair, we see some amazing cars! Just this week one of them rolled into our garage. A lovely MG Midget! Exterior Interior Some History of the Midget (thank you Wikipedia!) The MG Midget is a small two-seater sports car produced by MG from 1961 to 1979. It revived a name that had been used on earlier models such as the MG M-type, MG D-type, MG J-type and MG T-type. The first version, announced at the end of June 1961, was essentially a slightly more expensive badge-engineered version of the MkII Austin-Healey Sprite deluxe version. The original ‘frogeye’ Sprite had been introduced specifically to fill the gap in the market left by the end of production of the MG T-type Midget as its replacement, the MGA had been a significantly larger and more expensive car with greater performance. Many existing MG buyers turned to the Sprite to provide a modern low-cost sports car and so a badge-engineered MG version reusing the Midget name made sens ... read more

What’s a moped? mo·ped/ˈmōˌped/noun a low-power, lightweight motorized bicycle. Mopeds typically travel only a bit faster than bicycles on public roads, and possess both a motorcycle engine and pedals for propulsion. They are a great and cost effective mode of transportation, as some mopeds claim an exceptional 132 mpg! They are fairly easy to maintain and operate. All of our staff, here at Hillside Auto Repair, can asisst you with that maintenance! What is legal in Missouri? The moped, or motorized bicycle, is an ideal in-between vehicle for those who want to save gas without committing to a motorcycle. Under Missouri law, mopeds are legally “vehicles,” just like passenger cars. As such, they come with their own set of rules and regulations operators must follow. In Missouri, moped operators need a valid driver’s license. According to Missouri law, any two- or three-wheeled vehicle with an automatic transmission and maximum speeds of 30 miles per hour are technically “scooters” or ... read more

Very soon the kids will be out of school, the barbecue pits pulled out of storage and pools will be filled because summer is about to explode in St. Louis! It’s important, when planning all your summer activities to think about your vehicle’s changing needs and maintenance. Here are our tips to getting (and keeping) your car in summer shape: Coolant System Keeping cool in the summer is just as important for our cars life as it is for ours! In addition to checking the level of coolant fluid in your car, you should also check the state of the hoses (squeeze the hoses, when the engine is cool, to make sure they feel firm and not excessively squishy or soft.) and the coolant reservoir. Make sure that it’s not cracked or leaking. Keep an eye out for leaks, especially at joints and connection points, such as where a hose connects to the engine block. When driving, be sure to look at your gauges frequently-if you see the temperature going up, you need to pull over. Listening ... read more