What Customers Should Know

  • 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: Jan 23, 2018
  • 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: Feb 12, 2018
  • 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: Mar 04, 2018
  • 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 30, 2018
  • 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: May 08, 2018
  • Make your Service Visit at GMJ Automotive LLC 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: Jul 09, 2018
  • NOT JUST ANOTHER CUSTOMER (Finding the Right Service Facility)
    You might remember a hit TV sitcom that was set in a bar, a place where "everybody knows your name."  The idea, of course, is people feel more comfortable where they aren't just another customer ...
    Published on: Jun 02, 2019
  • THE IMPORTANCE OF VISIBILITY (Cleaning Vehicle Glass)
    We've all been through it. The vehicle ahead of us kicks up mud, slush, snow or salt on our windshield and we can't see a thing.  And not being able to see a thing when we're driving?  Not a...
    Published on: Jun 16, 2019
  • 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: Jun 30, 2019
  • "Current" Affairs (Blown Fuses)
    You may be driving along and find that suddenly your radio stops working.  There are no numbers on the display.  Then when you get home, you notice the garage door opener doesn't do a thing ...
    Published on: Jul 07, 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: Aug 19, 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 03, 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: Oct 06, 2019
  • 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: Oct 13, 2019
  • H20 No! (Driving Through Standing Water)
    In a year marked by unusually heavy flooding in North America, drivers are very aware of the possibility they may find themselves driving where water has come over the road.  It can be a daunting...
    Published on: Nov 17, 2019
  • Idle Talk about Engines (Causes of Rough Engine Idling)
    When you slow down at stoplight, your vehicle's idle should be smooth as silk.  But what happens when the engine is missing or idling roughly? That's your engine's way of telling you, "Hey, I've ...
    Published on: Nov 24, 2019
  • The Byte Stuff (Your Vehicle's Computers)
    Nobody has to tell you that computers are a part of so many things in our lives.  Smartphones, kitchen appliances, vacuum cleaners, televisions.  You name it—it has a computer in it.&n...
    Published on: Dec 01, 2019
  • The Puzzling Puddle (Leaks Under Vehicle)
    Ever notice a little spot of liquid under your vehicle after you've parked in your driveway or garage? It may have been something as simple as water left from air conditioning condensation.  But ...
    Published on: Dec 15, 2019
  • 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: Jan 01, 2020
  • Chilly Warning (Diagnosing a Noise in Cold Vehicle)
    When the weather gets colder, sometimes the noises your vehicle makes will change.  For example, you may notice a whining sound when you get going in the morning.  It may go away when the ve...
    Published on: Jan 05, 2020