Automotive Industry News & Information - Intercourse Automotive 4X4

It’s not always easy to recognize when your vehicle is suffering from a simple problem that requires a little maintenance and TLC or there is real engine damage as symptoms can be overlooked and seen as “normal.” While not all sounds and smells may threaten the life of your car or truck engine, there are some obvious warning signs that require a vehicle inspection here at the shop right away.

We have great pride in our military and veterans and honor them on Veterans Day each November 11th. Did you know how and why it is on November 11th? The reason dates back to 1918 and pays homage to the date and time the WW I cease fire went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month when a temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars” eventhough the official end of the what we refer to as "The Great War" ended with the Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France.

Did you know that Remanufacturing is Recycling? Have you considered how your decision to make a major repair to your vehicle affects our environment? We have researched how much energy JASPER utilizes in the remanufacturing process and compared it with information from the Argonne National Lab, a research center for the U.S. Department of Energy.

By averaging the curb weight of three vehicles: a Mercedes-Benz W126, a Hummer H2, and a Toyota Prius, a determination was made on the average amount of energy required in manufacturing vehicles. Energy usage at JASPER, per drivetrain component, was figured and, on average, only 1% of the energy is consumed in remanufacturing a drivetrain component in comparison to manufacturing the entire vehicle. That is an energy savings of nearly six tons of coal or 1008 gallons of crude oil. Rather than replacing their vehicles, our customers, by purchasing JASPER remanufactured engines, transmissions, and differentials saved enough energy in 2007 to power an estimated 598,000 households, or every residence in a city the size of Washington, D.C., for an entire year!

Have you checked your brakes lately? I know you expect them to stop your car or truck when you step on that brake pedal, but when they don't work as expected it's too late and then you have an accident with damage to your vehicle but more importantly to the people inside your car and those on the road who may be in your path.

Let's avoid that issue! Test your brakes by lightly tapping them in different situations when the roads are both wet and dry. If your vehicle is pulling to one side, your brake pedal pulses up and down or the steering wheel shakes when the brakes are applied, you are very much overdue for a brake check. Getting in early will save you money as it is always easier to fix a problem before it becomes a huge issue and your brakes are gone requiring new brakes, pads, rotars, and drums.

When in doubt stop by our shop and have one of our professional automotive repair technicians take a look. Don't wait until it's too late to solve these problems and let us help you stay safe on the road! After all, that is the reason we raise these garage doors every day and open these tool boxes. We love what we do and want to ensure our drivers can stay on the roads longer with their vehicles safer and more cost efficiently.

How often should you get your transmission fluid changed? The transmission industry's standard is 25,000 to 30,000 miles or every two years. If you tow a trailer, 15,000 to 20,000 miles is recommended depending on the amount of towing. Motorhomes can vary with the amount that they are driven. The best thing that you can do is check the fluid regularly; notice the color, odor and level of the fluid. If you notice a change in the color, odor or level, have it checked by one of our trained technicians.

What type of fluid should you use? The suggested fluids differ from one manufacturer to another and you can check the owner's manual to ensure the correct transmission fluid is utilized per your specific auto or truck make and model. However, here our technicians have a computer program that will insure the right fluid goes into your transmission. We offer a full line of transmission fluids to cover all the various demands of any car or truck.

JASPER 3 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY

JASPER can offer this beefy warranty on our remanufactured automatic and standard transmissions because every one of them goes through our extensive "Do It Right" process that ensures worry-free operation. Our shop chooses JASPER because our customers deserve not only the best product and service we can provide but also the peace of mind that comes with high quality - dependable products like JASPER transmissions, engines, and differentials.

For most of us, proper preparation for your upcoming holiday road trip is more about wedging suitcases into the trunk and grabbing that famous stuffing recipe than it is about car maintenance. We certainly understand; the holiday season is a hectic one. However, a little advance planning can make a huge difference in getting to your destination in one piece and arriving with a few shreds of sanity left! Here are five ways to ready your car (and yourself) for the great holiday tradition: the road trip.

If you grew up in a snow-belt state, you know the drill - and if you just moved to one, you're about to learn. Once temperatures get down around freezing or below, the glass in your car will attempt to spend the rest of the winter encased in fog and snow. No, not really; we're sure your glass has only the best intentions. But the road to miserable winter visability is paved with them, so give yourself a leg up this year with our guide to cold-weather clarity.