AUTONET TV

Tracking True in Illinois: Wheel Alignment in Rockford

The biggest issue for Rockford area drivers is always safety. When your vehicle wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you're vehicle is out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at TJ's Auto Center Inc. in Rockford.

When undergoing an alignment service at TJ's Auto Center Inc., your vehicle is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings.

Precision adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in exactly the same direction.

Rockford drivers should be aware of the signs of alignment problems. These include the car pulling to one side. Also, the steering wheel may not be centered when you're going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your Rockford service center look it over. If you've been in an auto accident in Illinois, you should get your alignment checked.

Obviously, a big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but Rockford area drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.

That's why we recommend periodic alignment checks. If your vehicle owner's manual doesn't specify the interval, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with a service advisor at TJ's Auto Center Inc. in Rockford.

One thing's for sure: the cost of the alignment at TJ's Auto Center Inc. is cheaper for Rockford drivers than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.

 TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886

Rockford Drivers: Is It Time to Replace Your PCV Valve?

The crankcase is the lower part of the engine where the crankshaft is housed and where the engine oil lives. The crankshaft is connected to the pistons that power the engine.

When you are diving around Rockford, fuel is burned in your vehicle engine, it pushes the pistons down and the crankshaft rotates and sends power to the transmission. Some of the explosive gases from combustion squeeze past the pistons and down into the crankcase.

Now this gas is about 70% unburned fuel. If it were allowed to remain in the crankcase, it would contaminate the oil and quickly turn it to sludge. Sludge is like Vaseline and clogs passages in the engine, leading to damage.

Also, the pressure build up would blow out seals and gaskets. So in the old days, there was just a hose that vented the crankcase out into the air. Obviously, not good for our air quality in Rockford, Illinois.

Enter the PCV valve. It's a small, one-way valve that lets out the gases from the crankcase and routes them back into the air intake system where they are re-burned in the engine. Fresh air comes into the crankcase through a breather tube. This makes for good circulation in the crankcase. And that gets the air out. As you can imagine, however, the valve gets gummed up over time.

Your vehicle manufacturer usually recommends they be changed somewhere between 20,000 to 50,000 miles/30,000 to 80,000 kilometers. Unfortunately, PCV valve replacement is left out of some vehicle owner's manuals, but your friendly service advisor at TJ's Auto Center Inc., we will make sure your PVC is replaced if needed.

TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886

Clean Air for Your Engine: Engine Air Filters In Rockford

Every Rockford car owner who has taken their car in for an oil change has been told that their engine air filter's dirty.

Here's what goes into the determination of when to change the filter: First, your vehicle owner's manual will have a recommendation of when the filter should be replaced.

So between your owner's manual and your Rockford technician's inspection there's really no guesswork involved for Rockford drivers.

Now, most air filters purchased in Rockford don't cost a lot to replace. It's just that Illinois people hate getting caught with an unexpected expense. On the plus side, though, changing a dirty air filter at TJ's Auto Center Inc. can often save enough on gas to pay for itself before your next oil change in Rockford.

Think about a dirty furnace filter in your Rockford home. When it's all clogged up, enough clean air can't get through. In your vehicle, that means that your engine can't get as much air as it needs to burn the fuel efficiently. So it makes do with less air and has to use more gas to move your vehicle around Rockford roads.

Your vehicle actually needs about 12,000 times more air than fuel to run. Engine air filters don't cost much in Rockford at TJ's Auto Center Inc.. When it's time to change yours, just get it done. You'll get better fuel economy, have better performance and protect your vehicle engine.

TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886

Suspension Service at TJ's Auto Center Inc. in Rockford

During an inspection at TJ's Auto Center Inc. in Rockford, your friendly and knowledgeable automotive service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Here's a quick rundown of suspension system components:

There are the springs which hold the weight of your vehicle. There are several varieties of springs. Springs are heavy duty parts that rarely break or wear out. Shock absorbers work in conjunction with springs to smooth out the ride and help keep the tires on the road. Good shocks are essential for handling performance and ride comfort.

You've probably heard of struts. They combine a shock absorber and a coil spring in one unit. Shocks and struts will wear out over time. If your tires develop a cupped wear pattern, your shocks or struts may be wearing out. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your vehicle dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you've stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it's definitely time to replace them at TJ's Auto Center Inc..

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit TJ's Auto Center Inc. for a suspension inspection. Same applies if you've been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. If your vehicle suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so don't put it off.

When you replace your shocks, it's usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That'll give you more even handling. Talk with your friendly and knowledgeable pros at TJ's Auto Center Inc. because you don't want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

There are different grades of shocks and struts. You always want to use a replacement shock or strut that equals the one that came as original equipment when your vehicle was new. But remember, they were designed to meet the expected needs of the broad range of Rockford people who buy that particular vehicle. Your needs may be more specialized.

For example, if you want increased handling performance, your TJ's Auto Center Inc. service advisor can recommend an upgraded shock or strut specially designed for improved handling. If you haul heavy loads or trailers in Rockford, we can recommend some heavy duty shock absorbers.

TJ's Auto Center Inc.
3427 E. State St.
Rockford, Illinois 61108
815-399-2886