Steve's Car & Truck Services
AUTO REPAIR & MAINTENANCE BLOG
Maintaining your vehicle at home is a satisfying way to keep your motoring costs down. With the right knowledge and products even someone who isn't very mechanically inclined can take care of many of the smaller issues in everyday driving. Sometimes, however, car issues can be too specialized or complex for the average motorist to take care of by themselves and it becomes time to take your car to the pros. Below you'll find three major warning signs that you need to get to a mechanic ASAP, as well as some of the potential causes behind them.
Engine and Drivetrain Problems
Let's start at the beginning. If your car won't even turn over and start up, then the rest of the problems on this list won't come into play. The simplest cause of this issue is a dead battery, which you can remedy with jumper cables, and the instructions that come printed on their packaging. If jumping the car doesn't work, you may have a larger problem with your ignition system. It's advisable to take your car into the shop at this point because finding the root of the problem will likely involve removing a few parts from your engine. Whether it's dead spark plugs or electrical problems, it's better to have it dealt with by a professional. Likewise, engine surging where the revs rise and fall can mean a problem with your fuel injectors, which are fairly deep within your motor. It's unwise to drive around with a surging engine, as this burns more gas and can cause unintended acceleration. Drivetrain issues are another major issue requiring professional attention. Everybody fears the dreaded transmission repairs, so if certain gears won't engage or they shift at the wrong times you should definitely take your car to the qualified mechanics here at Steve's Car & Truck Services.Vibration While Driving
This issue can be caused by damaged drivetrain components, but can also stem from misaligned wheels or unbalanced or flat tires. If you feel any vibration or shuddering as you drive along, you should get to a mechanic as soon as you can. At its worst, this issue can lessen your control over the car, potentially causing accidents. This will also wear out your tires more quickly than if everything was straight and true. Unwanted vibrations put stress on important (and costly) components like suspension and brakes while decreasing gas mileage, so it's smart to take your car in as soon as these issues develop.Poor Braking Performance
Your brakes are vital to keeping you safe on the road and should definitely be cared for by a professional, unless you're absolutely sure you know what you're doing. Common signs of issues with your car's braking system include squeaking or squealing when the brakes are applied, or the brakes feeling spongy and failing to slow your vehicle properly. Squealing brakes are caused by the brake pads wearing through the pad surface to the metal underneath. At this point the metal behind your brake pad is coming into contact with the brake rotor. This can be disastrous and produce unwanted heat, reduced stopping power, and cause you to have to buy new rotors as well as the relatively cheap pads. Spongey and weak brakes can mean there's a problem with your master cylinder, which converts the mechanical pressure of you pressing the pedal into hydraulic pressure to apply the brakes. In either case, it's best to have your brakes seen to by the professional mechanics here at Steve's Car & Truck Services.There are instances where car maintenance is simple and easy, but if you notice any of these issues developing, it's best to take your car in for a qualified mechanic's checkup so the problems can be remedied before they turn into much more serious issues. Steve's Car & Truck Services has the tools and expertise to have you safely back on the road in no time at all.
OUR REVIEWS
Tires, near Lake Mills, WIBarbro Andren , 05/29/2025I was in Lake Mills this morning running an errand. I live in Cambridge (which by the way it’s not on your drop-down list. It’s only about 10 miles away so definitely worth the drive.) Anyway I was driving through town and my tire light went on. I pulled into a gas station and their tire gauge was broken, but the guy there said to me “See that building over there?” I said yes, and he said “Go over there. They’ll help you. He’s a really nice guy.” So I drove over to the back of the building, (Steve’s) and I ran into a really nice guy (Steve) working on a car at the back of the shop. I asked if he could help me, and he said sure, just go have a seat upfront, and indicated he’d take a look at it as soon as he could. They were crazy busy. I’ll be here for awhile, I thought. I went up front and explain my dilemma to Cassy in the front office. I was planning to leave at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning to drive to St. Louis, but when Steve, within minutes, showed me the size of the hole in my tire. I knew that was not going to happen. I have a Volkswagen Tiguan, four-wheel-drive, and tires are not easily found. But Cassie was on it and located some that could be delivered and put on the next morning. Meanwhile, Steve put my spare limper tire on, and all the while I was talking back-and-forth with a service guy at my car dealer in Madison. I learned my tires were under warranty and that my roadside assistance would take care of it (whew) but only if the work was done by them in Madison. I asked Cassy what I owed them, and was tempted to pay them double just to make myself feel better. It was beyond reasonable. I thanked Steve and Cassie profusely and actually felt bad that a warranty thing couldn’t be covered there. (But not sorry to save big bucks.) Meanwhile, another customer had been telling me how she’s been going there for 37 years, and that she couldn’t imagine going anywhere else. No kidding. If your car needs literally anything done to it, run don’t walk, to Steve’s. It’s one of those places that’s just like America used to be. Although all they did was change my tire, they absolutely made my day, and kind of restored my faith in humanity a little bit. Yay, Steve’s! Thank you!
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