Madison Heights Auto Repair

If you've ever been in a vehicle accident around MADISON HEIGHTS, MI, even a minor one, you know how upsetting it can be. It's hard to think straight and know what to do.Let's review what you should do in case of an accident in MADISON HEIGHTS, MI:When an accident occurs, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident is considered a crime in MI, even if it's not your fault. And hit-and-run penalties are fairly severe, possibly resulting in steep fines, loss of your driver's license or even jail time in our local MADISON HEIGHTS lockup.Most places, including MI, require that you try to help someone who is injured by calling for help or performing first aid if you are able.Warn other MADISON HEIGHTS motorists by putting out flares, using your flashers or lifting your hood.Call 911 as soon as possible. Tell the operator if medical or fire help is needed.Always file a police report ... read more

  Hey MADISON HEIGHTS area drivers, are your tires worn out? What is the standard for our MI streets? How can you tell on your vehicle?While there may be legal requirements for the MADISON HEIGHTS area, there are safety concerns that go beyond meeting minimum replacement mandates.Two-thirty-seconds of an inch is the depth of the tire tread wear indicator bars that US law has required to be molded across all tires since August 1, 1968. When tires are worn so that this bar is visible, there's just 2/32 of an inch – 1.6 millimeters – of tread left. It's that level of wear that's been called into question recently.We're referring to the tread depth on a tire, it can't move surface water out of the way and you start to hydroplane.In a safety study, a section of a test track was flooded with a thin layer of water. If you laid a dime on the track, the water would be deep enough to surround the coin, but not enough to cover it.A car and a full-sized pick-up accelerat ... read more

The serpentine belt is aptly named since it snakes around under your hood. It may lack its namesake's fangs, but it sure packs a wallop when it breaks.The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine systems. It runs the alternator, which charges the battery; the water pump (on some vehicles), which cools the engine; the air conditioning, which cools the driver and passengers; and the power steering pump, which allows for easier steering. When the belt breaks, all of these systems shut down.Okay, so maybe you can live without air conditioning and power steering for a while, but your battery can't live very long without an alternator, and when the cooling system goes down, your vehicle engine will overheat. That's why MADISON HEIGHTS drivers should never wait to get a serpentine belt replaced.Serpentine belts are fairly inexpensive at Interstate Auto Care in MADISON HEIGHTS. And they look downright cheap when you compare them to the cost of an overheated vehicle engine, a tow truck, time lost ... read more

Used vehicles are certainly an economical choice for budget-conscious MADISON HEIGHTS drivers. But how can we know we're getting a good used vehicle and not just inheriting someone else's problems?There are good used vehicles for sale in the MADISON HEIGHTS area. Vehicles are sold when families upsize, when families downsize or even when someone just wants a new ride. So the used vehicle may be just fine. But some MADISON HEIGHTS used vehicle owners sell them because they don't want to deal with developing or existing problems.When you're considering buying a used vehicle in MADISON HEIGHTS, ask for service records. Check to see if the recommended schedules for preventive maintenance have been followed. If so, you probably have a great used vehicle on your hands. If there aren't any service records, then assume the worst.Check the vehicle for obvious signs of problems. Kick the tires if you want to but definitely check them for uneven tread wear. This ca ... read more