Baldwinsville Auto Repair

    Many people confuse tire alignment with tire balancing and vice versa. While both services provide a smoother and seamless ride, these two services are not the same. Here's what you need to know about their differences. What is a Tire Alignment? Tire alignments (wheel alignments) are adjustments made to a vehicle's suspension system. This is where the vehicle connects to its wheels. This is not a change to the tires themselves. Our mechanics adjust the wheel angles to make sure the tires are making proper contact with the road.  What are the Signs of Misalignment? Uneven Tread Wear Vehicle Pulling to the Left or Right Steering Wheel is Off-Center When Driving Straight Steering Wheel Vibration Squealing Tires What is Tire Balancing? A tire balancing service ensures the tire has an even weight distribution. And is usually performed along with a tire alignment service. Weight imbalances of just an oun ... read more

The Cooling System in your vehicle protects your engine from overheating. The radiator helps to transfer heat away from the engine. And allows the coolant to continue circulating throughout the rest of the system. The coolant helps to lubricate parts and absorb heat. As the coolant circulates through the system, it also picks up dirt and grime. A radiator flush will help rid your car of those contaminants. Our mechanics remove the old coolant and anti-freeze from the system, first. Then, cleaning solutions added to the system remove dirt and impurities. Finally, we add a new and fresh coolant mixture back into the system. If your engine's temperature gauge is higher than normal you may be due for a radiator flush. A broken radiator can leave you stranded. Preventative maintenance will protect your vehicle from having major issues on the road. Lou's ... read more

The defrosters in your car are a safety feature that helps to clear condensation and frost from your front and rear windshields. While both defrosters work to evaporate moisture from the windows, they do so in different ways. Your front defroster works by directing hot air up through vents in the dashboard to defog the windshield from the inside. In some cars, the defrost controls will also activate the air conditioning and compressor. In warmer weather, cooling the air with A/C first can remove more moisture from the air to defog the windows better.     The rear defroster, in most cars, is electric. This system consists of rows of very thin heating elements on the inside of your rear window or hatch. These heating strips are connected to your vehicle’s electrical system and are controlled by a dashboard switch. The control switch typically runs on a timer that will automatically turn off the power after several minutes.     Causes of Rear Defroste ... read more

    Why Won't My Car Start? You never realize just how important your vehicle is until it doesn't start. You use it constantly to drive to work, pick up the kids from soccer practice, get groceries, and so much more. So when your vehicle suddenly stops working- you PANIC! "Why Won't My Car Turn On?", you shout! There are a lot of reasons why your car won't turn over, but some are more common than others. Here are the top 3 reasons why your car may not start.   Dead Battery     A Dead Battery is the most common reason why a vehicle won't start. The battery is responsible for providing electrical power to your entire vehicle and its electrical components such as the lights, radio, and so on. The alternator charges your battery while your car is running. If your battery is not adequately charged, you will not be able to start your car. So ... read more

Why Do I Have To Rotate and Balance My Tires?   Tire rotations and balancing are often overlooked when it comes to auto maintenance services. While they may seem unimportant, these services are extremely beneficial to the health of your tires. Regularly balanced and rotated tires prevent uneven tire wear and ensure that your tires last longer overall.   WHAT IS A TIRE ROTATION? A tire rotation is when your tires are moved from one position to another. For example, a front tire is moved to the back and vice versa. This helps to ensure that the wear on all of the tires stays even over a period of time.    WHAT IS TIRE BALANCING? Tire balancing adjusts the tire mounting to ensure that all tires are equally balanced so one side of the tire doesn't have more pressure than the other. It is another way to make sure that your tires wear evenly.   These two services can increase the longevit ... read more

  Top Tips To Make Your Used Car Last Sudden and unexpected challenges plagued the new and used car markets over the last few years. Vehicle prices have increased while inventory has diminished. Many car owners are asking themselves, “Should I buy a new car now or wait?”. If buying another car now is not in the cards for you, check out these top tips to make your vehicle last a little longer.   FOLLOW YOUR FACTORY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE Sticking to a 30k/60k/90k mile maintenance schedule is key for making your car last for years to come. Routine maintenance is a must as parts and components will wear down and require replacement over time. Lou’s Car Care provides a multi-point, Digital Vehicle Inspection at every visit to keep you informed of all your vehicle’s needs. Our Service Team will work with you to develop a maintenance plan with your budget in mind.   PROPER FLUID MAINTENANCE Your vehic ... read more

How Do I Save Money On Gas?Let’s improve your fuel economy. Gas prices have risen significantly in recent months, along with inflation. We are all familiar with that feeling of shock as we watch the numbers on the pump climb higher and higher. That leaves many of us wondering, “How can I avoid the gas station for as long as possible?” Luckily, there are simple ways to improve your fuel economy and prolong the life of gas in your vehicle. These tips fall under two main categories; maintenance and driving practices. Maintenance tips to improve fuel economy Preventing wear and tear on your vehicle can have a positive effect on its efficiency. If you want to avoid wasting gas and throwing money away at the pump, pay attention to the following factors. Tire maintenance The condition of your tires is a strong indicator of fuel efficiency. First, you want to be sure that your tires are the perfect fit f ... read more

  Why is my TPMS light on? There is always a level of concern that we feel whenever we are driving down the road and we hear that little “ding” and see that something has lit up on the dashboard. Is it a small, easily fixed problem coming up, or something much worse? One indicator that you might see light up is the TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring system. If you have not seen it before, it looks like a horseshoe with an exclamation point in it. When the TPMS light comes on it means one of two things; either your tire pressure is too high, or it is too low in one or more of your tires. Let’s talk about what you should do when this happens.   Check the recommended tire pressure for your car Your car should have a recommended pressure for your front and wheel tires written on the doorjam of the driver’s door. If not, check your vehicle’s manual for the correct numbers. Sometimes, the front tire pressure is meant ... read more

What Is The Difference Between Shocks and Struts? Many people describe shocks and struts interchangeably, but they have some major differences, even while serving similar functions. Since they play an integral role in keeping your wheels connected to the road and driving smoothly, it is important to know some of the basics. It can also be helpful to know what could go wrong with these parts.   The Differences Between Shocks and Struts You may have heard these two parts discussed as if they were essentially the same, but they are designed differently. A strut is connected to a vehicle’s suspension system structurally and is a crucial part of the steering system. It also contains its own coil spring, which is part of the reason why a strut is more expensive.   A shock is a hydraulic piston, with liquid or gas inside, that dampens movement. Shocks do not support the weight of the vehicle like struts do and are often used with the rear wh ... read more

Lou’s Car Care Center has an immediate opening for an automotive technician to join our production team.  We are a progressive, state-of-the-art, family-owned, independent auto repair shop that services every make and model.  Seeking a go-getter, fast leaner, who owns his/her own tools, and is a team player.  At Lou’s, your personal goals are just as important as your professional goals, and we want to help you achieve success in all areas of your life. We want you to thrive! We have been serving the Baldwinsville and surrounding communities since 1976.   Our customers trust our shop, so we always have plenty of good business year-round.  Even if you have never worked in an independent shop, we invite you to talk to us to find out more about our shop! Submit your resume with confidence that all contacts with us are completely confidential.     Why else to consider Lou’s Car Care? 5-day work week, No weekends Guarante ... read more