Wiper blades may not be the most exciting topic for most Grand Rapids residents – but they are pretty important. Most of us Grand Rapids residents have had an experience when a sudden snow or rain storm hits while we're driving; then when we turn on the wipers – nothing but streaks. This can be especially disconcerting at night when the glare of on-coming headlights distorts your vision. Simple answer: change your wiper blades BEFORE they fail. Check them out every couple o

Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Tech Question: My name is Dan. My vehicle tires wore out early and I had to replace them. What can I do to make my tires last longer? Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Answer: Dan's problem – premature tire wear – is very common for Grand Rapids residents. Here are several ways to lengthen the life of your tires: First, tires lose air pressure over time, so check them at least once a month and fill them up as necessary. A sticker on the d

Question: Why isn't my air conditioner blowing cold air? Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Answer: Your air conditioning system uses refrigerant to create cold air. The most common reasons Grand Rapids lose their cold air have to do with the refrigerant. The first is not enough refrigerant. Refrigerant is a gas in the system and very small holes in a hose, seal or coupler can allow enough to leak out to prevent the creation of cold air. Another potential problem for Gr

Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Car Care Advice: Power Steering Maintenance Did you know that the first cars were steered with a tiller? They also took a lot of muscle to turn – especially at low speeds. Francis W. Davis developed hydraulic power steering which has been enjoyed by generations of MI drivers who can steer with one finger while sipping coffee or even with a knee while they stir in a packet of sugar. (We don’t recommend either of these dangerous practices.) Wi

Let’s break it down. First there is the blower fan that circulates the air through the heating/air conditioning system. The fan can blow at different speeds, depending on how much hot or cold air is necessary to be comfortable. The blend box can either convey fresh air from outside, or recirculate air from inside the cabin. Grand Rapids auto owners often choose to recirculate air when first starting the vehicle until it starts to either cool down or warm up. The next thing th

Automotive Service for Grand Rapids: Check Engine Light Some are simple and some are complicated My check engine light is on and my boyfriend thinks he can get the code read and know what part to replace to fix my sedan. I say it’s not that uncomplicated. Who’s right? Our Answer: Good news – you are! Just look at it logically: there are hundreds of things that can go wrong with your sedan. Some are simple and some are quite complicated. Let’s take a step back. Over 80% of eng

My new car has a “GDI” engine. What does that mean to me and other Grand Rapids drivers with this new type of engine? Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Answer: GDI stands for Gasoline Direct Injection. It’s a type of fuel injection system that is becoming very popular on modern engines. Let’s talk about the two most common forms of fuel injection. Port Fuel Injection has been common in Grand Rapids for the last several decades. With Port Fuel Injection, there is a small p

Question: My Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service technician said I need a new serpentine belt but I don’t see any cracks in it. Does it really need to be replaced? Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Answer: I appreciate your concern. Old style neoprene belts would crack with age, making it pretty obvious to Grand Rapids drivers when they needed to be replaced. Nowadays, serpentine belts are made from a different material that doesn’t crack or glaze the way neoprene did. Steppi