Chesapeake Auto Repair

Maintenance Free Myth   Sometimes we hear people say, “What’s up with all this maintenance stuff? Modern cars just don’t break down.” While it is true that today’s cars and trucks are extremely reliable, they are also becoming increasingly complicated and use more exotic materials than ever before. All that complexity demands higher tolerances for everything. For example, most folks don’t realize how high tech automotive fluids have become. Fluids like, engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid. Did you know that a modern engine would not run for more than a few months using motor oil formulas from 30 years ago? Today’s automotive fluids contain a much higher percentage of additives to protect your vehicle’s components from premature wear and corrosion. Time and miles march on for all of our cars. Please don’t think we’re using scare tactics to get you to take care of your maintenance  ... read more

Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down Around Chesapeake   There’s not much we can do about the price of gas in Chesapeake Virginia, but we do quite a bit about how much we use as we’re driving on our Chesapeake streets. Our driving habits can dramatically affect our fuel economy. The first thing we can do is watch the ‘go-pedal’. Hard acceleration just sucks the gas. Gently leave stop lights and plan lane changes so you don’t need to floor it. That can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Go a little slower on the freeway to Chesapeake. Once you’re going more than sixty-five miles an hour your fuel economy starts to drop dramatically. Leave early so you don’t need to rush to be on time. And cruise control is your friend – steady speed uses less gas. Plan errands ahead. Make fewer trips by combining errands. Hey at current gas prices, a lead-foot might as well be a gold foot

Looking Down the Road – Headlamps   If you’ve ever been driving around Chesapeake and had a headlamp go out, you’ve probably just wanted to replace the bad bulb. If your car uses halogen headlamps, they dim over time. So if you just put in one, they won’t have the same brightness which can be distracting and will affect your field of vision. To have your headlights inspected, visit us at West Service Center, Inc.. We’re at 904 Cavalier Blvd in Chesapeake, Virginia 23323. Or give us a call at 757-487-4420 Experts in Chesapeake recommend replacing your halogen headlamps every year. It’s easy to remember if you do it when daylight savings time changes in the fall. That way you’ll have bright headlamps for those long Chesapeake winter nights. There are other types of headlamps in addition to halogen. There are the old standard bulbs that have been around for decades. These are OK, but you can us ... read more

The Fallacy of Cheap Tires   Do you ever shop for shoes in one of our Chesapeake area shoe stores? When buying a running shoe, is quality important? Does durability matter as long as the shoes look fabulous? Would you rather have one pair of long lasting shoes or two pair of lower quality shoes at the same price? Is the warranty important when buying tires? When you choose new tires in Chesapeake, what’s the most important factor for you? You know, buying tires in Chesapeake is a big deal. It’s a big ticket item so you know you’ll be spending a lot. You’re not only concerned about the price, but you want to know that it’ll be a long time before you need to buy new tires again. And of course there’s the safety aspect as well. The tires do a lot of work – they carry the weight of the vehicle and you and your passengers. They need to be up to the task. You want to be sure they hold the road and provide good traction ... read more

Suspension Service At West Service Center, Inc. In Chesapeake   Suspension systems function effectively for many years and tens of thousands of miles. Eventually, however, van suspension components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive around Chesapeake and Norfolk. As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth Virginia highways, your shock absorbers will last a lot longer than if you do most of your driving on bumpy Chesapeake roads or haul heavy loads. In addition to just wearing out, van suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road. Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, van vehicle manufacturers recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection at West Service Center, Inc. in Chesapeake, your honest automotive service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts ... read more