Employee Highlights!

 We would like to give a big shout out to our manager, Macy Havens, from our Fort Street location for achieving her degree from AMI (Automotive Management Institute). Macy is driven by a passion for the automotive industry and giving her customers the best service experience. She is a great ambassador for our company and represents what a true automotive professional is. We are proud to have her on our team.  

Oil Change Basics

Changing the oil in your vehicle is one of the most important things you can do for your car. The saying 'runs like a well oiled machine' has some good truth behind it. We wouldn't wash dishes in a dirty sink, so why let your car run on dirty oil? Checking your oil often may seem like an annoying task, but taking the time could save you in the end. Remember it as the old Fram Oil Filter ad put it "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later!"

What's a Fluid Exchange?



The fluids inside your vehicle’s engine are much like the ones in your body. They serve to lubricate, clean, and cool the engine. They keep it alive or, at least running smoothly.  After a while (and how long that is--is determined by your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations and the kind of driving being done), your car needs a fluid transfusion.  Aside from nine oil change packages, we offer four fluid exchange services:

Transmission:
An automatic transmission has a lot of moving parts – all bathed in automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to keep things running smoothly. ATF, like all auto fluids, can break down over time because of high heat. As the fluid fails, your transmission works harder and gets hotter, and you may end up with an expensive repair. An ATF exchange protects your transmission from wear, helps prevent the need for repairs and keeps you shifting smoothly down the road.

Radiator/Coolant:
Your vehicle must operate at an ideal temperature. Old coolant can cause overheating. No coolant or low coolant levels can lead to ugly things, such as blown gaskets, warped cylinder heads and damage to your water pump and radiator. If the temperature gauge creeps upward, don’t ignore the warnings – have your coolant checked out before your system reaches its boiling point.

Power Steering:
The fluid is the cheapest component of your power-steering system. Changing it can help to prolong the life of other, more expensive power-steering components such as the power-steering pump and the stratospherically expensive power-steering rack.

Brake Fluid:
Your brakes are the most important safety feature on your vehicle. A brake fluid exchange is similar to an engine oil change for your brake system. Old brake fluid can affect braking performance. A brake fluid exchange removes the old fluid and replaces it with clean, fresh new brake fluid. Ask A-1 to test your brake fluid while you get your vehicle serviced.

VISION: The Best of the Best

It's that time of year again when we send our best employees to the finest training event in the country...VISION.  We've been attending this 4-day event for many years and find it incredibly valuable to our technicians, managers, and service writers.  That means it's valuable to our customers too!  We're committed to the continuing education of our staff, so that we can provide the best service possible on an ever-widening range of vehicles and their numerous operating systems.

We're a BBB Torch Award Finalist!

We're thrilled to announce that A-1 is in good company with the other 2014 finalists for the Better Business Bureau's Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics! This prestigious award recognizes companies that uphold strong integrity and marketplace ethics. The Torch Award is designed to promote not only the importance of ethical business practices, but the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure that the marketplace remains fair and honorable for all consumers. 

The 2014 BBB Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics will be awarded to three businesses: one large (19+ employees) and one medium (7-18 employees) and one small (1-6 employees). The nine finalists and the winners will be honored at the 2014 Torch Awards Presentation Banquet on Thursday evening, February 27, 2014 at the Ramada Oasis Grand Ballroom in Springfield.  We will be well-represented and hope to bring home a win!

 

Republic Shop Getting New Look

If you've driven by our shop in Republic lately, you're probably wondering what's happening to our building.  Don't fret, we're not going anywhere!  We're updating the shop and it's getting a fresh look.  We're still the same company, under the same ownership, offering the same variety of automotive services.

Everything should be complete within the next few weeks, and we'll be celebrating with a Customer Appreciation Week in January.  Stay tuned for details!

Put Your Trust In An ASE Certified Shop

This blue seal of excellence demonstrates our expertise, and it's peace of mind for you.  For today’s car owner, auto repair is more complicated than ever. Vehicles keep getting more complex, while technology and diagnostic tools constantly change, as well.  As a result, finding a competent, knowledgeable automotive professional can be a real challenge. 

ASE is an independent, non-profit organization, and since 1972 they’ve worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying repair and service professionals.  Car-owners can easily find ASE-Certified Technicians who have proven themselves to be knowledgeable professionals.

All of our technicians are ASE Certified in multiple areas, ensuring that your car is very well taken care of.