Blue Ash Auto Repair

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Bill's Auto Service and Towing! We hope that you had a great holiday and have more happy holidays to come. We know that the holidays mean that many of us will be traveling to visit friends and family over breaks and the winter months. If you are currently planning a road trip for the next couple of months, we urge you to use the tips listed below as a guide to keep you and your family safe on the road.   It's always a good idea to pack an emergency kit in your vehicle. You never know what situations you might encounter on the road, so having essential items will be a great help if you find yourself with a flat tire or in an accident. We recommend having the following items packed in your vehicle: spare tire, jack, wrench, flashlight, flares, cell phone charger, and first aid kit.    Make sure that you have lots of blankets and extra coats packed in case you get stuck in the cold. Traveling around the winter holida ... read more

As vehicle owners, it is important to understand that your car battery does not last forever. On average, a car battery will only last between 4-6 years, depending on your driving habits and climate. Getting stranded without a working vehicle in the winter can be stressful and potential dangerous depending on where you find yourself. Having your car battery inspected before the winter months can ensure that your vehicle is ready for the colder weather and will be reliable on the road.  Summer heat can actually take a toll on your car's battery, because the heat can cause internal corrosion and lead to liquids evaporating, affect its overall charge. If this is the case, you may find yourself dealing with an almost dead battery once fall or winter rolls around. The good news is, a battery charge check is quick and easy to do. We just use a machine that hooks up to your vehicle's battery and checks the charge. This will tell us how much charge your battery has left and if it ... read more

One of the most important parts of your vehicle's tires are the tread. The treat is basically the textured part of your tires which are raised and rigid. This tread is what allows water and dirt to essentially pass through your tire so that your tire can still have traction on the road. Without the proper tire tread, you will find yourself losing control of your vehicle during certain weather or driving conditions.  Before the rainy season begins, it is important to check your tire's tread to ensure that they will be safe to drive under any weather condition. A tire becomes legally worn out when its tread depth reaches two thirty-second (2/32) of an inch. Here is how to check your tire tread at home using a penny:  Try the penny test! Grab a penny that is clean.  Place the penny into a tread groove on your tire.  Rotate the penny so that Lincoln's head is upside down and touching the tread.  If you can see Lincoln's entire head when the pe ... read more

We are nearing the end of the summer season, and moving into fall. The fall season will bring wetter weather, with overcast and rain in the forecast. Over the summer, our vehicle's windshield wipers tend to dry out, become cracked, and frayed due to the excessive heat and dry weather conditions. This is why it is so important to have your windshield wipers replaced before the fall season.  When you drive with bad windshield wipers, it can be extremely difficult to see the road clearly through the rain or other extreme weather conditions. If it's time to replace your windshield wipers, you will notice one or more of the following symptoms when your wipers are turned on: Streaking of water Windshield skips Low visibility of road  Wipers are loud or not wiping smoothly No or low windshield wiper fluid As soon as you notice any of the symptoms listed above, bring your car into Bill's Auto Service and Towing for help changing your windshield wipers before its too ... read more

Summer is the perfect time to jump in the car and travel to your favorite place for some time away and fun in the sun. However, you never know when something unexpected might happen, such as a broken windshield or cracked window. When you find yourself caught in a situation like this, don’t panic. Here are some tips on what to do next.  Summer tends to be very dry and hot, with lots of sand and rocks on the roads. Because of this, a rock hitting your windshield while driving is not unheard of and can happen. If this does occur, the best thing to do is find an auto repair shop that will help you fix the damage as soon as possible.  Cracks tend to get bigger, especially in the heat, so having the crack fixed as soon as possible will prevent the crack from getting and obscuring your vision while driving. In most states, driving with a cracked windshield is illegal, so this needs to be considered as well.  Blasting your car’s AC in the heat when there is a cra ... read more

As the weather gets warmer, many of us will be using our cars to visit the beach, go on road trips, spend time with friends, and more. Our cars are being used much more - but are you remembering to take care of it, too?  Because our cars are being driven more in the summer, there are many more reasons that our cars can breakdown on us during this time. Here are some common reasons why our cars tend to breakdown during the summer:  Check Engine Light - If your check engine light is on, it is important to have the issue inspected and diagnosed as soon as possible. Driving with the check engine light on can actually cause more harm than good, because it can make the problem worse and eventually more expensive. The only way to know for sure what is causing the problem is to have your trusted mechanic run diagnostics on your vehicle.  Flat Tire - A flat tire can be common in the summer, especially due to temperature change and the amount of cars on the road. Be sure to hav ... read more

Nobody wants to get stuck during the summer with a faulty air conditioning system. At Bill's Auto Service and Towing, we can help! If you notice that your A/C isn't working like it used to, or at all, it's time to bring your vehicle into our shop for an inspection. We will help get you back on the road in no time with a working A/C system so that you can drive comfortably throughout the summer.  Here are some common issues that can indicate an A/C problem: Air blows out hot when A/C is on No air coming out of vents Low air pressure  Temperature of air doesn’t match setting Strange smell or noises when A/C is turned on As soon as you notice a problem with your vehicle's air conditioning, bring your car into our shop for an inspection. We will glady determine the cause of the issue and repair it correctly the first time around. 

A strange smell while driving can have many causes, some less urgent than others. As soon as you notice any of the following smells, don’t hesitate to bring your vehicle into our shop for an inspection and be sure to note any other symptoms that you may have noticed. Certain smells can indicate major issues, and continuing to drive your vehicle can lead to more expensive and more serious repairs.  Burnt Rubber - A burnt rubber smell could be coming from a drive belt or loose hose rubbing against drive pulleys. It can also indicate transmission or engine issues.  Hot Oil - If you smell hot oil, oil could be leaking into the exhaust system. Another indication of this is an oil leak underneath your vehicle or smoking coming from underneath the hood.  Gasoline - This usually means that your vehicle has a gas leak. This could be from the fuel injector line or fuel tank.  Syrup - If you smell sw ... read more

Spring is the time to take your vehicle's maintenance and care seriously, especially ahead of any spring break or summer road trips that you may be planning. The winter months can take a toll on our cars, causing wear and tear and decreasing overall performance and fuel efficiency. Before you start making any plans for long drives, be sure to come by our shop for a spring vehicle inspection. Our goal is to make sure your vehicle stays reliable throughout the season and that you stay safe on the road! Here are the top spring maintenance items to keep your vehicle running in top condition: Inspect coolant levels and condition Look at all belts and hoses for an wear or cracks Make sure that air conditioning works well Read your vehicle's owners manual for factory recommended maintenance that may be due Check an oil and filter change is your car is due Check your tires for pressure, tread, and overall condition Test headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and all interi ... read more

We understand that it can be stressful to see your vehicle’s check engine light turn on. It can be scary wondering about what the issue could be and how much it is going to cost you to fix it. When your vehicle’s check engine light turns on, it’s letting you know that it has detected a problem that needs to be addressed. The best way to get peace of mind and figure out the problem is to bring your vehicle into your local auto repair shop for computer diagnostics.  Computer diagnostic testing is done using a tool that essentially snaps onto your vehicle’s computer system. It will read the error code which will indicate which system the problem is coming from. This will help your mechanic pinpoint the issue and perform further, more specific testing if needed. Once the issue is determined, you will better understand the problem and how much it will cost to restore your vehicle.  Engine problems can manifest in other ways as well, so look out for any of ... read more