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If you pay attention to what your car does on the road in Florissant, then you can usually tell if there is something that needs to be repaired. An alignment is a common issue that needs attention, and there are some common ways to tell if this is what's wrong.

Your car pulling to one side of the road in Florissant is an indication that you need an alignment. You could see uneven wear and tear on your tires, especially on the inside of one tire compared to the one on the opposite side.

Winter car care is among the most important auto maintenance you'll ever invest in. Frosty temperatures take a toll on multiple automotive fluids and components, and no one wants to be stranded when the weather is below freezing. At Steve Schmitt Auto Credit, we're sharing several winter car care tips to help you get ready.

Schedule an Oil Change

Engine oil tends to thicken as outside temperatures drop. Late fall and early winter are the perfect times for an oil change. This gives our technicians the chance to choose an engine and oil viscosity that's just right…

All-season tires will help you capably handle your vehicle in nearly all traffic and road conditions. However, when temperatures in Troy plummet, you might need a more season-specific option. At Steve Schmitt Auto Credit, we make it easy for locals to choose between winter tires and all-season tires.

What Are All-Season Tires Good For?

All-season tires are perfect for negotiating wet, slick terrain and mild winter conditions. They also hold up well in the far hotter and often arid air of summer. For regions with temperate climates, they're an excellent choice for year-round use.

Getting a wheel alignment at Steve Schmitt Auto Credit is an important service that will improve the overall handling of your vehicle and preserve your tires. When your car is out of alignment, it will pull to one side or the other and requires more effort to keep your vehicle going straight. Bring your car to our service center immediately if you are having trouble steering your vehicle.

Belts and hoses are the unsung auto parts that keep many of the accessories and systems in your car functioning as expected. The timing belt, for example, synchronizes the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft. Without this synchronization, the engine wouldn't work. Our Steve Schmitt Auto Credit team in Troy looks at other belts and hoses worth noting.

The Serpentine Belt

Coiling around the front end of your engine, the serpentine belt assists the power steering pump, the air conditioning compressor and the alternator. 

As we navigate through the winter months in Illinois, there will come a time when you will drive down the road in adverse conditions. To help ensure your safety while on the road, it's a good idea to prepare your vehicle for winter...

When you start searching for a dealership, you want more than just a rich new vehicle inventory. When you visit one of the dealerships in Steve Schmitt Auto Group, you'll find experts that can help with all your driving needs.

At Steve Schmitt Auto Group, we are sometimes asked whether winter tires are worth their cost. If you plan to drive in snow and ice, we highly recommend winter tires. Their usefulness rests in the differences between winter tires and all-season tires.

Washing your vehicle is a great way to get rid of things like dirt, dust, and road salt in the winter, but its a good idea to spend a little bit of extra time applying car wax. Car wax is an affordable product that provides an extra layer of shine and protection to your paint job. It's not hard to apply, but the final results that you achieve are well worth the work that you put in.

Wasting money is never a good thing. Often, we make mistakes and oversight that drain our funds ever so slightly. Over time, the losses do add up. Think about how much you may be overspending on gasoline due to frequent, yet costly mistakes. Making a few minor changes right away could help you get back on the path to better fuel economy.