Alexandria , Fairfax, Chantilly, Merrifield, Mclean Sterling/Cascades & Ashburn AUTO REPAIR

Kick the tires: Have your tires rotated and inspected. The last thing you need in cold, wet weather is to be driving on bald tires or tires with low air pressure. You’ll need all the traction that is possible and both of these issues will significantly impair your tire’s response.  Double check the tire pressure against the manufacturer's specifications found on the driver’s door jam or post when the tires are nice and cold and add air if needed.  Or you can stop by Craftsman Auto Care anytime and we will be happy to check your pressure and make any adjustments for you! Bonus tip:  Pop your hood and clear out all those leaves and any debris that might have accumulated under your hood in the cowl (the section where the windshield and the hood meet).  This  debris can clog your body water drains and may have a negative affect on air inducted into the cabin and the cabin air filter. Chang ... read more

This kit is intended to aid you in getting help, signaling your car’s presence to other motorists, and tackling simple challenges. Even if you have roadside assistance coverage or an automobile club membership with roadside assistance, you usually need access to a phone in order to contact them, and you may have to wait on the side of the road for an hour or more before help arrives. That’s why we recommend that drivers carry certain items in their vehicle, even if it only gets used for everyday, around-town driving.  This basic kit can be supplemented with additional items if you go on a long-distance trip or have to deal with winter weather conditions. Cellular phone and travel charger – keep an old, fully-charged cell phone in your glovebox for back-up; inactive cell phones can still be used to call 911. First aid kit – be sure you know how to use it. Warning light, hazard triangle, or flares. Tire gauge – use this on a monthly basis to check ... read more

Winter is right around the corner, and with it, frigid temperatures and precipitation that make the trek to work treacherous. Cold temperatures are hard on cars and especially so on cars that have a hybrid battery. Here are some winter maintenance tips for to keep your hybrid vehicle performing in the cold. Park It Inside Cold temperatures and a hybrid battery do not act well together. Keeping your hybrid vehicle in a garage, even if it is not heated, will maintain the battery from feeling the brunt of freezing temperatures and the biting wind. This will make starting the car in the morning easier on the battery. It may not make a huge difference in performance, but every degree of warmth surrounding the car, the better because it will make the battery work less on keeping warm. Keep It Plugged In if You Own a PHEV or Plug-In EV Hybrid vehicles that require being plugged in should be left plugged in during the winter. This may seem counter intuitive, especially when the battery is ... read more