Serpentine Belt Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Sikeston in Sikeston
May 29, 2022
Don't you hate it when you hear that squeal from under the hood when you're zipping down a busy Sikeston road? It usually means there is a problem with the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine accessories. It runs the alternator - which charges the battery; the water pump -... More
Watching Your Check Engine Light
May 22, 2022
Did you know that most of the cars driving around Sikeston, Missouri, carry more computer power than the Apollo 121 Lunar Module that landed on the moon in 1969?New cars sold in the Sikeston area have as many as 12 networked computers and over five miles (eight kilometers) of wiring. In fact, fo... More
Steer Clear of Power Steering Problems (Power Steering Maintenance)
May 17, 2022
We usually take our vehicle's easy steering for granted until something goes wrong. Power steering is what makes it almost effortless to turn the steering wheel, aiming your vehicle in the direction you want to go. Without the assistance of power from the engine, steering would be a laborious pr... More
Make Your Vehicle Last
May 8, 2022
We live in such a disposable society. It's amazing all the stuff we throw away. New stuff comes out so fast, we just toss the old and move on. In the old days, Missouri folks were real sticklers about taking care of their things. If something got lost or ruined by neglect, tough - they had to do ... More
Beware Dangers of Spring Driving (Seasonal Driving Tips)
May 1, 2022
Sure, winter is quickly fading in the rearview mirror, but the peril of icy roads is replaced with a whole new set of driving challenges in spring. Deer and other wildlife. You are not the only one who gets spring fever. Animals do, too, and spring is the time they start looking for mates and fo... More
The Power Behind your Engine (Alternator Diagnosis and Repair)
April 24, 2022
There's nothing like that sinking feeling when you turn the key and nothing happens in your vehicle. A lot of us are quick to blame the battery. But it may instead be your alternator that's failing. Your battery supplies power to start your vehicle, but the alternator is what sends power when y... More
The Third Brake Light (Third Brake Light Service)
April 17, 2022
So you thought you only had two brake lights. Look again and you'll see one in the center at a higher level than the two on either side of the vehicle. They're sometimes in the inside of the vehicle behind the back window, or they could be in the deck lid, on the roof or on the spare wheel carr... More
Breathe New Life into Your Engine (MAF sensor replacement)
April 10, 2022
If youve noticed your vehicle is hard to start, stalling, or has lost power, the culprit may be a part with an odd name: the MAF sensor. You may have never even heard of a MAF sensor, but its important that it be working correctly, or you may be experiencing some fairly significant engine issues... More
Tracking True in Missouri: Wheel Alignment in Sikeston
April 3, 2022
The biggest issue for Sikeston area drivers is always safety. When your vehicle wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you're vehicle is out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at Charlie's Fast Lube Sikeston in... More
Keeping Your 'Old Faithful' Auto Running
March 27, 2022
At Charlie's Fast Lube Sikeston we've had a lot of Sikeston customers asking how they can make their vehicles last longer. These questions are actually a reflection of a trend that's been building for several years in Missouri. The median age of personal vehicles is now over nine years. And 33 pe... More