The Engine Gets a Boost (Turbocharged Engine Maintenance)
January 9, 2022
If someone told you that your vehicle could have the same power but with a smaller engine, wouldn't that sound like great idea? Just think, a smaller engine would save you money at the gas station and you'd still get the same horsepower. The technology to do just that has been around for a long t... More
The Power Behind your Engine (Alternator Diagnosis and Repair)
January 2, 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
Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down in Novi
January 1, 2022
Theres not much Novi drivers can do about the price of gas in Michigan, but we can control - up to a point - how much we use. Our driving habits can dramatically affect our fuel economy.The first thing we can do is watch the go-pedal. Hard acceleration just sucks the gas. Gently leave stop lights... More
Bad Vibes
December 26, 2021
Your vehicle has a way of letting you know when something's wrong. Consider a vibrating steering wheel. It certainly didn't do that when it was new, so that shake is trying to tell you something. There are a few things that can cause your steering wheel to vibrate as you drive down the road. One... More
In the Hot Seat (Repair and Maintenance of Seat Heaters)
December 19, 2021
It's chilly outside. You flip on that switch that looks like a picture of a seat with little heat waves rising from it. You expect soon you'll feel that warmth but wait! It's not getting warmer. Oh no, what's wrong with my seat heater? There could be lots of reasons it's not working, and it cou... More
The Third Brake Light (Third Brake Light Service)
December 12, 2021
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
Rear Window?Not the Movie! (Why Some Rear Windows Don't Go All the Way Down)
December 5, 2021
Alfred Hitchcock once made a mystery thriller film called "Rear Window." It had nothing to do with the rear window of today's cars, SUVs, CUVs and light trucks. But there is one thing that some drivers DO find mysterious. Why don't the rear windows in the second row of many of these vehicles go... More
Automotive Tips from Sovel's Auto Service: Alignment Inspection
November 28, 2021
Uneven tire wear, the car pulling to one side or a steering wheel that is off-center are signs for Novi drivers that their wheels may be out of alignment.When doing an alignment inspection, the service advisor at Sovel's Auto Service will inspect your tires for uneven wear as well as suspension a... More
Sniffing Out a Problem
November 21, 2021
Your parents probably taught you to have common sense. When it comes to your vehicle, common scents can also come in handy. Different smells may tell you about some conditions in your vehicle that need attention. For example, you know what rotten eggs smell like. If you smell them around your ve... More
Not-So-Common Sense (Sensor Failures)
November 14, 2021
So your vehicle won't start. What's the first thing that comes to mind? Battery dead? Starter motor worn out? Out of gas? Well, those are all reasons that make sense. But your vehicle may be refusing to start because one of its computers is being warned that to do so might damage it. Here's ... More