McKinney & Bonham Auto Repair

It’s summer here in Texas, and that means the heat is rising. We love summer, but the overwhelming temperatures can sometimes be really unpleasant. Hopping back into your car after just a quick grocery store run can feel like you are placing yourself into a human-sized oven. Downright miserable. It doesn’t help that the air conditioning takes so long to cool the car down that you only start to feel it by the time you have reached your next destination. The heat here is so intense that many Texans even re-consider whether they should buy a car with dark exterior and leather seats! We know how much of a pain it can be getting around when it is this scorching, so let’s talk about some tips that will help you stay a bit cooler in your car this summer. While your car is parked Typically, the biggest issue we experience is our car overheating while it is parked. #1 Use a sunshade or window visor This is probably the best way to keep you ... read more

Buying a brand-new car is a really exciting thing. We put a lot of time, energy, and money into purchasing a new car, and most of us have a strong desire to keep that brand-new car feeling brand new for as long as we can. Let’s face it, you and your car have a special relationship since you spend a lot of time together, so taking good care of that car is important to you. Whether you are trying to hang on to that brand-new car smell, the smoothness of the leather, or the finger-print free controls and dashboard, there are several steps you can take to maintain those and other new car characteristics… Step #1 Keeping that shiny coat shiny Typically, when you buy a new car, the dealership will give it to you nice, clean, and shiny, but this shiny new look will quickly wear off if you don’t do something to maintain it. After you take your car home from the dealership, you will want to give it another good washing and then treat it with a coat of wax in order to keep tha ... read more

It’s summertime, and that means time to plan for family road trips.  We Americans love road trips – they’re a fun and affordable way to get your whole group of friends or family somewhere, with awesome stops and views along the way. But if you want your road trip to go according to plan, it’s essential that you make sure your car is in perfect road trip condition. If you just fill it up with gas and miss the other necessary checks, you could end up creating unnecessary stops along the way and even put your family and friends in danger. So, before hitting the road, there are several things you need to do to make sure that your car is ready for a summer road trip… #1 Make sure your car is up to service Even if you think you had your car serviced somewhat recently, you need to remember that taking your car on a long road trip will quickly add those miles that will bring your car back to a condition in need of service again. So, taking your vehicle in for a car serv ... read more

Today’s day and age is all about DIY (Do It Yourself). The big trend is also all about finding new and creative ways to recycle and repurpose different things that have lost their capabilities of their original purpose or use. It is the ultimate win when you can save money by creating something trendy out of something old, while also contributing to taking care of the earth by recycling items. The creative ideas that people come up with when it comes to repurposing are incredible. Keep on reading to learn 5 cool ways to repurpose your old tires. #1 Tire planters There a lot of cool different ways to turn your old tires into planters. You choose the design that appeals to you and looks best in your yard. You can either paint your tires and simply add your mulch and plants in the middle or you can paint and hang up your tires and use the inside as the planter (click here to find ... read more

If you are like any normal person who drives a car, it is likely that you have experienced the frustration, trouble, and annoyance of spending too much money filling up your car with gas. Maybe you have found yourself visiting the gas station all too often and thinking to yourself, “didn’t I just fill up?”. Although the majority of the fault for frequent fill-ups lies within the maker of your car, the size of your car, and of course, how often you drive your car, what many car owners do not realize is that there are things that they themselves can do that will help improve their car’s fuel efficiency. #1 Make sure that your tires are properly inflated Check your tire pressure regularly, we would suggest at least once a month, and especially before you take your car on any long road trips. This helps to ensure better gas mileage and safety. Under-inflated tires require more energy from the car and in turn burn up more of your fuel. #2 Utilize your cruise contr ... read more