McKinney & Bonham Auto Repair

Buying a car can be a very overwhelming experience, whether it is your first time or your fifth time, it is important to do your research beforehand in order to be prepared when you are making your decision. You must be especially careful if you are buying the used car privately and not through an authorized dealer. There are several things that you will want to do and to check for in the used car you are considering purchasing, and we will discuss them with you now. Check for documents You will need a V5C registration document in order to tax the car Check that the person selling the car is the one whose name is on the V5C registration document Check that there is a watermark on the registration document Check for any spelling or grammar mistakes on the registration document to ensure it is not a fake Check that the VIN (vehicle identification number), the engine number, the number plate, and the color of the vehicle match the V5C form If you look at the glass or ... read more

If your car won’t start, the most common reason is that the battery is dead. You will want to get your car running again as a first step, in order to take it to your nearest McKinney car shop to have the battery health checked out. Knowing how to jump-start a car battery is one of the basic and very important pieces of knowledge to have. You will find that it can really save you in a situation to know what you’re doing if your car’s battery won’t start. It’s also important to acquire this basic skill in order to keep yourself safe while traveling on the road. Not to worry, jump-starting a car isn’t too difficult. It only takes about five minutes, and all that is required is a set of jumper cables and another vehicle [and a friendly person to help assist you doesn’t hurt either!]. First things first… The connection Whenever you are handling your jumper cables, ensure that the red and black clamps do not touch each o ... read more

Texas can be a little bit unpredictable when it comes to the weather. But it is safe to say that this winter has been a cold one. One of the coldest in quite some time. Although we have had a few cold and icy winters, still, many native Texans are not accustomed to driving in colder conditions, such as on icy roads, or with strong winds. If you are inexperienced in driving in winter conditions, you should definitely take the time to read over some of our winter driving safety tips. And even if you perhaps are somewhat experienced in driving in the cold weather, it is still important that you take a minute to remind yourself of the precautions of operating a vehicle during the winter. #1 Firstly, have your car serviced Take your car over to a nearby McKinney car shop to ensure that your vehicle is in optimal condition. There are various ... read more

If you have a car that takes premium gas, or if you have driven a car that takes premium gas, you may be wondering what exactly would happen if you put regular gas into the car. You may not even drive a car that takes premium gas, but may simply be curious about the matter. Many people wonder if maybe they will save money by using regular gas, or perhaps whether or not using regular gas will end up positively or negatively affecting their gas mileage. Or maybe you have stumbled upon this blog post because you have accidentally put regular gas in your premium car. There’s a variety of reasons people ask the question, but what matters is the answer. So, sit tight, because we’re going to explain to you what happens when you put regular gas into a premium car. What won’t happen If you have found yourself in the situation that you accidentally put the wrong kind of gas in your car (regular gas into a premium gas vehicle), you don’t need to worry to ... read more

It’s important to remember that as the weather changes, so does the environment in which you drive in. Whether it is the traffic, the wind and the rain affecting your visuals, the cold or the heat affecting your tire pressure, or the weather affecting the physical road conditions, you must keep in mind the environmental changes around you and stay aware and cautious while driving when the seasons change. This is especially applicable to the winter months. Here in Texas, many of us are not totally comfortable nor experienced driving on icy roads, so it’s important to be aware and knowledgeable as to how to properly do so.  So, let’s discuss a few driving safety tips for driving during the winter… #1 Slow down It’s important to keep in mind that speed limits are set and based ... read more