Spring has sprung. The flowers are blooming. The hot weather is almost here. You probably gave your house a spring cleaning. How about your car? It may need a spring cleaning also. There are some things to consider.

Is your car slow to start when it is cold?

There are a few basic reasons this could be happening. It may be time for a new set of spark plugs and wires. The battery could be weak. An electronic component may be going bad. Any one of these reasons can be tracked down by the car mechanics at Lim’s Auto Body  using their cutting edge diagnostic equipment.

Do you experience hesitation in your engine when you accelerate?

You may have a clogged fuel line or air filter. Or, your engine may not be getting enough spark. Do you have your auto shop maintenance records? Now’s the time to get them out and check for the last time your fuel and air filters were changed. How about your spark plugs and wires?

You purchased a used car with no maintenance records.

Some of us have gone out on a limb when buying a used car. If number three describes you, and your car shows any signs of number one or number two, you need a visit to our shop. Lim’s Auto Body will give your car a complete check-up. Any automotive service needed will be prioritized for you — what can wait and what needs immediate attention.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.

According to Chicago Sun Times March 27, 2020

To help mechanics stay busy, one auto repair shop in Logan Square suggested workers bring in their personal cars for service.

Nabor Romo hoped to see an uptick in business at his North Side auto repair shop with most Chicagoans ordered to stay at home and with time on their hands to check things off their to-do lists. That hasn’t been the case.

Beginning about a week ago, business dropped about 80 percent, said Romo, who runs Logan Square Auto Body.

“Most other shops around here have seen a similar drop,” said Romo, who’s reduced the hours of his staff and will reassess in the coming days to see if staying open is the right thing to do. To accommodate social distancing, Romo began offering door-to-door pick-up and drop-off service that included wipe downs of car surfaces. But it hasn’t sparked business like he hoped.

To keep his staff occupied, he’s allowed them to work on their personal vehicles. Netflix was also installed on the television in the breakroom. “And the sarcasm level is through the roof, and that’s saying something because it’s pretty high normally among mechanics,” he said.

Business is also down at Pete Heliotis’ shop in Jefferson Park but as long as his workers are healthy, he plans to keep his doors open out of a sense of civic duty.

“What if someone needs to get to the doctor or grocery store?” asked Heliotis, who owns Pete’s Automotive. “Business is down at least 20%, and I’m sure it will fall more. I don’t worry about that. I do worry about my employees,” said Heliotis, who’s continuing to provide them full hours wages.

“You know, it is what it is. It’s tough, but you got to get through it,” Heliotis said. “Fixing cars, we can fix them the next month or the month after,” he said.

Business isn’t down everywhere.

“I think it’s because we’ve been around since 1986, and we’ve built honest relationships with customers and keep prices fair for people,” he said. “Also cars in my area are important things to people because most families only have one car.”

Linkowski admitted he is a bit surprised he’s not experiencing the crunch many of his counterparts are feeling and is aware it might hit him soon.

“It’s always in the back of your mind. It just depends on the economy and what’s going on in the world,” he said.

Jeffrey Cox, president of the Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association, said the problem is a national one and any shops doing well are outliers. The national trade group represents mostly large chains such as Midas and Pep Boys in the Chicago area but some neighborhood shops, too.

“It’s slow all over, people are staying home. They aren’t going into work and putting miles on their vehicles,” he said.

“And many are putting off maintenance due to uncertainty over paychecks.”

Cox said he is confident the problem would be a short-term one and urged anyone looking for a deal and quick service to take their car in for service.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.