Poughkeepsie Auto Repair

April is Nation Car Care Month and although every month is car care month at Foreign Car Specialists we would like to take this opportunity to jump on the awareness bandwagon and present you all with some tidbits of car care advice.     It's no secret that regular maintenance is the key to preserving the life of your car.  Our job is to be your vehicle's advocate. We're here to do everything you can't or don't want to do yourself and, help you keep your car for however long you want.     Transmission fluid changes seem to be one service that customers hem and haw over.  Should it be done, can it wait?  Opinions vary from one customer to the next.  The truth of the matter is this - the transmission is one of the most complex and costly systems in your vehicle to repair and if it fails completely you could end up spending thousands of dollars in repairs.     Transmission fluid is the life blood of ... read more

THESE ARE THE TOP TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE FUEL ECONOMY:     The team at Foreign Car Specialists provides several solutions that can help customers increase fuel efficiency. Alone, they may not save you a lot of money, but combined, you could save several dollars per each tank of gas. Before we talk about how to increase your gas mileage, did you know you can get more gas for your money by filling up first thing in the morning- not last thing in the afternoon? Take advantage of the early morning cold by filling up your tank early in the day, while the ground temperature is still cold. The temperature of gasoline, diesel, ethanol, and other petroleum products plays an important role in getting the most for your money. Because the storage tanks are underground, the colder the ground the more dense the fuel. When it gets warmer it expands, so when buying in the afternoon or in the evening your gallon is not exactly a gallon. Station pumps don't measure actual volu ... read more

Buying a used car can be a stressful experience. A mistakenly purchased "lemon" car with hidden defects is the last thing anyone wants. Thankfully, Foreign Car Specialists in Poughkeepsie has the resources and tools that can help you make an educated buying decision. Savvy customers looking to buy a pre-owned car are also looking for a professional pre-purchase vehicle inspection, one that will identify both what might be wrong with the vehicle and also what's right with it.   A thorough used car inspection can confirm if you're about to acquire a peach or a lemon. Our vehicle inspection specialists are very experienced in assessing cars. We adopted digital vehicle inspection technology years before most other shops in our area, we're well accustomed to utilizing the software to ensure consistent and accurate evaluations. The inspectors here at Foreign Car Specialists have broad automotive experience, recent and relevant manufacturers' training and poss ... read more

As we dive into fall, it’s easy to get caught up in all the upcoming holidays. I mean, come on, they do start to blur together. First, it’s Labor Day and then before you know it... WHAM! Happy 2019 everybody! BEFORE we get to the new year and while we can take in some of our local beauty without having to put on chains, get out there and enjoy the fall foliage that only the Hudson Valley can provide.  The historic Walkway Over the Hudson is a great place to start even if it’s not a drive itself. From here you can take in all kinds of fall foliage in Poughkeepsie on over to Lloyd. It’s a beautiful 2.5-mile walk round-trip with limited free parking on either side. But we all know there’s more to see! Hop onto Route 9 for a scenic 1-hour ride that hugs the Hudson River. This trip will take you onto Route 403 and Route 9D. If you start in Poughkeepsie, you’ll end up in Peekskill and can enjoy a taste of the Catskills and Wappingers Falls. There ar ... read more

Does anyone remember what the average daily snowfall was last winter in Poughkeepsie? Whether you do or not, wouldn’t it be best to prepare for the worst? I mean, who wants to get stuck on the side of the road on one of the worst winter storm days Poughkeepsie has ever seen! The team at Foreign Car Specialists certainly doesn’t want to see any of our customers in trouble, so we’ve gathered some information about how you can avoid becoming a winter statistic.  Did you know that when the weather gets cold, the air pressure in your tires drops? The main reason that could be a problem is that if your tires don’t have the right pressure, they won’t properly grip the road. You are much more likely to skid or slide if your air pressure isn’t right. Check your owner’s manual to see what’s right for your vehicle and carry around an air-pressure gauge so you can check it out before hitting the road. It’s also important to have your tire ... read more

Even though it’s still hot and muggy, it’s time to start thinking of back-to-school. Also if you don’t have school-age children, it’s still important to reassess how we drive around schools and bus stops. Children are most likely to get hit by a car close to a school. They often are horsing around (or on their cell phones!) and not paying attention to what’s going on around them. That’s why it becomes doubly important that we are driving with minimal distractions ourselves. Leave your phone untouched until you get to where you are going and heed all posted speed-limit signs. They’re there for a reason, not just to annoy you. When the yellow light is flashing, it means slow way down. When the yellow school bus’ lights are flashing red, that means stop. It’s incredible just how many children still get hit when crossing in front of their school bus.  Make sure you are prepared to share the roads with all the kiddos heading back t ... read more

At some point, we’ve all seen that car pulled over to the side of the road dealing with an overheated engine. That’s no way to spend the afternoon! We are in the throes of summer, and while it’s hot, there is plenty we can do to minimize the likelihood of being one of those unfortunate folks adding to that statistic.   The easiest way is to keep up with scheduled maintenance. That way your fluids are regularly checked to make sure that you have enough, and they are clean enough to do their job efficiently.   A properly functioning battery. If your car’s battery is over three years old, it might be time for a new one. An older, less efficient battery can cause your vehicle to work hard, putting more stress and strain on the engine.   The radiator cap is often the most overlooked culprit. It could be the cause of your engine overheating. Over time, the spring keeping it tightly in place can loosen. Without a tight seal, the pressure is no lo ... read more

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