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
A Squirrely Problem (Animals Nesting in Engine)
November 7, 2021
If you park your vehicle outside, you are exposing it to all sorts of critters that would love to use it for nesting, food storage and shelter. There are plenty of pictures online of people who've discovered there was more than an engine under the hood. In one case, the driver of an SUV started... More
Automotive Tips from Sovel's Auto Service: Tire Replacement Overview
October 31, 2021
Tires are an expensive purchase, so knowing when tires should be replaced is important for Novi drivers. Tires will just wear out with normal use. The depth of the tread on your tire determines how well it will stop, start and steer especially in wet conditions. 4/32th of an inch (3.2 mm) of tir... More
Sovel's Auto Service Helps You Decipher the Menu Board: Part 2
October 24, 2021
Michigan service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some Novi drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.Sovel's Auto Service fuel system cleaning: Over time, the ... More
No Fountain of Youth (Aging Tires)
October 17, 2021
Can you think of anyone who enjoys aging? Wrinkles where you don't want them, gray hair, eyes that won't focus any more, no stamina. Believe it or not, your tires age, too, and they don't get better the older they get. And here's the important thing to know, even if they can still pass a tread... More