When it comes to safety, your brakes are the most important component of your vehicle. You probably don’t think about them until there’s something wrong. Good preventative maintenance, however, will help you ensure that your brakes are always in good working condition. With so many different components, you might be wondering what role the brake…

Your car battery turns on your radio, headlights, and all of your vehicle’s many electrical components. When your battery dies, it’s not only an inconvenience, but it can also cause your car not to start at all. This frustration can be avoided with proper battery service. So, when should you have your battery serviced and…

If you’re driving and suddenly notice an annoying squeaking sound, it’s definitely a cause for concern. All brakes make some sort of noise, and having squeaky brakes does not necessarily mean you have a serious safety issue. In fact, most of the time, when your brakes make a squeaking sound it’s nothing to be too…

Your car naturally emits some type of exhaust all of the time, but if you start to notice smoke coming out, it’s time to pay closer attention. This smoke is usually a sign that something is not working correctly. The smoke that comes from the exhaust can be a variety of colors, and each one…

The primary function of your car is its ability to move forward. However, most often you won’t notice acceleration problems unless you need to drive uphill or quickly merge onto fast-moving traffic. In those moments, it will become frighteningly obvious that the car’s engine can’t keep up with your demands. There are several possible causes…

Your car’s steering wheel lets you maneuver the vehicle, so when this component fails to engage properly, your safety is at risk. Trying to turn or even change lanes when the steering system feels slow to respond (or locks up), indicates a dangerous issue that needs righting as soon as possible. Interestingly, the steering wheel…

Many vehicle makers claim that their cars come with spark plugs offering an extended lifespan that can last for around 100,000 miles. And while that’s certainly ideal, replacing your spark plugs occasionally is a good thing for your car’s health and a smoother ride. Give Checkpoint Motors, located in Oregon City, Oregon a call at…

All drivers should be aware of their tire pressure in order to get better gas mileage and more importantly, avoid a blowout. If your steering seems a little bit slow as you’re driving, or you feel a little bit lower to the ground than usual, you may need to put air in your tires. But…

The introduction of synthetic oil into the auto service industry confused many consumers. People wondered if synthetic oil was really better for their vehicle than standard oil. They also wondered if it really was worth the cost – almost double that of standard oil. Checkpoint Motors is here to clear up some of that confusion,…

Many of our customers ask us if they should believe the gasoline commercials they see on TV. Is one brand of gasoline better than another? Can cheap gas really ruin an engine? The answer isn’t as cut and dry as it might seem, but in general terms, yes, the gasoline you buy and pour into…