When COVID-19 first hit, the Massachusetts Register of Motor Vehicles offered extensions to annual inspection stickers. The RMV would like to remind & make sure drivers know they will need to get their inspection sticker renewed within the normal timelines. It is a traffic violation to drive with an expired sticker. Police are urging vehicle owners not to delay in getting their annual inspection. Remember: You could be on the hook for a fine that may or may not impact your auto insurance. No need to delay! Get that inspection today.  ..read more

We’ve all been there: gone in for an oil change, only to have the technician say you need a new filter. For fear of looking foolish you give him the ok to switch it out, and then you never think of it again.  But did you know your vehicle actually has three filters?  Engine — This filter keeps dirt, dust and debris from getting into the engine. As you can imagine, it’s pretty important for keeping your engine running smoothly..  Cabin — Hate breathing in dust, pollen and other allergens? The cabin filter keeps the air inside the car clean, so you and your family can breathe ea ..read more

A high-pitched screeching sound when stopping is your vehicle’s way of letting you know your brake pads probably need to be replaced, while a metal-on-metal grinding noise indicates that your brake pads are likely beyond repair, and you may need to rotate your rotors or replace them entirely.  But bad sounds aren’t the only warnings that your brakes need a check-up. Here are four other things to look out for:  Leaking Fluid — Do you see a small puddle of something pooled under your car? This could be brake fluid. Without brake fluid, your brakes will not work, so take that leak serio ..read more

Most of us think about our car battery during the winter, worried that our car won’t start in sub-freezing temperatures. But did you know that the summer heat can be just as bad — if not worse — for your car battery?  As the battery fluid evaporates in the high temperatures, it can cause all kinds of damage inside the battery itself. Heat can also cause battery corrosion — and who wants to start a road trip to the beach only to discover their car won’t start?  Obviously you can’t turn down the heat outside, so how do you take care of your battery in super hot weather? Here are a few ..read more

Schedule Service Online Now! Did you know there’s a minimum tire tread allowed in Massachusetts in order to pass inspection? It’s 2/32nds of an inch! While that might be an odd measurement, a typical passenger car tire has about twenty square inches of total footprint surface and begins with about 1/3″ of tread depth. At 2/32nds, your tire is nearly “bald.”  Brand new tires (that aren’t for snow or tough terrain) are usually 10/32nds, so when you are all the way down to 2/32nds, wet or icy weather conditions pose a huge threat to your safety. How Do I Know If My Tires Are Bald?  You ..read more

You hit a pothole on your way home from work, and after cursing under your breath wonder, “How the heck are there so many of these!?”  If you’ve ever wondered what causes potholes, keep reading! Water Expands, The Road Erodes  Simply put, water from snow and rain gets underneath the road surface via weak spots in the asphalt. When the weather gets cold, it freezes the water and the ice expands and can further crack the road.  When the weather starts to warm up, that ice melts, and the road begins to collapse in on itself. After that happens enough times, and cars zoom over the w ..read more

A whopping 46 percent of all accidents related to weather happen in the wintertime. It’s not really a surprise, but it should make us pause and think about how we can increase our safety on the roads.  First things first, make sure your vehicle is up to the task. Now more than ever, it’s time to do a full inspection of your car’s systems:  Have your battery checked. Batteries will only last between 3 and 5 years, and cold weather can cause all kinds of problems and leave you stranded if you’re battery’s life is running out. Learn more about battery life here >>>  Check ..read more

Winter driving can be interesting enough! Have you noticed your visibility is compromised because you haven’t changed your wiper blades in a while? Take advantage of Cape Auto’s RainX wiper deal! Through the end of March, purchase one RainX windshield wiper and get one FREE! Wiper blades are an essential part of car safety, especially during the rainy, snowy months in New England. If your wipers don’t properly push water and snow out of your line of sight, you might as well take off your glasses and try to get to your destination that way! Replacing your wiper blades is one of the least expen ..read more

Schedule Service Online Now! Even though it’s HOT outside, you should still be COOL & Comfortable in your vehicle! If you’re feeling like your air conditioning has lost its cool, we have all your A/C Recharges covered! That includes the NEW R1234yf Unit!  How does a recharge work? We add more refrigerant to your system, which helps it blow cool again.  Keep in mind that there’s likely a leak if you need frequent recharges, and we can help with that, too. But don’t sweat it! Before you take that last summer road trip, head over to Cape Auto and get your vehicle comfortably cool ..read more

While many people think road trips are synonymous with summertime, here in New England fall can be an amazing time to pack the family in the car and take a drive. The weather is cooler, there’s apple cider in abundance, and the fall foliage in this part of the country can’t be beat!  Here are three routes worth taking a drive on this autumn:  The Kancamagus Highway (Route 112), New Hampshire  This stunning winding highway takes you from Lincoln to Conway, New Hampshire, and the color is simply incredible. You’ll find a number of pull-offs designed specifically for getting out ..read more