Deidre Parker

BY DEIDRE PARKER

Warmer summer weather offers new challenges for cars. As the summer gets hotter, vehicles will overheat, oil can become thin, air-conditioning systems will fail, and tire pressure can increase and cause blowouts.

Increased ambient heat places stress on your vehicle’s components that are responsible for cooling your engine. Typically, seals and hoses are the first components to show signs of wear from weather. Inspecting coolant for proper levels and conditions is the best way to protect the cooling system of your engine. Look at the color of your coolant; if it’s murky, dark, full of debris or smelly, it’s time to get a coolant flush. Coolant care is critical to ensuring your engine components do their job correctly.

Oil breaks down and becomes thin at high temperatures. If you’re experiencing overheating issues, oil changes are recommended to ensure engine components are properly lubricated. Synthetic oil is more resistant to breaking down at higher temperatures than conventional oil, and it facilitates better engine performance. Low engine oil levels are more dangerous this time of year. This also will cause engine overheating, and it will make the remaining oil less effective because it’s thinning.

You may have used your air-conditioning system to defrost your windows in the winter, but the added workload placed on the system in the summer may cause weak components to fail. If your air-conditioning system is blowing cool, but not cold, you should have it inspected immediately. Your refrigerant could be leaking, or there may be a more serious issue. The sooner these issues are identified, the less expensive the repair will be. Also, regularly changing your cabin air filter is a great way to help your air-conditioning system perform better, while helping you breathe easier.

The summer heat also causes gases to expand. Your tires are filled with gases, and when ambient heat is combined with the heat tires generate during operation, they can fail. If you inflated your tires in the winter, make sure that they are not over-inflated in the summer.

As summer gets hotter, make sure to get your vehicle serviced. Regular vehicle maintenance can help identify issues earlier, before they cause secondary failures, which are typically more expensive and time-consuming.

Deidre Parker, owner-operator of Chloe's Auto Repair, holds an ASE certification and has extensive experience in the area of automotive repair.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 TASTE. REPEAT.TASTE. REPEAT.TASTE. REPEAT. CONQUER.CONQUER.CONQUER.

TASTE OF WOODSTOCK

SOLD OUT!

Eagle Watch volunteers hosted a Fourth of July pollinator plant sale, where neighbors scooped up butterfly favorites amidst the morning celebrations of bike and golf cart parades. New Eagle Watch Social Committee Chair, Rebecca Volkerding, kept the allday activities organized, including a neighborhood pool party, evening carnival, and a final spectacular fireworks display.

Can you find the patriotic canine in this picture?

Alpha & Omega

The first and the last stop for auto repair.

Some of Billy Kennedy’s earliest memories about cars come from when he was 8 years old, and working on autos alongside his dad. Those experiences set the foundation for who he is today, and drove him to create a legacy that would honor his father.

The result is Alpha & Omega Automotive, an auto repair shop that Billy opened in 2002.

“I wanted a shop with a friendly, local vibe,” Billy said, “one that is customer-driven and committed to quality, honesty and integrity.”

Family values, faith and loyalty to the community where they live, work and play are at the heart of Alpha & Omega, which Billy owns with wife Lori. The couple lived in Cobb County when their sons Drake and Grant, ages 28 and 25, were born, and moved to Cherokee County in 2000. They recently celebrated the first birthday of their first grandchild, Ezra Rose, and are eager to welcome their second granddaughter, Iris, due in October.

All in the Name

A family friend thought of the business name, inspired by Revelation 1:8, which says: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’”

While they have the goal of being the first and last stop for anyone who needs automotive care and repair, the Kennedys also want to let everyone know they’re fully invested in this community.

“We’ve been here a long time. We’ve raised our kids here; we do life and ministry here,” Lori said.

Billy Kennedy Services from A to Z

The quality ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)-certified technicians at Alpha & Omega Automotive employ the latest technologies and can handle major and minor repairs on foreign and domestic vehicles. And, they are able to honor most dealer and private warranties.

The first and last stop for auto care/repair means Alpha & Omega can handle most needs that come up, from air conditioning service to wheel alignment. Highlights from the extensive list of services offered include: transmission and engine repair, brakes, emissions repair, oil change, preventive maintenance, computer diagnostics, radiator service, suspension work, alternators, axle and air filter replacements, towing and roadside assistance.

Alpha & Omega also is a Repair Pal shop and partners with Carfax.

Consumers can access a variety of resources at www.repairpal.com. Certified network shops guarantee repairs are done at fair prices with quality parts and an expert, attentive staff. The fair price estimator removes the worry of overpaying for repairs.

Carfax records each service completed by Alpha & Omega, which comes in handy for preventive maintenance tracking, warranty coverage, or transparency about what has been fixed when selling the vehicle.

Working in an industry that’s constantly evolving requires a continual commitment to learning. Billy and his staff are motivated to stay on top of the latest technological advances, offering expert repair for even the more complicated features, including computerized operating systems, keyless entries, GPS systems and more.

Decades of Experience

Alpha & Omega customers benefit from more than 100 years of automotive experience — and ASE certifications — between the owner and employees at both locations. The managers of the Woodstock and Marietta shops also are mechanics, so clients who arrive and describe their car issues will be met with a knowledgeable and understanding ear.

This distinction brings an extra level of wisdom and experience to the business.

“We are not just businessmen, but auto enthusiasts,” Billy said. “This is more than what we do, it’s who we are. We are here to serve you at two locations for your convenience.”