Helming's Auto Repair

  I’m one of those irresponsible car owners who doesn’t take good care of their automobile. I know I should get the fluids changed more regularly, but I always think of other things to do that seem like more fun. And then I feel guilty when I finally get around to taking my car to the shop. The day I took my car to Helming’s Auto Repair I was actually feeling embarrassed for them to see how dirty my transmission fluid was. I totally expected one of the mechanics to tell me that I need to bring my car in more often and to explain to me why car maintenance is so important. Thank you to Helming’s for not making me feel worse than I already did! They were courteous and finished working on my car in less time than I expected. They even asked me if I needed a ride to or from my job. I did need a ride and I took them up on the offer.

Helming’s has been in this area since the 70s and they are family owned.  They are also Green Certified. Both of those details are very important to me. I like supporting local family businesses and I always try to go to Green Certified businesses. And everything at Helming’s was clean: the shop floor, the lobby area, and even my steering wheel when I got back in my car to leave.

While Leane, one of the owners, was giving me a ride to work she told me about some Car Care Seminars that Helming’s offers. At first Leane and Mike thought it would be a good idea to have a class for teenagers and then the mothers of the teens asked for one, so they scheduled a second version. The next “Teen Car Care” class will be on Sunday, August 15 from 1-2.  Leane told me that the kids will learn things like how to change a tire and how to check all the fluids in their car…

That’s when it occurred to me that I could have used such a class when I was a teen. I remember that the “check engine” light came on in my old Buick and I was so proud of myself for figuring out a way to fix it. I put a piece of black electrical tape over the little red light on the dash so that I couldn’t see it and I felt like the problem was solved. That car didn’t last me very long, which isn’t surprising considering how well I maintained it. I promise that I’ll take my car to Helming’s the next time I need something and that I won’t try to fix it myself with electrical tape.

[mappress]