Indianola Auto Repair

I get it I do! We all have very busy lives. We have to run here and there to meet commitments and obligations. Then the occasional weekend "Binge-Watch". Having the car serviced is low on the to-do list. So what do we do? Run it through the Big Box lube center while we shop for the weekly groceries. Or hit the quick lube on the way home. The only good thing I can see out of this is that at least you are changing the oil - or at least you did pay for this service to be performed. After all, an oil change is an oil change. You remove the old oil and filter and replace it with new. Pretty simple, why do we need to go to a repair shop to have this done? That is what I am going to tell you. The main difference it this. Most of the time, having a repair shop - such as our shop Chumbley's Auto Care perform the service is the fact that the same guy that repairs the car is the one giving it our inspection looking for issues that we feel you should be aware of. Iss ... read more

The empty lot where Chumbley's Auto Care plans to add parking and more service bays. Tim Davison of Chumbley’s Auto Care is literally waiting for the ground to settle. Once that happens, he’ll start construction on an expansion of the Indianola auto repair shop — building another three bays and adding parking on the now empty lot behind his shop on Hwy. 65-69. “I’m trying to solve two problems,” said Davison. The first is a lack of space. Chumbley’s has grown from three to six bays, from three to six employees, he said. “And we’re busting at the seams.” He’s renting two additional bays east of Indianola on Hwy. 92, but transporting cars from one spot to another just isn’t practical. “And I also need to solve my parking problem,” he added. Most days, his lot is full, and nearby streets are lined with cars waiting for repairs or for pickup. The new land, which he purchased in August, will provi ... read more

Hello Indianola drivers! Do you suspect that you need a new battery? There is a good chance that you do – 70% of Mid West batteries need to be replaced within four years. As your battery discharges and then recharges as you drive around Des Moines and Indianola , bits of the surface of the battery plates disintegrate. As this process continues over a few years, the alternator has to work harder to supplement the battery charge. Over time, enough of the battery is damaged that it can no longer hold a charge and it needs to be replaced. This also speeds up wear on the alternator. Keegan, Tim and Jackie Your Chumbley's Autocare service advisors can help you determine the right vehicle replacement battery for the way you drive around Indianola, as well as the IA climate and durability needs. Contact Chumbley's Autocare for information on battery replacement. Give us a call. Chumbley's Autocare 110 S. Jefferson Indianola, IA ... read more

Just like your skin can burn from too much sun, so can the paint on your vehicle.  It can turn dull, oxidize and fade the more ultraviolet rays beat down on it. One solution is to park in a shady spot, or you can buy a cover for your vehicle and put it on when you know it's going to be sitting in the sun for awhile. Yes, it takes a couple of minutes to put on, but in the end, keeping the gloss on your paint will help it retain its beauty… and its value. And it's not just the sun that can damage your vehicle's paint.  Grit, bird droppings, sap, dust and dead bugs can all ruin the paint.  So, keep your vehicle clean.  Wash it with a soap made especially for vehicles. Household cleaners can and will strip the protective wax off of your vehicle finish. So use automotive car wash soap. Rinse completely, then dry it with soft terry towels or chamois, that won't scratch your paint.  Remember:  DON'T WASH YOUR VEHICLE IN THE S ... read more

At Chumbley's Autocare we get a lot of Indianola drivers asking about vehicle trip preparation. We feel this is a great investment to help insure you have a trouble free trip. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas around the USA, so it's important to know that the vehicle is up to the task and won't leave you stranded. Smart  Warren County Iowa drivers plan ahead for a major road trip – and there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Check the spare tire too. What are the age of the tires? Tires older than 7 years have a higher risk of blowout failure due to the release of bonding agents they use to make the tire. During a test drive around Indianola to see if you can feel any vibrations: Are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok?&nb ... read more

Do you hear a strange sound from the wheels - while the vehicle is rolling?  This could be a sign from your brake pads that they are due for at least a inspection, and possible serviced. Well if this is true, we are here at Chumbley's Auto Care are happy to help folks from Indianola and surrounding areas with this problem.    Your brake pads are the important parts that rub against the rotor (or disc) to slow and stop your car when driving in Indianola. They eventually wear down. When your pads are worn too much, they won’t stop your vehicle as well. When the friction material is worn away, metal parts of the pad are exposed and you’ll hear a squeal or grinding sound. That’s when Indianola drivers should replace their brake pads at Chumbley's Autocare. Not only will new pads restore your stopping power, but replacing them on time will prevent damage to the rotor. If your brakes are making noise, ask your Chumbley's Autoca ... read more

Most Indianola folks worry about running out of gas or having a breakdown on the side of the road. That is why we practice preventive maintenance on our vehicles — that and to keep our repair bills down. But one important part of preventive maintenance that may get overlooked by drivers in Indianola is a periodic wheel alignment inspection. Poor alignment causes tires to wear rapidly, unevenly or both. This means they will have to be replaced early, and new tires are more expensive than an alignment check in Indianola. Bad alignment can also cause damage to suspension and steering systems, which can be expensive to repair in Indianola. Tire wear on misaligned wheels can also lead to blowouts, which are dangerous, can lead to serious accidents and can seriously damage your vehicle. Also, poor alignment itself can be the cause of an accident since the vehicle may not steer properly. One or more wheels on your vehicle can be knocke ... read more

Air quality has certainly become a hot issue in our modern world. We install air filters on our ventilation systems and in our vacuum cleaners. There's a filter that cleans the air going into our vehicle's engine — so why not one for the air in the passenger compartment? Foreign and domestic vehicle manufacturers haven't been ignoring the issue. Cabin air filters are becoming a standard feature on newer vehicles. These filters can clean particles out of the air down to three microns, which accounts for pollen, dust and most pollutants. Indianola residents who suffer from allergies or have a respiratory disorder should be a lot more comfortable. And even if you don't have a medical need for the filter, the cleaner air in your car just might help you breathe better, figuratively as well as literally. Cabin air filters are still fairly new in the Indianola area, so you'll have to check your vehic ... read more

We find that a lot of Indianola drivers are a little tentative when they talk with their automotive advisors. They want to ask questions but don't want to be embarrassed or seem pushy. Vehicles are very complicated and there's more to know about them than most of us have the time to learn. Maybe it's because vehicles have become so much more reliable that the average person just doesn't need to know as much to keep their vehicle on the road. You know, your local hospital has a Patient's Bill of Rights that they post throughout the hospital. We think our Indianola automotive service customers also have a right to ask any question they need to understand what is wrong with their car and what it will take to fix it. They need to feel free to ask the cost and benefits of recommended services. And they certainly have a right to understand the financial end of the transaction. It's all about the communication. It's a little harder when you're trying to find the r ... read more

We got a new look! Chumbley's Auto Care of Indianola, Iowa, has launched a new website. We understand that the web is taking over how our customers are looking for businesses and services. Our goal is to make sure that our quality auto repair services can be easily found on the web! Feel free to browse around our new website and let us know what you think. Please come back frequently to check out the latest news, photos, advice & promotions. By taking your vehicle to a NAPA AutoCare Center, you’re getting the best of both worlds. All AutoCare Centers are independently owned shops that take pride in their communities and customers while still being backed up by a national warranty and the trusted NAPA brand