"Clean, Professional, Well Run Service Center -
First impressions: Clean, professional, well run, excellent managers and skilled technicians. Just moved to Richmond from out of state. Looking for a service center for vehicle inspection and oil change. Reviews for Cutshaw's were mostly outstanding so thought I'd give it a try. Needed state inspection and 5,000 mile service. Greeted at counter at 9 am by Domingo, friendly welcoming, knowledgeable. Put me at ease. Even when he told me I was 4th or 5th in line for inspection. Told me that and the 5000 mile service would take 2 or 3 hours. No worries. I knew from experience that it would take several hours and had already planned to return for the car later in the day. At around noon, Nick called. Again as courteous, knowledgeable, and friendly as Domingo had been earlier. Excellent "bed side manner" so to speak. Gave me the news on the car inspection. Tires and brakes. I had expected the tires to fail...knew I had pushed them to their usable limit. Nick explained in detail my costs and options. The costs he quoted were in fact and happily less than I anticipated. So I okayed all the work. A few hours later Nick called back to tell me all the work was done and the car ready. Again, first visit, but I left feeling these guys are good, these guys are reliable, and focused on customer service. I will go here again and will recommend it to others in need of quality vehicle service!"

Road trips are exhausting, freeing, frustrating and SO much cheaper than a flight. And because you decide when to go and when to stop and even decide to scrap the whole plan and go somewhere completely different. ROAD TRIP!

Road Trip Tip #1
Don't leave at the wrong time of day (do you need to stop for coffee, will the traffic be particularly heavy? Prior plan the TIME, itself.  Pack car-friendly food and drinks (and a simple cooler of high-protein snacks).

Road Trip Tip #2
Don't forget a spare set of keys. If you rent a car, ask the rental office if there’s a spare key in the vehicle and where it is. If there isn’t, ask for one before leaving the rental location. And .... duh ......separate them, so you don’t lose both.

Road Trip Tip #3
Download any audio books or podcasts BEFORE you get out of WiFi. Unless you have unlimted data roaming (probably not!)

Road Trip Tip #4
Your GPS is a God send, until it doesn't work, in the middle of no-where. Please, Please, Please bring a paper map. If you don't have AAA membership to get free maps, buy a paper map.

Road Trip Tip #5
When you are in the middle of NO WHERE - this is NOT the the best time to see a Check Engine light (or any other panic-inducing indicator light on the dashboard) come to life. Never go on a road trip without visiting Cutshaw Automotive, first and packing an Emergency Car Kit.

HAVE a great summer of FUN! But, don't leave on your adventure without popping by Cutshaw!

Your vehicle’s air conditioning system does not create cold air. How it works is that it actually takes the heat and moisture out of the air that is already in your car, leaving behind cooler air. Which is why it takes a while for it to start feeling cool. The Freon refrigerant resides in the air conditioning system and the compressor compresses the Freon into a high-pressure state causing it to liquefy. It travels through the high-pressure lines to the condenser. The condenser which is similar to a small radiator, puts the liquid in contact with fresh air on the outside of the vehicle, which absorbs the heat from the liquid. It then flows into the expansion valve or orifice tube where it is restricted and becomes gaseous into the low-pressure side of your air conditioning system. Finally, it flows into the receiver bag that removes and collect unwanted moisture and impurities. The clean gaseous Freon travels to the evaporator and it now absorbs heat from the air passing through to leave behind the cooler air. Magically -- your fan blows cooler dry air into your car’s cabin!
 
The Freon travels back down to the compressor to get compressed back into the high-pressure gas and begin the process again. The Freon, also, carries dispersed oil that helps to keep the air-conditioning compressor lubricated, while operating. Your Freon staying charged is *crucial* to the proper operation and lubrication of the air conditioner compressor.
 
Where does Cutshaw Automotive come in to the equation? If your Freon gets low, you’re Air Conditioning system can still operate, but it may lose some of its cooling effect, it can shorten the cycle, or it can damage the compressor because it isn't being properly lubricated, while operating. We can do a simple check of pressure. Or we can give a thorough check of the operation of the compressor, it’s clutch and belt, check the high and low pressures of the system while operating, check proper control panel operation, check heater blower fan and engine cooling fan operation, check for restrictions in the system, check for proper air flow through the condenser and evaporator and check for any obvious leaks. We're your care-free car care in Richmond. Trust Cutshaw!