Don't head into the holidays with a poorly-maintained vehicle. Regular, routine maintenance can help improve your gasoline mileage, reduce pollution, and most importantly catch minor problems before they become huge problems. Cutshaw offers classic service that you can trust - right in Scott's Addition of Richmond, Virginia. 
3105 Cutshaw Ave, Richmond, Virginia 23230
(804) 355-6666

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• ​We read your "owner's manual" more than you do!  Read your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommended service schedules or trust us to do it, for you.
• Check engine performance and driveability — hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power will only be made worse, in colder temperatures.
• Replace old/dirty filters. This is a great time of year to change your air, cabin and fuel filter - a poorly running engine is less efficient and burns more gasoline.
• Keep a full tank of gas. Keeping the gas tank filled helps prevent moisture from forming.
• Change your oil and oil filter — more often for city drivers and stop-and-go or drivers. This frequently-neglected services is the most essential to protect your engine.
• The cooling system should be flushed (and refilled). And check the condition of drive belts, clamps, and hoses.
• The heater and defroster must be in good working condition to pass inspection, for driver's visibility and for passenger comfort.
• Replace old blades. Rubber-clad (winter) blades fight ice build-up and make sure to fill windshield washer solvent — you’ll be surprised how much you use during the winter months. 
• Have your battery checked. The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment.
• Worn tires are dangerous in winter weather. Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. Check tire pressure once a month, letting the tires “cool down” before checking the pressure. Rotate as recommended. Don’t forget to check your spare, and be sure the jack is in good working condition. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels makes your engine work harder and thus use excess gasoline.
• Have your brakes checked periodically for safety and to prevent costly repairs that can be caused by neglect.
• The transmission is often neglected until a major failure. Routine checks and fluid changes at prescribed intervals can prevent very costly repairs down the line.
• Always carry an emergency kit with you: extra gloves, boots and blankets; flares; a small shovel and sand or kitty litter; tire chains; a flashlight and extra batteries; and a cell phone and extra car charger. Put a few “high-energy” snacks in your glove box.

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This information was gleamed from National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - this nonprofit, independent organization is dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. 

This Saturday is Scott's Addition's annual Pumpkin Festival. The weather is supposed to be mostly sunny - 50–70°F Mostly Sunny - so meet your friends and neighbors from 12pm-6pm.

✨🎃 The 2019 Pumpkin Festival!! 🎃✨ will take over Scott's Addition this Saturday. All your friends will be there - join us for a full day of Fall Harvest Fun

• Live music
  
• Kid's activities
• Local food trucks
• Cold beer
• ....and the favorite tradition - The Costume Contest!!

October 19 | 12-6PM | Arthur Ashe Boulevard

Neighborhood Favorite voting ended on July 7th, 2019. Millions of votes were cast for businesses across the country, and Cutshaw Automotive owes a big thank you to all of the neighbors who took the time to help recognize their favorite local businesses! We even get a spiffy sign to hang up so that you'll know we had a ton of votes from YOUR neighbors saying that we were the favorite! The list is specific to our neighborhood and based on votes from OUR neighbors. Use it to discover new spots to explore other favorites in our neighborhood. 

1. Search: When searching for businesses, Favorites are indicated with a yellow trophy. 
   
2. Business Pages: Winning businesses will have an orange Neighborhood Favorites banner at the top of their Nextdoor Business Page. 
   
3. Storefront Stickers: Our WINNING business received a green 2019 Neighborhood Favorite sticker to display!
   

Come see why Cutshaw is a FAVORITE!

"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!

 At Cutshaw Automotive, we are REQUIRED to do an OFFICIAL Virginia State Inspection procedure, every time we do a state inspection on a vehicle at our garage. Each time, we put anybody's baby up on the lift, we look for and at the same things. In fact, they are all urgently important for our environment, your safety and the safety for other vehicles on the road. Each one is carefully considered in being added to the manual, and Cutshaw in meticulous in making sure we go over the list, carefully, when you get your inspection, here:



Cutshaw's Inspection Procedure: 
1. - REMOVE OLD INSPECTION STICKER.
2. - DRIVE VEHICLE INTO INSPECTION LANE.
3. - INSPECT BRAKES FOR:

• Worn, damaged or missing parts.
• Worn, contaminated or defective linings or drums.
• Leakage in system and proper fluid level.
• Worn, contaminated or defective disc pads or disc rotors.
  (NOTE: A minimum of two wheels and drums must be removed from each vehicle at the time of inspection. Consult the “Official Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual” for exceptions.)

4. - INSPECT PARKING BRAKE FOR:

• Broken or missing parts.
• Proper adjustment.
• Standard factory equipment or equivalent.

5. - INSPECT HEADLIGHTS FOR:

• Approved type, aim and output.
• Condition of lamps, lenses, wiring and switch.
• High beam indicator.

6. - INSPECT OTHER LIGHTS FOR:

• Approved type, proper bulbs, and condition of lenses, wiring and switch.
• Aim of fog and driving lamps.
• Illumination of all lamps and proper color of lenses.
  (NOTE: Every vehicle must have a rear lamp showing a red light to the rear, a white light illuminating the rear license plate; vehicles over 7 feet wide or extending 4 inches or more beyond the front fender extremes must be equipped with approved clearance lamps and reflex reflectors. (Include load when measuring.)

7. – INSPECT SIGNAL DEVICE FOR:

• Approved type, proper bulbs, and condition of lenses, wiring and switch.
• Correct operation of device.
• Illumination of all lamps and proper lens color.

8. – INSPECT STEERING & SUSPENSION FOR: 
       (Jack up front end as shown in “Official Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual”.)

• Wear in bushings, kingpins, ball joints, wheel bearings and tie rod ends.
• Looseness of gear box on frame, condition of drag link and steering arm.
• Play in steering wheel; leakage of power steering fluid in the system.
• Wheel alignment and axle alignment.
• Broken coil springs, spring leaves and worn shackles.
• Shock absorbers.
• Broken or weakened frame.
• Broken or missing engine mounts.
• Lift blocks.

9. – INSPECT TIRES, WHEELS & RIMS FOR:

• Condition of tires including tread depth.
• Mixing radials and bias ply tires.
• Wheels that are cracked or damaged so as to affect safe operation.

10. – INSPECT MIRRORS FOR:

• Rigidity of mounting.
• Condition of reflecting surface.
• Check for road visibility 200 feet to the rear. (Truck mirrors must extend at least halfway beyond edge of body.)

11. – INSPECT HORN FOR:

• Electrical connections, mounting and horn button.
• Emits sound audible for a minimum of 200 feet.

12. – INSPECT WINDSHIELD AND OTHER GLASS FOR:

• Approved type safety glass.
• Cloudiness, distortion or other obstruction to vision.
• Cracked, scratched or broken glass.
• ALL UNAUTHORIZED STICKERS MUST BE REMOVED. 
• Sun shading material on windshield displaying words, lettering, numbers or pictures that does not extend below the AS-1 line is permitted. In the absence of an AS-1 line, sun shading material on the windshield displaying words, lettering, numbers or pictures cannot extend more than three inches downward from the top of the windshield, unless authorized by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and indicated on the vehicle registration.
• Operation of left front door glass.

13. – INSPECT WINDSHIELD WIPER/DEFROSTER FOR:

• Operating condition.
• Condition of wiper blades.

14. – INSPECT EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR:

• Exhaust line:  manifold, gaskets, pipes, mufflers, connections, etc.
• Leakage of gases at any point from engine to point discharged from system.

15. – INSPECT REAR LICENSE PLATE FOR:

• Illumination of rear plate.

16. – INSPECT HOOD AND AREA UNDER THE HOOD FOR:

• Operating condition of hood latch.
• Presence of emissions system; evidence that any essential parts have been removed, rendered inoperative or disconnected.
• Fluid levels that are below the proper level:
    (a)  Brake fluid.  
    (b)  Power steering fluid.
• Power steering belt; proper tension, wear or absence of belt.

17. – INSPECT AIR POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM OF 1973 AND SUBSEQUENT MODELS FOR:

• Installation.
• No parts removed, disconnected or rendered inoperable. 
  (NOTE: This includes the catalytic converter and the fuel tank filler pipe.)

18. – INSPECT DRIVER’S SEAT FOR:

• Anchorage.
• Location.
• Condition.

19. – INSPECT SEAT BELTS FOR:

• Approved type.
• Installation.
• Condition.

20. – INSPECT AIR BAG AND AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT FOR:

• Any defects in the air bag system noted by the air bag readiness light, or otherwise indicated; or
• The air bag has been deployed and has not been replaced (and is not deactivated because of a medical or other exemption and a notice is posted to indicate that it has been deactivated); or
• Any part of the air bag system has been removed from the vehicle; or
• If the air bag indicator fails to light or stays on continuously.    

21. – INSPECT DOORS AT THE RIGHT & LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER’S SEAT FOR:

• Handle or opening device which will permit the opening of the door from the outside and inside of the vehicle.
• Latching system which will hold door in its proper closed position.

22. – INSPECT FUEL SYSTEM FOR:

• Any part that is not securely fastened.
• Liquid fuel leakage.
• Fuel tank filler cap for presence.

23. – INSPECT FLOOR PAN FOR:

• Holes which allow exhaust gases to enter occupant compartment.
• Conditions which create a hazard to the occupants.

24. – ISSUE STICKER:

• If approved, place completed approval sticker on the vehicle and give the receipt of certificate to the operator.
• ALL DEFECTS MUST BE CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE REINSPECTED WITHIN 15 DAYS.  THE DRIVER MAY BE SUBJECT TO RECEIVING A TRAFFIC SUMMONS FOR ANY DEFECT STILL PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED ON THE HIGHWAY. 

(NOTE:  The validity period of the rejection sticker shall include fifteen (15) days in addition to the day of the inspection.) 
Consider getting your Virginia State Inspection done closer to the beginning of the month just in case there is anything we need to address. Champe, Domingo and the Cutshaw Team!

Winter is clearly over and now, it is time to take assessment. If you’ve hit potholes (in RVA? Naaa!), your tires have lost pressure. Your brakes may have accumulated road salt. Your alignment may not off after driving on icy roads. Here is your checklist for After-Winter-Care from Cutshaw Automotive:
 

• Don’t Wait on an Engine That Stalls - if your car is idling roughly when driving, or if it takes multiple attempts to get your vehicle started, it’s time to come see us! It may not be a serious issue - it could be a simple repair (ignition wires or dirty air filter, for instance)
• Get a Virginia State Inspection - even if it isn't time for a Virginia State Inspection, an overall inspection should be at the top of your spring car care to-do list.
  
• Test Your Lights - check bulbs, blinkers (part of the Virginia State Inspection)
• Replace Your Cabin Filter - prime time for allergies and your cabin filter could contribute to your sneezes! Your Cabin Filter can prevent allergens from getting trapped in the car. If you haven’t changed out your cabin filter in a while, you could be breathing in pollen, dirt and dust each time you hop in the car.
• Realign All Tires - rotate, balance and align for the best ride and mileage.
  
• Check Tire Pressure - potholes and wintry roads deplete tire pressure.
  
• Change Air Filters Now - this will help for when you use your Air Conditioner. We live in an area where spring weather can quickly switch from warm and temperate to hot and summer-like, so we need to test it now so you have plenty of time for A/C repairs, before it is really needed.
  
• Do an Exhaust System Analysis (also part of the Virginia State Inspection!)
  
• Replace Your Windshield Wiper Blades (yup, part of the Virginia State Inspection check)
  
• Refill Fluids
  
• Replace Plugs and Batteries
  
• Schedule an Oil Change
  
• Wash the Car (find one from your neighborhood kids!)
  
• Inspect for Paint Damage
  
• Gut the Inside of Your Car - winter makes us lazy about getting everything out of the car, so you've likely accumulated a bunch of stuff in the backseat and the trunk.
  
• Clean the Inside of the Car, Too (especially the Interior Air Vents!)
  
• Lastly, Remove Debris from the Engine- look under the hood for acorns, pine needles, and crunchy leaves. These can all prevent gaskets and drainage from working, well.
  
• Make Sure Drains Aren’t Clogged - particularly near the front doors  - if these get clogged, the next rainstorm could become quite messy, INSIDE your car.
  
• Revisit Your Insurance Policy
  
• Test All Belts for Slackness - even your seat belts!  
  

Now, you can relax and have a last-minute road trip with no worries! Thanks for checking in - we'll see you at Cutshaw Automotive!