Montpelier Auto Repair

Squeeeeeeel...  When you hear this noise coming from another car, it’s annoying.  But, when you hear it from your own car, it’s frightening. How many times a day do you have to stop your car? If you actually counted it would be a very high number. Now, imagine what could happen if your brakes took longer than you had anticipated to stop or worse, quit working during one of those stops. You could damage your car or worse you could hurt yourself, one of your passengers, or a unsuspecting pedestrian. If you notice any of the following in your vehicle, then you should have your vehicle inspected by an ASE Certified Brake Specialist. The brake light is lit on your dashboard: This indicating that something is amiss and needs to be inspected ASAP.   Grinding or Squealing sound when you apply the brakes.  If the noise from your brakes is constant, you have a problem.  Consul ... read more

There are a ton of really cool 'AutoGirls' that I have gotten to know over the years. From mechanics to women who do body work & restoration, welders, fabricators, painters, race car drivers, writers, consultants, women who work for corporations and shop owners like me. Most of them live out of Vermont, which gives me a great excuse to travel multiple times per year. Every November I travel to Arizona and Bogi and I make our annual drive to Vegas to attend AAPEX & SEMA otherwise know as Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week. Bogi is one of my most favorite AutoGirls. Like me, she owns her own automotive repair business, but she is also an ASE Certified master technician, writer, speaker, educator and has co-hosted the show "all Girls Garage" on Velocity TV for seven years. Bogi is what I call a 'Bad Ass'. Back in 2015 Bogi talked about buying a 1957 Chevy Truck and restoring it. We talked about how much work that would involve, and how she would need ... read more

Drop off at least 5 each of Peanut Butter, Jelly &/or Tuna Fish during the month of Feb. and you will get a chance to spin our 'Wheel of Savings'. The Montpelier Food Pantry serves emergency meals to individuals and families in the greater Montpelier area.  They assist people who are in need of life’s necessities and social justice.  They promote self-sufficiency and food independence through food education. Pantry Hours: Tuesday 10-12, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10-11. Located at Trinity Church, 137 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 Serving the communities of: Montpelier, E. Montpelier, Calais, Middlesex, Berlin, Worcester & Adamant. To make an appointment, call

You wouldn’t go to a doctor who wasn’t a licensed M.D., so why would you let an un-certified mechanic work on your car?   Before you hand over the keys, ask if your mechanic is ASE Certified in the specific repair or service your vehicle needs.   The National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence or ASE sets the industry standard with their certification program. This includes testing in eight different automotive systems: Engine Repair Certification Automatic Transmission Certification Manual Drive Train & Axles Certification Suspension & Steering Certification Brakes Certification Electrical Systems Certification Heating & Air Conditioning Certification Engine Performance Certification For each specialty exam that is passed, the mechanic receives a certification in that specific area. If all eight tests are passed an ASE Master Technician Certification is awarded. Master Techs are considered experts in aut ... read more

Woman-Owned Business of the Year awarded to repair shop By Danny Monahan SBA Public Information officer Growing up in industrial Ohio, the owner of Auto Craftsmen says she has motor oil in her blood. “Cars were a big part of my formative years. My first boyfriend was a motorhead, my first husband was a mechanic and we opened two shops together,” said Amy Mattinat, who owns and operates Auto Craftsmen on State Street, Montpelier, Vermont. For 20 years Mattinat has been a part of Auto Craftsmen. She started as the bookkeeper in 1995, became a partner in 2004 and bought out her business partner in 2009. Auto Craftsmen has six full-time employees, a part time bookeeper and shuttle driver, and hires additional personnel in the spring and fall. Mattinat said her success is due to having exceptional employees, offering top notch service, having systems, checklists and an effective marketing plan. She continually invests in tools, equipment and ... read more

The 2014 Brakes for Breasts! Please join us in achieving our goal of raising $200,000 for the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Prevention Vaccine in 2015 $10,000.00 Raised by 5 Independent Auto Repair Shops in the state of Ohio in 2011$32,848.84 Raised by 27 Independent Auto Repair Shops across 16 states in 2012 $66,499.29 Raised by 66 independent Auto Repair Shops across 27 states in 2013 $115,236.53 Raised by 136 independent Auto Repair Shops across 28 states in 2014.Total Money Raised = $224,584.66 over the Past 4 Years! For more information about the Breast Cancer Prevention Vaccine and how to get involved, go to the Brakes for Breast website You can also find a shop close to you who is also ‘Putting the Brakes on Breast Cancer

Why do Vermont Vehicles Rust More Than Any Other State in the US? Vermont is a very special place to live. GREAT people, Beautiful land, mountains and lakes to play in, yummy food and beer, and a safe place to raise a family. But with over six months of winter and 8,000 miles of unpaved roads, Vermont is tough on the people and on the vehicles. With the combination of dirt roads, mud season, brutal winters and the amount of salt brine that is sprayed on roads and ends up in every nook and cranny of the vehicles, it’s no wonder most of our vehicles rot away long before they would any where else. Almost every week Auto Craftsmen condemns at least one customer’s vehicle because it has rusted away. The engine has plenty of power, the transmission has plenty of life, but the underbody, brake lines, fuel lines, steering and suspension parts are rusty and falling apart. It won’t pass the state inspection, is unsafe to drive and doesn’t make ec ... read more

Earlier this month, May 2nd and 3rd, I had the pleasure to attend and help judge the New England tri-state competitions of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition which took place in Epping New Hampshire at the New England Dragway. The Auto Skills competition is an opportunity for the best of the best 11th/12th grade automotive technology students throughout the nation to prove their talent and dedication while gaining experience in the field. Ford/AAA are dedicated assisting students in starting careers in the automotive industry by hosting the competition and providing scholarships, and kick ass swag for everyone participating. To qualify for the skills contest the students must complete an online automotive exam. The top 10 scoring teams from each state will then move on, and compete in a “hands on” challenge. They must diagnose 10 bugs, both technical and mechanical, in a 2014 Ford Fiesta SE in under 90 minutes. They can only use the equipment they br ... read more

I was invited by my good buddy Bib [the Michelin Man] to test drive the brand new Michelin Premier® All-Season Tire with EverGrip™ down in South Carolina March 2014 at the Laurens Proving Test Track. All the test driving was done on a ‘wet-track’ that simulated driving through a torrential downpour. With the windshield wipers on high, I drove very aggressively through very sharp curves, around cones and slammed on the brakes a lot. We compared these tires to various other top named brands driving a variety of vehicles: Cadillac, Camry, Sienna Van and a BMW. This new Michelin tire handled the extremely wet roads superbly. All tires wear out over time. As they lose tread, they also lose their gripping ability in wet conditions. This causes an increase in the stopping distance and the likelihood to hydroplane. I was able to experience this first hand driving on the ‘wet-track’. A number of times my car spun out. It was exciting and ... read more

Finally April has arrived & winter has painstakingly comes to its end. National Car Care Month reminds you to take care of any issues that the harsh road conditions of winter may have caused your car. Just like it’s time to put away your winter boots and take out your sandals… Now is the time to get your car ready for spring driving and summer road trips! AND What about those potholes! Spring driving brings its own hazard such as slick, wet roads & potholes. Here in Vermont we also have ‘Mud Season’. It is important to make sure you tires, brakes and windshield wiper are ready for anything spring can throw at your car. Click here to view the Car Care Maintenance Guide. If your car rattles down the road, and each thump and gr ... read more