Waterloo Automotive

Every year, teens across the country celebrate Halloween in one of two ways: innocent and fun or reckless and dangerous. Once they outgrow the desire to dress up like their favorite cartoon characters and go trick-or-treating, they often develop a spirit of adventure—one that can lead them into trouble if they’re not careful. That’s why, when it comes to making sure their teens stay safe on October 31, it’s important for parents to talk to their teens about all the evening will entail. The first and most important thing to do is to get the details. Know where your teen will be and when, who will be with them and how they can be reached. Other details including the presence of alcohol and method of transportation are also key. Parents, it’s your right and responsibility to establish rules for and with your teen in order to ensure their safety, so don’t be afraid to put your foot down if you feel uncomfortable with any situation. Remember, they’ll thank you for it later ... read more

Apparently, we as Americans are starting to get the picture when it comes to parenting. According to a study conducted by two economists from the University of California San Diego, the amount of time parents are spending with their kids today has risen dramatically when compared to earlier generations. The study, which analyzed how Americans used their time during different periods from 1965 to 2007, revealed that, since the mid-1990s, the level of parental involvement with their children had almost doubled for both men and women, working or not. And when it comes to the health and well-being of our kids today, that’s wonderful news! Time and time again research has shown that children whose parents take an active role in their lives experience tremendous emotional, mental and physical benefits. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, teens whose parents were present when they went to bed, woke up and came home from school were less likely to ex ... read more

Many parents have had the discussion with their kids about what to do if they are stranded in a location after-hours and not in a condition to drive. Parents, we applaud you if you have. Teenagers often make mistakes and get into compromising situations, which can be even more dangerous if they have car keys. At other times, they will have to make wise decisions by choosing not getting into the car of an intoxicated friend. Either way, it’s important for them to know whom to call and what to do. Hopefully, in these situations, the first call they will make will be to you, but that may not always be the case. In those times, your child needs to know what options are available for transportation. In a major metro area like St. Louis, a variety of city-run public transportation is available. With the Metrobus and Metrolink systems, teens can access stations depending on their location and easily get from one spot to the next. Because public transportation maps ... read more

Summer Safety Tips for Teens It’s finally here! Your summer break has started, and you can’t wait to load your friends into the car and head out to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather. At Waterloo Automotive, we say go for it! You’ve worked hard and you deserve a break. Just be safe in the meantime. Because we care about our customers, we encourage you to use wisdom when you’re behind the wheel and remember that there are other drivers out there counting on you to be responsible. Consumer Reports recently published a great list of driving tips for teenagers. Check out their top 10 below: Buckle up. Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use, and the majority of teens involved in fatal crashes are unbelted. Put down the phone. Sixteen percent of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes are distracted. Texting or talking on the phone combined with inexperience behind the wheel is a recipe for disaster. Plus, it ... read more

Welcome to Our Blog! Greetings to our Waterloo Automotive customers—current and future! We are excited to begin serving you through this handy blog by offering you helpful tips, updated information and genuine customer care. As you know, Waterloo Automotive is proud to be St. Louis County’s most trusted independent automotive repair facility—a title we have held since 1973. Our first-rate repair center is fully equipped to service all makes and models of both domestic and imported vehicles, and, in recognition of our excellent customer service, we have been awarded an ASE Blue Seal of Excellence. Since 2004, we also have been providing the same quality service across the river at our center in Waterloo, Ill. Both locations offer our same 30-month/30,000-mile nationwide warranty and maintain a AAA-approved, Bosch-certified service center. With Waterloo’s Service, our customers get experienced, honest, professional auto repair work that is hard to find. Hund ... read more