At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, we know that a huge part of the ride quality of your car, truck, or SUV is how well it keeps road and engine noises out of the passenger compartment. Few things are more annoying on a long commute or road trip than the drone of tires on pavement, the constant sound of your car battling the air outside, loud semi-trucks, and so on.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, we know how irritating an issue with your car, truck, or SUV can be, even if it doesn’t immediately affect your vehicle’s performance. One such problematic issue, the excessively loud radiator cooling fan, is a common plague many automobile owners will experience.

If you drive a car, truck, or SUV with a manual transmission, you may have heard the term “pilot bearing” or “pilot bushing” before. At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, we know that the first step to keeping your vehicle maintained is knowing something about how it works. Here’s some helpful information on the pilot bearing, and how to know if yours needs to be replaced.

Transmissions may experience an array of issues, some more serious (or annoying) than others. Since transmissions play a vital role in the operation of your vehicle, it's important to know what to look out for. If your transmission is shuddering, here’s some advice from our team here at R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY.

One of the most annoying sounds known to man is a loud squeal every time you start your car, truck, or SUV. What causes this, and what can you do to fix it? R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY has the answer.

If you drive a standard shift car, truck, or SUV, there’s a good chance reliability was a factor in your decision to get a stick shift. However, from time to time, even a manual transmission needs to be serviced; when it does, R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro has you covered.

While keeping your car, truck, or SUV looking nice is important, there are other reasons to keep the exterior of your vehicle in good shape. From R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, here are some tips for keeping your car looking good, and how that keeps it reliably on the road.

Here at R.C. Bratcher, Inc , we are always striving to provide Owensboro, KY drivers with the highest quality products. That’s why we proudly work with Jasper Engines and Transmissions. JASPER is a leader in the nation for remanufacturing engines and drivetrain products at a price point that is affordable. Their latest offering is no exception. JASPER recently announced that they have expanded their remanufactured Chrysler 68RFE transmission product line. This remanufactured transmission is available for both 2WD and 4WD 2019 RAM 2500-3500 diesel applications.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc we offer only the best products to our Owensboro drivers, that’s why we’re excited to announce the newest offering from Jasper Engines & Transmissions. JASPER is the nation’s leader in remanufactured engines and drivetrain products and now they are offering Ford/International 7.3L/444TE Diesel Cylinder Heads.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, we are proud to partner with Jasper Engines and Transmissions as we are always looking for ways to provide our drivers with only the highest quality of service and products. JASPER recently announced the availability of a turbocharger for the 2011-2017 Nissan Juke that is equipped with a 1.6L engine.

Does your fleet have vehicles equipped with four-wheel or all-wheel drive? More and more, companies are moving towards vehicles equipped with one or the other - they’re safer and more useful, particularly in inclement weather or less than ideal conditions. If your fleet is powered by all four wheels, R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY has you covered.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, we know that the difference between a vehicle that runs for 80,000 miles and a vehicle that makes it to 400,000 miles depends on one thing; maintenance. Here are a few tips to avoid some of the most notorious vehicle killers out there.

Stress while driving is commonplace no matter where or when you’re driving. It’s very easy to become angry due to other drivers and even yourself, but it’s just as easy to avoid road rage and the stress altogether.

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, we’ve seen a lot of worn out and tired transmissions. How do you know if it’s time to replace yours?

Whether we’re talking about your engine, transmission, differential, suspension, or otherwise, correct specifications are necessary to keep your car, truck, or SUV reliable, drivable, and running smoothly. From our team here at R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, here’s what you need to know.

While most fleet vehicles are chosen for their reliability, low maintenance, and durability, sometimes maintaining several of them at a time can become overwhelming. Just keeping up with the maintenance schedule alone is a task and then to ensure you keep your scheduled routes for those fleet vehicles is another task in itself. Let R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro put your mind at ease, with our fleet maintenance programs for any and all fleet vehicles. We will take the stress from your business fleet program and get your fleet trucks and fleet cars running at optimum performance with a routine that works for your business that often REDUCES costs!

Sometimes it is EASY to see if your car or truck needs to come into our shop for professional repairs! 
1.  You see steam rising from the engine!
2.  The Check Engine Light is on!
3.  The engine starts, but there is an odor that is not right.
4.  You hear grinding or thumping noises.

Your vehicle's cooling system is one of the most important systems in your vehicle. Inside your engine, spark plugs ignite the fuel within the cylinders to produce small explosions that propel your vehicle down the road. With small explosions comes scorching temperatures that can destroy your engine if not controlled. There are two types of cooling systems - liquid-cooled and air-cooled. 

At R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, we know how annoying a dead battery can be. Here’s some information on the subject, that will hopefully help you understand your battery issues a little better.

Your radiator hoses are under a lot of pressure, in both the figurative and literal sense. From R.C. Bratcher, Inc in Owensboro, KY, here’s what you need to know about the radiator hoses on your car, truck, or SUV.