Aside from speed traps, check engine lights, and traffic jams, there are few things that drivers dread quite as much as rust. A rusty spot might start as a minor eyesore, but if left untreated, it can easily chew its way through your vehicle and lead to a substantial repair bill, or worse. Rust occurs […]
The Total Truth: Understanding the Math, the Metal, and the Misconceptions of Totaled Cars
It was a late night in October, just a few days after my 19th birthday. I was enjoying a late-night drive in my prized Nissan. Life was good. Then it hit me, literally. A deer had panicked and made a mad sprint for the side of my car. Come Monday morning, an insurance agent was […]
What Are the Best Tools for Getting Your Car Out of Snow?
The winter snow will be here before you know it, if it hasn’t already arrived. As someone who’s lived in the Northeast all my life, I know something else comes with it: the potential to get stuck in the snow. Even with winter tires, AWD, careful driving practices, road maintenance, and every other precaution, the […]
Step Up Your Ride: How to Install Side Steps on Your Truck or SUV
You know the struggle if you’ve ever climbed into a lifted truck or a tall SUV. One wrong step, and you’re stretching, hopping, or grabbing the steering wheel or the grab handle just to get in and save yourself from faceplanting in embarrassment. We’ve all been there. Whether you drive a rugged off-roader or a […]
What You Need to Know About Wheel Bearings
There are probably many parts in your vehicle that you don’t think about on a daily basis. Some of these parts take the brunt of the wear and tear that typically comes along with everyday driving. Parts that really take a beating day in and day out, like wheel bearings, are often overlooked. However, you’ll […]
The Beginner’s Guide to Brake Rotors
You use the brakes often, even on a short drive, and they must be in good working order. Brake pads are the first thing people think of when it comes to brake maintenance, but many other parts are essential to good stopping performance. The most important part of a disc brake system is the rotors, […]
Clearing the Cornfusion: The Truth About Ethanol
Growing up, I only remember seeing two fuel options when my parents stopped at the pump: gas and diesel. When I stopped to fill up earlier this week, I realized that I had no fewer than five different handles staring back at me. My palms began to sweat. Which handle was the one I needed, […]
Simple Solutions to Some Common EV Charger Issues
From their unprecedented horsepower and lighting-fast acceleration to their eco-friendly design and low operating costs, there are plenty of good reasons to opt for an electric vehicle when it comes time to buy your next car, truck, or SUV. The EV segment has come a long way in recent years in terms of convenience and […]
Let’s Learn About Different Fuel Injection Systems
Taken as a whole, every car is an insanely complicated piece of machinery with so many moving parts that trying to understand them all can feel quite overwhelming. There’s a reason mechanics go to school for this. I find that it helps to focus on one component or system at a time to really understand […]
Celebrating and Maintaining High-Mileage Machines
“Six figures” is a term that we generally associate with success. Some folks spend their lives chasing a six-figure salary or building a six-figure 401k. What about our odometers? Too often, we scoff at mileage nearing the 100k mark and treat it as a death sentence when, in reality, it’s a rite of passage. Something […]
The Beginner’s Guide to Vehicle Power
The way cars are propelled from point A to point B has evolved over the centuries, and continues to do so. From early steam and electric cars to modern combustion engines, hybrids, and EVs, automakers utilize many power sources to make cars go. Beyond the power plant, many other parts play a role in transmitting […]
Watch Your Waste: Cleaning Up the Dirty Side of DIY Maintenance
Confidence gleams from your grease-smeared forehead, and the pride of a job well done shines through your rust-speckled smile. You’ve just wrapped up some routine maintenance and finally found a moment to revel in the satisfaction that it brings. There’s something special about that connection between man and machine. Many of us think of our […]
Become In-VIN-cible With Our Guide to Vehicle Identification Numbers
A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can tell you almost everything you’d want to know about your new car, truck, or SUV, from the specific make and model to the included safety features. Once you learn how to decipher a VIN, you can quickly identify some of the most pertinent information about a vehicle, including where […]
Keep Your Chevy Equinox EV On the Road With These Maintenance Tips
From reducing emissions and fuel costs to their whisper-quiet operation, there are countless advantages to going electric when choosing your next vehicle. The automotive experts at AAA crunched the numbers and determined that a compact electric vehicle costs about $546 in electricity to drive 15,000 miles a year, while the equivalent vehicle takes $1,255 of […]
Alternator Anxiety: Should You Worry About Auto Start/Stop Systems?
Auto start/stop systems are becoming increasingly common in modern vehicles as automakers incorporate the feature to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The concept is straightforward—the system shuts off the engine when the car comes to a complete stop, restarting it when you release the brake or press the accelerator. Now, imagine this scenario occurring […]
Trailer Hitches: Prepping Your Vehicle to Tow
Most drivers never feel the need to add a trailer to their vehicle, but towing is a great way to get more functionality out of a smaller vehicle or move truly tremendous loads if you have a larger model. However, if you’re planning to hitch up a trailer for the first time, you’ll need quite […]
Suspend Your Ignorance With Our Guide to Coil vs Leaf Springs
The suspension is a vital part of any vehicle, but it’s especially important in larger models like SUVs and pickup trucks. A robust suspension system can allow a truck to carry heavy loads, improve stability, reduce wear and tear, and enhance comfort when you’re behind the wheel. Still, there are some key differences when it […]
Breathe Easy With Our Guide to Intake Valve Cleaning
Internal combustion is a marvel of modern engineering, but it does have some downsides. The average V6 engine will undergo around 9,000 small explosions every minute as the fuel is ignited. While this proves effective at pushing a car, truck, or SUV down the road, it also results in some by-products that can easily befoul […]
Thinking About Turbocharging or Supercharging Your Car? Here’s What You Need to Know
Plenty of modern vehicle engines come pre-equipped with a turbocharger or supercharger to crank up the horsepower and efficiency. I’m not just talking about the latest muscle and sports cars, either. The Honda Accord, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen Jetta, and Kia Forte are some of the budget-minded vehicles making use of turbochargers. You’ll also find superchargers […]
Installing Interior Ambient Lighting: What You Need to Know
Basic interior car lighting, like overhead and map lights, is standard equipment throughout the industry. In recent years, more high-end vehicles and trim levels have been offering ambient interior lighting. These strategically placed decorative lights add a lot to a vehicle’s ambience and atmosphere. I’ve sat in vehicles with ambient lighting before, and it was […]
10 Tips on Preparing Your Vehicle for Long-Term Storage
There’s something to be said about using the right tool for the job. A convertible can allow you to enjoy a summer day in a way that few vehicles can match, and a classic antique model is sure to turn plenty of heads as you motor to your local cruise-in night or car show. However, […]