Every gasoline engine relies on one small, but critical component: the spark plug. It’s often overlooked because it’s generally inexpensive, hidden under a coil pack or wire, and usually lasts tens of thousands of miles. However, when a spark plug starts to give up the ghost, the effects can ripple through the entire engine. Engines […]
If you’ve ever seen Forrest Gump, you may remember a line about a special school that taught kids how to retread tires. I had no idea what that meant through my early years, but that was my introduction to the word. As I got older, I’d see a semi on the side of the highway […]
Speaking as a fourth-generation Vermonter and current New Hampshire resident, one of the biggest vehicle issues people face in cold climates is a windshield covered in ice and snow. Icy windshields are more than just a nuisance. A 2025 study by UK companies DirectLine Group and Green Flag found that 9% of drivers have been […]
Few things feel more devastating than being stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, especially in the middle of the night with no cell phone service. (Yes, it’s happened to me.) Trying to change a tire or arrange a tow truck can be time-consuming, expensive, and potentially life-threatening. Even if you […]
Car theft remains a big problem in the U.S. According to the NHTSA, there were over 850,000 vehicle thefts in 2024 alone. That’s one vehicle every 37 seconds. It’s not just the vehicles themselves people are after, as many bandits are looking for wheels, catalytic converters, phones, and other components and accessories. Having one or […]
I’ve done my fair share of brake jobs, and I’ve seen just about every scenario you can think of. I’ve seen rotors worn down to the fins, brake pads installed backward or missing altogether, you name it. Something that always sets off alarm bells is when I inspect a set of pads and find that […]
The winter months often bring snow, ice, low temperatures, and a significantly altered morning routine. From unearthing the kids’ hats, gloves, and boots to clearing your driveway, cold weather can make for a stressful start to your day, but advances in automotive technology mean that there’s one common winter task you can cross off your […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
