Few things are quite as satisfying as working on your own vehicle, either making repairs or simply keeping up with maintenance to ensure it runs as well as possible. There are plenty of relatively simple tasks and repairs that just about anyone can do at home with minimal investment in tools or supplies, but there […]
So you’ve just driven away from your local Chevrolet dealer in a shiny new (or used) vehicle, and you’re happy with everything your car has to offer. You want for nothing, right? If you’re anything like me, even when you’ve found the vehicle you’re looking for and got the bells and whistles you wanted, there’s […]
The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and the hordes of insects that plagued us all summer have made a retreat. All of this can only mean one thing: winter is right around the corner. Before you start hearing holiday tunes everywhere you go or begin having stressful dreams about family dinners […]
Your vehicle’s headlights are one of those things that are easy to take for granted—something that you might not miss until they’re gone. But once they’re gone, believe me, you’ll miss them. The last thing you want is to be driving at night and find yourself suddenly steering in pitch darkness. At best, you’ll find […]
Your wheels are some of the most important parts of your vehicle, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also use them to express yourself. The wheels put on your car by the factory work just fine, of course, but there are numerous reasons you might want to customize your wheels or swap them out for […]
There’s nothing sexy or glamorous about taking care of your vehicle, but all of the fun that comes with having a car—and all of the practical stuff, too—is only possible when your vehicle runs properly, which is where routine maintenance comes into play. Hybrids are no exception to this rule; there are a lot of […]
If you’re like me and you grew up in Arizona, then you know summer to be the time when you need to do everything you can to avoid the apocalyptic rays of the sun and escape those scorching temperatures that aim to sear your brain. But for everyone else, summer is when you want to […]
When it comes to proper car care, certain things are definitely more complicated than others; replacing brakes is more complex than an oil change, which is also more involved than simply cleaning your vehicle. And yet, each of these things is still vital in its own way—something like cleaning your windows might seem silly or […]
Sometimes it feels like I’m always thinking about tires; in the fall, I’m planning on making the swap to winter tires; through the winter, I worry about if my winter tires are still in good shape; when spring comes around, I’m getting ready to swap back to summer tires; in the summer I check to […]
Even someone who’s never driven a car has probably heard the phrase “high-octane,” as it’s become synonymous with something exciting or heart-racing. But why is that, exactly? High-octane gas, in and of itself, isn’t particularly exciting, but it’s come to represent what it’s used for, which are high-performance engines, typically those found in muscle cars […]
Turbochargers for engines are quite complicated but also surprisingly simple, with a vast array of different options available from many manufacturers. You’ll find some turbocharged engines coming straight from the factory, either to boost overall performance or to get decent performance from a small engine, while others are available as aftermarket options that you can […]
One of the most common things people say when talking about diesel engines, particularly when comparing them to standard gas engines, is that they require different sorts of maintenance—in particular, people love to mention how diesel engines don’t have spark plugs that need to be replaced. That’s true; diesel engines don’t have spark plugs, but […]
The suspension is one of the most important parts of your vehicle, so much so that it’s often considered part of your car’s safety equipment. Your vehicle’s suspension affects not only the quality of your ride and its handling but your comfort inside and how well you can remain in control behind the wheel. That […]
Now that the holidays are behind us, we’ve all got new books to read, warm socks to wear, and maybe some new tires for our cars. And perhaps you’ve received a lovely new set of tools you’ve been hoping for, but what do you do now? How should you put those tools to use and […]
Is it time to upgrade your headlights? If you’re driving a car that has old, yellowish headlights, then the answer to that question is probably a resounding “yes.” Those older halogen headlights work well enough for a lot of city and daytime driving, but they fall short of the better options available today. If you […]
Whether you’re someone who likes to do all of the work on your vehicle yourself, prefers to have a certified expert handle it all, or falls somewhere in between with a combination of both options, it’s vital that you know how and when to take care of things for your car. When looking into any […]
Anyone can go to a tire shop or a local dealership and pay someone to put new tires on their vehicle, and they probably won’t even stop to consider what the new tires are. If you’re like me, however, you prefer to know that your tires are good quality, the proper size and make, and […]
Whether you’re new to working on your vehicle or you’ve been repairing cars for many years, we all struggle sometimes with knowing what to do with old parts after a repair or replacement job. It can be tempting to just toss an old tire into the trash, especially if it’s damaged, but you’re much better […]
When it comes to reliability and great performance, Honda is one of the best brands on the road, with a lot to offer and decades of happy and loyal customers. Like any other major automotive manufacturer, Honda covers its vehicles with warranty protection that you can take advantage of when it comes time for service. […]
While Base Commander Jack D. Ripper might’ve been concerned about the perceived international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids, I’m more concerned about the fluids in your car. Since you no doubt see advertisements for an oil change near you on a near-daily basis, I likely don’t need to […]
Checking and adjusting your car’s alignment at home is not impossible, but it is somewhat complicated and takes some work–that shouldn’t dissuade you from trying it; just be prepared. If you prefer to Google “auto alignment near me” and take your vehicle to a service station, then that’s completely fair, but it is something you […]
