If you’ve ever assembled an Ikea couch or any other flat-pack furniture, you might have completed the project only to be left with a few surplus nuts and bolts. In many cases these extra bits of hardware are purposely included as a backup, but they can still have you re-reading the inscrutable instructions and trying […]
Author: Matt Dodge
The Open and Shut Case of Hood and Liftgate Strut Replacement
Life behind the wheel doesn’t come without its risks, but sustaining a head injury while unloading your groceries or refilling your windshield wiper fluid shouldn’t be one of them. The hood and liftgate struts found in many of today’s cars, trucks, and SUVs offer a convenient way to access the engine or rear storage area––right […]
Preparing Your Car for Success With a Track Alignment
Transforming a daily driver into a track car can require a substantial investment. From new shocks and engine tuning to upgraded brakes, tires, and exhaust systems, many fledgling track racers will soon understand why the pros need to plaster their rides with advertisements to help foot the bill. But while it’s easy to focus on […]
Exploring Cadillac’s Comfort Advantage
As a brand that’s built its name on luxury, Cadillac never treats comfort as an afterthought. While power, style, and convenience all play a vital role in the Cadillac formula, it’s the automaker’s reputation for a smooth, refined ride that has allowed the company to dominate the American luxury market. Cadillac has emphasized comfort through […]
Get Pumped With Our Guide to Tire Pressure
Along with refilling the windshield washer fluid and checking the dipstick, using a tire pressure gauge is often one of the first basic car maintenance tasks that every driver will learn. When compared to changing your oil, rotating your tires, and replacing belts and filters, this simple chore might seem relatively inconsequential, but that couldn’t […]
Avoid Drain Pain With These Car Battery Tips
Every year, one common automotive issue will lead more than two million drivers to place a call to roadside assistance. While lockouts, flat tires and empty gas tanks rank among the top culprits, it’s actually battery-related problems that have services like AAA pulling overtime. Keeping your car’s battery charged is usually a pretty easy task […]
Avoid Cabin Fever With Our Guide to Air Filter Replacement
Changing the engine air filter is usually one of the first maintenance tasks any driver will undertake. While swapping out an old, clogged engine air filter can have a noticeable effect on performance and fuel economy, few realize that it’s actually just one of four filters found in most modern vehicles. The oil filter will […]
Where To Start When Your Motorcycle Won’t
Whether you’re into carving through curves and opening up the throttle or leaning back and enjoying a nice, relaxed cruise, motorcycle riders spend countless hours dreaming about their next ride. That anticipation can quickly turn into frustration when the bike is stubborn, which is why every rider should know what to do if their motorcycle […]
Twisting In The Wind: Addressing A Poor Throttle Response
If you’ve got a need for speed, it’s hard to do better than a motorcycle. Thanks to the fact that they’re smaller and lighter than the typical car, truck, or SUV, motorcycles are simply more responsive, allowing riders to enjoy some hair-raising acceleration with the simple twist of the throttle. But what do motorcycle riders […]
Pros and Cons: Upgrading Vehicle Storage With Cargo Boxes, Racks and Trailers
Between passengers, groceries, camping supplies, and outdoor equipment, your car, truck, or SUV can feel a little cramped when you’re gearing up for your next family road trip. Today’s vehicles are built with more storage solutions than ever, with fold-flat seats, adjustable floors, and clever cubbies spread across the interior. Many EVs even sport an […]
Put Winter Weather on Ice With These Snow Removal Tips
The winter season can bring all sorts of challenges for drivers. From slick streets and road salt to rough starts and towering snow banks that obscure your vision, winter driving is no picnic behind the wheel. Some of these issues can start to rear their head before you even leave your driveway, especially when it […]
Improve Battery Health With These Simple Tips
From dim headlights and slow starts to corrosion and even the dreaded ‘check engine’ light, there are lots of ways to tell if your vehicle’s battery might be on its way out. Failing to notice these signs can throw a wrench in your daily routine, leaving drivers to fiddle with jumper cables, call roadside assistance, […]
EV Maintenance: What You Need To Know
As the segment continues to grow, EVs are now more affordable than ever. While all-electric vehicles still tend to be a little pricier than their gas-powered forerunners, new EV prices have fallen by as much as 20 percent over the last year. The difference is especially stark when it comes to used EVs, which have […]
Getting a Grip on Aftermarket Steering Wheels
Installing an aftermarket steering wheel is often an aesthetic decision, but in some cases, it can have a big impact on the overall driving experience. In fact, in certain applications, like high-performance racing and other activities common to the North American speed demon, drivers wouldn’t be caught dead with a stock steering wheel. Generally speaking, […]
Message in a Throttle: Diagnosing a Faulty Throttle Body
A vehicle’s air intake system is a crucial part of the internal combustion process. To operate efficiently, vehicles require a precise mix of air and fuel. How is this balance achieved? It all comes down to a vehicle’s fuel injectors and throttle body. The role of a fuel injector is right there in the name–it’s […]
Milwaukee Celebrates 100 Years of Power Tool Innovation
If you’re in the market for a new torque wrench, ratchet kit, or mechanic’s tool set, you’ve got a few decisions to make. Performance, durability, and price are all important factors to consider, but all too often, the latter tends to take precedence. While we’re all tempted to save a few bucks occasionally, this thrifty […]
How Makita Made It To The Top
Walk down the power tool aisle at your local home improvement store, and you’ll be met with a rainbow of alluring options. From orange Rigid drills to acid-green Ryobi sanders and more, the whole spectrum of colors is on display. This might make for a colorful shopping experience, but it can also be a little […]
Delving Into DeWalt Tools and Their Extensive History
In the world of automotive tools, a few names rise to the top. While there is certainly no shortage of brands producing torque and impact wrenches, pliers, ratchet and socket sets, and everything else you need for a long day under the hood, these tools tend to vary in terms of quality, price, and reliability. […]
Why You Should Make Brake Bedding Part of Your Routine
Given their role in bringing your two-ton car, truck, or SUV to a stop, you can really never be too careful ensuring your brakes are in good working order. We all know the standard maintenance checklist when it comes to the brakes—keeping an eye on brake fluid, replacing brake pads every 20,000 miles, and brake […]
Diesel vs. Gas: Choosing the Right Engine For Your Next Pickup
Diesel and gas engines have a great deal in common, but there are also some key differences. Both diesel and gas engines use internal combustion to create power. Both employ pistons to drive a crankshaft to send power through the drivetrain and, ultimately, to the wheels. The main difference comes down to some specific steps […]
More Than Hot Air: A Look at the Modern Airbag
From waxing the hood to deep-cleaning the wheels and giving the dash a healthy coat of Armor All, drivers tend to obsess over the smallest details. That said, there’s one common vehicle component that no driver is in a rush to get acquainted with: the airbag. This vital piece of safety equipment is the last […]