Depending on the day, car ownership can either seem like a ticket to freedom or a weighty, gas-powered albatross hanging around your neck. The same car, truck or SUV that’s so pivotal to your everyday life can start to feel like a burden when things go wrong. While some drivers are quick to call in […]
Category: Car Maintenance
Be Sure to Do Your Routine Summer Maintenance
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 […]
Are OEM Car Batteries a Smart Buy?
There are a lot of options available when it comes to car batteries. Not only does virtually every auto parts chain have its own battery line—such as Auto Zone’s Duralast and O’Reilly’s Super Start—but many car manufacturers have now gotten in on the game with options like Ford Motorcraft and Toyota TrueStart batteries. These OEM […]
Getting the Most Out of a Self-Service Car Wash
The struggle to keep your vehicle clean is a tale as old as time. From road salt in the winter to long, dry, dusty summers, there is no shortage of forces conspiring to contaminate your car, which is what makes regular car washes so important. This Sisyphean task has even been immortalized in popular song, […]
Stay Cool: Understanding Your Car’s AC
It isn’t until we’re desperately looking for car AC repair near me that we give much thought to the system that keeps us cool behind the wheel. By then, it’s too late, and we’re either faced with an air conditioner that doesn’t work and blows warm air, or one that smells or sounds funny. It […]
Top Tips: How to Maintain Your Soft Top Convertible
From the wind-in-your-hair feeling to cruising down the road with sunshine on your face, there’s a lot to love about the convertible lifestyle. For the uninitiated, the segment is largely broken down into two categories: soft tops and hard tops. A soft top convertible is any model with a vinyl or fabric roof covering, as […]
Understanding Your Stopping Power: The Different Types of Automotive Brakes
You may not give your brakes much thought, but they are essential to your safety behind the wheel and your vehicle’s performance. For example, you engage the brake pedal in rush-hour traffic, maintaining a safe distance from the truck slowing down ahead of you. Likewise, you use the brakes to slow your speed on the […]
Addressing Check Engine Anxiety with OBD2 Scanners
We’ve all been there: you’re cruising down the road, enjoying a pleasant drive, when suddenly a glaring orange light pops on the dashboard. You spot that familiar engine icon, and suddenly your mind is racing with any number of disastrous possibilities. Is the engine about to blow? Has that squeaking sound always been there? When […]
What Should a Full Chevy Tune-Up Include? Here’s What You Should Know
Keeping your Chevy tuned is essential to extending its longevity and getting the most out of your vehicle beyond the basic warranty cut-off date. Oftentimes, when you want the absolute best for the vehicle, you will aim to get a complete tune-up, especially if there are several nagging issues or you want more than just […]
Should You Change Your Own Oil or Consult a Professional?
“What do I do? Should I pop open YouTube and learn it myself, or should I pull up Google Maps and find a technician ready to do an oil change near me?” Great question; honestly, please do continue rambling on about your future goals and big oily dreams. When you’re done, I’ll be over here […]
Repair or Replace: A Guide to Automotive Maintenance
It’s a well-known fact that routine maintenance at regular intervals is a fundamental practice of not only owning a vehicle but also ensuring that it lasts for a considerable length of time. The world of auto maintenance is made of two different practices, repairing and replacing. Chances are that you’ve visited an auto repair shop […]
With Great Pickup Comes Great Responsibilities: A Maintenance Guide for a Used Ford F-250 Super Duty
If your job frequently consists of big burdens and heavy lifting, you might be in the market for a vehicle that will maximize productivity on the job site. And, if you’re looking to take advantage of the lower costs that a previously-owned vehicle can offer, look no further than a used Ford F-250 for sale. […]
Resurfacing vs Replacing Brake Rotors: What You Need to Know
There are plenty of reasons why you might need to visit your local Ford or Toyota service center. Some are no cause for concern, like coming in for a regularly scheduled oil change or tire rotation, but when you’re having issues (especially issues with your braking system), things can get a little scarier—and a little […]
Keep Your Honda in Tip-Top Shape This Spring
Springtime is here again, and that means it is time to clean the salt out of the car, wash it off, and take it in for routine maintenance. Hondas are incredibly reliable vehicles, often lasting for hundreds of thousands of miles. Honda owners swear by their reliability. As with any mechanical device, cars last the […]
The Shocking Truth Behind High-Voltage Electric Systems
As Heraclitus once said, the only constant in automotive technology is change. From the earliest Model T Ford to today’s selection of full-electric options, vehicles have come a long way over the last hundred-plus years. In that time, we’ve swapped out hand-operated crank starters for fully automated ignition systems, perfected the art of forced induction, […]
Mythbusting: Tackling Common Oil Change Misconceptions
Most people love tall tales; the more salacious, the better. It’s how tabloids make their fortunes, capturing our attention with the latest sightings of Elvis, aliens, and Bigfoot that perpetuate gossip, myths, and misconceptions. The automotive industry isn’t often in the tabloid crosshairs unless Elvis is spotted driving a Ford Bronco along the Pacific Coast […]
Engine Knocking? Let’s Explore Some Common Culprits
While police sirens might run a close second, few sounds can ruin a drive as quickly as an engine knock. One moment you’re headed down the road in peace, and the next your engine is making that tell-tale pinging noise that will have you headed straight for the nearest service station. Sounds can be subjective, […]
Oil Starvation: the Preventable Disaster
Oil Starvation: The Preventable Disaster I don’t really know what triggered your need to learn about this, but it doesn’t matter. Either something gave you the heebie-jeebies and sent you looking for the causes of oil starvation so you can avoid them, or something terrible has already happened to your car, and you’re trying to […]
Which Turbocharger Is Right for You?
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 […]
Understanding Front-Wheel, Rear-Wheel, All-Wheel, and Four-Wheel Drive
While most drivers are quick to look at the engine under the hood and its specs, others know the value of digging deeper to see how the automaker improves the engine’s power delivery to enhance performance and control behind the wheel. In other words, will the engine deliver enough power to make the vehicle agile […]
Simple Maintenance for Car-Care Beginners
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 […]