When it comes to healthy driving and maintenance habits, many drivers are working with outdated advice. While inherited knowledge can be useful, it often fails to keep pace with advances in automotive technology, leading to wasted time, effort, and even compromised safety behind the wheel. Take the old adage about changing your oil every 3,000 […]
Category: Repairs
3D Printing Car Parts: What Is Possible?
If you even casually follow the automotive technology scene, you can barely go for a day without hearing about 3D printing. Additive manufacturing, as it’s technically known, has been touted as a faster and cheaper way to produce car parts with less material waste. Major automakers worldwide, from Ford to BMW, are jumping on board. […]
Which Car Brands Cost the Most and Least to Maintain?
Car manufacturers and dealerships take great pains to announce the sticker prices of their vehicles. Although this is important, another big factor is maintenance costs. If one car brand or model costs $3,000 less to purchase than another option, but you end up paying $5,000 more for maintenance and repairs while owning it, then you’re […]
When the Spark Fades: How to Spot a Failing Spark Plug and Why It Matters
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 […]
Can You Fix or Replace a Damaged Bumper Yourself?
The bumper on a car is for more than displaying stickers and adding colorful style. Since the early 1900s, vehicle manufacturers have added front and rear bumpers to help protect the engine, radiator, suspension, and other parts from low-speed collisions. Of course, in these cases, the bumper takes the brunt of the impact to protect […]
Moonroof Blues: What to Do When Your Windows Won’t Close
There’s nothing like cracking your moonroof and allowing a little fresh air and warm sunlight into the cabin as you drive around town on a warm day. That classic wind-in-your-hair feeling is one of the easiest ways to elevate your ride, but it loses a lot of its appeal when the sky clouds over, and […]
Your Guide to DIY Window Chip Repair
It happens to almost every driver eventually. You’re driving along, minding your own business when a rock or a piece of ice flies up and puts a chip in the windscreen. According to a 20-year data survey by Ultrabond, more than 30% of vehicles on the road have at least one windshield chip. They occur […]
Delivery Van Service Tips to Keep Your Mobile Office Rolling
Some spend their workdays staring at the walls of a drab, grey cubicle, but if you’re a hardworking trade pro or delivery driver, the scenery can change with every passing mile. This sort of mobile office affords a number of benefits, from the freedom of the open road to the opportunity to jam out to […]
Don’t Slack Off With Our Guide to Motorcycle Chain Tightening and Replacement
Motorcycles are relatively easy to maintain compared to their four-wheeled counterparts. Many of the most important parts are easily accessible, and the drivetrain is simple to understand compared to the inner workings of a car, truck, or SUV. For decades, riders have found a certain zen in performing their own maintenance and repairs, which allows […]
Is DIY Head Gasket Repair A Good Idea?
The head gasket isn’t the only gasket you’ll find under the hood of your car, truck, or SUV, but it’s definitely the most important. This simple-looking part is responsible for sealing the space between your engine block and cylinder head, and it plays a major role in your vehicle’s safe, effective operation. Head gaskets are […]
Keep Cool With Our Guide to Radiators
Some like it hot, but your vehicle is a notable exception. Excessive heat is the enemy of any mechanical system, including the engine found in your car, truck, or SUV. Overheating can lead to everything from minor failures and performance issues to a full-on breakdown. Ideally, your engine should maintain a steady temperature that’s somewhere […]
Everything You Need to Know About Dent Repair
No matter how safe a driver you might be or how observant you are when it comes to the rules of the road, the numbers aren’t on your side when it comes to auto accidents. There are over six million accidents on US roads every year, with the average American experiencing a collision three or […]
What Is an Ignition Coil?
The ignition coils aren’t the first, second, or even third component most people think of when it comes to car engines; however, they are a crucial component for making your vehicle start and run. When an ignition coil wears out or fails, the engine is going to run rough—or it may not run at all, […]
Car Recall Basics: Everything You Need to Know and More
Customers looking for a Ford service center don’t always need a routine service like an oil change or tire rotation. Sometimes, you might need these trusted mechanics to handle a recall for your car, truck, or SUV. What is a recall? When did manufacturers start issuing them, and why? More importantly, why should you never […]
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 […]
What’s a Head Gasket?
For such a small part, the head gasket plays a significant role in how your engine performs. When a head gasket is working as it should, so will your engine; if it goes bad, a failed head gasket can lead to major repairs—especially if it’s not addressed right away. Knowing what a head gasket is […]
Battery Trouble? How to Test Motorcycle Voltage Regulators/Rectifiers
The motorcycle world is full of its own jargon, which can easily lead to some confusion when it comes time for repairs or maintenance work. A bike’s electrical system is a great example. While cars, trucks, and SUVs charge their batteries through an alternator, motorcycles work a little bit differently. Instead of a traditional alternator, […]
5 Key Tips for Replacing Your Headlights
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 […]
Flood, Sweat and Tears: Dealing With a Water-Damaged Vehicle
As extreme weather events become more common, so does the prevalence of water and flood-damaged vehicles. According to a survey from Carfax, more than 400,000 flood-damaged vehicles were on the road in 2022. That’s a six percent increase from the previous year, and the trend won’t slow down anytime soon. 100-year floods are so extreme […]
Why Taking Care of Your Transmission Is Vital to Your Vehicle’s Health
If you drive your entire adult life, spending some money on fixing your vehicle is just about inevitable. Just like you’ll need to get some procedures and operations done on yourself over the years, you’ll need to fix things on your vehicle, so be sure to budget for that. Still, you don’t have to simply […]
Your Complete Guide to Finding an Auto Repair Shop You Love and Trust
Whether you are switching to a new manufacturer for your vehicle, you’ve moved to a new city, or you’re owning your first car, there are several reasons you might find yourself having to locate a new auto repair shop. For most drivers, finding a new auto repair shop is an overwhelming process. When you lease […]