Timing belt, serpentine belt, V-belt, fan belt – that’s a lot of different belts to keep straight. And what’s the difference between a timing belt and a timing chain, or are they just two names for the same thing? Well, get ready, because today we are going to explain all those spinning belts under the […]
6 Easy Car Care Routines You Shouldn’t Skip
Even if you have a mechanic you trust or a dealership where you can get affordable auto service near you, it’s still a good idea to take care of some things yourself. I’m not about to tell you to rebuild your engine or fix your transmission if you don’t have a lot of experience with […]
Alternators 101: How They Work And When To Replace Them
From components as vital as headlights and power steering to less-than-essential features like your sound system and heated seats, there are few parts of your vehicle that aren’t somehow reliant on an electrical current. While we might understandably assume that it’s the 40-pound battery under the hood that’s keeping our phones charged and favorite tunes […]
Pro Tips for Tires that Tow
If you’re eager to hit the open road and you’re looking to pull a trailer, then you’ll need the right tires. Rest assured that there are cheap tires that can meet your towing needs without breaking the bank and still provide a safe and comfortable ride. However, if you have some serious towing planned, you […]
14 Tools to Have Before You Work on Your Car
Although sometimes you need a professional to handle serious work on your vehicle, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction that comes with working on your car and fixing something yourself. However, you need two things before you do any work on your vehicle: an understanding of how to do the task and the right tools […]
How to Choose the Right Level of Performance Tires
So you’ve just bought a new car, and you can’t wait to visit the tire shop, toss those factory all-seasons, and get some real performance tires. The only question is, which ones? There are a ton of tire manufacturers out there producing high-quality products, and we aren’t going to get into the minutia of which […]
D.I.Y. vs the Pros: When to Tackle Your Own Auto Repairs and When to Seek Help
Arthur C. Clarke, legendary science fiction writer and author of “2001: A Space Odyssey” famously said that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” While we all understand the inner workings of our vehicles in theory, that Clarke quote might seem particularly relevant to anyone who’s ever popped the hood only to be faced […]
What Are Torque Specs and Why Should I Care?
If you have ever done any car work or seen a set of installation schematics, you’ve probably seen some strange abbreviations in the instructions. Some you probably find very useful, but some may seem irrelevant or confusing. While you may be tempted to write off torque specs as unnecessary, ignoring them can result in anything […]
How to Give Your Silverado an Oil Change
Many vehicles these days are getting increasingly complex to the point where even basic maintenance requires special tools. Not so with the Silverado. This powerful truck is highly capable and powerful, yet still mechanically simple and quite easy to perform basic maintenance on. While a rocket scientist will scratch their head in distress when asked […]
14 Tools You Need to Maintain Your Car
If you are jumping into DIY car maintenance for the first time, good for you! It’s a great way to better understand how your car is running, and you can save a lot of time and money by fixing things yourself instead of taking your car to a mechanic. However, the secret to successful auto […]
A Driver’s Guide to Vehicle Maintenance Intervals
You’ve got the keys to a shiny new car in the palm of your hand, and the last thing you’re thinking of is your vehicle’s maintenance schedule. Whether you just purchased a brand new car or you’ve found the ideal car on a used car lot near you, understanding maintenance intervals is imperative for the […]
How to Change the Oil in a Ram 1500
Proper car care can mean a lot of different things; it can be as simple as checking your tire tread depth once a month and making sure your turn signal lights are working, or as elaborate as rebuilding an engine. One of the simplest ways to care for your own vehicle, and skip a trip […]
Improving Your Z Car’s Stopping Power
With any fast car, stopping power is essential. For Nissan’s high-performance Z cars, this axiom is doubly true, and any owner of a Z that plans to track their car knows to keep their brakes in peak condition. While Nissan brake service at your local Nissan dealership will keep your Z ready for street driving […]
Brake Service and The Importance of Brake Fluid
To those not familiar with automobiles, brake fluid might sound like a fictional substance. But quite unlike the fictitious blinker fluid, keeping your brake fluid up to date and properly managed could mean the difference between stopping at a red light and plowing into oncoming traffic. When getting a Toyota brake service, one might ask […]
Beginners Guide to Vehicle Restoration
If you like old cars – whether “old” means a 1940 Ford Flathead, a 1969 Dodge Charger, or a 1993 Mazda RX-7 – then you may have discovered that finding one of these vehicles that’s still in good shape is easier said than done. When faced with the dilemma of wanting to own one of […]
Tire Treadwear Ratings: Grip vs Longevity
I firmly believe in the importance of having the best tires possible on your vehicle to ensure you remain in control of your car and have it respond to your steering precisely. That being said, there’s no single “best tire” for every driver, vehicle, and road condition – it’s a matter of what you’re looking […]
Young Drivers: Check Your Tires
Young drivers out there, I have good news: I’m about to share with you the most compelling and exciting information you’ve ever read. Are you ready? Well, too bad because I lied – this is actually going to be about the tires on your car, and there’s just no way to make that kind of […]
How To Self Diagnose And Benefit
We’ve all been there at one point or another during vehicle ownership – something has gone wrong, but you’re not really sure what. When an unexpected problem occurs, what do you do? The majority of people will take their vehicle to a mechanic who will figure out what’s wrong and correct it. That is a […]
Know Your Oil – Viscosity
If you are a regular reader of Check Engine, then you are likely well aware of the importance of good oil in keeping your engine running smoothly. However, today we are going to go a bit deeper into understanding an important aspect of oil – viscosity ratings. On the surface, this may seem like a […]
Brighten Your Ride – What You Need to Know About Automotive Lighting
One of the easiest ways to upgrade and customize your vehicle is to add aftermarket lights. However, if you are just getting started, then you may not be familiar with all the terminology. The three major types of bulbs on the market are incandescent, HID (high-intensity discharge), and LED (light-emitting diode). They all do basically […]
How To Replace Front Brake Pads
Brakes are the most important system on your vehicle, yet in the grand scheme of things are one of the easier systems to do maintenance on. Unlike the engine or transmission, there are no parts buried in the vehicle, nor are there requirements to use large machinery to do in-depth service on them, so you […]