Posted on 3/4/2018
The summer months tend to see people spending a lot more time in their cars than normal. Summer vacations often call for road trips to places near and far. But before you jump into your car and hit the highway be sure the vehicle is up to the task and is going to get the best fuel efficiency possible. The following tips will keep you on the road longer and out of the gas station. Auto Maintenance Tips All cars require routine maintenance to ensure that they are continue to run great. The following ideas are fairly simply and will help improve your MPGs. Inflate your tires - Tires that are underinflated take make engine power to spin. Be sure to check your tire pressure and if necessary, pump them up! Keep up with routine auto maintenance - Check the service schedule inside your owner's manual to see when your car is due for service. By keeping up with factory maintenances you'll keep your engine running at peak performance. Change the spark plugs - If it has been a few years since thi ... read more
Posted on 2/25/2018
While it is important to follow the maintenance suggestions provided in your vehicle's owner's manual it is important to understand that this may not cover all of its needs. In order to keep your car or truck running right you may find it necessary to provide it with a tune up. The term tune up dates back to the origins of the automobile and its meaning has evolved right along with the car itself. It used to refer to tuning the carburetor, but vehicle's today don't use this part. Nowadays it is a general term that references small services to keep your vehicle performing its very best. When do you need a tune up? If your car is between scheduled services, such as 30/60/90K maintenance, but isn't running as well as it normally does, then it is probably a good idea to visit the auto shop. Common performance issues, such as a rough idle, difficulty starting or even a decrease in fuel efficiency are all indicators that your car could benefit from some sort of maintenance. What are tune up ... read more
Posted on 2/2/2018
While the standard transmission is quickly, and for some people, unfortunately, becoming a thing of the past, many folks still prefer to use three pedals instead of two. There are benefits to driving a stick shift, especially when it comes to late model or older vehicles. They often get better gas mileage and you simply have better control over your vehicle's acceleration.While new automatic transmission vehicles are ran extensively by high tech computers, there are still a few manufacturers that offer a stick, mainly in their commuters or high performance vehicles. Whatever you drive, so long as it's a manual transmission, it is important to pay attention for signs of clutch trouble. That third pedal and the parts behind it do need attention from time to time. If you run into any of the following three problems be sure to make an appointment for clutch repair right away. Burning smell while shifting One of the most common signs of clutch trouble is usually reminiscent of first learnin ... read more
Posted on 1/26/2018
All vehicles utilize numerous different fluids in order to operate the various system onboard. It may be difficult to understand how a liquid can help you steer your car or even bring it to a stop, but it does! As part of your routine auto maintenance it is necessary to drain and refill this liquids to ensure they are not contaminated with any pollutants that could cause the systems to fail. Be sure to check your owner's manual to find out when your car is due for these very vital fluid services. Brake Fluid Flush One of the most important fluids in your car is brake fluid. Your brakes are hydraulically assisted, meaning the system relies on this liquid to generate the force necessary to bring your car to a stop. In most vehicles a brake fluid flush is necessary when brake pads are replaced, which is often around the 30,000 mile mark for regular drivers. Power Steering Fluid Flush Vehicles with hydraulic power steering will need to have the power steering fluid flushed as well. If a v ... read more
Posted on 1/3/2018
Today's cars are full of amazing safety features such as airbags that can deploy from every which way, seat belts that hold us in place and shatter proof windows prevent glass shards from flying around during an accident. But each of these things have something in common, they are all safety features that are necessary in the event of a wreck, they don't help prevent an accident. The brakes on the other hand are the number one safety feature of your vehicle that can actually help prevent a car wreck, as long as they are in good working order. If you experience any of these signs of brake trouble be sure to head to the auto repair shop right away to have the problem resolved. Grinding or Squealing Noises Likely one of the first signs of trouble you may experience if your brake pads are low is a grinding noise. This happens because modern brake pads are designed with a mechanism that creates the noise as the pads get close to the end of their usable life. However it can also occur if th ... read more