Repairs & Maintenance

What does Power Steering do? Power Steering helps you to turn your vehicle while operating it at low speeds. The faster you are traveling in your vehicle the less amount of tire is in contact with the road. When you are operating at slower speeds the vehicle weight is pushing the tires to the ground…

Exchange vehicle fluids on a schedule recommended by the manufacturer to keep your car in the best condition possible. Here are tips on changing your vehicle fluids. What You Need to Know about Automatic Transmission Fluid Automatic transmission fluid is made in many different formulations, not only for different vehicles, but also in many cases…

AUTOMOTIVE FLUID EXCHANGE: AN IMPORTANT PART OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP Overview of your automotive fluid exchange The fluids inside your vehicle’s engine are much like the ones in your body. They serve to lubricate, clean, and cool the engine. They keep it alive or, at least running smoothly. After a while (and how long…

Radiator fluid: protect your engine from freezing and overheating with the right mixture of automotive fluids. Radiator fluid (common name, “antifreeze”) is a mixture of chemicals that cool the engine and protect and lubricate internal components such as water pumps and radiators; when properly mixed with water, it is called “coolant.” Unlike water, a 50/50…

Have you checked the level and condition of the various fluids under the hood of your vehicle? You haven’t? That’s OK, you’re average, and just part of the club of drivers and vehicle owners who neglect this task, primarily because out of sight means out of mind. There is no “squeaky wheel that gets the…

This is a question every technician has heard after recommending replacement of the MacPherson struts and/or shock absorbers on a vehicle. This recommendation is usually made based on a visual inspection of the truck, SUV or car suspension components (the struts and shocks in this instance). Mileage: most manufacturers of shocks and struts suggest a…

The consequences of improperly tightening or not tightening lug nuts enough are obvious – the wheel comes off at an unexpected moment. Not much imagination is needed to see what happens next, and none of what will happen is good. So people have a tendency to go the other way, to tighten lug nuts as…

Today’s family car is a marvel of engineering and technology. Would you believe that the modern family sedan with a six-cylinder engine has more horsepower than most early Corvettes? The Marvels of New Auto Technology Commonplace now are computer-controlled components such as ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) that makes stopping on slick roads safer than ever…

What are wheel alignments? Is it really a necessary service? The term defines the service: It makes sure the wheels and tires are in a straight line, or “aligned” with each other. When all four wheels are properly aligned, the tires work together more effectively. This results in better handling, better steering wheel return, better…

How many miles you get out of a set of brake pads (with disc brakes) or shoes (with drum brakes) largely depends on individual driving habits and the type of driving you do. Brakes can last from 25,000 miles to 50,000 miles, and here is why: Stop-and-go driving, as in city driving or on freeways…