Driving 101: the most important aspect of driving is safety. Sure, we all understand the fundamental safety tips which include obeying the speed limit, using turn signals to change lanes, knowing your surroundings, and not multitasking – especially now since using your cell phone is illegal! But what about changing a tire? If you do not know how to change a tire, waiting for an auto club response vehicle is very unsafe. Anyone learning to drive should learn how to change a tire to stay safe when on the road. If changing a tire is new to you, follow these steps on your way to successfully changing your first tire: (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘auto repair’
How to Change a Flat Tire
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010Five Signs There May Trouble Under the Hood
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009Sometimes car trouble can sneak up on you. Simply relying on your check engine light is not enough to address numerous mechanic problems that could occur from normal driving. That’s why it’s important for all drivers to become more in tune with what you may see, hear, and smell to avoid being stranded.
Warning Lights – Naturally the first type of warning signs for engine trouble is naturally the amber warning lights. These lights are located on your dashboard and usually consist of oil pressure, oil level, and/or the check engine warning. The latter could be indicative a number of problems. By taking your vehicle to a mechanic immediately, they can diagnose what’s happening and hopefully figure out a quick solution. You can even purchase one of these diagnostic tools yourself for about $100 at your local auto parts retailer. (more…)
Video: Driveway Oil Change
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009In the last post, we covered general tips and tricks for performing an oil change yourself. While there are many locations such as Kansas City Auto Repair that are more than capable of providing this service quickly, it’s sometimes a little more rewarding to perform this routine type of auto maintenance yourself. To compliment our previous posts, here’s a video to better illustrate the steps you’ll need to take for a quick lube. (more…)
Servicing Rear Brake Drums
Friday, August 14th, 2009
Many cars feature drum brakes in the rear. Although most of your vehicle’s stopping power comes from the front disc brakes, your drum brakes also require regular maintenance to ensure the utmost stopping power and safety.
To begin inspecting the rear brakes, you’ll need to jack the car up and remove the rear wheel and tire. Try to service one drake at a time, rather than trying to do them both. This will provide you with a guide when reassembling if you need one advises one Ford parts Collegeville retailer. You’ll also want to wash excess debris and brake dust off of the drum to be able to inspect wear and tear. You’ll want to look for any cracks in the drum and make sure that the hydraulic wheel cylinder isn’t leaking any fluids.
Measuring the drum is important an auto body shop Richmond says to determine if it is the appropriate size for your vehicle. This will require taking micrometer measurements along the inside of the drum. If the drum measures less than the maximum specifications outlined by the vehicle’s manufacturer, then Acura Service St Louis suggests it will need to be machined by a mechanic. If the drum is more than the maximum measurements, it will need to be replaced.
The brake shoes may also need to be replaced if they’ve been worn down significantly. If the lining is doesn’t meet the manufactures requirements, it will need to be replaced recommends Suzuki Service Rochester, and to do this you’ll need brake pliers. You’ll also need to remove the brake shoe return springs.
During this process it’s important to check for any leaks that may have developed. Leaking hydraulic fluid can be dangerous and Medford used car dealers say it could reduce stopping power. To do this appropriately requires loosening the brake line and checking the bolts located on the back of the cylinder. Be aware that inspecting this can be a bit awkward due to the position of such components and the bolts may be a bit difficult to reach.
When replacing a brake cylinder, always place the cylinder on the first. Afterward, bolt this it into place and reconnect the brake line. Manchester NH car dealers stress that it’s important to replace the cylinder before the shoes. In addition, you’ll want to replace the back shoe before the primary shoe. Using your brake pliers, you can apply the brake springs next. If you get lost during reassembly, you can inspect the owner’s manual, or look over the brake on the other side of the vehicle.
A turkey baster could come in handy to drain old brake fluid and add fresh fluid. After all steps are done, they can be repeated for the drum brake on the other side of the vehicle. (more…)
Sustaining the Life of Your Car
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
Taking preventive measures to ensure your car is functioning and looking its best can help save money in the long wrong. Take a look at some of these simple steps to take to prevent costly damage from occurring.
Oil Changes Make All the Difference
Oil is the lifeblood of your car. While they can seem cumbersome within your busy schedule, it’s important not to avoid getting your oil changed at the scheduled intervals says Commercial Trucks Portland ME. But changing your oil should also include a number of fluid changes, such as your vehicle’s antifreeze as well as transmission and brake fluid. Overtime, these vital fluids fail to lubricate properly or fail to fight against rust and freezing. When this happens, used cars St Louis dealers warn it could take a toll on the engine and reduce longevity. Your air filter should also be replaced regularly to keep foreign debris from building up in the engine, which easily damages vital engine parts. A clogged air filter can even hinder fuel economy since the engine essentially will have to work harder to breathe.
Keep Cool Under Pressure
Your cooling system should be checked regularly to prevent devastating damage. Trenton Auto Service says this is especially true in summer months and in warmer climates. Ensuring your cooling system is working adequately helps prevent the engine from overheating and essentially melting down. Chevrolet Cincinnati Ohio agrees that simply ensuring your hoses are in good condition, as well as maintaining proper coolant levels, is a cheap and easy way to prevent inconvenient and costly repairs.
Keep Your Car Rolling
One of the commonly neglected parts of a car is the tires according to Kansas City Used Cars. This is unusual considering that checking air pressure takes seconds, and is usually free to do. It’s difficult to see how neglecting your tires adversely affects your car but this can easily impair fuel economy. More importantly, improper air pressure can also impair vehicle safety. With tires receiving constant wear, it’s crucial to avoid too much wear. To prevent excessive wear, Mazda Service Seaside stresses that you should rotate your tires about every 3,000 miles, which will help the tires wear evenly.
Listen to Your Car
Your car’s gauges can give you plenty of insight into what’s going on with your vehicle advises Pennsylvania Acura. If you choose to ignore them, you may end up paying the costly consequences.
Put Your Trust in the Right People
Locating a repair shop is more difficult than you may think. Sure it’s easy to find plenty within a reasonable distance, but having a mechanic that truly understands your car and won’t overcharge you for repairs is crucial – and hard to come by admits Illinois Hyundai. Don’t settle for just anyone when your car needs repairs, go to someone you trust and can give helpful advice.
Check Ups Keep Your Car Healthy
Getting a check up by a mechanic can solve can help your car in a couple ways. First it allows you to build a relationship with your mechanic, and it familiarizes them with your car. Secondly, Used Cars New Haven CT believe a simple checkup can give your mechanic an opportunity to spot a red flag and prevent future mechanical problems.
Alter Your Driving Habits
Changing the way you drive can make a huge impact on your car. By accelerating slowly and braking early, Allentown Auto Loans suggests that you can improve gas mileage and increase the longevity of your brakes. Also, by consolidating errands and making fewer short trips, you can greatly reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.
Decrease the Extra Baggage
Just as shedding some extra weight can improve your energy, losing weight can have the same effect on your car. Carrying around heavy or unnecessary cargo can add weight, which impairs aerodynamics and adds strain on the engine. One St Paul used Ford dealer warn that this increases wear and tear and dramatically reduces fuel economy.
Don’t Forget to Wash
A clean car isn’t just an attractive car suggest the Boston Infiniti service center. By cleaning your car regularly, not only will it look better in the long run, the it will also become more aerodynamic which can impact your fuel economy.
Cover Up Whenever Possible
Weather and nature can easily damage your car. According to Ford Pittsburgh, keeping your car in a garage or carport can help you avoid harmful elements that impair the look of your vehicle. (more…)
Prevent a Car From Overheating
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009At one point or another, many drivers have been in a car that has overheated. Although being in a car that is overheating can make you a bit uneasy, it is actually fairly easy to get where you need to go without causing irreparable engine damage.
The first thing to do is to keep your eye on the temperature gauge recommends Los Angeles Body Shop. If you see that the gauge is rising, it means that your vehicle may be on the verge of overheating. The best thing to do is to pull over and shut the vehicle off, but this obviously guarantees that you will not be able to arrive at your destination on time.
If your vehicle begins to overheat and you need to keep moving to your destination, San Diego collision centers say the best thing to do is to turn the car’s heater on full, which will help blow cool air into the engine. In addition to cranking up the heater, you’ll want to drive slow to keep the engine from working too hard. Eventually, Nissan Washington DC stresses that you’ll want a mechanic to take a look at the engine and inspect the coolant level, radiator, and the thermostat.
Having your cooling system checked as soon as possible will prevent serious engine damage. Although simply turning your heater on may not work all the time on all vehicles, it is a proven way to hell curb an overheating engine if you catch it early. (more…)

