Category: Auto Service

Your car’s “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light can flash on for more than 1,400 different reasons, and in the coming months, we’re going to share with you what some of those reasons are. The light is part of your vehicle’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) system and can indicate anything from a quick fix like… Read more

With cooler temps taking over, we’ve had to break out our fall and winter wardrobe to keep warm. Outside, there’s another shift going on. Squirrels are busy gathering food for winter, and some of the more savvy—if you want to call it that—critters are seeking warm, cozy hideaways. Sometimes, much to our dismay, our cars… Read more

After months of sweltering summer heat, these cooler fall days are a welcome relief to many of us. But when it comes to our cars, rapid changes in temperature can trigger a troubling dashboard warning light: A glowing orange or red low tire pressure indicator. The good news is: Your car is doing exactly what… Read more

Out-of-whack wheel alignment can lead to all kinds of problems, ranging from safety-compromising premature tire wear to difficulty controlling a vehicle at highway speeds. Aside from the safety considerations (which should be enough), a misaligned vehicle will slurp excess gas due to the extra friction that misaligned wheels generate. Considering how vital proper alignment is… Read more

Many carmakers’ warranties nowadays are designed for the long haul. But what if you’ve got your sights set on an even longer haul? Today’s new car warranties tend to fall into 3-year/36,000-mile, 4-year/50,000-mile or 5-year/60,000-mile versions, although there are some that are even longer. These warranties were fine during the trade-in-often days of better economic… Read more

Without shock absorbers or struts, your vehicle would easily become battered and bruised. You and your tires wouldn’t fare much better, either. When the rubber meets the road, the shocks and struts withstand the brunt of the punishment dished up by bumps and potholes. When shocks or struts aren’t in tip-top shape, your vehicle’s less… Read more

Brakes are central to a vehicle’s safety, yet many drivers let misinformed frugality grab the steering wheel when it comes to maintaining or repairing this essential automotive system. While an $89.99 brake job might seem like a real bargain, it often winds up being a costlier proposition in the long run. How? Central to the… Read more

The warm weather that spring and summer bring means lots of great local activities, whether it’s strolls through the park, kids’ softball games, or tending to the lawn and garden. These bucolic pursuits sure are relaxing, but sometimes you just gotta break free and hit the road. Let’s face it: The road trip is as… Read more

Tinted windows aren’t just for young hoods or Mr. Big anymore. That juvenile-delinquent or crime-syndicate stigma is fading fast when it comes to tinted windows … and for good reason. For starters, they can counter the sunlight’s damaging rays and ease the burden on your vehicle’s air-conditioning system. With unseasonably warm weather dodging in and… Read more

We’ve all taken day-long road trips. Besides the depleted gas tank at the journey’s end, dust typically powders the hood and gook (formerly insects) glops across the windshield. Guess what? Those particles and winged things also have been sucked under the hood via your vehicle’s air-filtration system. The first line of defense for your engine’s… Read more

“Drink plenty of liquids.” It’s an old bit of advice uttered often during cold-and-flu season. But as the weather begins to heat up, how on-the-mark are your vehicle’s fluids? Determining whether they’re on target isn’t difficult and keeping tabs on the “big-5” fluids—oil, brake fluid, coolant, power-steering fluid and transmission fluid —will help keep your… Read more