The next time you walk up to your car, take a moment to check out the headlights. Walk all the way around your vehicle and examine the headlights, brake lights, reverse lights, and blinkers, to see if any bulbs need to be replaced. Take a minute to carefully inspect the lenses– if the lenses are […]
Tires are an often overlooked contributor to car performance, but they have a big impact on vehicle health and safety. As the only point of contact between the road and your car, they influence turn control, ability to break, even how smooth your ride is. To ensure your tires are in optimal driving condition, here are […]
You’re running out the door for work. You head out to the garage to jump in the car. As you pull out you notice a huge puddle on the floor, right under your engine. How do you know what it is? How do you know if it’s serious? Sometimes cars leak and their ominous spots […]
New tires typically come with 10/32” or 11/32” tread depths, and some truck, SUV, and winter tires may have even deeper tread depths than other models. In Massachusetts, the minimum tire tread depth is 2/32 inches. This means that all of your tires must have at least 2/32 inches of tread depth in the proper […]
Coolant is crucial to your engine’s operation. Rusty, old, or leaking coolant could be a sign of a serious problem. But how do you know if it’s serious? The Basics Before we dive into potential problems, let’s cover the basics. Each manufacturer uses different types of coolant in their vehicles, with different levels of dilution. […]
In our last article, we went over the basics. Now that you know how brakes work, let’s talk about the different types. The front brakes play a greater part in stopping the car than the rear ones, because braking throws the car weight forward on to the front wheels. Many cars therefore have disc brakes […]
There are a number of reasons why you might be considering using brake shoes instead of brake pads. But how do you know which one is right for you? Thankfully, the decision isn’t difficult once you have all the facts. You can actually have a combination of both pads and shoes within the same car […]
It’s that time of year again! The cold is here, snow is coming, and your car needs a tune-up before holiday travel starts. Here are a few things to make sure your mechanic checks when you go in for service: Antifreeze and Radiator Make sure your antifreeze is topped off and ready to go with […]
Minor paint damage may seem like a purely aesthetic concern, but your car’s paint actually serves an important function in preserving your vehicle’s value. Here’s why: Preventing Structural Problems Along with providing an appealing look to your car’s exterior, paint is designed to ward off structural problems. Most car bodies are made of steel, which […]
Cars need transmissions because of the physics of the gasoline engine. In this article, we won’t get into the complexities of how an engine works. Instead, we’ll start by showing you the basics of how the most common transmissions work: 1) Manual transmissions Manual transmissions require that the driver change gears by depressing a clutch […]