Car Questions

Wheel Alignment & How to Tell Your Out of Alignment

Your vehicle is a well-oiled machine — literally. With so many moving parts in such a small space, you quickly realize when something is off or not working correctly. Wheel alignment included. But, what is tire alignment? What causes your car to fall out of alignment? And how can you tell is your wheel alignment is off? What is Tire or Wheel Alignment? When speaking of alignment, we are referring to your vehicle's suspension, not the actual tires or wheels. Your suspension connects the body of your car to the four wheels and helps protect the frame from massive hits, like potholes or bumps. When you visit your local auto shop, and they realign your wheels, they are adjusting the angles of your tires to make the best contact with the road. Unaligned tires cannot grip the road as well and could potentially damage your suspension system if left unchecked for too long. The Angles of Tire Alignments When checking the alignment, mechanics and auto shops take note of three [...]

By |2019-02-19T10:35:30-06:00July 19th, 2018|Auto Care, Car Questions, Car Service & Maintenance|0 Comments
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Car Transmission 101 & Common Issues

You can have the world's most powerful engine, but without a working transmission, you and your car would not be moving anytime soon. A part of your vehicle's powertrain the transmission moves the power from the engine to your wheels. With all that responsibility, it's no wonder folks get nervous when they suspect car transmission problems. What Does a Car Transmission Do? Your car's transmission has a lot going on. Using different mechanical components, it transfers the power created in your engine to your drive axle (or axles depending on your vehicle) to propel you forward or backward. Controlling Power and Speed Gear ratios determined automatically or manually dictate the amount of power transferred as well as the speed. Lower gears transfer more power, but less speed. With higher gears, less energy is transferred as the vehicle is already traveling at a higher rate. The higher the gear, the lower the gear ratio. Automatic Versus Manual Transmission The difference in automatic and manual transmissions comes down to how that gear ratio is dictated [...]

By |2018-06-28T14:47:03-06:00June 28th, 2018|Car Questions|0 Comments
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Two-Wheel Versus Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles

Ah, the classic debate: two-wheel versus four-wheel drive cars. When Googling, the number of questions that went like these shocked us... How do you drive a car with only two wheels? Is it safe to drive cars with only two wheels that work? Is your vehicle totaled when it has two wheel drive? Having a two-wheel drive car doesn't mean only two wheels exist. It all comes down to a difference in power. Two-Wheel Versus Four-Wheel Drive The difference is not the number of wheels, but the number of wheels that are actively driving the car forward or backward. With two-wheel drive models, either the front or rear set of wheels is in charge of power and movement. With four-wheel drive, all four wheels are actively propelling the car in it's given direction. It's fairly evident that a two-wheel drive vehicle doesn't have as much "get up and go" compared with a four-wheel drive car with a comparable engine. It's up to half of the wheels to get it going while the other two follow [...]

By |2018-06-21T11:39:19-06:00June 21st, 2018|Car Questions|1 Comment
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Fuel Efficiency Going Down? Here’s Why It’s Dropping.

We all know that sudden acceleration when the light turns green doesn't do your fuel efficiency any favors. In fact, many everyday driving habits affect your car's fuel economy. But, let's say your driving habits haven't changed. You aren't taking turns like a Nascar driver, and you haven't been revving your engine. So, why is your fuel efficiency decreasing? But, Doesn't Fuel Efficiency Normally Change Over Time? Yes. As car's age, fuel economy declines. No matter how well you take care of your vehicle, it's engine efficiency and power are never as good as when you drive it off the lot. However, while a product of the miles you've driven, this decrease in efficiency is most likely due to faulty or worn engine components. It's also true your gas mileage changes over the period of the day as well. Colder mornings mean lower fuel economies. In fact, at 20-degrees your fuel economy is 12% lower than at 77-degrees. But, what about on a typical, warm day? With a car that isn't incredibly old. Why do [...]

By |2018-06-14T15:54:31-06:00June 14th, 2018|Car Questions|0 Comments
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Drive Belts 101 — What They Do and Signs of a Failing Belt

Ever wonder what's responsible for transferring power and timing in your engine? The answer is drive belts. Whether a multi-belt system or a singular belt, without them your car doesn't function. Different Types of Belts in Cars V-Belt System Found in older vehicles, the v-belt system uses multiple belts coming off a single crankshaft to drive and transfer power to most major components. They act together as a transmission belt, forcing power to the alternator, hydraulic steering, cooling systems and more. Drive belts got the "V-Belt" name because of the way the teeth in the rubber belt are grooved, forming a line of v's. The v-belt system tapered out as the multi-belt system comes with more disadvantages than a one-belt system including: harder to tension correctly rotation of the pulley under hard strain more expensive as they tend to wear and fail at once Serpentine Drive Belts The most common belt in the modern car and responsible for most of the functions in your vehicle, the Serpentine Belt replaced the multi-belt V-belt system. The serpentine [...]

By |2018-05-01T09:18:31-06:00May 1st, 2018|Car Questions|0 Comments
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Tips for Buying a Used Car

New cars are expensive, and they only cost more every year. With high prices, many drivers turn to buying a used car. But, finding a problem-free, reliable used car isn't always straightforward. Just because someone says it was "well-loved" doesn't mean they put love and maintenance into it. Here are a few tips and things to look for when looking at used cars. Tips for Buying a Used Car With all the scammers and bad deals on the market, it's your job not to fall prey. How? Prepare ahead of time and know what to look for when buying used cars. Do Your Research Before ever laying eyes on a car, do your homework. Here's a list of things to know before going in: What's the fair price for that particular car in that condition? One place to start would be Kelley Blue Book or researching dealer prices online. What do other owners say about that make, model and year? Are they known for lasting a long time? Does the transmission regularly fail at a certain [...]

By |2018-04-26T12:49:43-06:00April 26th, 2018|Car Questions, Car Tips|0 Comments
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Car Steering Problems You Shouldn’t Be Ignoring & Their Causes

If you cannot steer it, you won't get there, making car steering problems a high priority fix. But, diagnosing isn't always easy with steering issues manifesting in noises, sensations, and changes from the norm. Let's take a closer look at the underlying problems behind common car steering issue. How Car Steering Systems Work Starting from square one gives you a better understanding of what's going on under the hood—and behind the wheel. Your car's steering system takes the rotation from the wheel and passes that movement through series of sockets and joints. The precise adjustment of these joints allows the wheel to move in unison and at the appropriate angles to make maneuvers. For example, when make a left turn your left wheel turns at a sharper angle than the right, in order to make the turn faster. This is all set up by the movement allowed in the sockets in relation to the angle of the steering wheel. These joints also work with the suspension to allow directional changes without moving up and down. [...]

By |2018-04-05T07:55:59-06:00April 5th, 2018|Car Questions, Damaged Car|0 Comments
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Car Cooling Systems: How They Work & Signs They Are Failing

Surprise! Your car doesn't just work on keeping you cool; it works on keeping itself cool. Your vehicle's cooling system has the significant responsibility of keeping your engine and car from overheating. But, how do cooling systems work and why are they necessary? How Cooling Systems Work Everytime the spark plugs ignite the engine's fuel, creating propulsion and motion, it's a tiny explosion. Explosions generate heat, and with 4,000 explosions per minute, while traveling 50mph, things heat up quickly. Even with all the advancements in car technology, heat continues being a by-product of motion. Two cooling systems exist in the car world: liquid and air. However, liquid cooling dominates with air cooling being found only in motorcycles and older model of cars. But, how do liquid cooling systems cool down cars? Liquid coolant flows through tubes in the engine, capturing and absorbing heat from other components until it reaches the radiator. The radiator uses air, forcing it through the grill cooling the coolant. Once the coolant cools, it returns to flow through your engine, absorbing [...]

By |2018-03-22T09:46:33-06:00March 22nd, 2018|Car Questions|2 Comments
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7 Common Car Myths Debunked

We've all heard car myths at some point in our driving life and taken them as truth (with so many people repeating them, why wouldn't you believe them). But, some of these sayings are neither true—or safe. So Which Car Myths Are True? Myth #1 - Always Top Off Your Gas Tank Wrong, so wrong. Your gas tank triggers the pump sensor when it does for a reason—it's full. First, you aren't getting any extra gas. Full gas tanks feed vapors and excess of gas back into the station's tank. Your essentially paying to refill the gas station's tank. Secondly, it's bad for your car. Topping off sends excess in fuel and vapor into the vapor collection system, overriding and damaging the canister over time. The next time your at the gas station, avoid topping it off. You aren't getting any more gas and your just dealing damage to the system. Myth #2 - Change Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles Yes, if your car is from 1973. No, for modern cars. Today's cars can go [...]

By |2018-03-08T12:41:31-06:00March 8th, 2018|Car Questions, Car Tips|1 Comment
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Driving Tips for Teens (and Their Parents)

Getting your learner's permit at 15 and your license at 16 is a part of growing up in America. It's a right of passage, your first taste of real freedom. But, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens. Fortunately, it's all preventable by following these safety and driving tips for teens. Driving Tips for Teens Keep the Phone in Your Backpack or Purse Or better yet, out of reach in the back seat on silent. Remember when we mentioned car crashes were a leading cause of death for teens? Well, texting causes the majority of those teen car crashes. Additionally, it may be illegal. With more research showing texting and driving the equivalent of drunk driving, states are starting to prohibit cell phones while driving. Keep it safe, keep it silent and keep it stowed. Drive Alone It may seem boring, but it is safer. While not a lasting rule, this is ideal for newly minted drivers. Even one passenger is distracting. They like chatting, asking questions, [...]

By |2018-02-22T09:28:46-06:00February 22nd, 2018|Car Questions, Car Tips|0 Comments
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