CAR CARE TIPS BLOG

To help your vehicle drive in the safest and best condition possible, we want drivers to understand why regular tire service is so important. Many drivers know that wheel alignment is crucial, but they may be wondering, “How often should I balance my tires?” Tire balancing is a simple and relatively inexpensive tire service that will keep you driving safely.

What does it mean when a tire goes “out of balance?” This means that one section of the tire or rim is heavier than in other spots. Imperfections, blemishes in the rubber, and damage to a tire or rim can throw it out of balance. If you continue to drive your vehicle with unbalanced tires (especially at the higher speed limits), you will start to experience the problems listed below. Damage will also be occurring to your tires, suspension system, and the steering system.

Gas-electric hybrid vehicles have gone from the drawing board to the open road in just a few short years. More and more consumers are trusting hybrid vehicles to get them to their destination safely. However, there are still many consumers asking questions about hybrids.

• How long will a hybrid battery last?
• How expensive are hybrid repairs?

Hybrids use electric motors that are powered by battery packs, and everyone knows batteries don’t last forever. Think about laptop batteries, or cell phone batteries. After a couple years you’ll need a replacement. Could the battery packs in hybrid cars really be that different? “Yes!” Based on available evidence, hybrid drivers should enjoy many years of trouble-free motoring from their complex power systems.

Here are a few facts about the hybrid battery:

A better running engine equals a better performing and economical vehicle. It also helps to prevent major engine repair so that you’re not sitting in an auto shop wondering about the reasons why the service engine light comes on.

Consider these five easy and inexpensive maintenance tips for your engine:

Have you noticed dashboard lights coming on and wonder what the problem might be? There is a way to find out! Today's vehicles are designed with computer processors, microchips and sensors, which can be linked to a specialized diagnostic computer. This computer scans the operating systems, producing fault codes indicating a problem.

Mechanics are trained to read these codes that are stored in the vehicle’s memory system, which can save you a lot of time and money because you’re not paying for repairs performed on a "trial-and-error" basis. Because the problem can be identified quickly, parts can be ordered and the problem fixed before it gets any bigger.

So what does car diagnostics tell you? It will indicate problems associated with the transmission, oil tank, gas tank, exhaust system, and other components. It also indicates ignition timing issues, level of buildup in the combustion engine, fuel injector performance, whether the ignition coils are firing, engine rpm levels, air, and coolant temperature, crankshaft and camshaft position and throttle opening. In other words, it’s time for a tune up!

For many, wheel misalignment is one of those pesky problems that are just part of owning a vehicle.  And while wheel misalignment can occur naturally over time, it’s more likely that there’s a specific reason causing your misalignment problems, leading to uneven tire wear, poor vehicle handling, decreased fuel efficiency, and shorter tire life.

When your tires are out of wheel alignment, it basically means they aren’t pointing in the right direction. You may notice your vehicle pulling to one direction or another, vibrating as the wheels pull against each other, or that your steering wheel is crooked even though you’re driving straight. This all negatively affects your steering, suspension, and tires, but more importantly, it compromises your safety on the road.

So, what causes a wheel alignment to go bad?

If you own a car, it can become at risk for theft, whether it’s in a public parking lot or just in your driveway. Try to make your car more of a challenge for potential thieves so that they will keep moving on.

Here are four recommendations from the National Insurance Crime Bureau to help protect your vehicle from theft:

Will your car make it to the end of summer or do you need to schedule a car air conditioner service? How do you know if your car needs coolant? A little fresh coolant added to the radiator may make the difference of staying cool the rest of the summer or find yourself looking for urgent A/C repair.

Because car air conditioner service can be expensive, vehicle owners don’t want to even think about it. With the introduction of computerized parts, today’s cooling system is complex and the days of “do-it-yourself” maintenance is a thing of the past. Because of environmental regulations governing car air conditioning service, auto mechanics are required to be certified and auto shops must use specialized equipment to ensure that harmful chemicals.

Here is a brief description of the various components that make up the cooling system:

If you keep your car for any length of time, you will eventually need to find a trustworthy auto repair shop. Leaving your car at an unfamiliar auto shop can make one a little anxious, wondering about the quality of the work to be performed on your vehicle. How can you be confident that you will receive the best auto repair services possible? How do you know what questions to ask about the auto repair needed?

Here are three questions to ask your auto mechanic:

Are you starting to notice a few signs of brakes going bad as you’re out on the road? Don’t delay in scheduling a brake service to inspect your brake system and to have a needed brake replacement or repair. If you are starting to notice any of the following issues, it’s time for the help of brake repair experts:

• Brake light comes on and stays on. 
• Squealing, squeaking or grinding noises when using your brakes. 
• Wobbling, vibration or scraping when braking.
• Fluid leaks. 
• Spongy or soft brake pedal.
• The car pulls to one side when braking. 
• Burning smell while driving. 
• Bouncing up and down when you make a hard stop.

Consider the factors below that determine how long your brakes will last:

“Oh oh, my vehicle keeps going left but I’m steering straight! Is this a misalignment problem? What will this do to my tires? What causes car alignment problems?” Do these words sound familiar?

If you own a car long enough, you will probably experience wheel misalignment problems. It can be something that just develops over time, but it’s more likely to be caused by a specific incident. You may be asking, “What cause car alignment problems and how does it affect my driving? Simply stated, misalignment is a condition when your tires are not pointing in the same direction as the steering wheel. It can shorten the life of your tires by thousands of miles and compromise crucial steering and suspension parts, so don’t delay in having a wheel alignment service as soon as you steering problems.

Here are just a few of the incidents that may cause wheel alignment problems: