Your Car and the Winter

The winter seasons are a very fickle time on the road. The weather gets remarkably

cold, dropping down to freezing temperatures for most states, and the roads get

slippery and icy. Sudden snowstorms can arise making driving conditions remarkably

dangerous, and visibility extremely poor. There are many preparations that you can do

to make sure your car is ready for the winter months and able to handle the extreme

conditions when they hit. Most of these things are actually quite necessary if you want

to remain safe while driving in the winter, as otherwise the car could suffer or you

could very easily lose control of it. After the winter months, as well, it’s important to

fix what it was you did for the oncoming dry seasons.

Getting Winter Tires for Your Car

The biggest issue with driving in the winter is the fact that there is almost no traction

on the road most of the time. The snow can make the roads wet, which eventually

freezes over into ice. Black ice is notoriously bad in the winter time as it’s practically

invisible and can give a sudden lack of traction to your vehicle. Lack of traction means

when you turn the wheel it stops responding, and you lose control. Fortunately you can

buy winter tires for your car and get them installed before the roads get too bad.

Winter tires are heavier duty than regular tires and often have studs that give them

extra traction. It’s still dangerous to hit ice even with winter tires, but it does give you

a significantly higher chance of retaining control.

Winter Safety Kits

Sometimes some crazy things can happen in the winter time and you might end up

stranded. While this doesn’t seem like a bad thing normally in the summer season, in the winter season, temperatures can drop below freezing and become very dangerous. This is why it’s important to stock your car with a winter safety kit, to be ready in case you get stuck somewhere away from civilization and have to wait for pick-up, or for conditions to clear up. A winter safety kit contains most of the things you’d expect it to, including blankets,

rations, clean water, hand warmers, as well as jumper cables and spare fluid changes

in case you have car issues that need tending to.

Cleaning Up After Winter

In the winter the cities and road maintenance crews typically put salt or sand down on

the roads to keep traction and melt the ice. This is because these materials are

oxidizers. They also react with metal in the same fashion, which is why a lot of cars

end up needing repairs after the winter. An oxidizer causes metal to rust quickly, and

that can put holes in the parts and ruin sections of the car. Getting it cleaned regularly

during and after winter to prevent this is very important. Furthermore, removing the

studded winter tires is crucial since they will cause a loss of fuel efficiency and could

potentially damage the road and the car when driving in conditions they were not

designed for. With a little bit of effort a car can get out of the winter without taking

any damage.

The Little Things in Your Car

The more we advance in years, the more features get packed into a car. Features that

we now use every day, like power windows or even windshield wash, were all once

upon a time luxuries in a car for people to pay extra for. Nowadays all of these things

are offered quite freely as standard features, and even more things are being added to

car luxuries. With so many features being put into a car on an annual basis, it’s no

surprise that extra maintenance is required. A lot of people neglect to think about

these things when it comes to maintaining their cars, as they’re features they take for

granted, but your car is packed with little jobs you need to do all the time without

realizing it.

The Wipers

One of the biggest features people take for granted are the windshield wipers. They

are a crucial part of driving safety these days and installed in every car. They help us

see when we’re driving in the rain and are used to clean the windshield quickly with

windshield washer fluid. But people don’t realize that windshield wipers require some

forms of maintenance as well. Keeping them clean of debris, for example, is a major

factor in keeping them effective. During the winter it’s important to clean the snow

from your windshield so that you don’t burn out the motor the wipers are operated

with by making them push a lot of weight. They’re designed to clean, not to move

things, so they do require some help. And if they stop working optimally, it might be

time to look into windshield wiper replacements.

Your Steering Wheel

Steering wheels have always been an advancing part of the car. It started as a mere

column in the floor directly connected to the front axle so that if the wheel was turned,

the axle was turned. As time advanced, there were more indirect methods taken,

allowing room for the suspension and other features that came along in car design.

Nowadays there is power steering, an automated system that help you turn the wheel

and keeps the wheel centered otherwise. But this is an electric system, like any other in

the car, and requires maintenance. Furthermore it can be greatly affected if your tire

alignment is off, meaning you need to take care of your car to get the most out of it.

Automatic Transmission

Older cars were all designed in a very similar way. This is referred to now as ‘standard’

transmission, but in the last few decades it’s become more and more rare. It’s actually

harder now to find standard cars over automatic cars, loaded with automatic

transmission. This is a mechanism in the car that does some of the work for you. With

standard cars you had to watch and listen and switch gears so that the car continued

to function and pick up speed. With automatic transmissions, the car does all this for

you with sensors. All this requires maintenance as well, making sure that the sensors

continue to work or else your engine can be damaged, just as easily as that.

The Lifeblood of Your Vehicle

A vehicle has a need for a variety of different fluids that run throughout its systems to

make sure it runs effectively. However, unlike a human being whose kidneys filters out

these fluids and keeps them fresh, a car’s lifeblood eventually becomes dirty, leaks out

or simply dries up, which is why it needs to be replaced quite often and an eye must be

kept on the levels with frequent fluid checks. Each different fluid has a unique purpose

within the car, and there are so many different fluids to keep it all running. Between

the fuel to the oil, to the coolants and beyond, even the antifreeze needs to be topped

up from time to time to make sure everything is completely optimal for maximum

vehicular and fuel efficiency.

The Fuel

It’s pretty common knowledge that a car needs fuel to run. Gasoline, or other fuels if

your vehicle is larger, is used in the engine to create combustion, which is used to

pump the pistons up and down. This motion turns the motor which generates

electricity that the car can use to run all of its systems. Without any fuel in the fuel

systems there is no combustion, so nothing happens in the engine. The problem is if

fuel is left in the pipes it can grow stagnant, and the build-up of fumes can cause

damage. This is usually only a problem in long-term storage, which is why it’s

important to go and turn your car on for a few minutes every so often when it’s stored

away, to keep the lines from getting too dried up and rusty.

The Coolant

Because the engine runs on combustion, it can get quite hot. This is where another of

the system’s vital fluids comes into play; the coolant. The coolant is a fluid that

absorbs the heat from the engine and helps to keep it cool. The coolant is quite

important to make sure that the vehicle keeps from overheating, and general

inspections should be performed regularly to make sure the coolant remains efficient

and the tank it’s stored in remains full. If the engine overheats, then it can be severely

damaged and engine repair costs significantly more than simple fluid checks and

replacement coolant, so it’s always in your best interest to keep the coolant at good

levels.

The Oil

Oil is a very crucial part to an engine’s performance. Engine oil is used to keep all of

the parts moving properly, and to prevent friction from building up and causing many

problems. Oil is used as a lubricant to make sure all the moving parts move smoothly

and evenly, without any rubbing or lost energy. The more friction that’s built up the

more energy is expended to move them. This means more fuel has to be burned to

have the same output as normal if the oil is dirty or failing to do its job. Fortunately it’s

relatively easy to check the oil of your car and the tools are available to most common

people to perform oil changes themselves if they know what they’re doing.

The Service Engine Soon Light

One day, you could be driving along and all of a sudden, your service engine soon light comes on. The first thing that crosses your mind may be the cost that is going to be involved with whatever needs to be repaired. The next thing that crosses your mind may be the cause of the light coming on. What could be wrong with the car that made that light come on when it did? How soon should I take it to a mechanic? Once you find out the basics of this light, you will feel more confident on how to handle this problem when it appears.

What Could Be Wrong?

Before you can determine what is wrong, you must first understand what the service light means. The service light is often confused with the check engine light. The check engine light is a light to alert you to a possible problem with the exhaust system, particularly the emissions. It will let you know that there is an increased concentration of carbon monoxide that is being emitted through your exhaust system. The service engine soon light can cover a myriad of problems, from minor to major. Once you have determined that it is the service engine light that is illuminated and not the check engine light, you will have to perform an inspection to determine where the problem is located. 

How Soon is Soon?

Your service engine light should not be considered a panic button. Just because the light says soon does not necessarily mean that you will need to make a repair soon. It would be wise to have a thorough inspection done to determine if you have any serious problems. One thing you can do as soon as possible is to perform fluid checks. Make sure that you have enough engine oil, windshield wiper fluid, transmission, and brake fluids. Top off any levels that are low and check for any leaks or signs of wear or damage. You can also check the steering and suspension, exhaust, and electrical systems. The severity of the problems found during the inspection would determine the urgency of the repairs that are needed. Any leaks and clogs should be remedied as soon as possible, as these issues can severely affect the safety of the car. For instance, a leak in the brake line could cause the brakes to fail, resulting in an accident. If your car has a leak somewhere, you should not drive it until you get it fixed.

Do I Need a Professional?

Your decision to hire a professional depends upon your ability to perform the work yourself. If you have training in the car repair that is needed, then you can make the repairs. However, some repairs, such as engine replacement, are heavy jobs that would be very hard for a person to do in their garage. It is wise to take your car to an ASE master technician to have a bumper-to-bumper inspection. The technician can connect your car to a computer and run various diagnostics to determine the origin of the problem. They will also do a physical inspection, top off any low fluids, and give you a more complete picture of the health of your car. With the winter approaching, they can also give you some recommendations of how you can prepare your car for the upcoming weather. 

Repairing Damage to Your Car

Nobody likes it when their car picks up bumps and scrapes. Something as simple as a

pebble bouncing off of somebody’s back tire can put a huge crack in your windshield

that will only get worse with each other bump you go over, as the pressure on the

glass is increased. Parking in a parking lot always runs the risk of a car door smacking

yours or a cart running into it, causing a dent. The world is ripe with opportunities to

put dents, scrapes, scratches, and cracks in your car, and when this happens, chances

are you’ll be the one paying for the repairs, or at least the one having to deal with the

insurance companies to get them covered as the mechanics fix them.

Bumping Out Dents

There are few things as unsightly as a dent in the side of your car. Whether another car

door swung open and put it there, or you got nudged by a car while driving, it doesn’t

matter because the dent is there. Dents are particularly nasty to get out of the car, too,

especially if they come with scratches in the paint and other damage along with it.

Smaller bumps are a little easier to handle, as you can bump them out of the side, but

for the most part the damage requires going to a mechanic and getting them to bump

it out. You may need to repaint the entire section of the car where the bump was, if

you want to maintain an even and sleek coat.

Replacing Parts

Sometimes the damage might be fairly minor, such as the damage from a fender

bender. Perhaps a few bumps in the bumper is enough that you can live with it, but if a

light that was blown out when you were hit, or when you hit them. In this case it’s a

relatively easy fix if you’re willing to do a bit of work and mightn’t even need a

mechanic. Replacement parts for most vehicles can be found at local depots, and with

a bit of help from customer service you can find the parts for your specific model of

car, whether it be lights or other minor bits. For the much bigger parts that need

repairs, however, such as engine bits and the inner workings of the car, it’s best to go

to a mechanic.

Getting Repairs

In the case that the damage done to the car is quite extensive, you’re going to need to

either write it off or get repairs done to it. If the accident was caused by another car

chances are their insurance, if they are at fault, will cover the repairs for you, so make

sure you get the insurance company information. However the ASE master technicians at the repair shop are the ones who will be performing the car repairs. They will know what parts to order in and what parts need to be replaced. In the end it will be their call how much it all costs, so depending on the circumstances the accident can be quite bad on your

wallet, or it could get your car all fixed up.

Practicing Winter Safety on the Road

Winter is the time for snow, cold weather, and holidays. Beginning in November, many people will take to the roads to visit family and friends for the holidays. They will venture the roads, traveling for hundreds of miles, to spend that special time of year with their loved ones. To make sure that you make your trip safely, you should have a complete inspection of your car and prepare it for winter traveling. Practicing winter safety while on the road begins with a bumper-to-bumper inspection of your car and ends with safe driving habits.

Prepare Your Car

You should perform a complete inspection of your car beginning with the headlights. Make sure your headlights work and that they are clean so that they can provide optimum visibility. Check the windshield wipers and fluid. Make sure the wipers work and that they provide good visibility. Top off the wiper fluid if it is low. Check the oil, transmission fluid, and coolant levels. If you see any levels that are low, top those off with the appropriate fluid. Give a thorough inspection to your brakes and tires. Make sure your brake pads and tires are in good condition. If you notice a thin cushioning on the brake pads or excessive tire wear, you should replace all tires or both brakes, since brakes are paired. Inspect the spark plugs and wires and make sure they are in good condition. Clean off the top of the battery and make sure it has a good charge. You should also check the steering and suspension systems and make any repairs needed.

Prepare Your Winter Safety Kits

In the event that you are stranded, you should have winter safety kits at your disposal. This kit should include a first aid kit. Keep it fully stocked and be sure to replenish any supplies used out of it. You should have some blankets, hats, and gloves in your car to keep warm. Have a few bottles of water and a few snacks on hand, if you are traveling with children. Include a set of booster cables, de-icer fluid, ice scraper, shovel, and a small bag of kitty litter or sand. It would be wise to include an extra battery that is fully charged and make sure that your cell phone is charged before you leave out of your home. 

Drive Safely

It is very important to drive slower, especially in snowy and icy conditions. Driving slower will allow you greater control when stopping. It takes less fuel to come to a stop from a slower speed than it does from a higher speed. Allow plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. To avoid skidding, brake slowly. If you do find yourself skidding despite your best efforts, do not panic. Just turn the wheel in the direction of the skid and lightly tap the brakes. If you have antilock brakes, just apply an even pressure. Never stomp or stand on the brakes. Make sure that your windshield wipers are operational and that you have plenty of windshield washer fluid. The washer fluid helps to keep your windshield clean and keep grime and debris from accumulating on the surface. If you take your time and plan your journey, you will find that you will not have to drive at excessive speeds. You can contact your local AAA office if you need information on trip planning and route suggestions. 

Car Engine Oil Changes

Engine oil is important because it lubricates and protects all of the moving parts in your engine.  Changing your car engine oil can be an integral part of car maintenance and helping your car engine to have a long life.  When our team changes your engine oil, we drain out the old motor oil and replace it with fresh, new motor oil.  During an oil change, the oil filter will also be replaced at the same time.

Why Does Your Car Engine Oil Need To Be Changed?

Not having engine oil in your car and not changing your engine oil are two different things.  Not having engine oil at all in your car is a serious issue and can drastically damage your car engine. Without any form of lubricant inside your engine, there is metal-on-metal contact which will lead to your engine seizing on you, and you’ll have to replace the whole motor.   Not changing your engine oil may not immediately damage your car, but it does allow for sludge to build up in your car engine and this can cause major repair bills in the long run. Dirty oil will cause your engine parts to wear at a much faster rate because of friction. While your car is in use, the car engine operates at a high temperature and car engine oil undergoes thermal breakdown. When this occurs, the oil becomes a less effective lubricant. Car engine oil also contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these car engine oil additives get used up and stop being effective.  Lastly, car engine oil can absorb dust, water, and combustion by-products holding these things in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated with these by-products and cannot absorb any more, necessitating that your car engine oil be replaced. If the oil is not changed, this build up remains in the engine and can cause corrosion.  This especially becomes an issue in cold weather when moisture in the oil can kill your engine.

How Often Should Car Engine Oil Be Changed?

While most people understand that car engine oil is important, not everyone agrees on how often car engine oil should be changed.  This is because how fast your car engine oil ages is dependent on many factors including the condition of your vehicle, the age of your vehicle, how you drive, city versus highway driving, and the climate in which you live in.  For instance, if you drive an older vehicle, you might need to change your car engine oil every 3,000 miles.  But if you drive a newer model of car, you may only have to change your car engine oil every 10,000 miles.  If you tend to accelerate quickly and drive at high speeds, than you may have to change your car engine oil more often than someone who drives slowly.  If you frequently drive on dirt roads or commonly haul heavy loads, you may need to have your car engine oil changed more often.  Most owners’ manual recommendations for filter and oil changes suggest the 3,000 to 10,000 mile estimate.  A good rule of thumb is to have your car engine oil changed somewhere in the middle of this estimate at every 5,000 miles.  If you miss a couple of oil changes, it usually will not have a severe effect on your car engine, but it does take life away from the long-term viability of your car engine.  Thus, keeping a regular oil change schedule is important to overall car health.  

Car Suspension and It's Importance

Have you ever given much thought to your car’s suspension?  Most people probably haven’t and many probably don’t even know the components of a car’s suspension.  A car has a suspension to maximize friction between the road surface and the car’s tires.  Thus the suspension provides better handling, steering stability, and helps to ensure passenger comfort.   Essentially, the suspension carries the car and it’s weight, it keeps the wheels perpendicular to the road for the best grip, it absorbs the accelerating and braking forces of the car, it consumes the torque created from the car’s driveline, and it helps in the cornering of the car.

What Does a Car’s Suspension Do?

A car suspension system is needed to keep the body of the car riding straight while the wheels of the car follow imperfections in the road.  So as a car moves down the road, what things benefit from the car’s suspension?  Most engineers consider the dynamics of a moving car from the perspective of “handling” and “ride”.  “Handling” is the car’s ability to accelerate, brake, and corner.  “Ride” is a how well the suspension is working to make a ride down a bumpy road smoother.  “Handling” and “ride” are made up of three principles that include cornering, road holding, and road isolation.  Obviously, cornering is the ability of the car to travel a curved path.  What about the other two principles?  Road holding is the amount of which the car maintains contact with the road during various driving directional changes.  For instance, when braking occurs the nose of the car angles toward the ground and when acceleration occurs, the rear of the car angles toward the ground.  The parts of the car that connect with the ground during braking and acceleration make up road holding.  Lastly, road isolation is your cars ability to isolate and absorb road shock from the passenger side of the car.

What Happens During an Inspection of Your Car Suspension?

There are many components that can make up a car’s suspension.  These include rubber, torsion bars, coil springs, hydro pneumatic elements, the car’s steering wheel and more.  If your car has the shimmy and the shakes, it might be time to get your car suspension inspected.  The first thing that our technician may do is to drive your car to see where the shaking is coming from.  For instance, if the vibration is felt in the front of the car it suggests one thing, if it is felt in the seat it suggests another suspension problem.  Our technicians will take a look at the many parts of your car’s suspension including the wheel bearings, bushings, tires, tie rod ends, idler arm, and other parts of the steering linkage.  Along with the physical inspection of these elements, our technicians will use our diagnostic tools to look at your suspension system and fix any problems.  Keep your car running smoothly down the road by paying close attention to your car’s suspension and setting up an appointment if you suspect that there is a problem.

Windshield Wipers and Your Car

While windshield wipers might not be the first things you think of when you think of parts of your car, windshield wipers are still a very important component.  As anyone knows who has been caught behind a large truck in rainy weather or driving home in a freak snowstorm without properly working windshield wipers, windshield wipers are important to your driving enjoyment.  So, what causes windshield wiper blades to wear out and what components make up your windshield wipers?

What Causes Windshield Wiper Blades to Wear Out?

The least resilient part of your car’s windshield wipers is the rubber windshield wiper blade.  If you live in a harsh climate such as the desert where it is very hot or the Midwest where temperatures vary a lot, your windshield wiper blades will where out more quickly.  But, what are some other common causes that make windshield wiper blades to wear out prematurely?  One is using your windshield wipers on dry glass.  This might happen when you are trying to get sticks, dirt, or other debris off of your windshield.  In these cases, it is smart to use your windshield wiper fluid when you run your windshield wipers or to stop the car to manually remove the debris from your windshield.  Another common cause of premature windshield wiper blade wear is using your windshield wipers to scrape off ice.  Ice is a hard substance and one that can quickly damage your windshield wiper blades.  The better bet is to take the time to use an ice scraper to scrape the ice from your windshield whenever possible.  Lastly, another top item that quickly causes your windshield wiper blades to wear out is snow removal.  Some cold mornings many drivers either forget to start their car early enough or are just not motivated to go out into the cold morning to start their car at all.  So, how do you get rid of all that snow?  You use your windshield wipers for snow removal instead of your ice scraper and brush.  This is detrimental to your windshield wiper blades causing them to become warped and ineffective. 

What Components Make Up Your Car Windshield Wipers?

Besides the windshield wiper blades, what other components make up your cars windshield wiper system?  The first part of your windshield wiper is the windshield wiper arm.  Many people commonly think of the windshield wiper arm when they view their windshield wipers in general.  The second windshield wiper component is the windshield wiper linkage and can also be referred to as an offset plate.  The windshield wiper linkage connects the windshield wiper motor with the windshield wiper transmission.  The third item making up your windshield wiper system is the windshield wiper transmission that holds the wiper arm in place.  The forth component of your windshield wiper system is the wiper motor and it moves the wiper linkage activating the wiper transmission.  The wiper motor moves the windshield wiper back and forth to help clear your windshield.  The final component of your windshield wipers is the mounting bracket that holds the entire windshield wiper system together and attaches the windshield wiper to your car. 
 

Prolonging Your Car’s Longevity

Buying a car is an investment. It takes a lot of preparation, planning, dealing and haggling to find and purchase a model of car you’ll be happy with. Once you have the car, however, you need to maintain it to keep it running. But it’s not always a case of just keeping the car maintained. The value and the life of your car, exactly how long it’ll last in a workable condition, requires you to pay attention to a few small factors as well. The longevity of your car will affect how long it lasts, allowing you to use it longer before needing to buy a new one, and how much value it has if you decide to sell it again, so these things should be considered while taking care of your vehicle.

Regular Maintenance

It should go without saying that your car should be inspected and taken care of on a regular basis, from getting the wheels aligned to getting the oil changed. All of these things increase the smoothness of your car’s performance, allowing it to function better, but they also decrease wear and tear of the parts which means they can last for longer and stay in a better condition for a greater period of time without needing to be replaced. Replacement parts often depreciate the value of a car and once the original is broken and replaced, you’ll find more and more problems arising out of that area of the car. Bringing your car in for regular check-ups is vital to keeping it running and prolonging its life.

Drive Safely

Anyone can tell you that getting into a car accident will cause your car to either die, become damaged or even just depreciate in value. But car accidents aren’t the only thing to watch out for when driving with longevity in mind. There are many things on the road that can cause minor damage or begin the vehicle on the path of degradation. Potholes are a big one, wearing on your car’s shocks and tires and potentially damaging the chassis overall. They should be avoided whenever possible, similar to dirt roads and other poorly maintained surfaces. Furthermore driving during the winter should be kept to a minimum due to the salts put on the road to prevent ice. These act as oxidizing agents that can and will start rusting through your car. And, all year round, you should keep your engine in mind, braking slowly and not revving your engine beyond its capabilities.

Keep Your Car Safe

When not using your car it’s important to keep in mind exactly where you put it. Whether it’s in storage or merely parked overnight, make sure to keep your vehicle covered as much as possible so that the sun does not fade the paint or cause the metal to heat up. Heated metal expands and contracts which can cause damage later. Keep it out of the rain and away from potential bird droppings. When parking, try to predict other car owners’ attitudes and find a parking spot near someone you believe will not dent your vehicle, accidentally or not.

Why Antifreeze Is Important in Winter Car Care?

When many car owners think of winter car care, antifreeze is the first thing to come to mind.  Out of all winter car care tips, antifreeze may be the most well known method of keeping cars running in the winter.  So, why is antifreeze important in winter car care?

How Does Antifreeze Work?

Antifreeze is most often a mixture of half glycol and half water. Glycol is what helps the fluid from freezing in harsh winter conditions.  In hot summer months, glycol also helps the car’s antifreeze fluid from reaching the boiling point.  In other words, antifreeze keeps engine temperatures constant under all driving conditions and climate extremes.  So why is antifreeze different than water? Water actually transfers heat more efficiently than antifreeze. Antifreeze, however, includes additional additives that prevent rust and corrosion in the car’s radiator, heater, and engine.

What is the Main Ingredient in Antifreeze?

Historically, the main ingredient in antifreeze has been Ethylene glycol.  The problem with Ethylene glycol is that it is a toxic material.  Ethylene glycol has also become famous because of its sweet smell and taste, which makes it appealing to animals and children.  In part because of the issues associated with Ethylene glycol, antifreeze manufacturers started using Propylene glycol as an alternative in antifreeze formulas.  Propylene glycol produces a similar antifreeze performance as Ethylene glycol does, but it is not as toxic.  Both glycol’s, however, tend to pick up heavy metals during the everyday antifreeze use in cars.  Thus, it is important to dispose of used antifreeze according to State rules. 

Making Sure Car Antifreeze is Ready for Winter

Before winter weather strikes, it is important to check the levels of antifreeze in your car engine.  Checking antifreeze is something that should only have to be done a couple of times a year to make sure there are no leaks in the system.  Antifreeze, however, only needs to be changed every two or three years, according to the antifreeze manufacturers recommendations.   If the antifreeze is consistently low and needing to be refilled, it means that there is a leak in the system.  It is important to have this problem checked or check it yourself.  Low or no antifreeze in the system will cause the vehicle to over heat or it could cause damage to your car.  The antifreeze should also be in good condition.  It should look clear and be pale yellowish-green in color.  Long-life antifreeze should appear pale orange in color.  Still some other kinds of antifreeze are beige in color.   No matter the color, the key is that the antifreeze is not dirty looking and that flecks of rust aren't floating around in it.  After the antifreeze is checked and if it is in bad condition, the system may need to be flushed. Fresh antifreeze in the system helps to ensure that the vehicle engine does not suffer damage.  Proper maintenance of the cars antifreeze can result in extended engine life of the car.  

Winter Safety Tips for Your Car

The winter season is coming and you have not started your yearly winterization rituals yet. Now is the time for you to perform your winter safety inspection so you can commute to work, school, or to run errands with a content conscience. Making sure your car is safe for the winter will not only save you money in repair and fuel costs, it can also save you a lot of time and aggravation, and it can extend the life of your car. Having a safe car for the winter can also save your life. 

Check your Tires

Right before the winter is the perfect time to perform a tire inspection. Check your tires to make sure they have the right amount of air in them. Many people are riding around on tires with air pressure that is either too high or too low. You cannot tell if you have the proper amount of air just by testing the firmness of the tire. You should make sure that you have an air pressure gauge, which you can find at gas stations, auto parts stores, and general merchandise stores with an automotive section. They are relatively inexpensive and you will not have to worry about tire mishaps due to low or high air pressure inside the tire. Maintaining proper tire air pressure will also help you drive with more fuel efficiency. You can look at your owner’s manual or check the sticker on the driver’s side doorjamb for the air pressure you should be using in your tires. It may be a good idea to invest in snow tires as well. While all-season tires are supposed to provide good traction in almost any weather condition, car manufacturers are outfitting the newer cars with low-profile tires that are wider than previous models, which perform poorly in the snow. 

Check your Engine, Fluid Levels, and Other Systems

Winter is a good time to perform a bumper-to-bumper inspection. You should make sure that you take your car to a good mechanic so that a thorough inspection can be made. Your car will be connected to a computer to access any error codes and the mechanic can give you an estimate on the cost of the auto repair and the time it would take to complete it. Your mechanic will check the electrical systems, suspension systems, and heating and cooling systems. He also will check your battery, windshield wipers, headlights, and turn signals. Checking your fluid levels, and topping them off, and perform other general car maintenance tasks will be on his to-do list as well. 

Assemble Winter Safety Kits

Winter driving can be even more unpredictable, so you should prepare yourself by assembling a winter safety kit to keep in your car. This kit should include items such as a first-aid kit, blankets, extra clothing, nonperishable snacks, and a flashlight. You should also include a small took kit for making minor repairs if you have the capability to do so, and a pair of battery jumper cables in case your battery dies on you. 

What to Do to Keep Your Car from Overheating in Winter

Many people are familiar with an overheating car on the side of the road in the summer, but are surprised to learn that cars can overheat in the winter as well. They assume that since the weather is near zero, the cold air temperature should be enough to keep the engine cool, but this is very far from the truth. Your car can overheat even in below-zero weather. You should know what to do to keep this from happening to your car.

First Thing to Remember: General Car Maintenance is Key

Your car needs to be subjected to a regular general car maintenance schedule in order to remain in good running condition. You can perform fluid checks, windshield wiper replacements, and oil changes yourself if you are comfortable getting under the hood. If you do not know how or do not want to do these things, you can locate an ASE master technician to perform these tasks for you. They can complete a bumper-to-bumper inspection that will include all of the systems in the car from the headlights to the taillights. You should have your battery, alternator, suspension, and transmission systems checked for any possible problems that may lurk. Catching problems early can reduce your auto repair bills in the end and help your car last longer. If your car is overheating, you should make sure the heating and cooling system is thoroughly inspected and any needed repairs are made right away. 

Check your Antifreeze Levels and Radiator Condition

You should check your antifreeze level to make sure you have the proper amount in the reservoir. Coolants are very important to the engine because the fluid transfers heat from the center of the engine out to the outside air. If there is a hole anywhere in this closed system, you will have a leak, causing your coolant level to get low and eventually cause your car to overhear.  The radiator should be checked because it is susceptible to rust and corrosion and can acquire holes from rocks or other hard debris on the road. The parts of the radiator, such as the thermostat and radiator pressure cap, needs to be checked to make sure they are securely seated in place to provide an adequate seal. You should be very careful when removing your radiator cap. Do not remove it when the engine is still hot. Let the engine cool all the way down before you open it to prevent getting burned by steam from the pressure created inside and the boiling coolant. Make sure your engine fan is working properly and perform regular oil changes.

Pay Attention to Your Circumstances

If you are experience overheating in the winter, you should pay particular attention to the events that are occurring right before the car gets too hot. For instance, if you notice that your car overheats soon after you turn it on, you could have a very low coolant level, a broken fan, a leak in the cooling system, or a faulty thermostat. If the overheat occurs after an extended period of driving, it could be many of the same problems as it is when the car overheats quickly, but instead of a faulty thermostat, your ignition timing could have the wrong settings, or the engine could have other mechanical problems. It is best to consult with an ASE master technicians to determine the cause of the overheat so you have the repairs made.

Maintaining Luxuries in Cars Today

Many cars in this day and age have computers and electronics that make many things automated. It could be something as simple as automatic logs when the car is put into drive, or even electronic windows. These were all luxuries at one point and still are in some cases, however it’s very important to maintain these features just as you would any other system in the car. They can become vital in the case of performance or safety, and you never want them to fail when they matter the most. Fortunately, most mechanics are trained to handle these just like any other car part, and can keep them running smoothly, however there are some things you can do to prevent these systems from giving out too early or too often as well.

Watching your Battery

The electronic systems in your car are all wired to your battery for power. When the car is running, the battery is automatically recharging, so it hardly seems like an issue at the time. However, when the car is off that battery’s power is the life of most of the features of the car, and as such you should use in moderation. Listening to the stereo for a long period of time with the rest of the car is turned off will drain your battery quickly, and leaving your lights on overnight is a definite way to kill the battery. Without it the automatic windows won’t scroll down and the stereo won’t play, let alone the fact that the car won’t start when you want it too.

Keeping your Luxuries

The more advanced systems in cars, including computers that can parallel park for you and include rear-view cameras and so forth, all run on specially designed computers. Some of these cars actually have more wiring in them then a commercial airliner, in order to wire up all of those sensors and mimic all the subtle touches a human driver might have without realizing it. Because of this it’s very easy to blow out one or many of these connections. If you ever accidentally kill your battery, or come across someone whose battery has died, the resulting boost given can kill your computer. Giving or accepting a boost can scramble many of the computer’s system, which is why most police cars don’t offer boosts for citizens unless absolutely necessary.

Fixing and Maintenance

Because of the rising prevalence of modern luxuries in cars it’s essential for mechanics and auto repair shops to keep up on all the latest techniques. Most can’t stock all of the parts necessary to fix an onboard computer, and often it requires a computer specialist over a mechanic, however they do hold the tools that allow them to diagnose the issue. Since the computer is loaded with so many sensors it is able to, when prompted with the right tools, search its own systems and help locate the cause of the issue. This allows the mechanics to find it and sort it out. Due to the sensitive nature of these computers, it is advised to never attempt to fix them yourself unless you’re a trained professional.

Pre Winter Brake Inspection Check List

During the winter, drivers tend to use their brakes more than any other time of the year. And this is for good reason, too. With black ice and snow prevalent through out this entire season, there are far more reasons why you may need to stop suddenly. Not all of them depend on you, either; other drivers can be just as much as a hazard in the winter as the weather itself. So in order to make sure that your vehicle is going to be able to handle what the season has to dish out at you, you will want to bring your car in to get the brakes checked at the very least. And when you do, this is the list of things you want to ensure that your auto repair person checks.

The Brake Pads

Whether you have disc brakes (common) or drum brakes (not very common), your brake pads are still the part that do the majority of the work when you brake to slow down or stop. Over time, the pads can and do wear down. The less pad your brakes have, the harder it will be to brake and the more pressure you will have to exert to bring your vehicle to a stop. Less pad can also bring more chance of brake slippage. It should be checked that your pads are thick enough (less than 4mm and it’s time to change them) and that they are resting well, the calipers tight enough to hold them in place.

The Brake Line

When you press the brake, the brake line excretes brake fluid through a hose to your brakes, allowing the pads to clamp on to the disc or the drum and slow then stop your car. If you have to put your pedal to the floor to stop, or it is far too easy to do so, then you likely have a leakage in your brake line, or not enough brake fluid. It should be checked that your brake line is not leaking, and that your brake fluid is topped off. 

The Brake Lights

When people think about their brakes, the last part to come to their mind is the brake light. But just as the brakes themselves, the brake lights are an important part of safety. They tell other drivers you are slowing or stopping so that you do not wind up getting rear ended. It should be checked that your brakes lights are in working order and respond instantaneously (or very close to) when you press on the brake pedal, no matter the force applied. 

Parking Brake

Your parking brake is just as much a part of the braking experience as your brake pads. When you park, the parking brake ensures that your car will not roll away—something no car owner would ever want to experience. It should be checked that the parking brake is working properly, and not sticking. 

Repairs

All repairs should be done by an auto repair professional. Even if you understand hot to diagnose, the work is much different. Bring your car in to a shop for any brake work it needs done. 

What to Expect from a Fall Maintenance Check

The fall season is unexpectedly rough on vehicles. With the amount of rain the months of this season experience, even familiar roads can become tricky, slippery places where accidents are not uncommon. To avoid facing any problems with your vehicle this coming fall, you will want to bring your car in for an annual fall maintenance check. But what should you expect from this experience? After all, if you are going to pay money, you should have the right to know, shouldn’t you? Read on to find out what these once a year inspections are all about.

How a Fall Maintenance Check Works

So this fall, you will drop your vehicle off at a AAA or a mechanic, or even an auto repair shop. They will run some tests, then give you some things you need to either have fixed or improved. No big deal, right? Well, it is not that simple; there are many stages to a fall maintenance check, and each is designed to ensure that you do not wind up driving in danger this coming season. During a fall maintenance check, various aspects of your vehicle will be looked at to ensure that it is up to par with the weather we all know fall has in abundance; rain, sleet and soggy, slick leaves. The maintenance check will take about a few hours, although it could take more or less, depending on the thoroughness of the shop. So now you know that, what exactly happens to your car during this time?

What a Fall Maintenance Check Involves

During a fall maintenance check, your car will be put through a series of tests to gauge its reliability. But these are not tests to push it to its limits; these are tests to rate its safety. First, a tire check will be performed. During this, the breaks, the tread and tire pressure will be checked. This will be followed by a tire alignment check. Then a fluid check. The fluid lines will be checked during the fluid check as well to ensure there are no leakages.  After this, your suspension will be tested. And after your suspension is tested, your engine will be checked. This may sound like a lot—and it is—but the reason for it all is because your entire vehicle works as one unit, and each component and part is as important as the last. A fluid check and a tire pressure check may seem basic, but they are just as important to your vehicle’s performance as proper tire alignment.

What All These Checks Will Mean

All of these tests are performed to ensure that your car is going to perform well this fall. However, they also mean you may have to pay to have your car worked on. If your brake pads were found to be worn down, then you may very well need to consider brake work. The same goes for if your fluid lines were leaking. Depending upon your make and model, costs can vary greatly, so it is best you speak to your mechanic about their rates, and if they work on your class of vehicle. 

Wind Shield Wiper Blades for the Winter

With the snow comes a whole different challenge for drivers. No longer are you simply worrying about rain and the occasional leaf getting pasted to your wind shield. During the winter, snow becomes a real issue for visibility. Just because your current wind shield wiper blades make do with the water, does not mean they will make do for the snow. And if your wind shield wiper clades do not currently work even for the water, they will certainly not work for the snow. So we are going to talk all about wind shield wiper replacements for the winter, so you will be safe all through the darkest and most dangerous driving season of the year.

Types of Wind Shield Wiper Blades

There are a few types of wind shield wiper blades, and they are made of a variety of materials. However not are all equal when it comes to the winter. In fact some just are not very good. The best types of wind shield wiper replacements for the winter are known as contoured blades. These are blades that hug the wind shield of your car. This is important, as regular wind shield wiper blades do not do this, and can potentially leave a lot of snow on your vehicle while you are driving—snow that may seem small at first but will accumulate quickly. A good winter wind shield wiper replacement will have a rubber boot. The boot will “drag” along the wind shield, really doing the work to get the most snow off your wind shield possible. They will also have a steel structure, which makes them more stable against the heavier weight of the snow. This is important because plastic wind shield wiper blades can and possibly will break from the extra weight of the snow.

Keeping Wind Shield Wiper Fluid Full

You may not use your wind shield wiper fluid much during the winter, but you will most likely use it in occurrences where your car has been snowed in, as the wind shield will become inherently dirty from the snow. This is an even bigger problem in the city, where dirty gets mixed with snow frequently due to (1) the plow services and (2) other drivers. Thus you will want to make sure that when you change your wind shield wiper blades, the wind shield wiper fluid is filled and works. 

Safe Usage in the Winter

It is important to have good wind shield wiper blades in the winter, and it is also important to use them properly and safely. First, avoid driving in heavy weather. This means weather where snow is literally storming down. This can reduce visibility greatly even if you have great wind shield wiper blades, as the snow falling will be much heavier and in far greater quantities than the blades and the motors in the vehicle that run them are designed to handle. Always scrape any ice off the wind shield before turning on your blades to clear the remnants to avoid damage to your blades. And be sure to clear any ice from the blades themselves before driving. 

The Fall Vehicle Maintenance Check List

This fall season, you do not want to put your safety at risk. When it comes to your vehicle, there is no reason why you should not want to put in the little extra effort in order to properly maintain the integrity of your vehicle, and keep you and your family safe on the road. So we’re going to go over a fall vehicle maintenance check list that will help you to stay on top of things this fall. It will include some basics that you may already be prepared for, and some things that you may not have even thought of. Read on to see just what you will need to do to your vehicle, or have done to it, this fall.

Change the engine oil

This is something that many tend to over look during the fall season, as it is considered a colder season and thus many figure their oil will not burn. There is just the same chance of bad oil in the fall as their will be in the summer.

Replace your antifreeze

This is another issue that many vehicle owners over look in the fall for the same reason; the weather gets cooler, and they figure that the engine will simply regulate itself. It will not. You should check and change your antifreeze on the same basis as usual. 

Check all fluids

Your oil and your antifreeze are not the only important fluids in your vehicle. Every fluid has a purpose, even wind shield wiper fluid, and thus it is important you check them all and make sure they are up to par.

Inspect all belts and hoses

This is a job that some will have the ability to perform, but for others, it will take a trip to a professional mechanic. This is not problem; belts and hoses can fray or strip or tear and cause a number of issues. Always best to check them each season, including in the fall.

Lights

The fall is a darker season. Thus you will want to be assured that your head lights and your tail lights are working perfectly to avoid any collisions caused by another driver on the road (a) not being able to see you or (b) not seeing your signal due to a defunct light. 

Check the tread on your tires

The fall season brings a lot of leaves and rain. Together, these two things serve to make roads far more slippery than any other time of the year, with an exception for winter. If your tires feel bald, bring in your car to get a new set put on. 

Check your wiper blades

Fall is a season of rain. If your wiper blades are broken, or damaged, a simple replacement can do wonders for your visibility this coming fall season. It will also keep you safe.

Bring your vehicle in for general car maintenance

Have a mechanic look it over to ensure that every thing is working, and working well at that. This is the perfect time to get those belts and hoses inspected as well. 

What to Do if the Check Engine Light Goes On

If you have ever owned a vehicle, chances are you have faced the check engine light. Depending on your vehicle make and model, it either glowed in your face day and night, or blinked repetitively at you on your way to and from work. After a short while, it got annoying. After a few days, it got obnoxious. And when it didn’t just go away, you undoubtedly got worried.  But what should you do instead of getting worried? That all depends.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

The check engine light can mean a few things. As a part of the OBD (On Board Diagnostics) system of your car, the lights job is to warn you of problems within the car. Commonly, when there is a problem with the electronic-control system, the check engine light will come on if the problem cannot be addressed by the computer. A check engine light problem is not as simple to diagnose as a service engine soon light. This is because whatever is wrong with your engine, in order for this light to come on, it has to go past engine fluid and easily serviced issues. The check engine light is a first step warning system that demands your attention. And for good reason, too, because electronic issues can be dangerous.

What to Do When you See the Check Engine Light 

What do you do when this light either blinks or glares in your face? Well, first off, don’t go pouring liquids in to your engine. As mentioned above, this light has nothing to do with the common problems covered by its dashboard brother, the service engine soon light. If this light comes on, you should bring your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible. The issue can be small, or common, but often this light will not come on unless there is a sizable issue at hand. Unfortunately, not all mechanics will be able to diagnose your particular vehicle. This means you will have to go on the internet to find your local car repair shops to see which ones specialize in your specific vehicle type. 

If the Light Comes On While Driving: What to Do

Lights won’t always wait until the morning; sometimes, issues will pop up while you are driving. If the check engine light comes on while you are on the highway, the best thing you can do is take the nearest exit, find a safe place to park, and call a directory assistant to find a local mechanic that is open. If you have OnStar in your vehicle, use the program to help you. That is, provided it works. Do your best to avoid pulling over on the highway; doing this is extremely dangerous and should only be done if your car is acting strange. Do not try driving your vehicle around with the check engine light one. You can cause further damage, and endanger yourself and other drivers, should the problem worsen while you are on the road. Being safe is always better than being sorry; don’t blow off this serious little light! 

Different Types of Brakes: Drum vs. Disc

When you buy a vehicle, you will have many options available to you. From interior to exterior, components and more, vehicles all differ in a variety of ways that can make choosing difficult. But perhaps one of the biggest differences, and most often overlooked, is the type of brakes your vehicle has. There are two different types of brakes, drum and disc. Drum brakes are less common, but are still used as rear brakes. Do you know the differences between the two types? If not, read on and find out; it could help you make a better vehicle choice. 

What Are Drum Brakes, and How Do They Work

Drum brakes are brakes that are contained within a round drum that rotates on the wheel. Inside the drum is something called a “shoe,” similar to a brake pad, that press against the wheel when the vehicle brake is depressed. Fluid is transferred through a line to the brake, known as “brake fluid,” to transfer the movement caused when the driver depresses the brake pedal. In driving conditions where uphill and downhill driving is involved on a consistent basis, drum brakes tend to wear down much faster than disc brakes. Unlike the newer disc brakes, the hotter a drum brake becomes, the less effective it will be, overtime losing its ability to stop the vehicle at all. 

What Are Disc Brakes, and How Do They Work

Disc brakes use a rotor and a caliper to slow the vehicle, much more effective than a drum. Inside of the disc brake’s caliper are two things called brake pads that squeeze on to the wheel when the brake pedal is depressed. Just like a drum brake, brake fluid is transferred through a line to the brake to cause the motion. Unlike a drum brake, which is undone mostly because of its housing, a disc brake is open faced, and thus is easily able to cool down, allowing the brake to remain effective. Disc brake are commonly able to exert more braking force, and more efficiently at that, than a drum brake. 

Why Drum Brakes Are Still Used

Drum brakes are typically used on lower priced vehicles. But even by today’s standards, almost any vehicle you come across will have disc brakes, even if the car is in a lower class. The reason some vehicles may use drum brakes on the rear wills is because drum brakes are much less expensive than disc brakes. This is mainly due to their being much less effective. But lesser manufacturing expenses lead to lesser expenses to the buyer. It is important that, if you want a vehicle for performance, you ensure that you look up the specs and see that all four wheels have disc brakes. If you have a son or daughter looking in to buying their first vehicle, and it is a used vehicle (as in most cases), you will want to talk to the salesperson, and check online for older vehicle specification lists, to ensure that the brakes used on the rear wheels of the used vehicle are not going to be drum brakes. 

Brake Lights: What They Are For, and How They Are Used

The brake lights are an often overlooked part of a vehicle. Many people take for granted that the brake lights are there, and always will be. They also tend to overlook them when they are damaged, or when they just plain do not function. Most shrug off a damaged brake light, thinking, so what? After all, don’t you still have turning signals? But have you ever wondered why you can be pulled over for a broken brake light? And have you ever wondered why cops demand that the brake light be fixed? Read on to find out the answers to both questions, and much more.

What Your Brakes Do, and How the Lights Work

The brakes on your car have one primary function; to slow down, and eventually stop your vehicle. This function is direly important. Without brakes, your car would simply gain velocity until it came to an uphill area—granted, that is, that the velocity has not built up so much that the car does not just shoot up the hill anyway. And without brakes, your car would then roll right back down the hill and speed the other way. It is utterly dangerous to drive a vehicle without brakes, but what about brake lights? Well, these lights serve just as an important function; they tell the other drivers on the road that you are slowing down or stopping, preventing collision. When you step on your brake, the brake lights turn on in the back of your car and, depending on the make and model, on the read windshield as well. The red light is a warning to all other drivers on the road.

Why You Should Always Get Your Brake Lights Fixed

Police care about brake lights so much because without them, other drivers on the road would have no idea if you are about to stop your vehicle. This poses a threat to yourself and every other vehicle in the vicinity. After all, one accident can easily multiply in to a pile up. Brake lights are not easy to fix yourself, especially on foreign model cars. This is why it is suggested that when your brake light burns out, you visit a mechanic and have it fixed as soon as possible. Doing so keeps you safe, and keeps all of the other drivers on the road safe as well. 

Costs of Brake Light Repairs; Are They Expensive?

Brake light repairs vary in costs. Foreign model cars are typically more expensive to fix the brake lights on, as are luxury vehicles. This is because the brakes and brake lights on foreign vehicles are built differently than on American vehicles, and in America, not all mechanics have the specialized skills to service these types of vehicles. The best way to find out the costs of a brake light repair for your vehicle would be to call your local mechanic, give them your make and model, the year of production for your vehicle, and ask for the cost of a brake light repair. The mechanic will then tell you whether or not they have the skill to work on your vehicle, and the costs if they do.