As vehicle owners, we are taught to focus on important maintenance tasks such as changing our oil and filter or checking and replacing coolant. When it comes to vehicle fluids, oil and coolant definitely play an important role in keeping a vehicle engine running smoothly. But often other vital fluids are neglected in the maintenance process until a problem develops. Two of those fluids that take a backseat to oil and coolant are the power steering and brake fluids.
Most drivers have probably heard of the term “differential” when it comes to their vehicle – but chances are that many drivers probably do not know what the differential is and does for the vehicle.
In this blog, we explain the purpose of the differential and signs to look and listen for if your differential is experiencing any failure.
If you have ever been in a situation where you had to “slam the brakes” in order to avoid an object on the road, a darting animal, or even a vehicle in front – then you know the importance of having reliable and functioning brakes. Your vehicle’s brakes endure a significant amount of constant motion, heat, and use and those elements can cause your brakes to wear down over time.
If you have ever been out on the open road somewhere with miles and miles of road and no vehicles in sight, you may have been tempted to punch the accelerator a little more and see how fast your vehicle can fly! If you owned a turbocharged vehicle, that temptation may even have been greater!
Most drivers never really think about what’s involved in steering a vehicle. When we get in the driver’s seat, we take it for granted that the vehicle will respond accordingly to our motions on the steering wheel. Your vehicle’s steering system is a complex set of components working in unison based on your hand movements to guide the wheels and keep the vehicle stabilized on the continuously changing contours of the road.
In this blog, we examine two common issues you may experience with your steering system.
Often overlooked, your vehicle’s water pump is a critical component that helps to maintain the temperature of your engine. When a water pump fails, your engine suffers serious damage which can mean expensive repairs or even replacement for a vehicle owner.
So, what is the water pump and what role does it play in keeping your vehicle’s cooling system running effectively? In this blog, we examine how a water pump works, signs to look for in a failing water pump, and ways to keep it maintained properly.
Unless you are driving a completely electric vehicle, you know that in order for your internal combustion engine to work it requires a fuel source. Anyone who has ever run out of gas on the road is very aware of the necessity for fuel. However, fuel is only one aspect in the overall operation of your vehicle’s fuel system. In this blog, we cover key information about your vehicle’s fuel system, including how it works and what you can do to keep it operating effectively. We also review some common issues and preventative measures you can take to ensure a better functioning fuel system.
In order to operate effectively, your vehicle depends on a variety of fluids. From engine oil to brake fluid, without these vital vehicle fluids, your engine would quickly break down and cease to work. Amongst many of their varied functions, engine fluids provide lubrication and temperature regulation to the engine parts.
Just like the actual parts of your engine, vital vehicle fluids are susceptible to extreme heat, dirt, and grime. This wear and tear over time can degrade the composition of the fluids and reduce the protection to your engine. The bottom-line is that your vehicle’s fluids need to be replaced and replenished at some point during the life cycle of your vehicle.
There comes a time in every owner’s relationship with their vehicle that they need to decide if and when it is time to part ways? Do you repair or replace? This is especially true if the vehicle has spent more time in the repair shop then in your own driveway.
Keep in mind, that ongoing and proactive maintenance is a great way to extend your vehicle’s life. Common maintenance items such as oil, brake repair, and fluid replacement can keep your vehicle running longer. However, sometimes even the best maintenance protocol cannot ensure that your vehicle may not run into costly repairs at some point in time.
When you are faced with the decision to repair or replace your vehicle, you may want to consider a few of the economics involved in each of those decisions. In this blog, we examine the pros and cons of repairing that aged vehicle or replacing it altogether with another used or new vehicle and give you some food for thought on how to arrive at the right decision in the end.
If you have ever saved up your money to buy an expensive toy or gadget, you probably focused a lot of attention on protecting your investment. For example, if you purchased an expensive camera, most likely you spent time ensuring that the lenses were clean and covered, the battery charged, and you stored the camera in a drop-proof case.
Surprisingly, our vehicle’s are also a significant investment but we do not always put the same level of effort into keeping them maintained. When we get in the vehicle to drive somewhere, many times our brains are operating on an automatic process. We rarely pay attention to what our vehicles might be telling us until it’s too late – and we have a breakdown!
