Reading Auto Repair

A sidewall puncture is the kind of tire problem that makes you pause. The hole can look small enough to fix, and you may even know someone who says they patched it years ago and it was fine. The problem is, sidewall repairs fail in ways that are hard to predict. If you want to avoid buying a tire you don't need, and also avoid a sketchy repair that quits at the worst moment, it helps to understand why sidewalls are a different story. Why Sidewalls Are Built Differently Than Treads The tread area is thick, reinforced, and designed to take impacts straight-on. The sidewall is built to flex thousands of times per mile while supporting the vehicle’s weight and absorbing bumps. That flex is normal, but it is also exactly what works against most repairs. If you are trying to judge whether a sidewall puncture is already risky, a few clues tend to show up early: A bulge or ripple in the sidewall, even a small one Repeated air loss after topping off A puncture ... read more

Skipping an oil change once does not usually blow up an engine overnight. That is why a lot of drivers get comfortable stretching the interval a little farther each time. The trouble is that every extra mile on worn oil quietly raises friction, heat, and sludge buildup, and the damage rarely shows until it is expensive. Knowing what is happening inside the engine may change how you look at that little sticker on the windshield. What Engine Oil Really Does Between Changes Engine oil does more than just lubricate moving parts. It carries away heat, suspends dirt and soot, and protects metal surfaces with an additive package that fights wear and corrosion. Every time you start the car, tiny metal surfaces slide on a very thin film of oil instead of scraping directly against each other. Over time, the additives get used up and the oil fills with microscopic debris and fuel that slipped past the rings. At first, the engine still feels fine. As the miles stack up, that w ... read more

Your suspension does more than smooth out bumps. It keeps tires planted, steering precise, and braking stable. Knowing the key parts helps you identify issues early and communicate repairs clearly. Here are the five components that matter most and the signs they give when they are wearing out. What Your Suspension Does and Why It Matters Every time you corner, brake, or hit a pothole, the suspension manages weight transfer so the tires keep grip. Good parts make a car feel settled. Worn parts create vague steering, uneven tire wear, and extra stopping distance on rough roads. If the car feels floaty, wanders on the highway, or clunks over driveways, something in the system needs attention. 1. Control Arms and Bushings Control arms locate the wheel from front to back and side to side. Rubber or hydraulic bushings at the chassis end absorb vibration and allow controlled movement. When bushings crack or collapse, alignment shifts under load, and ... read more

Modern vehicles rely on precise fuel delivery systems to ensure efficient combustion, responsive acceleration, and clean emissions. For decades, carburetors were the standard way to mix air and fuel before it entered the engine. Today, nearly all vehicles use fuel injection instead. But both systems still require periodic maintenance to run properly. If you're unsure how these systems differ or what kind of service they require, here's a breakdown of how they work and why service is important. Carburetors: The Old-School Fuel Delivery Method Carburetors were once the heart of every gasoline-powered engine. They work by mixing air and fuel in a chamber using a vacuum created by the engine’s intake. As air flows through the carburetor, fuel is pulled from the float bowl and mixed with the incoming air before entering the combustion chamber. While relatively simple, carburetors are mechanically complex and rely heavily on physical adjustments and moving ... read more

It's a hot day, you're stuck in traffic, and you notice the temperature gauge on your dashboard creeping up. This is a stressful situation for any driver, and it’s a common one because engines are more prone to overheating when your car isn’t moving. But why does this happen? And what can you do to prevent it? If your engine heats up during traffic but stays cool while cruising, you’re not alone. Here’s what’s happening and what to check if it keeps occurring. Less Airflow Means Less Cooling At highway speeds, your vehicle’s radiator gets cooled by the flow of outside air passing through the grille. But in traffic, with little or no movement, that airflow drops dramatically. This makes your cooling system rely almost entirely on the radiator fan to keep temperatures down. If your fan isn’t working properly, or if it cycles on for too long, the engine can overheat quickly while idling in place. In some cases, the fan ... read more