It happens to every car eventually. The water starts dripping in when it rains and there’s a lot of wind noise while you drive; your car’s weatherstripping has started to go bad. While there are probably a lot of other worse things that could happen to your car, having rain water leak into the interior is probably one of the most uncomfortable. You’ll have water on your seats, in your trunk, and on the floorboards that could lead to fungi and bacterial growth or at least a big mess. The good news is that replacing your car’s weatherstripping isn’t difficult or expensive and it’s something that you can do for yourself, although that’s also something that a car repair specialist can do for y... [Read More]

The idea behind all-season tires was simple but very appealing; instead of having to switch tires for different seasons like for winter, you can have one set of tires that work in any climate or weather. Because tires are quite expensive and switching tires can be a hassle, most drivers opt for all-season tires and most cars these days are fitted with all-season tires at the factory. But recent studies have shown that using all-season tires for winter instead of switching to winter tires might not be the best idea after all.   While all-season tires might help a little in improving a car’s driving performance on snow, it doesn’t help a car turn or stop as well as winter tires do. The year-round tires might perform better in snowy conditions than ordinary t... [Read More]

For most people, maintaining your car means taking it to the closest auto repair shop and getting the help of a mechanic. If you have friends or relatives who are good with cars, then you’re lucky. But there are some basic maintenance steps that you can take to make sure that your car runs at its best condition. You’ll find most of these steps in your car manual, but here’s a shorter version of the list that can come in handy in maintaining your car.    1. Check your oil filter every week [Read More]

Any car owner would want to make the most out of their car’s battery. For one, they don’t exactly come cheap and maximizing their service life is a great way to save money. Maintaining your car battery well also means that you won’t have to keep relying on jumper cables (which is a good thing, especially if you don’t know how to use jumper cables).  The top four tips for maintaining your car battery are easy to do but they’ll go a long way in making the most out of the battery’s power.   1. [Read More]

When people get the tires of their car rotated, the question of whether they should get a wheel alignment usually comes up. The Tire Industry Safety Council tells us that having properly aligned wheels can go a long way in increasing the life of your tires and because tires can be very expensive to replace, you’re also saving a lot of money. But that doesn’t mean that wheel alignment is something that you do often. Wheel alignment isn’t part of regular maintenance. By knowing what wheel alignment entails and by knowing when it’s needed, you can save yourself from unnecessary car repairs. The term alignment doesn’t really refer to your car’s wheels; it’s actually your suspension that... [Read More]

There are a lot of reasons why there are more car accidents that happen at night. At night, your depth perception, peripheral vision, and ability to distinguish different colours all suffer. Aside from the darkness, you’ll often have to deal with incoming cars that have blinding headlights. Add the fact that most people are more tired while driving at night and you’ll understand why more than half of all driving deaths happen after dark even if only a quarter of all driving is done after dark. While safety should always be a primary concern whether you’re driving at night or during the day, there are certain tips that can be very useful for keeping you safe during night-time driving.   ... [Read More]

When you’re getting your car serviced, it’s important to have the brake hoses checked. Most mechanics will tell you that by the time you find out there’s something wrong with your brake, it’s usually too late. That’s why it’s important to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to your car’s brake system. If you can learn to test your car’s brake hose yourself, it’s even better. Don’t worry; it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Brake hoses usually last for about six years but it’s still important to inspect them regularly. The metal brake lines are usually the ones that get the most attention but even the simple rubber brake hoses are important for making sure that you’... [Read More]

Your car’s fuses protect it from a power surge and take the damage while protecting the car’s devices, like your headlights and instrumental panel. If you think about it, having a blown fuse is a good thing because replacing a fuse is a lot better than having your devices repaired; but blown fuses do need to be replaced right away. Replacing a car’s blown fuse is something that you can definitely do for yourself. In fact, a lot of cars provide a few spare fuses and a fuse puller to remove the blown fuse and to install the replacement fuse with. Before you start looking for the fuse box, make sure that the car is turned off and properly parked. A car’s fuse box is usually found unde... [Read More]

An essential part of car care is making sure that your tires are in tip top condition. With badly maintained tires, you’re not only risking the occasional flat tire; you’re also at risk of a blow out which could cause a serious and even deadly automobile accident. Your tires are always in use under the heavy weight of your car, in hot and cold extremes, on rough and smooth roadways. Your safety and the safety of others depend on the little extra effort and care you give to keeping your tires in good and reliable condition. You may want to consult your auto specialist to recommend the best tire company when purchasing new tires because all automobile tires are not created equally.&nbs [Read More]

Like any other part of your car, the battery goes through wear and tear over time. By checking the battery regularly, you can make sure that it continues to run effectively and last longer. A battery that’s clean runs a lot better than a dirty and cruddy one.  Checking your battery is something that you can do yourself, but there are some safety measures that you should take before you get started. Here’s the caution list:   1. Don’t smoke while checking the battery. [Read More]