Suppose you and your family have just left a local restaurant after having dinner together. Everyone piles into your vehicle for the ride home. You turn the engine over, turn on the heater, defroster, and radio, and start the drive. The ride goes as planned for the first ten minutes. But soon after, problems emerge. […]

“You can fix practically anything with a roll of duct tape.” It’s one of those timeworn adages that produces a chuckle. When it comes to repairing your vehicle, it’s truer than you might realize. With a few tools, zip ties, and duct tape, you’ll be surprised by the small repairs you can perform. These repairs […]

Cruise control has been a popular feature in cars, trucks, and SUVs for decades. During long drives, it relieves motorists from the chores involved with maintaining an appropriate speed while navigating the vehicle. These tasks may seem less than grueling, but can become tiring over long distances. The problem is, early versions of this technology […]

The cheap cost of establishing an online store belies the true cost associated with generating a successful online business. This is something many advertisers omit to tell you when you sign up for “free” ecommerce packages – as with everything else in life, the only thing that is free is “free”. Establishing a website does […]

Having to replace an air pump is inconvenient, but tolerable. Replacing a muffler or alternator is more costly and thus, more frustrating. But it’s still bearable. Your car’s engine, on the other hand, is among the few assemblies (your transmission is the other one) where a failure can crush your budget. Your engine will not […]

Your vehicle’s head gasket (HG) is sandwiched between the cylinder head and engine block. The part serves multiple purposes. First, it prevents coolant from seeping into each cylinder’s bore. Second, it helps maintain pressure within the engine by sealing off the combustion chambers. The operation and performance of your car are heavily dependent on the […]

Together, your intake and exhaust valves play a critical role in the operation of your engine. Each cylinder has at least one pair. During the first stroke of the combustion process, the intake valve (IV) opens to allow fuel and air into the combustion chamber. When the chamber is full, the valve closes and completely […]

Your vehicle’s brake system follows a relatively simple design. When you press down on the pedal to stop your car, the master cylinder displaces brake fluid to the calipers. The calipers, in turn, engage the pads against the rotors, which ultimately slows your vehicle and brings it to a stop. Despite its simplicity, this system […]

When you replace your brake pads or calipers, it’s important to take the time to bleed the lines. Air can gain access and prevent your braking system from working properly. Your pedal will have a “soft” feeling to it when you press down. The pedal may travel too far and require pumping in order to […]

When one thinks of gold, the first thing that usually comes to mind is jewelry, generally followed by coinage, buried treasure and the recent upsurge in the recycling of the precious metal (not necessarily in that order). While these are all common uses, the possible applications are numerous. The potential that lies in gold owes […]