Maintenance 101
All articles

Proper tire pressure is much more crucial to your car than you may think, and it results in a safer and more economical experience on the road.
By Rick Cotta
December 31, 2024

Limp Mode allows your car to be driven a limited distance at reduced speed when something is wrong and may cause severe damage or stop the vehicle from running.
By Rick Cotta
September 8, 2024

How long brakes last depends on factors like how the car is driven and the condition of the rest of the braking system.
By Rick Cotta
April 14, 2024

Although original-equipment tires can last for 50,000 miles or more, how long any tire lasts is dependent not only on the tire itself, but on how that car is maintained.
By Rick Cotta
March 24, 2024

As a general rule of thumb, many sources quote three to five years as an average, though some car batteries have been known to last 10 years.
By Rick Cotta
February 25, 2024

In the past, the factory-recommended interval for changing the automatic transmission fluid was typically between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, but some newer vehicles have what’s referred to as “lifetime fluid.”
By Rick Cotta
January 21, 2024

Your car’s water pump circulates coolant throughout the engine, where it soaks up heat, and into the radiator, where the coolant is cooled and then recirculated back to the engine to start the process over again.
By Rick Cotta
January 7, 2024

A dirty air filter won’t allow your engine to “breathe” as freely as it should, reducing the performance of your car.
By Rick Cotta
September 24, 2023

While changing your oil every 3,000 miles was standard practice many years ago, modern lubricants and advances in engine materials and tolerances have largely made that frequency unnecessary.
By Rick Cotta
September 10, 2023

Even though a wheel alignment isn’t a normal maintenance item, and there isn’t a set mileage or time interval for having it done, you should recognize the indications for when it might be needed for your vehicle.
By Rick Cotta
August 27, 2023